Tag Archives: prayer life

Contemplative prayer group offers community and solace

By Brigid Curtis Ayer

Carmel—Silence is hard to come by in today’s noisy world, but not for those who attend a tri-weekly, contemplative prayer group at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, in Carmel.  Silence drives the experience of encountering Jesus.

Barb Gryna, who created and leads the prayer group, says the format draws together a small group seeking peace and conversation with God. The group’s genesis provided a way for Gryna to deal with her anxiety and depression and support others suffering with it. Gryna say one need not have depression or anxiety to attend, the group welcomes anyone who seeks to deepen his or her relationship with God.

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“Cone of Silence” Prayer Works for Me

All About The Grace –Perspectives on Faith, Culture & Media Savvy

Do you remember the “Cone of Silence”? Think Nickelodeon TV, MeTV, or if you are old enough, perhaps you recall it from your after-school television viewing.  If you are not familiar with it, the “Cone of Silence” is a device used by good guy Control agents from one of my favorite 1960’s television comedy spy shows called Get Smart. The main characters, the Chief and Maxwell Smart, also known as Agent 86, attempt to have “top secret” conversations inside a plastic double dome that appears from the ceiling at the press of a button. The scenes where this “silent” chamber is used for private conversations results in exaggerated speaking and listening. It’s hysterical. You see, the gadget rarely works as designed rendering the characters virtually mute to each other. Subsequently, it requires shouting so they can be heard. This exercise hardly accomplishes the desired goal of a “top secret” conversation, to prevent the bad guy organization, known as Kaos, from getting wind of their plan.

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Take up your cross daily and follow Me

Gospel Reading LK 9:22-25

Jesus said to his disciples:
“The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected
by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed and on the third day be raised.”

Then he said to all,
“If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself
and take up his cross daily and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit is there for one to gain the whole world
yet lose or forfeit himself?”

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Marian Prayer Garden offers prayer space and beauty

Father Richard Doerr prays during the blessing and dedication of the new Marian Prayer Garden. (Photo by Brigid Curtis Ayer)

Father Richard Doerr prays during the blessing and dedication of the new Marian Prayer Garden. (Photo by Brigid Curtis Ayer)

By Brigid Curtis Ayer (For The Catholic Moment)

CARMEL — Resting beneath a giant oak tree is a new place of prayer and meditation: the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Marian Prayer Garden.

More than 100 parishioners, young and old, gathered for prayer and song at the site July 18 to witness its official blessing and dedication by pastor Father Richard Doerr in honor of former longtime pastor Msgr. John Duncan.

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