Prayer is one of the three pillars of Lent, yet many students admit that they struggle to connect with God through prayer. 

This Lent, the Office of Evangelization’s School of Prayer is aiming to give students the tools to create a richer prayer life. This series of workshops kicked off on Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. in Christ the King Chapel with about 100 attendees. It will continue every Monday throughout Lent. 

Bob Lesnefsky, campus Director of Evangelization, began the evening by explaining the goal of School of Prayer, which is providing practical guidance for creating a healthy prayer life. Lesnefsky said that while most Franciscan students grasp the importance of prayer, “we don’t oftentimes talk about how we pray…we’re going back to the basics of how to pray.” 

According to Lesnefsky, School of Prayer will feature a different guest speaker each week, addressing topics like finding freedom in prayer, praying during busy times of life, and praying for healing.    

Lesnefsky then introduced that evening’s presenter, Heather Khym, who spoke about experiencing God’s presence through prayer. 

Khym started her talk by stating the foundational concept of Catholic life. “God’s desire is for friendship with us,” Khym said, “This is what heaven is…and this is the whole point of everything.” She asserted that God’s desire for communion with each person is the driving force behind the story of salvation. 

She related several stories from the Old Testament, such as Moses’s encounter with the burning bush and the construction of the Temple, that demonstrate God’s longing to reunite with his people after the rupture of Original Sin. However, Khym explained that this rupture could only be atoned for through death. 

Khym proclaimed that the death of Jesus has fulfilled God’s will and restored communion with mankind. She said that God now dwells in each person’s heart, a revelation that should shock Catholics, yet remains a theoretical and distant idea for many.  

“If we really let this knowledge move from our head to our heart…this would wreck into our lives in the best way possible,” Khym said. She encouraged attendees to experience this communion through prayer, allowing themselves to be dumbfounded by God’s presence. 

Khym concluded her talk by asking attendees to close their eyes and place their hands on their hearts. She then guided them through Scriptural prayer targeted to help attendees seek God’s presence inside their souls.

Freshman Julia Skalniak said that School of Prayer was a great way to start Lent. She shared that Khym’s talk was “a powerful reminder of the intense love our Lord has for us, and that he is constantly dwelling with us and in us.”  For more spiritual formation (and free t-shirts and stickers), students are encouraged to attend School of Prayer throughout Lent. By the end of Lent, Lesnefsky hopes students will be well equipped to pray deeply and consistently.