Peace:  freedom from disturbance; tranquility. (Oxford Dictionary) According to this definition all of us that live and breathe do not have a chance at attaining peace!  Every waking moment of every day we are inundated by some “disturbance” that requires our physical and emotional attention.  The advances in technology have widened our circle of friends, enhanced our knowledge base and complicated our lives beyond anyone’s imagination.  So how and where are we supposed to find peace this Advent season? The peace that calms our...

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advent

HOPE Hope is defined as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen: a feeling of trust.   Life in today’s world has more than its share of uncertainty.  Will we go to war? Will I lose my job? Will I remain healthy?  Will I have enough money when I retire? Are our children safe in school?   As Christians we cannot be certain of anything in our material world.  However, we can be certain of God’s promises: God loves us unconditionally, gives us life through the death of Jesus, will welcome us in...

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Heavenly Creator, In this season of gratitude and abundance, we give You thanks for our many blessings as we pray for all who struggle with hunger and want. Be with them in the dark of night, when all hope seems lost. Keep their faith strong as they await relief. Let Your goodness flow throughout our hearts and hands as we reach out to one another in the full, true joy of Thanksgiving in Christ. Amen

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November 2 is the Commemoration of All of the Faithful Departed, or All Souls. On this day, we pray that all those who have died— our loved ones, and also those people around the world who we will never meet— through the mercy of God, will rest in peace. Merciful Father, On this day, we are called to remember those who have died, Particularly those who have died in the past year, And pray for their joyful reunion with you, their loving creator. As your son taught us to call the stranger neighbor, our fallen are many— Names we will never know, Voices ...

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Catholic, Souls

Respect Life Month Although we must cherish, protect, and defend human life year-round, the Catholic Church in the United States sets aside each October as Respect Life Month, and the first Sunday of October is observed as Respect Life Sunday. As Catholics, we are called to cherish, defend, and protect those who are most vulnerable, from the beginning of life to its end, and at every point in between. During the month of October, the Church asks us to reflect more deeply on the dignity of every human life.  Bishop Cotes Column from the October Four...

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Pro-Life

WHY WE PRAY - A REFLECTION Here we are Peacefully praying and fasting for 40 Days - for Life! Started by some college students - young people - that knew "taking life" was wrong. Young people who started this prayer vigil to pray and fast for what is right and stand up against what is evil, Answering a call from God to defend the innocent unborn and build a better world. ​ Here we are In the greatest nation in the world and we have so many thinking they know better than God. So many who justify that it’s okay to do whatev...

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Pro-Life, Norwich, 40DaysNorwich, 40DaysforLife

Andrea Hoisl I saw this prayer while visiting the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC. The prayer directly spoke to me because it addressed healing for everyone in the Church – the victims, those who love them and everyone who is “broken” from these unfortunate events.  It became crystal clear to me that all of us who are faithful believers are also “broken.”  We need wisdom and grace from God to heal and become whole again. For it is only in our healing that we can see the fut...

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healing, Prayer

God of power and mercy, you destroy war and put down earthly pride. Banish violence from our midst and wipe away our tears, that we may all deserve to be called your sons       and daughters. Keep in your mercy those men and women who have died in the cause of freedom and bring them safely into your kingdom of justice and peace. We ask this though Jesus Christ our Lord. R/. Amen   —from Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers Saint Joseph Church Occum CT

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Week 7 - Prayer   Week 6 - Almsgiving   Week 5 - Fasting   Week 4 - Sacrifice   Week 3 - Reconcilliation   Week 2 - Temptation   Week 1 - Ash Wednesday   Get More Out of Your Lenten Season: Enrollment Now OPEN…   This Lent, grow in a deeper, more intimate relationship with God through our weekly Diocesan Lenten Videos.  Break open the scriptures, delve into our Lenten traditions, enhance ...

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