World at Prayer blog from Family Rosary - Reflections of Family and Faith

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.

Holy lives of inspiration | Strengthening family unity

What A Blessing! - Family Reflection Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. July 30th, 2021

What a blessing! Imagine the blessing of living some thirty years in the same little village as Jesus. Maybe you and He escape the heat of summer as children by wading into the cool refreshing waters of the Sea of Galilee. Or He brings you into the workshop where you watch Joseph plaining a sturdy, sweet-scented, cedar board to be used for a family dining table.

Celebrating Grandparents & Elders - Family Reflection Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. July 26th, 2021

Pope Francis has established the fourth Sunday of July to be celebrated from now on as the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly. Yesterday was the first annual such celebration, and it came at the moment when so many elderly and grandparents have experienced neglect and isolation as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Travel restrictions, nursing-home policies, and fear for their safety prevented loved ones from visiting and embracing grandparents.

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Strengthening family unity | Why pray?

How to Tame a Fox - Family Reflection Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. July 7th, 2021

The fox gazes at the little prince a long time. "Please tame me!" He begs. In a way, husband and wife, 'tame' each other, if they are patient. If they are self-sacrificing, and if they give the gift of themselves to each other. With God’s help and grace, they bring joy to each other. Priests and people 'tame' each other as well, with the help of God’s grace.

Saint John Paul II, Saint Peter, & Saint Paul the Apostle - Family Reflection Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. June 29th, 2021

On Friday, April 1, 2005, Hal Fishman, television anchor for KTLA, Channel 5, in Los Angeles, and Stan Chambers, the distinguished elder stateman of television news since 1947 - decided to do a program on the legacy of Pope John Paul II, who was dying in Rome. I was invited to this live, on-air discussion.

The Love of God is at the Center of All Things

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. June 11th, 2021

The love of God is at the Heart of all things. Certainly Love is at the center of family life and it is love that makes human life and family life worth living. Since God is pure Love and the heart is the icon of both human and Divine love, the Sacred Heart of Jesus occupies a privileged space, second to none, in the life of the Christian person and family.

Encourage - Family Reflection Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. June 7th, 2021

In today’s reading from Corinthians, Saint Paul mentions ‘encouragement’ 10 times. Yesterday, I found myself to be quite encouraged by an eye-witness account of a Patrick Peyton Rosary Rally in the Philippines. This account was from decades ago, and is still very powerful today. Let me share a part of that witness with you…