Bishop Heelan High School wall still speaks

Ten years ago, inspired by the film War Room, theology teacher Leslie Kirkpatrick began something small: a prayer wall. At the time, it was just an idea, to invite students to write their prayers on sticky notes and post them anonymously. 

“You never know how things will go over,” she shared. “But the kids immediately gravitated toward it.”

What started as a small act of faith has grown into something extraordinary. It is now an ever-growing collection of deeply personal intentions layered with hope, heartbreak, healing, and gratitude. The wall has held thousands of silent cries and whispered thank-yous. For some students, it is the first place they have truly felt safe enough to share their prayers.

A few high school students shared what the wall means to them:

“I think it’s just cool that your prayers get prayed for multiple times a day. There are prayers from ten years ago up there… and mine too.”

“The thought that my brother’s prayers and my sister’s prayers are still on that wall… it’s really powerful.”

“There are things I’ve written on that wall I could never say out loud. But they’re still being lifted up. And that means everything.”

“You don’t have to put your name on it. You get to be truly honest. And every time you walk past, you remember, that prayer is still there. Still heard.”

What surprises many is how the wall’s impact continues long after the ink has dried.

“Some of those prayers were answered long ago,” one student said. “But they’re still getting prayed over. That’s kind of the point. It’s about the long journey of life, not just the moment.”

The students are not alone in recognizing the wall’s significance. Mrs. Kirkpatrick recalls, “When we moved buildings, I didn’t realize how much it meant to them until students got angry at the thought of it not continuing.” 

Her voice cracked as she described how deeply the wall has ministered to students in their hardest moments. 

“Some days, kids walk in sobbing and just ask, ‘Can I have a sticky note?’ I don’t ask questions. I just let them write. Sometimes they stay and we pray. Sometimes, they just need a place to go with their pain," Kirkpatrick said.

For a generation that often struggles to say things out loud, the wall has become a sacred sanctuary. It is a visible reminder that they are not alone. Every single note is seen by God. And each one represents a soul bold enough to ask for help. 

“I think prayer is one of the most intimate things you can do,” said one student. “You can be completely yourself before God. There’s zero judgment. And that wall? It’s a wall of honesty.”

As Kirkpatrick prepares to leave the classroom, one question weighs heavy: What happens to the prayer wall? 

“I’ve told them that if no one takes it on, we’ll respectfully burn the notes and lift them to the Lord,” she said. “But the kids don’t want that. They’re fighting for it to stay.”

And perhaps that is the clearest sign of all. This wall is not just a collection of paper and ink. It is a legacy of faith, carried by students who have encountered God in the most unexpected of places. Through prayer, through community, and through the quiet comfort of knowing they are never, ever alone.

“I just hope someone picks it up,” Kirkpatrick said. “Because in the end, we’re not here for test scores. We’re here to teach kids how to find God when life gets hard. And this wall, it’s done that."