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

Healing the family  |  Strengthening family unity

Putting God and Family First - Family Reflection Video

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

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Blog Feature

Strengthening family unity

The Narrow Way - Family Reflection Video

During these days of summer, many families assemble to pray, play, talk, and work together. These past two weeks, our Holy Cross family assembled all the Holy Cross Brothers and Priests of North America at the University of Notre Dame, about 350 of us, to renew our commitment to God and our friendship in Holy Cross. It was a wonderful time to renew old friendships and meet new younger brothers.

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Blessed Virgin Mary  |  Family Traditions  |  family blessing

Mary, Mother of God and Blessing Our Children

Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. On this day, the launching of a new year, it has been a tradition in many Catholic cultures for the father or grandfather to bless the children one by one.

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Blog Feature

celebration  |  feast-day  |  holy-family

Celebrating Our Holy Family

It is always exciting to flip through photos on your phone, pick your favorites, send them to your family and friends, and share a smile (or two) about the joyful memories you had together. Today, just like our old photos, we recall the moments shared during Christmas week.

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Blog Feature

Celebrating family life  |  Holy lives of inspiration

Nothing Can Take My Joy - Family Reflection Video

“Do you believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree?” (Under the fig tree is code for learning to know God and His ways in the scriptures.) Nathanael is flabbergasted and wide-eyed in surprise at what Jesus has disclosed about him. “You will see greater things than this. You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

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Celebrating family life  |  Learn more about our faith

Self-Sacrificing Love: Family Reflection Video

Below is the beautiful “Exhortation Before Marriage” from the 1962 Roman Ritual. In the Catholic marriage rite before Vatican Council II, many priests used this to form at least part of their sermon.

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