2008 Youth Supplement

Prayer marks youths’ conversations with God

Kelsey Wilson of St. Thomas More Parish in Mooresville prays before eating her dessert during the trip to New York to see Pope Benedict XVI in April. (Submitted photo)

By Katie Groves (Special to The Criterion)

In today’s world, it has become harder and harder for teenagers to admit they pray. Many even struggle with the definition of prayer. I often question it myself and ask, “Am I doing this right?”

The answer to this question is, “YES!”

If you are praying, you’re doing it right. There is no wrong way. Just the fact that you are praying is enough. Each person has their own unique way to pray and that is the beauty of it.

“I pray before every class and when I feel a necessity for prayer,” says Jay Cougan, a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish in Indianapolis and a student at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.

“I pray in my car on the way to school,” says Andrew DeFeo, a member of St. Lawrence Parish in Indianapolis.

“I pray usually before a test I don’t study for, asking God to help me,” says Amanda Federspiel, a member of St. Christopher Parish in Indianapolis.

Teenagers pray just like you in many ways every day: in the morning when waking up, before school, in the car, before a test, in stressful situations, after school, before meals and before bed.

You’re not alone in questioning whether your prayers are good enough. But they are. God gives us the opportunity to choose when and how we pray every day. It is just up to us to follow through with it.

“I do petitions and thanksgivings,” says Bren Doyle, a student at Roncalli High School in Indianapolis and a member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish in Beech Grove. “Sometimes I do it with my family, and other times just by myself.”

“Sometimes I’ll end up using music,” says Courtney Seiwert, a member of St. Bartholomew Parish in Columbus. “It’s neat. The right song just pops up for what I’m thinking. It’s crazy.”

Just simply saying “Hi, God” is a prayer. We pray subconsciously every day without even knowing it’s a prayer. It’s not meant to be a show. Prayer is a conversation with God in order to talk and create a close relationship with him.

Prayer doesn’t have to be a fancy reciting of written prayers. Those prayers are powerful, but prayer is available at any time and anywhere. Your prayer is up to you. God will always listen no matter when or how you pray.

(Katie Groves is a member of St. Mark the Evangelist Parish in Indianapolis.) †