Jesus said, “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11: 28-30).

A Week of Guided Prayer is an opportunity for members of our OLICAT family from one school to engage in an experience that allows them to share the load, receive and go away strengthened in mind, body and spirit.

The Week of Guided Prayer is a new opportunity led by Helen Burgess our OLICAT Chaplaincy Coordinator who is a trained Spiritual Director.  It is weaved into the working week and doesn’t require leaving your school site. It is a hybrid programme partly in person and partly online using Microsoft Teams. 

It normally runs over 4 days similar to the description in the box below. Helen is flexible and works with staff to find the best model for each school. Staff feel refreshed and renewed at the end of the week but also challenged to explore their faith and spirituality in a new way. The group are not necessarily all from the Catholic tradition. A Christian model of prayer and reflection is used but all are welcome. Groups usually consist of 4-6 staff members.

 

 

The format of a week of Guided Prayer:

Theme	A topical theme relating to the liturgical year or Feast day of the School is chosen
Monday	Introduction to week for the staff involved (in person) 45 minutes - I hour at a suitable time (before or after the school day)
Tuesday	Individual opportunity for Staff to have spiritual direction (30 minutes each) at a suitable time via Microsoft Teams
Wednesday	Second opportunity for Staff to have spiritual direction (30 minutes each) at a suitable time via Microsoft Teams.
Thursday	End of week gathering (in person) 45 minutes - 1 hour at the end of the school day or a suitable time.