Assistant Principal - Mission
The Gift of Prayer
In the Gospel last Sunday, Jesus reminds us of the importance of prayer - to “pray continually and never lose heart.” (Luke 18:1-8) Like the persistent widow, we are invited to bring our hopes, struggles, and gratitude to God with trust and perseverance.
Over the past few months, I’ve been intentionally working on my own prayer life through the Ignatian First Spiritual Exercises. This has been a powerful journey of noticing where God is present in my everyday life - not just in moments of formal prayer, but in conversations, challenges, and quiet pauses throughout the day.
A key part of this practice is the Daily Examen, and I’d love to invite you to give it a try. It’s a simple reflection at the end of the day that helps you notice where God has been present.
Begin by taking a few deep breaths and becoming aware of God’s presence. As you breathe in, pray silently, “You are here.” As you breathe out, pray, “And I am with You.”
Then, move through these five gentle steps:
- Ask God for light - to see your day as God sees it.
- Give thanks - for the blessings and moments of grace.
- Review the day - when did you feel close to God? When was it hard?
- Ask forgiveness - for where you fell short or turned away.
- Look ahead - entrust tomorrow to God with hope.
This ten-minute reflection has helped me see God’s hand in the ordinary - in a student’s kindness, a colleague’s support, or even a difficult decision. It reminds me that prayer isn’t just about words; it’s about awareness and relationship.
If prayer feels hard to fit in, start small: a quiet moment in the morning, a short “thank you” at lunchtime, or an Examen before bed. What matters is not the length of time, but the openness of heart.
May we, as a school community, be people who “pray always and never lose heart,” trusting that God listens and walks with us in every moment.
Assistant Principal - Mission