Prayers for Family

World at Prayer blog

Reflections of Family and Faith

"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton

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catholic family life  |  family devotions  |  family prayer

A Family Plan for Consistent Prayer from the Heart

Monica McConkey details ten ways to help children of all ages learn to pray from the heart, encouraging parents to start early in building habits of prayer. Something that has become more and more apparent as my kids one-by-one enter adulthood, is that while my vocation as Mom never ends, it does change! I remember those days of mothering with littles running around the house. They needed me for the physical things; food, drink, shelter, safety, comfort, and clothing, and they were learning so much from basic skills and interests, and subjects at school, and picking up prayers, Bible stories and beliefs of our Catholic Faith.

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catholic family life  |  family prayer  |  work/life balance

An Incredibly Busy Schedule Prompts a Renewed Focus on Family

It's been a couple of months since I last wrote an article. In those few months, it feels like my life took a backflip into our backyard pool. In some ways, the backflip feels graceful, and the cool water is refreshing; in other ways, it feels like I've hit my head on the edge of the pool and am struggling to stay afloat. In February, I wrote about my decision to continue working as a professional in special education and taking classes to become a certified teacher. It was a decision I made because, at that time, I needed to return to work to help support my family financially, and my husband had taken a significant pay cut. However, shortly after that article was published, my husband was offered a new job. A job that was wonderful for our family in many ways. He no longer had to travel for work; he'd be home every night. The pay was better than it had been before his pay cut. Changing My Mind About My New Direction

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Catholic Faith  |  family prayer  |  parish culture

Signs of Life: Bringing Hope to a “Dying” Parish

When Patrick Peyton first arrived in Scranton, Pennsylvania, from Ireland, he searched for work for weeks without success. Monsignor Kelly tracked him down and offered him a job as a sexton (janitor) in the cathedral—he accepted. Finally, while working in the cathedral, with the silence, peace, and joy of talking to Our Lord and Our Blessed Mother, Patrick experiences a sense of being at home and a place of happiness. Patrick’s dream of becoming a missionary priest is awakened in a new land. ~FatherPeyton.org Today, guest contributor, Mary Kreger, shares her moving experience as a church custodian. Help Wanted In the spring of 2022, our pastor announced after Sunday Mass that the church sacristan and groundskeeper would be leaving the parish for a new job. “On behalf of our church, I want to thank Chuck for his 27 years of faithful service,” our pastor said, adding, “Chuck’s full-time position will now be divided into three part-time jobs, including a church custodian role.” My ears perked up at this last announcement. They needed someone to clean the church? I could do that. “Unless we find someone willing to do these part-time jobs, the parish can’t go on,” the pastor continued. “Please consider applying.”

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Catholic books for children  |  Rosary with kids  |  family prayer

A Rosary-Themed Chapter Book

Leslea Wahl reviews Jumping into Joy, a book that will keep kids engaged while encouraging the whole family to think about the Rosary in new ways. Jumping into Joy by Theresa Linden Published by Silver Fire Publishing Review: I can’t rave enough about this new chapter-book series by Theresa Linden. Caitlyn and Peter’s Rosary Adventures is a fun, entertaining way to bring the Mysteries of the Rosary to life...

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Rosary Stories  |  Through the Mysteries Podcast  |  family prayer

Through the Mysteries Podcast: Praying with Mary

In this episode of Family Rosary's new podcast, hosts Father David Marcham, Stephen Driscoll, and Allison Gingras continue reflecting on how the Mysteries of the Rosary can be experienced in the ordinary of each day! Father Marcham then unpacks the scriptural origins of the Hail Mary, where the Church has added its petition, and why. Followed by a fascinating discussion on why the Blessed Virgin Mary is called ‘full of grace’ and what that truly means for each of us. The trio also dives deeper into the meaning of grace, the undeserved yet freely given gift of God's Holy Spirit, and why that is so important to our lives. Their discussion then turns to Mary being more than just a fragile porcelain statue. She is alive in Heaven, a powerful advocate for us, and a model of strength and humility. Wrapping the episode, as they always do, with a Rosary Story, this one is from Maria Gallagher, a long-time Catholic Mom contributor. Don't miss this Marian-focused episode that is sure to inspire, entertain, and encourage! Click the play button below or visit your favorite podcast platform to listen to episode 9:

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Rosary with kids  |  family prayer  |  pray the rosary

Countless Gifts from God

“All good giving and every perfect gift is from above.” (James 1:17) We receive countless gifts from God in our lives, from food, clothing, and shelter to the graces He gives us each day. When we count our blessings, do we remember to return blessings and adoration to God? The prayer of blessing and adoration is one of the five forms of prayer designated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (blessing, petition, intercession, thanksgiving, and praise) — the form in which we worship God or invoke His grace. “Blessing expresses the basic movement of Christian prayer: it is an encounter between God and man. In blessing, God's gift and man's acceptance of it are united in dialogue with each other.” (CCC 2626) The Catechism describes the prayer of blessing as an “encounter” between God and man. What is an encounter? The dictionary definition of the word is a meeting or experience with another person. As in a visit with a good friend, an encounter is an exchange, a back-and-forth between two people. In the Rosary, we engage in an encounter with Christ and our Blessed Mother, especially through the prayerful recitation of the Our Father and the Hail Mary. As our fingers move over the Rosary beads and our lips recite the words of these prayers, we listen and respond to Jesus and Our Lady.

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