Diocesan primary schools across Wilcannia-Forbes took a fresh approach to passing on faith traditions, with a recent day devoted to prayer.
Over a period of a week each school hosted a day when the usual routines gave way to exploring different ways to pray and experiences of prayer, drawing from ancient traditions and newer methods of engaging young hearts and minds to things of God.
Lucky dip “prayer” boxes, kindness challenges, guided reflections, prayer prompts, a rosary walk and a rosary hopscotch were all options provided for the day, with prayers also offered for the beginning, middle and end.
The initiative was part of the diocese’s approach to partnering with families passing on their Catholic faith traditions, and was implemented to culminate the Year of Prayer and help prepare for the Jubilee Year 2025.
In preparation for the Jubilee, Pope Francis declared 2024 as a Year of Prayer with a special focus on the Our Father.
Supported by resources supplied by Engage and Enrich Consultancy director Meredith Lemos, students had opportunities to explore different types of prayer, focusing on themes such as peace, kindness, and gratitude.
They were then encouraged to share their experience with their families and pray together at home.
“As Pope Francis shared, this Year of Prayer invited us to ‘rediscover the great value and absolute need for prayer—in our personal lives, in the life of the church, and in the world,’ Meredith said.
“The Day of Prayer was an engaging way to draw the diocese and school communities closer to God, as they journey closer to Jubilee 2025.”
Chris Kupkee, head of Catholic identity and mission at Catholic Education Wilcannia-Forbes, said more people are beginning to appreciate for the first time or rediscover the rich Catholic prayer tradition.
“Many within our society are rediscovering the benefits of taking the time to pause and spend time in the presence of God—such as increased feelings of peace, clarity, and gratitude,” he said.
“Here at Catholic Education Wilcannia-Forbes we believe that it’s so important to provide our students, and their families, with a vast range of quality experiences of prayer.
“It may only take one profound experience of prayer to light a spark that guides a child toward a lifelong journey of faith and spiritual growth.
“The diocesan day of prayer was one initiative that formed part of our wider strategic and intentional focus on families engaging in the faith life of their children.
“We want to empower parents to actively walk with their children on the faith journey, while at times it’s the children who are being agents of evangelisation to their parents through specific initiatives that begin at school.
“We are working in partnership with the incredible Meredith who is contributing a great deal of passion, experience and wisdom in this area of family engagement.”
Meredith said the resources were aimed at making the Catholic faith accessible to students, and by extension, their families.
“Rather than just learn about our faith it’s all about offering them opportunities to experience it in an engaging way so they will enjoy it,” she said.
