A blank, rectangular piece of fabric was recently placed before each student at St. Joseph’s Indian School. It was accompanied with art supplies in all shades of the rainbow.
These were the ingredients for which the students would use to pray.
Confused?
Sometimes prayers are recited out loud, and can be heard. Sometimes prayers are said inwardly through the quiet places of our hearts, and can be felt. But on this day, children were given the opportunity to see their prayers through art. They each made a prayer flag.
“This was an example of showing our students that they can pray and connect with God through other ways, such as art and creativity,” said Joe, Mission Integration Director.
Students started by coloring their flags in Art class and then finished in Religious Education by writing their prayers down on the flag. Some of the prayers were for guidance to finish the school year strong, some were prayers for the future … while others were prayers of the present. Prayers for change, health and hope.
“I pray for my mom and my grandma to stay safe.”
“God, thank you for giving me the ability to write and for my friends and family.”
“I thank you for my family. Please take away Covid-19 so they don’t get it.”
Other prayer flags featured encouragement and affirmations.
“God has faith in you, so have faith in him!”
The flags were strung among the trees outside the school building, and they greet the children each morning. As certain as the wind will blow each day in South Dakota, it’s certain God is hearing the prayers of the students, and now they can see it in a visible, tangible way.
“As the wind blows, their prayers will be answered,” said Joe.
The prayer flags will remain hung until the end of the school year. Students who return home for the summer months will be given their flag to take with them, as a reminder that God is listening and to continue saying their prayers while away.
“We want our students to be able to pray in whatever way they feel comfortable,” said Joe. “By having these prayers visible, the students are reminded every day that God is with them and he is answering their prayers,” said Joe.
Philámayaye — thank you — for supporting St. Joseph’s Indian School. Join us in prayer each week by going to www.stjo.org/prayer.
What a great idea. I’m sure it helped the children express their own creativity. I’m so grateful that the children have such a caring school to go to.
Another thing St. Joseph does to earn them such high praise!
Love this and the prayer flags. You all are wonderful and respect God.
Love all of you!
Lynne Reese
Wow, this is really beautiful, very inspiring indeed! Art & creativity & symbolism are truly some of the most powerful tools to message & connect, especially with YAHWEH (God) & the Divine Family (Angels, etc.). Putting a prayer out into the wind, it’ll catch a frequency wave/channel & get to where it needs to be. So glad these kids have some amazing teachers that are imparting this wisdom! Plus the kids are probably putting stronger prayer intentions out there because they are doing this creative project from the heart, it’s fun to them, they become passionate about their prayer flag & what they put on it. A lot of real feelings go into these flags I suspect. Compare this to some kid at church on Sunday who Doesn’t wanna be there, maybe they love God but they are thinking about baseball or playing when they get home, it’s natural too, I use to drift away at church too, daydream about “Everything”. These kinds of creative projects are truly a very powerful way to really get the kids to put real heart, mind, & Spirit into connecting with the Divine, and it doesn’t even feel like it’s work, it becomes fun to connect & pray! Keep these prayers flowing, the “Force” is with Y’alls!