Let’s talk about Prayer:
an online workshop to deepen our understanding and experience
of prayer in a Catholic and Ignatian way
About the workshop
This single session held online via zoom aims to be an opportunity for anyone working in the JECSE network of schools to deepen their understanding and personal experience of prayer.
The workshop, which lasts about 90 minutes, is roughly divided into three parts. First the facilitator offers an introduction to prayer. What is prayer? Why should we pray? How can we pray well? These questions are addressed from a Catholic and Ignatian perspective. Secondly, participants take silent time (in their own homes or space) to be with God in prayer using guidance materials provided. In this first workshop, we will focus on what is perhaps the most central form of personal prayer in the church: Lectio Divina, or listening to God through the Scriptures. Finally, on the third moment of the session, participants return to the webcall and have a conversation, sharing and Q&A about what they experienced.
Since there are different methods (different forms of spiritual exercises as St. Ignatius would say) to disposing ourselves to be with God, we may, in future, offer additional sessions focusing on each of these ways to pray. This would give participants further opportunities to pray and to grow together as part of one European community united in the same mission and the same desire to finding God in all things.
The first workshop will take place on November 6 (Wednesday), from 4:30 to 6:00 pm CET
3:30-5:00 pm Ireland, Portugal, UK / 5:30-7:00 pm Egypt, Lebanon, Lithuania
You can click HERE to register.
For more information, please contact Francisco at fmachado@jecse.org.
Introducing the facilitator: Francisco Machado
Francisco, spent several years as a Jesuit in formation discerning his calling, first in Portugal, then in China and the Philippines. He decided not to ask for priestly ordination and to continue serving the mission as a layperson in the Ignatian tradition. In the past 10 years, he has led many Ignatian retreats and facilitated workshops on prayer and Ignatian Discernment. He is also a spiritual director, passionate about offering individual and group accompaniment to people seeking to deepen their relationship with God. In 2022 Francisco joined JECSE’s executive team and has focused on the areas of faith formation, mission and identity for Jesuit Schools in Europe.
