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

In Celebration of Venerable Patrick Peyton's Birth - Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. January 9th, 2024

On the anniversary of the birth of Venerable Patrick Peyton, Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., past president of Holy Cross Family Ministries, reflects on Father Peyton’s ability to promote and share his love for Our Blessed Lady and his desire to bring family prayer to families around the world.

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception — Thoughts and Reflection Questions for Families

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. December 8th, 2023

In the first three chapters of the Book of Genesis, we hear about the creation of the world and all things in it. The story of creation is not a documentary that yields accurate historical or scientific data. It is a spiritual lesson in story form telling us as much about God as it does about creation. Please note that there are two stories of creation.

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Standing at the Spiritual Rim: Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. December 1st, 2023

Imagine standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and taking in the grandeur, magnificence, and the natural beauty of this marvel of God’s creation. We stand this day at a spiritual rim allowing us to glimpse the drama of good and evil battling each other in our own day.

Holy lives of inspiration

Blessed Are the Persecuted - Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. November 29th, 2023

“The writing is on the wall” is a popular phrase to indicate that a message is clear. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus’ message to believers is super clear, “they will seize and persecute you.” This warning does not set off alarms for most of us. However, in many lands around the world, Catholics encounter persecution daily. Listen to the true account of 20-year-old Servant of God Akash Bashir martyred standing guard at his parish church of Saint John in Lahore, Pakistan. Born in 1994, Akash was an active member of his family’s parish church of Saint John, often helping the needy.

The Art of Relationship - Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. November 8th, 2023

Father Pinto Paul has mastered the art of relationships. Let me explain with a brief account from the classic child’s tale, The Little Prince. The planet-hopping Little Prince is yearning to find a friend when he meets a fox for the first time. Listen to this excerpt (available in the video below).

Why pray?

The Only Real Failure - Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. August 8th, 2023

Here are some questions to ponder: What is the only real failure in life? What is the only real sadness in life? What is the only real tragedy in life? Think about that. So many things that we fret about, worry about, or fear, are temporary, fleeting, and not of eternal value. They are passing. The one real tragedy in life is not to be a saint.