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

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).

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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.

The Kingdom of Heaven - Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. August 2nd, 2023

The parable of the hidden treasure is one of the shortest and simplest stories that Jesus told to illustrate the value of the kingdom of heaven. In Matthew 13:44, Jesus says: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

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God's Unlikely Plan - Weekday Homily Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. July 25th, 2023

The year was 1770. In a small Italian church, two altar boys were preparing for Benediction. Annibale Della Genga and Francesco Castiglione entered the sacristy, put on their cassocks and surplices, and grabbed the heavy brass candlesticks. Then they made their way to the entrance of the church, quietly arguing over who would stand on the priest’s right for the procession.

Putting God and Family First - Family Reflection Video

By: Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C. July 6th, 2023

In Father Willy Raymond's homily, he recounts a moving story of the importance of putting God and family first.