Prayer & Small Groups

Prayer is at the heart of the Catholic life. Whether practiced individually or in community, prayer opens us to a deeper relationship with God and helps us grow as disciples.

Who These Resources Are For

• Parish small faith-sharing groups

• Lenten or seasonal series

• Youth groups and Confirmation programs (Grades 8+)

• Retreats and days of reflection

• Individuals seeking structured prayer

Prayer and Small-Group Focus Areas

Methods of Prayer

Introduces different ways Catholics pray, helping participants discover prayer practices that resonate with them.

Examples include:
Lectio Divina, Ignatian Meditation, charismatic prayer, silence and contemplation.

Scripture-Based Prayer

Helps participants learn how to pray with Scripture and listen for God’s voice through the Word.

Examples include:
Gospel reflection, Psalms, guided Scripture meditation.

Faith Sharing

Encourages participants to reflect on how God is present and active in their lives and to share their faith in a supportive environment.

Seasonal Series

Designed for Advent, Lent, Easter, or parish-wide series that invite deeper reflection and conversion.

Media-Based Small Groups

Uses short videos or series (such as The Chosen) as conversation starters grounded in Scripture and Church teaching.

Sample Small-Group Prayer Session

The following example shows how a typical prayer-based small-group session might be structured.

Sample Session: Praying with Scripture

Purpose:
To introduce participants to praying with Scripture and listening for God’s invitation in their lives.

Typical length: 60–75 minutes
Suitable for: Adults, Youth (Grades 8+), or mixed groups

Session Flow

1. Welcome and Opening Prayer (5 minutes)
Invite the group to become still and place themselves in God’s presence.

2. Scripture Reading (10 minutes)
Proclaim a short Scripture passage slowly, allowing time for silence.

3. Guided Reflection or Video (15 minutes)
Offer a brief reflection or watch a short video introducing the prayer method.

4. Faith Sharing (25 minutes)
Invite participants to share what stood out to them, without pressure to respond or explain.

5. Closing Prayer (5 minutes)
Conclude with intercessions or a simple prayer of gratitude.

Small-group prayer is most fruitful when participants are free to share without judgment and to listen without the need to fix or correct others. Leaders are encouraged to foster an atmosphere of reverence, trust, and openness to the Holy Spirit.