If students learn differently, then maybe they pray differently.
That’s the takeaway from Elementary Religion and Family Life Consultant Carmelina Biundo’s Passion for Prayer Day.
This special day is dedicated to prayer, reflection, and faith formation, inviting students to encounter prayer in new and meaningful ways to experience God’s loving and powerful presence. “We can use these ways over and over again to bring us closer to God.”
Through a variety of engaging activities and workshops, students explored different forms of prayer.
Biundo came up with the idea for a Passion for Prayer Day several years ago at St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Elementary School after a discussion with her students on personal prayer. She said while the students were familiar with traditional Catholic prayers, they didn’t have much experience with personal prayer.
“I wanted to help my students find a way to make their prayers more meaningful and with intention, in addition to praying our traditional Catholic prayers. It was my hope that exposing them to new forms of personal prayer, that they connect with God on a deeper level,” said Biundo.
As a class, they researched different ways to pray and shared it with the rest of the school and it was very well received by staff and students. From that day Passion for Prayer Day was born.
This year, during the months of May and June, four schools hosted a Passion for Prayer Day. St. Marguerite d’Youville, St. Ann Hamilton, St. Michael and Blessed Sacrament were able to experience Passion for Prayer Day for the first time, as Biundo introduced the school to the idea as requested by principals and Religion Representatives.
The day began with a Liturgy and continued with student workshops that included six categories of prayer, designed to meet the individual learning needs of students, explained Biundo:
When Faith Meets Technology (Technology and Prayer),
Transformation through Tunes (Musical Prayer),
Prayers in Motion (Active Prayer),
Drawn to Faith (Artistic Prayer),
Touched by Faith (Tactile Prayer), and
Prayers of the Heart (Contemplative Prayer).
Depending on the category of prayer and grade, Biundo created different prayer activities for students to explore. There were 24 different workshops presented throughout the day with each class having the opportunity to explore six workshops that focused on each category of prayer.
Some of those activities on rotation included Classroom Prayeraoke, Don’t Forget the Liturgical Lyrics, Bible Origami, "Pray” Dough, Christian Meditation, InstaGod Prayers, and Praise Prayers.
A favourite among the primary students was the workshop “Building Faith Brick by Brick,” which included using Lego to recreate Bible scenes.
Another highlight, Lip-sync Liturgical, invited junior students to create a prayer to the tune of a familiar song, by changing the lyrics.
Staff and students expressed their gratitude with the following feedback.
“It was a beautiful day of reflection, connection, and faith, which created a truly meaningful and memorable experience for our entire school community. We are so grateful with heartfelt appreciation.”
“I wanted to say again how blessed we are to have had this opportunity. It was a wonderful day and as I said every school should do this it's a great opportunity for all of us to reconnect and focus on our faith!!”
“I really liked spending the entire day with Jesus. I know He is always with us but to intentionally invite Him to every part of my day was truly special and to do this with my classmates was even more special. I want to remember to do this every day.”
Regardless of the workshop or prayer, it was evident that the prayers of one, became the prayers of all gathered, and together we witnessed the power of prayer.
