The Society of the Infant Jesus (SIJ) has concluded a week-long spiritual Retreat with a renewed call to its members to deepen their prayer life and strengthen their relationship with God.
The Retreat, held from August 16 to 23, 2026, at the SIJ Motherhouse in Cape Coast, was organised on the theme “Our Prayer Life.”
It was facilitated by Rev. Fr. Joseph Blay, OFM Conv., who guided the sisters through Scripture-based reflections, personal prayer and communal spiritual exercises.
The Retreat explored six major areas: the pre-eminence of prayer, the role of the Holy Spirit, the goals of prayer, communal prayer, impediments to prayer, and prayer through nature.
Prayer at the Heart of Religious Life
Reflecting on the prayer life of Jesus, Fr. Blay stressed that prayer was central to Christ’s relationship with His Father. He cited Luke 11:1, where the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray after witnessing His own prayer life.
He reminded the Sisters that prayer goes beyond speaking to God; it also involves listening, reflection and responding to God.
For Religious Persons, he noted, prayer serves as the spiritual bond that sustains and deepens their relationship with God.
The Retreat further highlighted the role of the Holy Spirit in prayer, particularly in light of Romans 8:26, which teaches that the Spirit helps believers in their weakness when they do not know how to pray.
Prayer That Transforms
Fr. Blay identified three dimensions of prayer: transformative, transactional and formative prayer.
He explained that transformative prayer changes the person, transactional prayer presents one’s needs before God, while formative prayer shapes the individual in holiness and virtue.
The Sisters were encouraged to cultivate a balanced prayer life through adoration, petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise. They were also challenged to allow their prayer to influence their attitudes, relationships and daily actions.
The Power of Communal Prayer
The Retreat emphasised the complementary nature of personal and communal prayer. While personal prayer deepens an individual’s intimacy with God, communal prayer strengthens unity, solidarity and fellowship within the religious community.
Drawing from Matthew 18:19–20, Fr. Blay encouraged the Sisters to appreciate the importance of praying together as a means of carrying one another’s burdens, fostering humility, and promoting forgiveness and reconciliation.
He, however, identified tiredness, inadequate preparation, distractions, boredom and rigidity as some of the challenges that can undermine communal prayer.
The Sisters were therefore encouraged to participate actively and consciously in communal prayer.
Overcoming Obstacles to Prayer
The Retreat identified five broad categories of obstacles to prayer: physical, moral, spiritual, psychological, and social or digital impediments.
Particular attention was drawn to the increasing influence of mobile phones, social media and other digital distractions, which can interfere with silence, concentration and attentiveness to God.
The Sisters were urged to identify whatever prevents them from entering more deeply into prayer and to take deliberate steps to overcome such obstacles.
Encountering God in Creation
The final reflection focused on prayer through nature, drawing inspiration from passages including Psalm 19:1–2, Wisdom 13:5, Psalm 148 and Daniel 3:57–90.
The Sisters were encouraged to contemplate God’s presence and greatness through creation by listening to birds, walking silently and spending time outdoors.
Prayer through nature was presented not only as an opportunity for praise and thanksgiving but also as a reminder of the responsibility to care for and protect God’s creation.
A Renewed Call to Prayer
The Retreat concluded with a strong reminder that authentic prayer must ultimately transform life. Prayer, the sisters were reminded, should deepen their relationship with God, strengthen community life and influence their attitudes, relationships and service.
As they returned to their respective communities, the sisters were encouraged to embrace a renewed commitment to becoming women whose lives, relationships and apostolic service flow from a deep and living communion with God.
By: Sr. Mercy Baidoo , SIJ (Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana -CASCON-GH
