PRAYER & DISCERNMENTMake time for God.
Learn to recognize His voice.
Prayer does not have to be complicated.
Prayer begins by making room for God and bringing Him the truth of your actual life. As your relationship with Him deepens, you learn to recognize His voice, distinguish it from the noise around you, and respond more freely to where He is leading.
God alone knows the deepest desires of our hearts. He created us for Himself and placed within us a desire for Him. Through prayer, He purifies our desires and reveals not simply what will make us happy, but where He is calling us to love most fully, lay down our lives most completely, and serve His Kingdom most fruitfully. That is the heart of discernment.
Discernment is not limited to choosing a vocation or making one major decision. It is a lifelong practice of listening for God’s voice and bringing our lives into greater conformity with His will.
Whether you are learning to pray for the first time, looking for a regular rhythm of prayer, or discerning a major decision, you do not have to figure it out alone.
Begin a Life of Prayer
You do not have to know exactly what to say. Begin by showing up.
Prayer is time spent with God. Sometimes it is peaceful and consoling. Other times it feels quiet, distracted, or dry. What matters is continuing to return and allowing Christ to meet you there.
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The Mass is the center of our life at St. Mary’s. Here, Jesus gives Himself to us in the Eucharist and draws us more deeply into His Church. Regular Confession allows us to receive His mercy, begin again, and continue growing in freedom.
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Adoration is time spent with Jesus Christ, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament. You can come to pray, read Scripture, sit quietly, or simply allow yourself to be with Him. You do not need a perfect plan or the right words. Come and spend time with Jesus.
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A life with Christ grows through regular time with Him. Begin with a few minutes each day, bring Him what is actually happening in your life, and learn to listen through Scripture and silence. The goal is not to become good at prayer. It is to know and love the Person you are praying to.
“If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy!”
– ST. MOTHER TERESAPray with Others
Personal prayer matters, but we were never meant to seek God entirely on our own.
Throughout the week, students gather at St. Mary’s to worship, pray with Scripture, spend time before the Eucharist, and ask the Holy Spirit to move in their lives. Come on your own or bring a friend.
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Begin the day by praying Morning Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours with others in the Hannigan Chapel. No experience is needed, and you can use the iBreviary app to follow along.
Tuesday–Thursday, 9:00–9:15 AM
Hannigan Chapel -
Magnify is an evening of Eucharistic Adoration, sacred music, and a talk to inspire deeper prayer and devotion. Prayer teams are available throughout the evening, and students gather for community afterward. If you are looking for a simple way to take a step beyond Sunday Mass, this is a good place to begin.
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Rooted in the Church's tradition of prayer and devotion, The Rock invites students to encounter the living Christ — present in the Eucharist, alive in His Church — through music and reflection ordered toward deeper discipleship.
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Take a break in the middle of the week and pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet with other students. DMC on the Hill gathers Tuesday nights in the Marian Courtyard and meets on campus during weeks when Silver Taps is held.
Discern Your Vocation
Discernment is not a one-time decision.
It is a lifelong school of listening. The Church's rich tradition of the discernment of spirits, rooted in Sacred Scripture and developed through masters like St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. John of the Cross, teaches us to recognize the movement of God in our souls, distinguish His voice from the noise of the world, and respond with freedom and courage.
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Discernment Dinners give men and women a place to ask questions, hear from others, and consider where God may be leading them. You do not need to be certain that you are called to priesthood or religious life. You only need to be willing to listen.
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If you have wondered whether God may be calling you to the priesthood, religious life, or another form of consecrated life, you are not expected to discern that question alone. St. Mary’s can connect you with priests, religious sisters and brothers, and others who can help you listen and respond freely.
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Dating with Purpose is a 6-week formation course for seriously dating couples who wish to bring their relationship before God, examining it through the lens of Catholic teaching on love, chastity, and the sacrament of marriage. Because marriage is a covenant that images the love of Christ for His Church (Eph. 5:25–32), it deserves not just intentionality, but prayer, sacrifice, and honest discernment.
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Marriage is a vocation through which a husband and wife become a living sign of Christ’s faithful love for His Church. If you are engaged or beginning to prepare for marriage, St. Mary’s will walk with you through the sacramental preparation process.
Learn About Marriage Preparation →
These walls cannot make you holy.
But within them, Christ gives you everything you need to become a saint.
Walk with Someone
Sometimes the next step becomes more clear when you say it out loud.
God often works through the wisdom and presence of another person. Whether you are growing in prayer, discerning a vocation, carrying something difficult, or trying to live the Christian life more faithfully, people at St. Mary’s are ready to listen and walk with you.
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Spiritual Direction is a sacred accompaniment in which a trained director (typically a priest, deacon, or consecrated religious) listens alongside you as you seek God's will. Rooted in the ancient wisdom of the Church, spiritual direction is not therapy or counseling. It is a conversation ordered entirely toward helping you hear God's voice more clearly, respond more generously, and grow in holiness.
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You do not need to be in crisis or have a major decision in front of you to ask for a conversation. Our priests and campus ministers are available to listen, pray with you, and help you consider a faithful next step.
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At times, spiritual accompaniment and the support of friends are not enough on their own. Counseling offers a confidential place to address mental health, relationships, grief, anxiety, and other parts of life that may require professional care.
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Chastity Groups provide a confidential, Christ-centered support for students seeking freedom and healing in the area of sexual integrity. You will be met with honesty, compassion, and respect.
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The Pursuit is a confidential and formative community for students who experience same-sex attraction or gender dysphoria and desire to live the Catholic faith. Students walk with one another as they grow in friendship, virtue, and their identity as beloved sons and daughters of God.
You do not have to figure everything out today.
Begin with the next faithful step. Come to Mass. Spend an hour with Jesus. Ask someone to pray with you. Make an appointment. God is already at work, and St. Mary’s is here to walk with you as you learn to recognize His voice.