Pause and Pray

Prayer Opportunities on Campus

Here are our prayer opportunities
at St. Helen!

Rosary

Pray the rosary after our daily 8:15 am mass
or before our 8 am Sunday at 7:40 am.

Eucharistic Adoration

The church and Blessed Sacrament Chapel are open Monday-Friday from 6:30am-3:00pm for personal prayer.

On the first Friday of the month, Eucharistic Adoration begins at 10:00am. The day ends with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from 5:00-6:00pm. During Lent, adoration is extended and Exposition begins at 6:00pm, followed by the Way of the Cross at 7:00pm.

Centering Prayer

Centering Prayer is a method of prayer that is based on ancient Catholic teachings in an updated form. It is not meant to replace devotions or other forms of personal prayer, but should add depth and meaning to them.

The Centering Prayer group normally meets on Wednesdays from 3-4pm. If you have never practiced before, you will be paired with a mentor to prepare and guide you in the process. Please contact us if you would like to participate but the time slot does not work for you.

Some Basic Tips for Prayer!

"For prayer is nothing else than being on terms of friendship with God." -Teresa of Avila

There are many ways to pray! Below we have provided various prayers with resources for each. Some you might find helpful and others not. Try them out and use whichever prayer God connects with you best!

Examen:

IgnatianSpirituality.com: This website provides a number of print, video, and podcast resources and reflections about the Examen. Includes video guides, a six-session podcast about praying the Examen at lunchtime, an ecological Examen, and more.

Praying the Examen with Children: Becky Eldredge, a writer, spiritual director, and retreat leader, describes how to pray the Examen as a family, based on her own experience with her three kids.

Art Prayer:

Spend a few minutes doodling in prayer: If you've ever felt restless or unsure of how to pray, doodling can be a great way to "stay busy" while focusing your thoughts on God. This is a great starting point!

Destress and Pray by... coloring? "Color yourself closer to God" by praying with a mandala. This amazingly therapeutic prayer practice can help quiet the mind and body and bring you more in touch with God.

Liturgical Prayer:

Liturgy of the Hours: Outside of the Mass Liturgy of the Hours is the second official prayer of the Church. Using the psalms and new testament letters, this prayer is prayed by monks and nuns 7 times a day. Most lay people who pray it pray morning, evening, and/or night prayer. Liturgy of the Hours beautifully structures your day around prayer and because the psalms express a wide range of emotions, Liturgy of the Hours can help you express however you are feeling to God at any particular time.