Pray As You Grow offers short, immersive prayer sessions which invite children to enter imaginatively into scenes from scripture and reflect on their own response to what they encounter.
Created for use both in the classroom and at home, the new resource draws on the Ignatian tradition of imaginative contemplation, in which people are encouraged to engage their senses and imagination as they place themselves within a Gospel scene.
The sessions have been developed with teachers and chaplains and are tailored for three different age groups, making the resource accessible to children and young people at different stages of their spiritual development.
Maria Neal, Jesuit Institute Schools Officer, said:
“It is our hope that this audio resource will be an invitation to cross a divine threshold into an imaginary experience. In this encounter they will have the opportunity to wonder about their responses and feelings in a multi-sensory way, evoking a deeper understanding of God’s presence with them in their lives today.”
The launch builds on a growing focus on children, families and schools at Pray As You Go, the Jesuit prayer platform which celebrated its 20th anniversary earlier this year.
Founded in 2006 as a Lenten experiment offering short audio prayers for commuters, Pray As You Go has since grown into an international digital ministry used by more than half a million people each year. Its daily prayer and wider library of retreats and reflections are rooted in the Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius Loyola.
Pray As You Grow extends that approach specifically to younger listeners. The Pray As You Go team describes the new collection as an opportunity to “journey through Scripture with immersive, imaginative prayer created especially for children and young people”.
The first new series, Creation and Covenant, is now available, with short sessions tailored to three different age groups. The wider Kids & Youth collection also brings together prayer resources including Examens for children and young people, daily offerings and imaginative prayer.
For teachers in Catholic schools, the library has also been designed to complement scripture included in the 2023 Religious Education Curriculum Directory produced by the Catholic Education Service. Further strands and sessions are expected to be added to the collection.
The resource is completely free and is available through the Pray As You Go website and free app. It contains no advertising or subscription requirement, and has been designed without chat functions or user profiles for children.
Explore Pray As You Grow and the Kids & Youth prayer resources on Pray As You Go.
The Jesuit Institute supports Jesuit and other schools in developing their Ignatian identity through resources, formation and training for pupils, teachers, chaplains, school leaders and governors.
Watch The Making of Me, a short film exploring the Jesuit approach to the formation of young people and the importance of educating the whole person.
