Very special prayer days take place in the Hamilton neighbourhood of the Sisters of St. Joseph in Canada. Recently, fifty women from this area gathered at the main residence on a Saturday as part of the 'Praying with the Sisters' retreat day that is offered there three times each year. The women devote 6 hours on a Saturday to spending time listening to how God is speaking to them in their hearts. The pattern is the same: begin with Mass, continue with coffee, listen to a presentation on some spiritual topic, time for personal quiet prayer, lunch, sharing the fruit of their prayer with each other and closing ritual. Straightforward and simple to be sure but never easy to carve out time in their busy lives, making that effort to be with God in a special way.
The presenters over the years seem always to strike the right balance and are tuned into what these women's hearts really long and need to hear, what God wants to make known to them. Saturday's presenter was no different. Sr. Lucille Godfrey of Kitchener-Waterloo pondered the relationship between Martha and Mary and what that relationship can teach.
Each participant greatly appreciates the silent time too where she can wander the property or sit quietly in the chapel listening to whatever God wants to show her at this time on the pilgrimage that is her life.
It is unlikely that there will suddenly be time for prayer; we need to make time.
Nancy Sullivan CSJ