A Prayer Walk is a great warm-weather activity to use as a religion class extension or school-wide community-building opportunity. Our Catholic Faith is not limited to the church building, but an integral part of our daily lives!
The walk can be as simple or complex as you want. With advanced planning, including field trip forms if necessary, the walk can take place throughout the neighborhood surrounding the school. A walk can work equally well with a single class, staying on school grounds, choosing various points throughout the campus as stops.
5 Tips for Planning a Fun and Meaningful Prayer Walk
- Choose a theme for the walk
- Choose 5 stops for the reflections
- Create a map
- Cohesive reflections for each stop
- Invite others to participate
1. Choose a theme for the walk
This year our school theme is “Choose to Be Saints,” so the Prayer Walk was an opportunity to extend that idea. Each stop focused on a different classroom patron saint and their example for our lives:
- St. Joseph
- St. Josephine Bahkita
- St. Teresa of Calcutta
- St. Francis of Assisi
- St. John the Apostle
2. Choose 5 stops for the reflections
Choosing 5 stops makes it easy to pray a chaplet or rosary between each stop. Choose a location for each of the stops based on your local surrounding. What are the landmarks on campus? You might have a 10 Commandments statue or Mary garden. Think about the locations available and the size of your group. Try to make the stops evenly spaced so if there are multiple groups they walk at about the same pace.
If you are going off-campus, see if there are parishioners that would allow you to use their driveway as a prayer stop. Some of our neighbors choose to set out a garden statue or prayer table with a crucifix. Often, retired parishioners enjoy watching the children walk by and praying with them as well. Nearby parks also make a great destination!
3. Create a map
How to make a route map:
- Open Google Maps and type the address of your starting location or click on the location on the map
- Click on the Direction arrow icon.
- Choose the pedestrian Walking icon.
- Add the first destination address and the first segment of the map will appear as blue dots. The destination is a white dot with a black outline.
- Continue adding all prayer stops. A time estimate will be provided as seen above in the white pop-out.
- Make sure to add prayer time to the estimated walking time so that you are not rushed.
Depending on the length of the route and how many students are participating, you may want to chalk directional arrows to indicate turns. Printable arrow signs are also an option. If the Prayer Walk is a large event, you may also want yard signs indicating the stops.
4. Cohesive reflections for each stop
Consider the theme of the Prayer Walk and write or purchase reflections for each spot. The Mysteries of the Rosary are always a great choice. I have an ACTS (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving, Supplication) + Marian option and Saint-themed Prayer Walk available in my TpT store.
Make sure to print the reflection pages for each stop. Cardstock will hold up best against the wind. For extra durability, you may choose to laminate the pages if you plan to repeat the same theme for multiple years.
If praying the rosary or chaplet while walking, it is usually best to divide all the students into leader/response groups, rather than just having one or two leaders. With only a leader or two, it is difficult for the entire group to hear and stay together.
5. Invite others to participate
If you have a religious community nearby, they may have a larger scale statue or altar used for processions. Invite them to create a stop, either at a nearby park or on the school grounds. Your priest may be available to offer adoration at a stop or in the church.
To further involve the community, you can invite parents and siblings to join in the walk or even make it a parish event! Our classes can use the buddy system to pair lower and upper-grade levels.
Does your school or class do a Prayer Walk?
Additional Resources
ACTS + Marian Prayer Walk Guide
ACTS model of prayer (Adoration, Contrition, Thanksgiving and Supplication), plus a Marian stop! The cards are editable, so they can be changed to accommodate your specific environment.
Contents include:
- Suggestions for Use
- Preparation & Supplies
- Optional Extras for a School Event
- Sidewalk Quote Ideas
- How to Make a Route Map/Estimate Walk Time
- Printable Directional Arrows
- How to Pray the Rosary
- Prayer Stop Cards
- Snack Idea
Saints Included:
- St. John the Apostle
- St. Joseph
- St. Josephine Bahkita
- St. Teresa of Calcutta
- St. Francis of Assisi
Contents:
- Suggestions for Use
- Preparation & Supplies
- Optional Extras for a School Event
- Classroom Patron Saint Ideas
- How to Make a Route Map/Estimate Walk Time
- Printable Directional Arrows
- How to Pray the Rosary
- Snack Idea
- Saint Reflections Cards
2 Responses
Good luck!
Thanks! It was a great day of prayer and community-building.