Prayer Guidance is one of the essential ministries of Thornhill.  The Centre is the base from which the prayer guidance ministry in the Diocese of Derry was initiated.  This work is shaped by Ignatian spirituality and formation in the ministry is based on the Spiritual Exercises of St.Ignatius.

Ongoing formation for those trained in the ministry, as well as supervision of those actively engaged in this particular work, is consistently provided through the auspices of the Centre.  Currently there are approximately 50 Prayer Guides.  One member of the Church of Ireland trained as a Prayer Guide in 2004 and two ordained ministers of the Church of Ireland trained in this ministry here at Thornhill Centre in 2005. 

BUT WHAT IS PRAYER GUIDANCE?

Through Prayer Guidance, people are helped to use Scripture – the Word of God – as a source of prayer. A Prayer Guide, helps an individual to discover what may be going on in time spent in prayer. A Guide can often help a person to grow in the ways of prayer. An individual may first experience ‘Guided Prayer’ at a ‘Week of Guided Prayer’ in Thornhill, or in their Parish.

It is possible to have on-going guidance in prayer e.g. to meet with a Guide once a month who listens to one’s experience and also may be prompted to suggest further passages of scripture that may be pertinent to the where the person is on their faith journey.