Prayers from Pupils in Austria

„My God, our Shepherd in these dark days.“

These simple yet powerful words became the title of one of the prayers written by students from the secondary school in Gröbming, Austria.

Together with their teacher for Religious Education, Carola Grundner, the pupils reflected on the Psalms and transformed them into their own personal prayers. In doing so, they kept in mind those who are currently living in places marked by tension and war, and they chose to pray for peace.

Carola wrote to us that the moment was very spontaneous. During a lesson in the afternoon she decided to invite the students to write prayers for us, the the people in Israel. The entire class participated and, despite the challenges that teachers sometimes face in everyday school life, every single student engaged with the task and contributed.

She described it as one of those moments when teachers feel that their work truly bears fruit, when young people pause, reflect, and open their hearts in prayer for others.

For us here in the St. James Vicariate in Jerusalem, receiving these prayers is deeply moving. They are a sign that prayer travels beyond borders, languages, and distances. In times of uncertainty, such gestures remind us that we are not alone.

As Christians, we belong to one body. The prayers of these students show that faith can unite hearts across continents.

With heartfelt gratitude, we thank the students of Gröbming and their teacher Carola Grundner for their support, their prayers, and their closeness in faith.