Ponder Packs: Make Space, Be Still & Ponder
"Do you desire deep peace & purpose?"
That is the first question on the Ponder Packs website. It is not rhetorical. The whole project is built around the answer.
"Detach from the world & turn to prayer."
Ponder Packs is an Australian Catholic project created by Ewa and Stasiek, a married couple who grew up in a traditional Polish Catholic immigrant family. Each pack includes five velvet-touch Christian prayer cards grouped by theme, a card stand, a card pocket, and an instructional "How-to-Pray" card. The idea is simple: create a sacred prayer space and ponder the true, good, and beautiful.
The name comes from Scripture — Luke 2:19: "But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
The Camino
The story begins on a pilgrimage. On their twelfth wedding anniversary, Ewa and Stasiek walked the Camino de Santiago de Compostela. As they describe it:
"The Camino gifted us with long periods of silence, contemplation and, through grace, a deep desire to grow in our relationship with God."
When they came home, they built a prayer practice around what the Camino had opened up. Dimmed lights. Candles. Fresh flowers. Statues of Mary. Crucifixes. Holy water. About ten minutes, morning and evening — silent contemplation, scripture reading, set prayers like litanies, and spontaneous prayers of gratitude and petition.
That practice changed how they moved through the day. They became more aware of God's presence in ordinary life. And eventually, they wanted to share it.
How it started
The first Ponder Packs were gifts — prayer cards made for newly baptised parishioners at their parish. But the demand grew. Thousands of cards went out. Eventually, Ewa and Stasiek launched the website to reach beyond their parish walls.
They both still work full-time. Ponder Packs is a passion project. Proceeds go toward developing new resources and providing materials to people who cannot afford them or do not have easy access.
The packs
Go Deeper
The Examen, Discernment, Eucharistic Adoration, Pray with Scripture, and Reconciliation. For the prayer life that wants to grow — during vocational discernment, Lent, or any season of spiritual deepening.
The artwork includes the North Rose Window of Notre Dame Cathedral for the Examen — "symmetrical beauty representing Glory to God when everything is in right order." Siemiradzki's Christ at the Home of Mary and Martha for Pray with Scripture. And Murillo's The Return of the Prodigal Son (1670) for Reconciliation — "the loving heart of the Father for each of us, poor sinners."
Available as a standard or Modern Artist Edition.
Foundational
"Core Catholic Christian prayers and practices for daily spiritual life, nurturing the faith and helping to foster a deep, personal relationship with God."
The Our Father, Hail Mary, the Creed, Daily Classics (morning and evening prayers and pre-meal blessings), and Acts of Faith, Hope, Love and Contrition. The prayers that hold everything else up — for anyone beginning their faith journey, converting to Catholicism, or returning to the foundations.
The artwork includes Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel, The Black Madonna of Czestochowa, a sixteenth-century wool tapestry designed to teach the Creed to non-readers, Karl Gebhardt's Saying Grace, and Mary Lizzie Macomber's Faith, Hope and Love with its three angels.
Marian
The Rosary, Hail Holy Queen, the Angelus, the Memorare, and the Magnificat. For those seeking to strengthen their spiritual life through Mary's intercession and maternal guidance.
The standard edition features Offering to the Virgin by Simon Saint-Jean (1842), depicting Marian altars adorned with flowers — a centuries-old European tradition of daily faith practice. Also available as a Modern Artist Edition.
Praise & Union
Divine Praises, Anima Christi, Flame of Love, Holy Spirit, and Sacred Heart Novena. For those seeking to deepen their relationship with God through thanksgiving and adoration.
The cards pair each prayer with art that matches its spirit: Bouguereau's Song of Angels for the Divine Praises, Velazquez's Christ Crucified for the Anima Christi — meant to "evoke a sincere movement of our hearts to unite ourselves with Christ's Cross" — Guido Reni's Assumption for the Flame of Love, and a stained glass window from the Cathedral of Cordoba for the Sacred Heart Novena, with Jesus "inviting us to open up to His gentle, loving and most Sacred Heart."
Prayers in Need
Litany of Trust, Surrender Novena, Prayers of Protection, Our Lady Undoer of Knots, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet. For those seeking guidance to surrender and trust in Jesus during challenges or uncertainty.
Every artwork choice is deliberate. Gustave Brion's Jesus and Peter on the Water for the Litany of Trust — "all we need do is keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting in His love and mercy." Heinrich Hofmann's Christ in Gethsemane for the Surrender Novena — "Jesus' profound trust and surrender to our Father's will." Rembrandt's Christ in the Storm on the Sea of Galilee for Prayers of Protection — "even though the storm may be brewing, Jesus is right in the boat with us — we are under His Protection." And Adolf Hyla's Divine Mercy (1944), the image Saint Faustina was divinely instructed to commission, with a version replicating the Divine Mercy Shrine in Keysborough, Victoria.
Make My Own Ponder Pack
"Feel called to a specific prayer or devotion… make your own 5-Pack." Choose any five unique cards from the full collection, with a card pocket, stand, and How-to-Pray card included.
Artist Editions
Some packs are available as Modern Artist Editions, with the extra proceeds going directly to the featured artist.
The current artist is Paul Newton, an accomplished and revered Australian portrait artist. His piece Our Lady of the Southern Cross — Help of Christians was commissioned for Catholic World Youth Day in Sydney in 2008 and now resides in the Domus Australia Chapel in Rome.
The painting is rich with symbolism: Mary holds the baby Jesus in an Australian landscape — wattle flowers in her hair, the Southern Cross in the sky, a rural backdrop evoking the "Great Southland of the Holy Spirit." A river reminiscent of the Yarra runs through the centre, symbolising the Holy Spirit's life. In the background, the South Celestial Pole is visible, with constellations rotating around Mary and Jesus.
The Go Deeper artist edition features Father Christ & John the Beloved by Father Dave Tremble — chosen because it "reminds us that our Good Shepherd is always with us."
A sacred prayer space
"Create a sacred prayer space & ponder the true, good & beautiful."
That is the invitation at the heart of Ponder Packs. Not download an app. Not subscribe to a channel. Set something apart. A corner of your desk, your bedside table, your kitchen bench. Put the card on the stand. Read it. Be still.
A prayer card has no other function. It does not ping. It does not scroll. It just holds the words and waits for you.
"Pray, hope & don't worry…" — Saint Padre Pio
Why this one
"Make Space, Be Still & Ponder."
Ponder Packs started as a gift at a parish font and grew into something thousands of people have held in their hands. It is a passion project built by two people with full-time jobs and a deep desire to help others turn to prayer. The proceeds go back into making more resources and getting them to people who need them.
Ewa and Stasiek are friends. Images used with permission. Take it as a recommendation from someone who has held the cards and used them. They are worth your time.
Original article:
https://www.ponderpack.com.au