The course ‘Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces‘, which was formed in collaboration between Spiritual Development in Schools and the Pastoral Formation Institute, is designed to equip the participants with the necessary knowledge and skills required to create and run a prayer space in a given setting. The setting of the prayer spaces can be a school, youth centre, parish hall, workplace, open-plan area, or outdoor space.
The course offers participants the opportunity to grow in their connectedness with their own self, with others, with the world, and with God through the prayer spaces experience.
It enables the participants to accompany others and explore their faith, spirituality, and life’s big questions in a safe, creative, and interactive way.
Thus, leading the participants to understand better the shift from living merely to functioning, fulfilling demands and expectations to a more meaningful life.
It also invites the participants to become aware that relationships are strengthened when one takes the time to appreciate and reflect upon them.
6 sessions over 3 weeks
| Date | Session Title | |
|---|---|---|
| Tuesday | 21.11.2023 | Introduction to Prayer |
| Thursday | 23.11.2023 | The Values of Prayer Spaces |
| Tuesday | 28.11.2023 | The Purpose of Prayer Spaces and Prayer Spaces Theology |
| Thursday | 30.11.2023 | Preparing for the setting of Prayer Spaces |
| Tuesday | 05.12.2023 | Creating Prayer Activities |
| Thursday | 07.12.2023 | Recruiting and training a prayer space team, running a Prayer Space and follow up |
Dates, Venues and other information
The course is delivered over 18 contact hours over three weeks in November and December 2023.
Students who successfully complete this course can apply for the Get Qualified Scheme which will enable them to benefit from a tax credit of 70% of the costs incurred (i.e. €87.50 will be refunded back for this course).
For further information or to register for the course ‘Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces’ please the button below or contact Rev Fr Reuben Gauci, coordinator of Spiritual Development in Schools.
Past Training Courses
The inaugural ‘Creating and Animating Prayer Spaces’ course organised by PFI and SDS concluded in December 2022, fostering profound connections within ourselves, fellow participants, the world, and the divine. Through the prayer spaces experience, the 18 participants who completed the 3-week course, nurtured a deeper understanding of our inner selves and the transformative power of prayer, unlocking a newfound connectedness that will resonate in our hearts forever.
Some of the feedback from the participants
“A unique course to the last with an excellent balance between theory and practice. I went into this course intending to have a good tool in my hand to work with the children in school. Still, I was the first to benefit from this tool because each session invited me to a personal prayer experience that I will definitely continue to cherish. Speakers with strong charisma and conviction in what they are saying. You don’t get tired of ever listening to them, instead, you feel thirsty for more. The dynamics created by everything shared between the participants instil joy and a brotherly spirit. I say it with my face in front: it was one of the courses I wished wasn’t over. I recommend it with all my heart, especially for those who feel cut off and always run to keep up with life’s commitments.”
Sr Elaine Mifsud
“I applied for this course to get some quality time to grow spiritually and personally, considering how I could use my talents for the good of others. Although I had been familiar with Prayer Spaces for several years, during this course, I had the opportunity to share with other like-minded people.
We had the opportunity to experience Prayer Spaces and share our views.
Fr Paul Chetcuti, Fr Reuben Gauci and Ms Silvana Cardona all did their utmost to convey their knowledge and experience in a very practical manner. The live connections with foreign counterparts were particularly appreciated.”
Pauline Abela
“Three weeks passed in a blink of an eye. The course was so interesting and invigorating to both the psychological and spiritual side of the self. It was multifaceted in that it touched on aspects of psychology, spirituality, and theology and gave us direct hands-on experience. I highly recommend this journey.”
Christine Trevisan