Meditation and Prayer

Centering Prayer
Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship.

Centering Prayer is not meant to replace other kinds of prayer. Rather, it adds depth of meaning to all prayer and facilitates the movement from more active modes of prayer — verbal, mental or affective prayer — into a receptive prayer of resting in God. Centering Prayer emphasizes prayer as a personal relationship with God and as a movement beyond conversation with Christ to communion with Him.

The source of Centering Prayer, as in all methods leading to contemplative prayer, is the Indwelling Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The focus of Centering Prayer is the deepening of our relationship with the living Christ. The effects of Centering Prayer are ecclesial, as the prayer tends to build communities of faith and bond the members together in mutual friendship and love.

Thursday, March 19, 2008
8 p.m.
St. Thomas More Church

Wednesday, April 1, 2008
8 p.m.
St. Thomas More Church

Holy Hour
Holy Hour is a devotional exercise consisting of mental and vocal prayer with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. It draws its inspiration from Christ's words to the Apostles in Gethsemane: "Can you not watch one hour with me?" It was taught by the Savior to St. Margaret Mary (1647-90) as one of the special practices of the Sacred Heart devotion. In the early nineteenth century a confraternity was founded at Paray-le-Monial, France to spread the devotion, which has been highly recommended by the popes. The Passion of Christ is the theme during the hour, variously divided into meditation, vocal prayer, and singing.  All are welcome.  Come for the hour or for a part of the hour.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009
9:30 p.m.
St. Thomas More Church

Wednesday, March 18, 2009
9:30 p.m.
St. Thomas More Church

Wednesday, April 1, 2009
9:30 p.m.
St. Thomas More Church

Catholic Bible Study
In this year of Paul the Catholic Bible Study group will focus on Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians to see what impact Paul’s words have on us as we pray, reflect, and imagine over the forth days of Lent. Contact Sister Patty O’Brien, obrienp@stjohns.edu, (718) 990-6466 for the place of the meeting.

Thursday, February 26, 2009
12:10 - 1:20 p.m.

Thursday, March 5, 2009
12:10 - 1:20 p.m.

Thursday, March 26, 2009
12:10 - 1:20 p.m.

Thursday, April 2, 2009
12:10 - 1:20 p.m.