Show engagement with God in prayer
What are the essentials needed to teach adolescents about our loving God? Article 2.
Modelling and properly engaging in our prayer, meditation and sacramental experiences with our students is essential.
As a teacher of religion, e.g. RE, SOR and R&E, there is no greater gift to our students than for them to see us fully engaged in our prayer life.
Being seen in contact with God is a most liberating and freeing experience for those in our care. It will also initially be a challenge for many students. Particularly for those whose home and life experiences don’t exemplify the importance of God or prayer.
For our students to see that these necessary aspects of relating with God are very important and very real for us, is inspirational.
Authentic, genuine depiction of ourselves in prayer can’t be acted/pretended. Students will pick this up quite quickly.
It is often good to maintain a standard classroom format for simplicity of preparation and comfort level of students on most occasions.
Throughout the year give students various experiences of different prayer types, including spiritual meditation.
When at class, year level, school sacraments/liturgies we should be the example of closeness to God. Expect the best from our students, which develops over time. When they appreciate how important it is for us, they will follow as expected. Don’t be the one running around disciplining other class’s students. Be the example of
. You may need the occasional eye contact discipline though.
Lead each religion class and start each school day with some form of prayer.
Model the standard style. At next prayer time explain the process to be used before doing the prayer as per the explained process. As a standard approach throughout the year, follow the set process.
A classroom prayer example: call for intentions, these could be anything within reason, which students ask for prayer for, including one for the students, which could come from the teacher, e.g. an area of weakness each student decides upon in silence and will pray for silently.
1. Begin the prayer, usually with The Sign of the Cross.
2. Teacher or student leader summarises the intentions as a prayer.
3. Students are asked to pray silently for their personal intentions.
4. Conclude with a known prayer or one which has the words supplied to the students, e.g. the Our Father.
Video and Text © Copyright 2018 Bryan W Foster