“This helped me to prioritize prayer,” said Okoye, who is 26.

The idea for a prayer space actually came to her in prayer. It was the start of Lent and she was praying about how she could make the most of the season.

Since prayer is essential to our faith, she hoped that dedicated space for this purpose would inspire her to pray more.

 She was happy to discover she had what she needed scattered around her house. She gathered the items and placed them on a small table. This simple gesture has brought more peace into her life.

“I have come to know my Lord, my Father so much more. I know I have a place, no matter how busy my day, where I can look at Him on the cross and ponder His suffering and His joy. It has made a world of difference being close to my Lord,” said Okoye, who worships and works at Mary Help of Christians Parish in Tampa.

Lynn Kilbride, author of Creating Sacred Art, says prayer spaces such as Chioma’s are one way to connect faith to everyday life.

“It’s expected that we will decorate our homes with pictures of people we love. If we love Christ, His mom, and the saints, we want to look at them and remember them, too,” said Kilbride, an artist who helps people create sacred spaces.

She encourages people to also decorate workspaces with religious art to encourage prayer and reflection throughout the day. Her office at St. Ignatius Parish in Tarpon Springs, includes a prayer space.

“I have a scented candle, icons of Mary and Jesus, and a rosary,” said Kilbride. “It brings elements of my faith into my office.”

She said prayer spaces are essential to encouraging regular prayer.

“If you don’t have a prayer time, it’s probably because you don’t have a prayer space,” said Kilbride. Gloria Kulcheski, of Clearwater, created a prayer space in her home office during the COVID quarantines of 2020, when it was hard, if not impossible, to go inside a church. But years later, she still appreciates the space she had dedicated just for prayer.

“My prayers always consist of a Rosary, St. Michael Chaplet, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Scripture reading, and journaling,” said Kulcheski, who is a Marian Servant of Divine Providence, a lay apostolate based in Clearwater.

Her prayer space includes a crucifix that survived a church fire, a gift from a beloved aunt. She also has a small TV to livestream Eucharistic Adoration from churches around the world. Transforming the space in her condo has also transformed her life.

“To be able to spend devoted time with Jesus with as few interruptions as possible, to seek him and to honor and glorify him, it brings me peace,” said Kulcheski.

A Closer Look at the Contents of Chioma’s Prayer Space

Small table to display items

Crucifix made of olive wood from Jerusalem

Crucifix hand made by a Salesian brother she met in Rome

White board for daily prayer intentions and her prayer-inspired Word of the Week

Holy water from the Shrine at Our Lady of Knocks in Ireland

Blessed oil from Jerusalem

Open Bible

Prayer cards

Rosary

Breviary to pray Liturgy of the Hours

Painting of the Blessed Mother and Jesus