Here is a fact: There are those in our parishes who don’t know much about prayer, don’t know how to pray, or don’t have much of a prayer life at all. Here is another fact: There are those in our parishes who don’t feel a deep sense of belonging, yet truly thirst for it.
We feel these facts are connected. We feel called to make these two facts change for the better. We prayed about it. We meditated, listening to God. We received an answer:
To say that Light for the Journey is an answer to prayer is a good way to start the conversation about it. It’s a true statement, and one that keeps us anchored in our intention. More concretely, it is an answer born out of prayer. It is a way to deepen our prayer lives that fosters a greater sense of belonging and fellowship in our parishes. It has taken the form of a good book that naturally builds up community, giving us:
Principle One: To teach ways to pray based on the instructions of Jesus Christ and supported by the teachings of the Catholic church. In turn, Light for the Journey supports an integration of these teachings and the deepening of a person’s prayer life through presentation of actual experiences of prayer.
Principle Two: To engender a strong sense of belonging for all in the family of God and, more intimately, within parish communities. We believe that prayer is vital for this. Light for the Journey incorporates opportunities for the building up of fellowship and community through its dynamic presentation of prayer experiences. This leads to the further potential for being lived out through deeper, richer, and more fulfilling relationships.
Principle Three: To reclaim the original, centuries-old intentions behind sacred art, which are to inspire and to instruct. We believe that the sacred art found within each of our parishes can become a valuable tool to make manifest Principles One and Two. Each parish has different sacred art. Each edition of Light for the Journey is a new creation that is built around an individual parish’s sacred art. This is part of the power of the book. It becomes a personalized experience for parishioners that is unique for each parish. It makes real the ways of prayer that are taught. It builds a profound sense of belonging tied to a particular sacred space. This opens the door to a building up of community.