Video released for those in need of prayer

by Jack O'Sullivan
HOUSETOP, the Londonbased Catholic community, has released a powerful video on prayer — the result of two years work and an outlay of £20,000.
The Seven Circles of Prayer focusses on four everyday characters, — a nurse, an unemployed youth, an old lady and a businessman — all seeking spirituality in their lives.
The 30-minute instructional video, offering a practical guide to prayer, portrays a seven-stage process of spiritual growth. The tirst five parts involve development of self-awareness. and empathy through meditation. In the final two stages the four are seen to come face to face with God.
"Though deeply Christian in inspiration", say the video's producers, "the method of prayer followed will appeal to seekers of all religious traditions."
The video is the brainchild of Fr John Wijngaards, a Mill Hill father and director of the Housetop apostolic centre. BBC producer, Angela Tilby, adapted his ideas to the screen.
Priced at £30 per copy, the video is suitable for parishes, schools and familes, said Fr Wijngaards, noting that a third of British households have video recorders.
He said production was £10,000 cheaper than it could have been, because many people gave their services free. "Producing a book would have been just as expensive", he said.
"Something we, as Catholics must learn is that it is worthwhile making a professional job of such videos."
Fr Wijngaards hopes The Seven Circles of Prayer will be shown on television and is seeking funding for further videos.
He noted that the division of the video into seven sections allowed the possibility of showing just the first five parts to non-Christian or multi-faith audiences.
The Seven Circles of Prayer is available from Housetop, 39 Homer St, London WIH 1HL (01 402 9679), price £30, including post and packing.