x Close
World at Prayer blog
Reflections of Family and Faith
"The family that prays together stays together." - Venerable Patrick Peyton
Gospel Reflection | Jesus | Learn more about our faith
It is a question posed in today's gospel to Jesus by an expert in religious laws. Probably you have come across or heard people share about their encounters with everyday interventions; people who extend acts of kindness to strangers, like staying with an unhoused person in medical emergency until paramedics arrive, or people who open their home as foster parent for a child in crisis, churches or organizations that attend to or shield people from socially targeted groups who are in distress. We have fire fighters who risk their lives while pulling injured strangers from burning houses or cars. From the context of today’s gospel, we can probably say that those instances depict the essence of neighborliness. The parable of Good Samaritan takes us beyond the question “who is my neighbor?” to “What does it mean to be a neighbor” and definitely that is the question Jesus asked at the end of the parable,which of these three (Priest, Levite and Samaritan) proved himself a neighbor?”
Share
Gospel Reflection | Jesus | Learn more about our faith
Back in East Africa people in the village always tease Holy Cross members, that you took the vow of poverty, but it is we ourselves who live it and not you. Why? You are driving a car, and you seem not to lack anything. Of course, the vow of poverty is a voluntary promise made to God by members of religious orders to renounce the independent ownership of material goods and live simply in imitation of Jesus Christ. It involves sharing everything within the religious community. In that sense, we do share one car with three to four members. They have the wrong assumption.
Share
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.
Gospel Reflection | Jesus | Learn more about our faith
One great researcher, Brene Brown, in her book, Daring Greatly, poses some questions that I do feel are relevant to our reflection today. She asks; “Are we surrounded by narcissists? Have we turned into a culture of self-absorbed, grandiose people who are only interested in power, success, beauty, and being special? Are we so entitled that we actually believe that we’re superior even when we’re not really contributing or achieving anything of value?" We can also ask ourselves, “Are we surprised to see the disciples of Jesus arguing about who is the greatest among them?" Many times, we do the same thing. The appetite for glory and greatness seems to be inbred in us. Some of us, if not all of us, have the ambition to be somebody whom others admire.
Share
Contemplative Prayer | Gospel Reflection | Jesus | Learn more about our faith
Saint John of the Cross taught in The Ascent of Mount Carmel that God speaks in eternal silence. To listen, the soul must practice true silence—quieting the mind, intellect, and emotional faculties so that we stop relying on noisy interior discourse. He also emphasized that the true value of a message is not in analyzing or processing it, but in “the way you live your life.” The message Jesus shares in today’s Gospel is that those who want to join His new family must be willing to hear and act on His Word.
Share
Catholic Faith | Eucharistic procession | Father Patrick Peyton | Jesus
In honor of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage’s stop at The Father Peyton Center in North Easton, Massachusetts, today, we are sharing CatholicMom contributor Kate Taliaferro’s family experience with the first National Eucharistic Pilgrimage and the lessons they learned about following Jesus. On Monday, June 29, 2026, the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage — the “St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Route” — will make its way to the Diocese of Fall River. Holy Cross Family Ministries is honored to be the first stop on this pilgrimage before participants continue in procession with Jesus on Monday evening in New Bedford and Tuesday morning in Fall River.
Share
Christmas Gifts | Jesus | catholic family life
Christine Hanus shares a touching story about the providence of God during a distressing time in her life. Luke's Gospel prepares us for the birth of Christ with the story of the angel Gabriel visiting the Virgin Mary. When Our Blessed Mother says her historic, momentous, earth-shattering “yes” to God, and agreed to be the mother of the Messiah, she had little idea that she would become the spiritual mother to all of God’s children. Whoever calls the Father “Abba,” becoming an adopted brother or sister of Christ, is taken into Mary’s maternal heart forever. As my own children were growing up, it seemed that materialism, immorality, and noise surrounded our family on every side. My husband and I tried to help my children navigate the world, but as our two oldest approached middle school, I worried for their happiness and safety.
Share
