Southie Prayer Gathering
When Sundays, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM
Where South Boston (rotates between host homes)
RSVP: info@bostonbahais.orgWeekly meditation circle · Boston prayer group · Free
Prayer and meditation in Boston
Small weekly prayer groups and meditation circles in homes across Boston. Interfaith readings, contemplative atmosphere, no clergy or ritual. Open to anyone.
Meditation circles and prayer groups in Boston
Weekly prayer and meditation, in your Boston neighborhood
These weekly prayer groups and meditation circles in Boston are small, usually seven to fifteen people, and meet in homes across the city. There's no service, no sermon, no leader. People take turns reading short prayers and passages aloud, often drawing from multiple faith traditions. Between readings there's silence. After the prayers there's usually tea, snacks, and conversation.
Boston has the oldest and largest Baha'i community in Greater Boston, with regular gatherings hosted in South Boston, Jamaica Plain, Roxbury, and Mission Park. Smaller groups also meet in the South End, Dorchester, Back Bay, and Allston. We'll connect you with whichever one's closest to where you live.
Most people who come are not Baha'i. Many describe themselves as spiritual but not religious — drawn to prayer or contemplative practice, skeptical of religious institutions, working things out. You're welcome to sit in silence the whole time if you'd rather not read aloud. Nothing is expected of you.
Active groups
Currently meeting
Jamaica Plain Devotional
When Tuesdays, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Where Jamaica Plain (rotates between host homes)
RSVP: info@bostonbahais.orgIn your neighborhood
Something deeper
than conversation
Gatherings meet in living rooms, community centers, and gardens across Boston. The setting is intimate and familiar — a space where the atmosphere itself invites reflection.
Some gatherings draw from prayers of many faith traditions. Others focus on the Baha'i writings. All are open to anyone who longs for something beyond the material. You don't need to pray aloud, recite anything, or do anything other than be present.
Find a gathering near you
Common questions
Questions Boston visitors ask
Where can I find a weekly prayer group in Boston?
Four main hubs run weekly prayer groups in Boston: South Boston (Sundays 5:30 PM), Jamaica Plain (Tuesdays 7 PM), Roxbury, and Mission Park. Smaller groups also meet periodically in the South End, Dorchester, Back Bay, and Allston. Tell us where you live and we'll connect you with the closest active gathering.
Is there a weekly meditation circle in Boston, MA?
Yes. Our gatherings function as a meditation circle as well as a prayer group. Each weekly meeting in Boston includes long stretches of silence between short readings, with no leader and no formal ritual. If you're looking for contemplative practice in community rather than a guided meditation class, this is the format. Both the South Boston (Sundays) and Jamaica Plain (Tuesdays) groups welcome anyone seeking a quiet, regular meditation space.
Is this a Christian or specifically religious group?
No. The Baha'i Faith is its own independent world religion, not a Christian denomination. There's no clergy, no liturgy, no service. Many gatherings include prayers from multiple faith traditions. Plenty of regulars describe themselves as agnostic or just spiritually curious.
Do I have to pray out loud?
No. You can sit quietly the whole time. Some people read a prayer aloud, others listen, others simply sit with the silence. There's no pressure to participate beyond being present.
How long do gatherings last, and what happens after?
The prayers themselves are usually 30 to 60 minutes. Most gatherings stay together afterward for tea or food and informal conversation. Many people find the post-prayer conversations are the part that draws them back.
Is it free?
Yes. Always free. No fees, no collections, no fundraising, no donations expected.
I'm not sure I believe in God. Can I still come?
Yes. These gatherings welcome anyone who wants to sit in an atmosphere of prayer regardless of where they are in their spiritual life. Honest questioning is respected here. If silence or meditation is what you're after, the gathering's contemplative quality works for that too.
Do you have gatherings in Cambridge or other nearby cities?
Yes. Cambridge has its own prayer gatherings, as do Somerville, Arlington, and other communities. Fill out the form with your city and we'll route you to the nearest one.
Get started
Find a prayer group or meditation circle in Boston
Tell us which Boston neighborhood you live in. We'll connect you with the closest weekly prayer or meditation gathering and let you know what to expect on your first visit.
A real person will follow up within a few days.