Overview of A Week / Month of Guided Prayer

What Is A Week (or Month) of Guided Prayer?

These are individually directed retreats made during the course of everyday life.  Retreats are offered for one week or one month duration.

• During A Week of Guided Prayer, each participant is invited to pray privately for at least 30 minutes each day, and will meet with his/her prayer guide privately for 30 minutes each day, Monday through Friday.  Confidential, one-on-one meetings with prayer guides take place in the afternoon or evening, at the convenience of each participant.
• During A Month of Guided Prayer, each participant is invited to pray privately for at least 20 minutes each day, and will meet with his/her prayer guide privately for one hour, once per week for four consecutive weeks.  Confidential, one-on-one meetings with prayer guides take place in the morning, afternoon or evening, at the convenience of each participant.

Since each participant is unique (as well as each prayer guide), exactly what happens during the retreat is different for each person. During the one-on-one meetings, the prayer guide typically is much more of a listener and companion than a teacher or sharer of wisdom. The participant brings to these sessions his/her experiences of what happened during the prayer times as well as other life events and experiences relevant to his/her relationship with God. The prayer guide listens and responds with a welcoming, non-judgmental, compassionate presence - not only to the participant, but also to God’s Spirit moving in their midst. Prayer guides are not allowed to serve in their own church/parish, nor may companion someone they know.

By reflecting back to the retreatant what is heard, by asking an open ended question, by sitting together in silent prayer, or in various other ways, the prayer guide can often help the retreatant listen more deeply to what God wishes to communicate, as well as help the retreatant get more in touch with what s/he wishes to communicate to God. All of this occurs under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Another important source of guidance is the specific, unique desire for this retreat provided by the participant to the prayer guide. With God’s grace, the feedback about the retreatant’s desires and experiences during the retreat, and the knowledge of the prayer guide, suggestions (“guidance”) bubble up to the prayer guide before, during and after the one-on-one sessions regarding specific techniques, Scripture passages and other materials that may be helpful for each particular retreatant to employ during his/her private prayer times. All suggestions are given in freedom, i.e. the retreatant may choose to use them or not.

Who Can Make These Retreats?

This is an ecumenical program so any adult is welcome regardless of parish/church affiliation or denomination.

Why Make this Retreat?

This retreat is tailored to what you desire as an individual participant. It offers the opportunity to journey for awhile with an experienced prayer guide regarding your relationship with God and to become more aware of God’s presence in your life. The retreat also offers the opportunity to explore new ways of praying and an introduction to Ignatian Spirituality.

How Are the Retreats Run?

The retreat begins on a Sunday, where there is prayer as a group and each participant meets his/her prayer guide (lasts about 90 minutes).

During A Week of Guided Prayer, each participant meets privately with his/her prayer guide each day Monday through Friday, while in A Month of Guided Prayer, these meetings occur once per week for four consecutive weeks.

Closing of the retreat is celebrated as a group and lasts about 90 minutes. The closings most often are held on Saturday mornings.

One may still participate in the retreat if not able to attend the gatherings on Sunday and/or Saturday.

The opening session, closing session, and all individual meetings with prayer guides take place in the hosting church’s facilities.

There is no registration fee, but donations are accepted during the retreat.