Emily Weber, second from left, spends time with the other Providence Volunteer Ministers praying through art.

By Emily Weber, 2008 Providence Volunteer Minister

Our Sabbath Day in March with Sister Rosemary Shmaltz was a very eye-opening one. She showed us that there are many different ways to pray and reflect.

Some people bow their heads and close their eyes, others walk labyrinths or use music as an outlet to minister or pray. But on our Sabbath Day we learned how to channel our thoughts and prayers through art. Sister Rosemary only had one rule — "Don't think, just paint." So we did just that. She put on some soft music to calm us down and set the mood.

Through inked coffee filters, colored pencils, water colors, and lead pencil sketches we reflected upon our time at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, blessings, burdens and personal spirituality.

The result of our artistic, reflective expressionsim (besides some beautiful, creative artwork to hang on our Owens Hall room walls) was the sense of freedom for a unique, progressive alternative way to pray.