Ministry of Spiritual Accompaniment
Prayer Companions Program
About the Ministry
Prayer Companions Program
The Ministry of the Prayer Companion is a project of the Zambia Association of Sisterhood (ZAS). The project operates in the Archdiocese of Lusaka, being present in 26 Parishes organized into 10 Clusters for easy operation and networking.
This ministry trains local Zambians—Religious Sisters and Laity—as Prayer Companions (also called Prayer Guides) to provide Individually Guided Retreats (IGR) to parishioners of Catholic Churches, Universities, Colleges, and Prisons in Zambia. The program also offers listening sessions to those in need of spiritual support.
There has been a definite hunger among the people of God in Zambia to grow in their relationship with God. Praying with scriptures in a profoundly personal way has been touching people deeply and bringing grace-filled changes to their lives. Virtually all retreatants say that they have never prayed in this way before.
Our Journey
History of the Prayer Companion Ministry
From the first Individually Guided Retreat in 1998 to a thriving ministry serving parishes and prisons across Zambia.
1998
Fr Dave Cullen M Afr introduces Individually Guided Retreats (IGR) at Kabwata Parish, bringing the concept from England
2000-2002
2003
2012
2014
Present
The Beginning
How It All Started
In 1998, Fr Dave Cullen M Afr, working in Kabwata Parish, introduced Individually Guided Retreats in Daily Life (IGR) after learning about them in England. Together with other Priests and qualified spiritual directors, they held the first retreat in Advent 1998. The retreatants were so enthusiastic that these retreats continued two or three times a year with waiting lists for places.
It soon became obvious that there would not be enough Priests and Religious Spiritual Directors to fulfill the spiritual needs of those who wanted to make these retreats. Around this time, the ZAS Executive identified the need to train spiritual directors in Zambia, as most available were ex-patriot missionaries. Cardinal Medardo Muzombwe, then Archbishop of Lusaka, gave his support to this venture.
While ZAS Major Superiors wanted the full Spiritual Directors course to continue, they were not able to release sufficient sisters. As the IGRs grew across parishes like St Ignatius and Regiment, it was decided to set up a less intensive program specifically designed to train people to accompany others through the IGR—the Prayer Companions Course, which commenced in September 2003.
Our Goals
Program Objectives
Training local Zambians (Religious Sisters and Laity) as Prayer Companions
Training local Zambians (Religious Sisters and Laity) as Prayer Companions
Training local Zambians (Religious Sisters and Laity) as Prayer Companions
Offering listening sessions to those in need
Regular on-going formation for commissioned Prayer Companions
Transformation
What Changes in Participants
By the completion of the 10-month course, participants will have experienced significant personal and spiritual growth.
Grown in self-knowledge, human development, prayer and their personal relationship with God
Growth in spirituality affecting the whole person through genuine inner transformation
Improved understanding of spiritual life and acquired skills in spiritual accompaniment
Gone through a process of healing in their own life experiences
Inner transformation shared with environment and people they live and minister to
Curriculum
Course Content Topics
The course runs for a full day on three Saturdays a month for ten months, making it accessible to laity while welcoming sisters as participants.
Role and Identity
Understanding the role and identity of a prayer companion
Role and Identity
Understanding the role and identity of a prayer companion
Role and Identity
Understanding the role and identity of a prayer companion
Scripture Study
Scripture as needed for prayer accompaniment
Human Development
Basic human development principles
African Context
African context in prayer accompaniment
Faith Stories
Sharing of personal faith stories
Conscience Formation
Formation of conscience
Paschal Mystery
Understanding the Paschal Mystery
Social Gospel
Social dimension of the Gospel
Enneagram
Personality and spiritual growth through Enneagram
Relationship Skills
Director/Directee relationship dynamics
Hands-On Learning
Practical Experiences
The training includes essential practical components that prepare participants for real-world ministry.
Experiential knowledge of the dynamic of eight days directed retreat
Conducting Individually Guided Retreats in Daily Life in Parishes with supervision by the Core Team
Apostolic experience working with people most in need (hospice, hospital) followed by theological reflection
An adult education model is used in which participants digest material through personal reading, reflection, and written responses, forming the basis of seminar-type learning. Lectures are given (sometimes using PowerPoint presentations), personal faith sharing takes place, and regular opportunities for practicing accompaniment skills occur with the class observing and critiquing.
Expanding Reach
Prison Ministry
Since 2012, the Ministry has been offering retreats to both male and female prisoners in Kabwata and the remand prison in Kamwala. In December 2014, we gave the first retreat in Mwembeshi High Security Correctional Facility.
Many others of different denominations have also requested to make the retreat and they are accepted, bringing the transformative power of Individually Guided Retreats to those who need it most.