Centering Prayer

a-house-of-prayer_webSalem Heights is a powerhouse of prayer! The Sisters who live there have daily Eucharist, Liturgy of the Hours each day, hours of adoration, and opportunity for communal and private prayer.

Very near the chapel, hanging on the wall, is our prayer board – on which we list the prayer requests which come from our C.PP.S. Sisters, our employees, relatives and friends. Many times people just call in and request our prayers. We are truly recognized to be a place of prayer.

Since I am no longer in the hustle and bustle of active ministry and with the slowing down of life, I experience a desire for a deeper union with God. Such an opportunity presented itself to me here at Salem Heights. A group of Sisters and a couple of former Sisters meet weekly for Centering Prayer in our Blessed Sacrament chapel. I have no training in this form of prayer so I feel this group is nurturing me! We create quiet by listening to soft, instrumental music and lighting a candle before the Blessed Sacrament. When all are gathered, the music is stopped. The leader then shares a short piece of Scripture or some spiritual writer’s words on prayer. Sometimes she leads us in a mantra which we sing several times – each repetition quieter than the previous one. We try to just sit in God’s presence with no words, but rather being open to listen to God. After fifteen minutes of quiet, we close by praying the Lord’s Prayer together.

I especially like doing this type of praying with others. I experience a unique kind of presence of God and others.

By Sister Lou Ann Roof

Assembly Directive: To integrate our Spirituality in our sharing among ourselves and others.

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