2019winterfamilylink

Winter 2019 Volume 26 Number 1

Family Link News for the friends of Holy Cross Family Ministries

Changing Lives.

The Power of Prayer.

See page 5

The Family That Prays Together Stays Together

Family Link The Family Link newsletter is published by Holy Cross Family Ministries for friends and donors of our ministry.

Thank you for being a part of our family.

Our Mission

A family of Catholic ministries that inspires, promotes and fosters the prayer life and spiritual well-being of families throughout the world.

Our Vision

Holy Cross Family Ministries strives to be a respected and reliable catalyst for inspiration, support and dynamic content on family life through a focus on spirituality and prayer, especially the Rosary.

Ways to Give

Online Please visit www.HCFM.org

By Mail Please use the enclosed envelope and make your check payable to “Holy Cross Family Ministries”

By Phone Please call 508.238.4095,x2023 Gifts of Stock or IRAs Please call 508.930.7882

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Planned Giving Please call 508.930.7882

518 Washington St. North Easton, MA 02356-1200 800-299-PRAY (7729) www.HCFM.org Cover Photo: Family Rosary East Africa’s Children’s Rosary Rally procession in Uganda on October 12, 2018.

Letter from the President A message from Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., President, Holy Cross Family Ministries.

The 110th birthday of our founder provides a time for reflection This January marked the 110th birthday of our founder, Venerable Patrick Peyton.

Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., was born in County Mayo, Ireland to John and Mary Peyton on January 9, 1909. He was the sixth of ten children.

I genuinely Father Willy believe Father Raymond, C.S.C. Peyton’s humble beginnings as a farm boy in Ireland and his spirit of faith instilled in him by his parents led him on this path to sainthood.

Many people often ask me, “Who was this man of faith, and why did so many millions hunger to hear his message?” Fortunately, Father Peyton, in radio interviews and his autobiography All for Her, spoke with passion and self-disclosure about the foundations of his Marian spirituality and mission to spread daily family prayer. In Father Peyton’s own words, “From my earliest memories, I saw my father with the Rosary beads in his hands and my mother holding hers. My older brothers and sisters and I knelt around them, praying...

Because of the daily family Rosary, my home was for me

a cradle, a school, a university, a library and most of all, a little church.”

Like Father Peyton, I also come from a large family.

For most of my formative years, my parents gathered their twelve children each evening after supper to pray the Rosary. The recollection of those evenings of long ago continues to support and animate my faith in God and devotion to Mary.

My hope for this new year is that more families will be able to encounter the transformative power of family prayer that Father Peyton and I have both experienced first hand. As you read through this issue of the Family Link, please note that this is just a glimpse into the great work for families being accomplished through Holy Cross Family Ministries.

I want to extend my sincere gratitude to all who make this work possible, especially those who generously gave during our matching gift challenge in December. Thank you, and please continue to keep our ministry and the families we serve in prayer.

May our Blessed Mother Mary keep you and your loved ones close to her Divine Son Jesus.

Mother with her children at the Father Peyton Family Institute in Peru.

Empowering Women in Peru The Father Peyton Family Institute, also known as Instituto Pastoral de la Familia (INFAM) in Spanish, has been serving and empowering

Family Institute Peru

INFAM provides services that address the root causes of various issues while incorporating the faith to transform families and improve the lives of people in the neediest communities. Education, training and counseling are available on an array of topics including domestic violence.

Studies show that domestic violence is on the rise in Peru with pregnant women being the most vulnerable

The Pregnant Moms’ Empowerment Program is the United States based pilot project from the Ford Program that will be modified to be culturally and contextually relevant for Peruvian women. The program includes five group therapy sessions, and success will be measured through qualitative and quantitative methods.

Holy Cross Family Ministries is proud to partner with Notre Dame on this project, which will equip the INFAM team with the knowledge and skills to better serve women and their families who deserve a better and brighter future.

It (INFAM) is a great space to share experiences and knowledge through workshops to prevent violence. – Jose Eduardo Flores, Family Institute Community Member

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families for more than 20 years.

Founded by Father David Farrell, C.S.C., in 1997, the Institute uses data from research to identify the needs of local families. In response to those needs, it delivers tailored services to families with the maximum impact, all to enhance unity in the home.

victims. In response, INFAM is collaborating with the University of Notre Dame on a research program focused on pregnant women in Peru and the effectiveness of efforts to help them work through the trauma of domestic violence.

Father Robert Dowd, C.S.C., Director of the Ford Program in Human Development Studies and Solidarity at Notre Dame is leading the team from the University.

A Brief History of Prayer Since the beginning, man has prayed to God. In Genesis, we find Adam in communion with God through prayer. Prayer in its purest form is a conversation with God, but it’s so much more. Through prayer, we establish an eternal relationship with God. In Jeremiah 33:3, God speaks and proclaims, “Call to me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” God is inviting us to dialogue with Him, and His promise is that He will answer us.

There are times, however, when we feel that God doesn’t answer us. For example, the prophet Job lost his family, friends, health and everything he had. He called out to God in despair, “I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me.”

When God responded to him, Job realized that God heard him and cared for him. The Bible goes on to say that God blessed Job more in the latter part of his life than the former.

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Then in the New Testament, Jesus taught us how to pray. He gave us the Our Father, and He also told us in Mark 11:24 that, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Now, God wants to hear from you. He wants to know your successes and your struggles. God wants to know what makes you smile, and what irritates you. He wants to know about your family and your friends. Remember that He will never leave you or forsake you.

Are you new to prayer or looking for ways to dive deeper? Holy Cross Family Ministries can help! Please visit www.FamilyRosary.org for resources on how to pray, especially with your family.

– Ariel Damiani Foundation Associate at HCFM

Resources for Your Family Family Theater Productions’ “Catholic Central” is a web series that teaches about the Faith in fast and engaging episodes. Hosts Kaiser Johnson and Libby Slater provide entertaining and informative answers to popular questions on Catholic thought, spirituality and practice.

This collection of videos is sure to entertain, enlighten and inspire your family. Visit www.

CatholicCentral.com to watch episodes such as Praying with the Bible: Lectio Divina.

900 children gathered to pray at the Rosary Rally in Uganda.

A Powerful Prayer is in Your Hands It was pure joy on October 12, 2018, as Family Rosary East Africa celebrated Rosary Month and Our Lady of the Rosary with a Children’s Rosary Rally. More than 900 students from 15 schools participated from the Kampala Archdiocese in Uganda.

Father Kiibi’s homily encouraged the students to love the Blessed Virgin Mary and to learn more about her and her son Jesus

I have been to this activity two times, and I was taught to pray the Rosary when I have challenges. Last week I had a dream a big snake was about to bite me then when I raised my Rosary at it, it disappeared.

This is how I will be fighting my challenges.

–Hellen, Grade 5 Rosary Rally attendee

through praying the Rosary.

He emphasized to his young crowd, ‘’Love Mother Mary and learn about her so that you will be able to explain to the people who don’t believe, do not listen to those people because there is power in praying the Rosary.”

The main celebrant also urged the children to make healthy choices, to be humble, to respect the elders. He also encouraged the youth to take their studies seriously.

Especially the sixth graders who were writing their final exams, ‘’We are going to pray for you and surrender you to Mother Mary for mercy, she is going to intercede for you, please have faith you’re going to pass.” After this year’s Rosary Rally, the children went home energized and eager to share their adventures from the day and this powerful prayer with their families.

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A Powerful Prayer is in Your Hands was the theme for this year’s Rosary Rally.

Highlights from the day included a Marian Procession, the distribution of Rosaries and a talk for the students on the power of the Rosary.

The event concluded with Rosary prayer and a Eucharist Celebration which was led by Father Deogratius Kateregga Kiibi.

Family Rosary East Africa

Father John Baptist, C.S.C., has a dynamic group of primary school children in PPG, Fort Portal, Uganda.

Chapters of the Father Peyton Prayer Guild in East Africa Reflection by Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries

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This October along with our president, Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., I had the opportunity for the first time, to witness the amazing ways Holy Cross Family Ministries inspires, fosters and promotes the spiritual well-being of families in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. Under the efficient leadership of Father Leonard Olobo, C.S.C., a team of Holy Cross religious and other lay team members reach out to families touching lives at the grassroots level.

Chapters of the Father Peyton Prayer Guild, locally known as PPGs, are active in all of the six mission centers. We were particularly privileged to spend a whole day in Fort Portal, Uganda. We were impressed by their strong faith in praying for Father Peyton’s cause and their intentions. The groups are comprised of young and old. What struck us was that they spend the whole day fasting and praying in the church through the intercession of Venerable Peyton.

It was inspiring to be with the more than 600 primary school children praying the Rosary in Fort Portal who are members of the children’s chapter of the Father Peyton Guild.

The participation of the youth and their active

involvement in PPGs seminars have helped them to make prayer a central part of their lives and to pray daily.

Some of them testified to the healing that they experienced. One said, “This PPG has changed our prayer life, individuals in the family are drawn to pray together more than individually.” One of the parents said, “The PPGs have taught our children more about Mother Mary.

We are very grateful.” Members turn up in large numbers for the PPG activities. One of the staff members in Jinga, Uganda shared her story of healing from devastating back pain.

We found that the PPGs are self-sustainable, because members own the process and take the responsibility to conduct the sessions on their own. Some of the adult members expressed that they have the time to bond and learn about what is going on in their lives and pray for the challenges families are facing.

As International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries, I was inspired by their faith and encouraged to assist them in further developing ministries for families specific to their locations. In particular, we plan to create a curriculum for the PPG groups in schools to help them to be more intentional and focused on Family Prayer and living their Catholic faith.

Prayers Requested Please pray that my husband and I will have a financial breakthrough…

Alkeisha, Bahamas Prayers for the Catholic Church throughout the world…

Gina, United States Please pray for my grandpa who’s getting hospital treatment…

Crystal, New Zealand Please pray that I become a better mother, daughter, sister and grandmother and I find my way back to the Lord…

Lori, United States

Prayer for the Beatification of Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.

Prayers for my late father and other family members who have died…Jinja, Uganda Please pray for the health and recovery of my friend...Carlos, United States Please pray for my son’s return to the Church…Meshach, Nigeria

Please pray for peace in my marriage…Fikile, South Africa

Please pray that my family will stay together in love and forgiveness…

Mary, United Kingdom

Prayers for my daughter’s health…

Phil, Canada

Please pray that I find the best career …Vinay, India

Please pray for my son who is undergoing surgery…

Helen, United States

Please pray for my health and deliverance from all evil…

Tim, South Africa

DETACH HERE AND MAIL TODAY

Please include the following special intention through the intercession of Father Peyton in Holy Cross Family Ministries’ daily Rosary and Mass.

Name Street City/State Zip Email Phone

Please send a donation to support The Cause of Father Peyton along with your prayer intention. Thank you and God bless you.

Complete and return in the enclosed envelope.

WINTER 2019 Family Link PAGE SEVEN

Dear Jesus, Father Peyton devoted his priestly life to strengthening the families of the world by calling them to pray together every day, especially the Rosary.

His message is as important for us now as it was during his life on earth. We beg you, therefore, to hasten the day of his beatification so that your faithful people everywhere will remember his message that The Family That Prays Together Stays Together, imitate him in his devotion to your Mother and ours, and be inspired by his holy life to draw ever closer to you with childlike confidence and love. Amen.

Please pray for my husband’s complete recovery from a mild stroke, heart problem and diabetes...

Rosemarie, Philippines

518 Washington St. North Easton, MA 02356-1200

NON PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID CFS, INC. 02301

Thank You for Helping Change Lives!

We are grateful for your support and for everyone who donated in 2018! Impactful programs like Try Prayer! It Works!, days of prayer in East Africa, and much more, would not be possible without your help. Your generosity helps families pray, discover their faith and dare to live out their faith in ways that last forever.

You are changing lives for the better during a time when our families and the world need prayer and spiritual support more than ever.

“I know the power of prayers and try to promote the praying of the Rosary daily,” is why Helen Jackson donated in 2018.

Helen and more than a thousand others helped change lives in 2018 through supporting HCFM! Thank you for your kindness and continued support. Please know you can also make a lasting impact by including HCFM in your will or estate plans, like more than 350 Father Peyton Legacy Society Members have. To learn more about gift planning, please contact Tom McKenney at tmckenney@hcfm.org or 508-9307882. Thank you and God bless!

Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., International Director of Holy Cross Family Ministries, presents awards to the 2018 Try Prayer! It Works! Contest winners in Manila, Philippines.

The Try Prayer! It Works! Contest stretches across the globe, from the Philippines to East Africa to the United States and beyond. The program brings the Church’s teachings to life around the dinner table as children and their families are provided discussion prompts, reflection questions and faith-based art projects to inspire spiritual growth and prayer.