WHAT is the Year of
Prayer?
A shared experience, over 30 weeks from mid-October of 2005 to Pentecost
of 2006, of praying for key graces of the Spiritual Exercises and discerning
how the Lord is calling us to serve others together.
FOR WHOM is it intended?
Primarily, for those serving in
Jesuit parishes, educational institutions, schools, retreat centers, and
other works in the Maryland Province.
Also, for those who are served by those works.
WHY a Year of Prayer?
To ground our companionship as
Lay and Jesuit Partners on mission more deeply in the Lord.
To renew the Ignatian vision, mission, and method of our work.
To assist those we serve to become ever better "persons for others"
in our troubled world.
HOW will the Year work?
We will be praying for four major GRACES:
Gratitude: To understand and to rejoice gratefully in
who we are and who we are called to become - by God's gracious and loving
desire and design.
Healing: To rejoice gratefully in God's steadfast and
forgiving love - revealed in Christ crucified.
Call: To respond enthusiastically to Christ's call to
join him laboring to build up the Kingdom of truth and love, justice and
peace on earth.
Co-laboring: To live and work as Ignatian companions on
mission together, the hands and feet, heads and hearts, of the risen Lord. |
We will pray through:
- private prayer and reflection for about an hour a day
- a daily Ignatian Examen of Consciousness
- Lay-Jesuit small group meetings for sharing insights and inspirations
-- for those who are able
- regional gatherings several times in the Year for a presentation,
discussion, and exchange of experience in prayer and action
- a year-end gathering in regions to harvest the fruits of our
year long discernment
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With the help of:
- a Guide Book of
meditations, considerations, reflection questions and
- a Resource Book
of articles, book chapters, essays, and poems -- religious and
secular, academic and popular.
- This website, which will be up-dated throughout the Year
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Assisted by committees in each region or city of the province whose members will:
- assure distribution of relevant materials,
- assist small groups to form,
- identify and advertise available "companions" for individuals
and facilitators for groups,
- convene three region-wide gatherings,
- be the communication link within the region, with other regions,
and with the province coordinating team.
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To read the Provincial's letter of invitation, click here.
To register for the Year of Prayer, click here.
For more information on the Year of Prayer, contact yop@mdsj.org.
To read the Year of Prayer Press Release click here.
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