My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going
I do not see the road ahead of me
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think that I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you
and I hope I have that desire in all I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me on the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore, will I trust you always.
Though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death,
I will not fear, for you are ever with me
and you will never leave me to face my struggles alone. Amen.

Thomas Merton-Trappist Monk

Prayer forms the foundation of a disciple's life. Teaching people how to pray is integral to deepening their spiritual ife and encounters with the Living God. Prayer also helps to answer life's big questions, such as:

• Who am I? Why am I here?

• How do I know what God's plan is for my life?

• How do I know I am on the "right track"?

• How do I know if what I want is actually what God desires for me?

• Is my life leading me towards heaven?

These are questions we may ask as we strive to follow Christ--but how do we know if we are actually on the right path? Prayer is the foundation for building a relationship with God. Discernment is "holy listening"--the process praying a decision based on where God is inviting us rather than solely considering "what's in it for me?" 

In this workshop participants will discover a variety of prayer techniques designed to lead to a deeper and more intimate relationship with God. Using the teachings of the great saints and holy men and women of prayer and discernment including Teresa of Avila, Ignatius of Loyola, John of the Cross, Therese of Lisieux, Henri Nouwen, Thomas Merton and others, participants will gain a more clear understanding of how to recognize the movements of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

This workshop is a good follow-up to Discovering Your Gifts or can also be of benefit to those in RCIA or as offering to follow Alpha or Christ Life.

Contact us for more information.