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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Saint Athanasius - Family Reflection Video

A female sharpshooter in Unkraine nicknamed "Charcoal" has been called the modern day "Lady Death," a deadly sharpshooter of World War II. Charcoal has recently become a Ukrainian folk hero for defiantly attacking Russian soldiers while remaining undercover. The young Markswoman fought for several years in the eastern Ukraine front against Kremlin-backed separatists, before shifting to the front line of hostilities, as Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

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Feast of Saint Mark - Family Reflection Video

Is it wrong to steal the relics of a saint? Let me return to that question in a moment. First, Venice. The Republic of Venice, traditionally known as La Serenissima, or Most Serene Republic of Venice in English, was a proud world superpower in the middle ages, under the special patronage of Saint Mark of Alexandria in Egypt. La Serenissima was so rich, and had such a powerful navy and commercial trading fleet, that it dominated the Adriatic and Eastern Mediterranean Seas for centuries.

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Easter season  |  Learn more about our faith

Behold the Lamb of God - Family Reflection Video

Dear Friends, Christ is Risen! Christ is Risen indeed! Alleluia! What a joy to keep experiencing the Risen Lord all around us this week, and realize that during the Octave of Easter all creation is charged with the 'Grandeur of God,' as Hopkins put it.

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The Sacrament of Joy - Family Reflection Video

Imagine what Lazarus is experiencing, brought back to life by Jesus from four days in the tomb. What overflowing gratitude must have filled his whole being. Now, with Jesus in their home in Bethany, what is he thinking as he sees how the presence of Jesus fill not only his heart, but Mary’s heart, filled with joy and gratitude for restoring her brother to life, as well as restoring her soul to grace.

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Love Will Not Betray You - Family Reflection Video

One sunny day in September 1972, a plainly dressed man stood on a street corner in downtown Chicago. As pedestrians hurried by, he would solemnly lift his right arm, point to a passing stranger nearby, and loudly repeat one single word: GUILTY! Then he stood quietly for a minute. Then again, he raised his arm, pointed to another stranger, and again pronounced the one word: GUILTY!

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Confession - Family Reflection Video

Friends, all Lent is divided into two parts. The message running throughout the first three-and one-half weeks is a call to Gospel conversion, through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, through mutual forgiveness, love of enemies, a call to lead holy lives. The emphasis is on the ethical and moral. The failure of the workers in the vineyard, the call to treat others as we would like to be treated, are central. The Gospel readings are from Matthew, Mark, and Luke. By the midpoint of Lent, we all realize that we can not do this alone.

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