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.

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Holy lives of inspiration  |  Learn more about our faith

Living the Risen Life - Family Reflection Video

Each July 29, the Church traditionally celebrated an obligatory memorial mass of St. Martha, sister of Mary and Lazarus. But on February 2, 2021, Pope Francis expanded this memorial to include Martha’s sister and brother, Mary, and Lazarus. They were close friends of Jesus.

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Holy lives of inspiration  |  Why pray?

Help Us See Jesus - Family Reflection Video

A newly ordained young priest fresh out of seminary was assigned to his first parish in a small, farming community. Each Sunday he preached exegetical sermons that had nothing to do with the lives of the people. In fact, over the years the village congregation had become quite patient and tolerant, gifted with the task of training young priests in the realities of Church life.

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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.

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Celebrating family life

Good News About the Family - Family Reflection Video

This coming weekend, in Dioceses around the world, Pope Francis is gathering Catholic families and leaders to reflect on the family in the Church, especially the domestic family at home, as the means of growing in holiness for parents, children and grandparents. There are many challenges facing every family today in America and around the world.

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Why pray?

Our Father - Family Reflection Video

The most well-known, radiant, and profound prayer ever proposed comes directly from the lips of Jesus Himself when His disciples ask Him to teach them how to pray. It proclaims that God is our Father. We are His family. His Kingdom is coming. God provides. God is merciful. He calls us to be merciful to others. It is a prayer that seeks God’s help in avoiding the temptation to sin and in keeping far from evil.

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Celebrating family life  |  Holy lives of inspiration

In Praise of the Little Home in Nazareth - Family Reflection Video

Today's gospel challenges us to go beyond culture wars and politics, to go beyond using the tools of violence and revenge to much more powerful weapons of holiness, silence, and prayer. It challenges us to rise to a much higher level: to recognize that there is a battle being waged about the very nature, dignity and purpose of marriage, an institution from God meant to bring people to God; an institution that God entrusted to us as the highway to salvation, that Saint Paul likens to the marriage between Christ and His Church.

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Healing the family  |  Learn more about our faith

The Eyes, Mind and Heart of Christ - Family Reflection Video

There is a family that I knew well. Two adult married brothers living in adjoining homes. The entire time I knew them there was a cold silence between them. They never spoke to each other and did not even recognize each other’s physical presence or wave to each other in neighborly greeting. I have no knowledge of the past offense or slight that set this enmity in motion. But it spread its toxic poison to their wives, children and friends.

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