PLANNING MEANINGFUL PRAYER EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Angel - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

PLANNING MEANINGFUL PRAYER EXPERIENCES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE Angel Barrera

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“In a culture that valorizes individual subjective experience, Catholicism's focus on historical saints, a (distant) pope, and routinized rituals may inhibit many teens' personal connection to their faith. In such a situation, experiencing a divine miracle or answered prayers may help young people to internalize what t hey might otherwise perceive as an ethereal and external spirituality.” - Christian Smith

“By far the strongest influence on how often a person prayed was the history of significant moments in their relationship with God.” - Michael Mason

ARCHBISHOP CHRISTOPHE PIERRE TO USCCB  What are they looking for? They are looking to be heard. Earlier I mentioned the idea of accompaniment, which implies going to them and being with them. To this, we add listening to them. Listening is an important element of discernment. Pope Francis said: “I think that, in the pastoral ministry of the Church, many beautiful things are being done, many beautiful things. ... But there is one thing that we must do more, even the priests, even the laypeople — but, above all, the priests must do more — the apostolate of listening: to listen!” ( lncontro del Santo Padre con i partecipanti a/ convegno per persone disabili, 11 giugno 2016)

 Making choices in mixing the right set of elements together  Also, allowing for and expect the spontaneity of the moment to create the experience

 Blessing and adoration – Praising God  Petition – Bringing our needs before God  Asking for forgiveness – Relying on God’s mercy and guidance  Intercession – Praying for others  Thanksgiving – Acknowledging all that God has done for us

USE A VARIETY OF FORMS  Silence (as a set time, or silence  Liturgical Prayer (Mass, within prayer) Liturgy of the Hours, sacraments)  Meditation (individual, guided)  Composed (classic,  Contemplation (individual, contemporary) group)  Spontaneous (free, formulaic)  Sung Prayer (songs, psalms, chant)  Lectio Divina (Bible, music, etc.)  Litanies (rosary, spontaneous, classic)  Blessings (objects, events, persons)  Devotions (stations, novenas, cultural)

THERE IS A PATTERN  Gather  Gather the community together and call the community to be aware of God’s presence.  Listen  Listen to the Word of God and remember God’s presence in our lives today.  Respond  Respond to God’s Word through shared prayers, ritual, and movement.  Go Forth  Go Forth as a community to continue our mission and live the Gospel!

 Presider  Proclaimer of the Word  Ministers of Music and Song  Ministers of Environment and Welcoming  Ministers of Ritual and Movement

Five finger prayer • "Lord, I am a sinner. • Come with your mercy ..."

 $225/year for BOTH Middle School and High School ($75 savings)  $150/year for EITHER High School OR Middle School

 Visit www.YouthMinistryAccess.org  Scroll to the bottom to  Proceed to store checkout

Discount Code for Today’s YMA Tour: YMA-TOUR-2016

Angel Barrera angel@cmdnet.org (956) 271-4093