World at Prayer blog

Reflections of Family and Faith

"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton

Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C.

Father Wilfred J. Raymond, C.S.C. (Father Willy), a native of Old Town, Maine, is the eighth of 12 children. He joined the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1964 and was ordained to the priesthood in 1971. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Stonehill College in 1967 and a master’s in Theology from the University of Notre Dame in 1971. He served in ministry at Stonehill College (1979-1992), Holy Cross leadership (1994-2000), National Director of Family Theater Productions, Hollywood (2000-2014), and President of Holy Cross Family Ministries (2014-2022). In addition to English, he is conversant in French and Spanish. He remains a diehard fan of the Boston Red Sox, even though he has served as Chaplain for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Blog Feature

Why pray?

Thanks For Listening - Family Reflection Video

In the cable TV episodes of Inside the Actors’ Studio, James Lipton interviews actors, writers, and directors in Hollywood. He always ends the interview in the same way, by asking his guest this question: "If you believe that God exists, what do you think He will say when you finally see Him?" It’s a great question. In one episode he was interviewing one of the truly great film directors of all time, the legendary Steven Spielberg. Remember the movie, E.T. The Extraterrestrial? When Lipton asked Spielberg, "What do you hope God will say to you when you finally see Him?" Spielberg paused for a few moments, smiled, and said...

Read More

Blog Feature

Learn more about our faith

Gratitude - Family Reflection Video

Father Norris Clark, A Jesuit priest from Fordham traveled to India to visit a Buddhist Monastery. During his visit, the abbot invited him to a meeting with several of the monks who spoke English. The Abbot said, "Obviously our two religions are very different but similar in their roots, in the depths of their essence."

Read More

Subscribe to the Family Rosary Blog

Brief and contemporary inspiration focused on hope and family prayer will be delivered to your inbox! Articles include live video, written word, and links to resources that will lead you and your family deeper into faith.

Blog Feature

Learn more about our faith

ALL SOULS: DE MORTUIS, NIHIL NISI BONUM - Family Reflection Video

Today, All Souls Day, is about praying for deceased relatives, friends, and other souls in purgatory. This is a particularly difficult homily to deliver for two reasons. First, it touches a topic most of us don’t like to hear about: death and what happens after. We know we can't avoid it. But most of us think if we don't talk about it, it won't happen, at least not for a long time.

Read More

Blog Feature

Learn more about our faith  |  Return to the Church

The Acorn - Family Reflection Video

Here in my hand is an ordinary acorn. Within this small acorn are all the makings of a mighty oak tree. It just needs time, sunlight, water, and earth to grow gradually into a mighty oak. What has happened here in the Northeast of the United States in the last few days? Strong winds and rains have wreaked havoc upon homes and roadways with uprooting trees and snapping branches and causing hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses to lose power. I hope you notice that very few oak trees have been toppled.

Read More

Blog Feature

Learn more about our faith

To Set The World On Fire - Family Reflection Video

In the Bible, fire is often used to describe God’s burning love for humanity. The fire Jesus has come to bring is the fire of love, the fire of hope, the fire of faith, and the fire of justice. He is not bringing the fire of violence! Jesus’ words are much bolder and more powerful than violence, they are the fire of the Kingdom of God breaking into our world.

Read More

Blog Feature

Return to the Church  |  Why pray?

Rosary With Heart - Family Reflection Video

Saint Paul has an urgent message for the Christian community in Rome: the Gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes. The revelation of God to us - creation, covenants, the Incarnation of Jesus, the passion and resurrection of Jesus, the founding of the Church - is fantastic news. It is a single story of redemption, with the goal of rescuing and saving all of humanity.

Read More