Elaborations Christian Prayer

Elaborations - christian prayer (PWP)

Christian prayer raises the mind and heart to God or requests good things from God and contributes to the faith growth of individuals and the building of Christian community. Schools draw on the richness of the Catholic tradition, the wider Christian tradition and their own particular charism to nurture the prayer life of the school.

Drawing on the tradition PWP1

Teaching and using a variety of traditional prayers and devotions for individual and communal use (e.g. Our Father, Memorare, Glory Be, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration) PWP1.1
Identifying appropriate times and occasions for different forms (e.g. prayers of praise, intercession) and expressions (e.g. vocal, meditative, contemplative) of prayer PWP1.2
Preparing and disseminating a calendar to ensure a prayerful perspective in celebrations of liturgical seasons (e.g. Lent), feasts (e.g. Mary Help of Christians) and significant events (e.g. ANZAC Day) PWP1.3
Providing or creating a school prayer book that includes a range of prayer forms (e.g. blessing and adoration; petition and intercession; thanksgiving and praise) PWP1.4

Nurturing prayer life PWP2

Modeling and explaining gestures used in prayer celebrations (e.g. Sign of the Cross, sign of peace, blessings, prayer postures, a gesture created for a specific occasion) PWP2.1
Scheduling time to allow for the preparation of students to enhance their participation in prayer experiences PWP2.2
Teaching students how to identify and use scriptural texts in prayer and worship PWP2.3
Using predictable patterns in prayer and worship across the school PWP2.4
Involving students in the creation of prayers for use in school celebrations PWP2.5
Establishing a culture and climate that values and emphasises a sense of the sacred during communal prayer times PWP2.6
Developing creative ways of building a culture of prayer within a school community (e.g. a prayer website, an intentions book, a prayer blog, a prayer garden, sacred spaces, sensory stimuli) PWP2.7
Accessing professional learning opportunities for staff to broaden and deepen their understandings about prayer, its purpose, meaning and expression PWP2.8
Making effective use of the arts (Dance, Drama, Media Arts, Music, Visual Arts) to enhance prayer experiences PWP2.9

Providing a variety of experiences PWP3

Immersing students in diverse experiences of prayer (e.g. traditional prayers and devotions, meditation and contemplation, silence, labyrinths and mandalas, praying with scripture, litanies and mantras, using The Arts as a stimulus for prayer) PWP3.1
Providing opportunities for students to engage with different approaches to meditation (e.g. Christian meditation, Ignatian meditation, Lectio Divina, guided meditation) PWP3.2
Incorporating appropriate symbols when developing prayer experiences (e.g. flame, water, oil, colour, shape, natural elements, religious symbols, seasonal symbols) PWP3.3
Providing voluntary opportunities for prayer PWP3.4