Spring Family Link 2020

Spring 2020 Volume 27 Number 2

Family Link News for the friends of Holy Cross Family Ministries

One family transformed by the power of Rosary Prayer.

Page 6.

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: The Lievens family.

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

Dear Friends, I pray that you are well during these challenging times caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

With all the uncertainty in the world, isolation and commotion that is stirred up from the media, I know that these are difficult, stressful times for you and your family.

Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C.

I write to bring you hope by reminding you that while our world is caught up in anxiety and fear, as Catholics we are called to be different and to join in prayer. We have the security of knowing that our God is in control even in times of crisis, and His peace is with us always.

A peace that is greater than any temporary comfort the world tries to offer as a distraction from reality.

A true peace that is eternal within us that Christ gave us long ago, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful ( John 14:27).” If we allow ourselves to sit in the quiet and peace, we will easily be aware of who God is and feel His love and goodness surrounding us.

And the best way to activate this peace is through prayer, especially family prayer.

This is where we find our strength. During this time, talk with your family about the power of prayer. Start a new tradition of grace before meals, family Rosary prayer, weekly Bible study or bedtime prayer. Inspire each other and share stories of your prayers being answered.

I also ask your family to join the Holy Cross Family Ministries team in prayer.

Help us pray for all families around the world, for the sick, and especially pray for the lost who do not know the Lord that they will be able to truly experience His peace.

Please remember that HCFM is here to support and encourage you as you carry out your spiritual journey with your family. The free, digital prayer and faith experiences we provide online, such as at FamilyRosary.org, FamilyTheater.org, and CatholicMom.com, are more important than ever before.

Your support has made these inspiring resources possible, and I call on you to share these with family and friends.

May you and your family be filled with the peace of God’s love in prayer. I pray that our Blessed Mother Mary will keep you, your family and loved ones close to her Divine Son Jesus.

Meaningful Couple Prayer

By Dr. Gregory Popcak HCFM Board Member and Leader of the new The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life Turns out, Venerable Patrick Peyton was right. The couple that prays together really does stay together. Research by Baylor University found that couples who engage in meaningful coupleprayer are significantly more likely to think positively about each other and feel closer to each other, especially through hard times.

Meaningful couple prayer isn’t just about “saying words at God.” It requires you and your spouse to take a little time every day—even just five minutes—to talk to God about your life, your fears, your hopes, your dreams and your

feelings. Sit down together and speak to God as if He were the person who knows you best and loves you most. In addition to the graces we receive from prayer, couple-prayer works on a human level, because it gives couples a safe, quasi-indirect way to reveal our hearts to one another. We talk to God while our spouse listens in. Then, as our spouse prays, we ask God to help us really hear what our spouse is trying to say.

What are their needs, their fears, their wants and concerns? How do these fit with our own needs, fears, wants and concerns? By listening to each other in prayer, the Holy Spirit can guide you toward graceful solutions.

As we contemplate our future as a family of ministries seeking a better understanding of the 21st century family and how we can meet its spiritual needs, we have decided to launch The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life.

This new Institute is a thinktank charged with gathering data through research and partnerships to develop effective models of family prayer and spirituality for church leaders and families. The Institute will be based at The Father Peyton Center in North Easton, Massachusetts under the leadership of Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak of Pastoral Solutions Institute. We look forward to sharing more with you about this exciting new initiative.

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All it takes is just five minutes a day to begin an intentional prayer journey with your spouse.

The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life

Father Jim truly follows in Father Peyton’s footsteps as Mary’s donkey – willing to serve God in whatever way he is asked.

– Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., President of Holy Cross Family Ministries

(left to right) Father Jim Phalan, C.S.C., Father Jilson Tom, C.S.C., Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C., and Noah Gagnon outside the Chapel of Mary in the Museum of Family Prayer.

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New National Director of Family Rosary Holy Cross Family Ministries is pleased to announce that Father Jim Phalan, C.S.C., has been named National Director of our ministry, Family Rosary.

served on the Family Rosary team in France as the Assistant Director managing the Family Rosary Pavilion and Chapel at the Our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Lourdes, France.

As National Director, Father Phalan is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Family Rosary in the United States which includes the Museum of Family Prayer, CatholicMom.com, the Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life, retreats, daily family prayers via app or email, weekly eBooks and reflections through social media and blogs.

Father Phalan has a BA in Psychology and History from Stonehill College, and a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology. In addition to his native English, Father Phalan is fluent in Spanish, Portuguese and French.

Since 1994, Father Phalan has worked in many capacities at HCFM. Most recently, he

Please join us in praying for Father Phalan as he continues to serve families through HCFM in this exciting new leadership role.

A Celebration of Love at the Museum of Family Prayer At the Museum of Family Prayer, families gathered on February 16 for our first Valentine’s Day event. Father Willy Raymond, C.S.C., celebrated Mass which included a vow renewal for couples followed by a dinner where everyone came together for prayer and a special moment as a family. A great time was had by all! We’ve modeled this event after Family Rosary East Africa’s successful

Vow renewal ceremony during Mass in the Chapel of Mary.

Thank you to all our members of the Museum, whose support funds the Museum’s faith-filled programs.

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Family arrives at the Museum of Family Prayer for our first annual Valentine’s Day event.

Valentine’s Day celebration which has been enriching couples and families for many years. We are looking forward to making this an annual event at the Museum along with other inspiring programs throughout the year.

Thank you to all our members of the Museum whose support funds the Museum’s faith-filled programs!

From Novena to Family That Prays Together Every Day

By Father David S. Marcham Vice Postulator and Guild Director

What caused your family to join The Father Peyton Prayer Guild?

Today, Venerable Patrick Peyton’s life and message of, “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together” continues to inspire many like the Lievens family. Troy and Stacy Lievens and their four children ages 15, 12, 9, and 6 of Michigan began praying the Rosary together as part of the HCFM’s 2018 Family Rosary Novena of Thanksgiving. The couple was amazed by how God worked to keep their family praying the Rosary together to this day.

The following is their grace-filled story in the words of Mrs. Stacy Lievens.

After learning about Father Peyton’s Cause and the Guild, I read over the requirements and wanted to be a part of it. Around this time, I had purchased Father Peyton’s Rosary Prayer Book that includes reflections on the mysteries of the Rosary. I had been using them in SoulCore classes and at home for our family Rosary. I thought about him a lot in prayer. I felt that he was knocking on the door of my heart. Like any new friendship, I just wanted to know him better. I wanted the kids and my husband to know him as a friend as well.

Joining The Father Peyton Prayer Guild and praying for his beatification was just the next step in our friendship.

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How did your family begin praying the Rosary?

I was in a Rosary group and Bible study with some beautiful and holy women who were living as intentional disciples and working to raise saints! I began listening to their stories and sensing the presence of the Holy Spirit in their homes. One woman spoke of family gatherings on Sunday, where they would all pray the Rosary. I wanted that for our family!

We started small with mastering one Hail Mary, Our Father or Glory Be at a time with our oldest daughter. Then we would pray one decade at bedtime. Through the apostolate of Soul-Core (a workout that pairs the prayers of the Rosary with core strengthening and stretching), my devotion strengthened. It then flowed into our family, inspiring us to pray the Rosary together.

What have you and your family learned from family Rosary prayer?

There is so much to be learned from family Rosary prayer such as virtue and scripture, the life of Christ and the saints’ teachings, and the prayers themselves. We have learned new devotions and Marian feast days. But honestly, one of the biggest lessons we have learned was how to detach from the world and faithfully turn our hearts to God every day. We have learned to have God at the center of our lives; this has had a ripple effect. We now have longer family meals, we spontaneously pray throughout the day, including weekly Holy Hours. We have a devotion to Divine Mercy, and we forgive and forgive quickly.

If you would like to read more stories like the Lievens’ about the transformative power of family Rosary Prayer and to support the Cause of Venerable Patrick Peyton through your prayers, please join The Father Peyton Prayer Guild. For more information, please visit www.FatherPeyton.org or write to us at The Father Peyton Prayer Guild, 518 Washington Street, North Easton, MA 02356.

Prayers Requested Please pray for baby Willow who is in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit…Patricia, United States

Prayers for all the priests around the world…Bernard, United States

Prayers for all those affected by the Coronavirus…Cecilia, United States

Please pray that my wife will be healed from her back problems…

Tony, Portugal

Please pray for Tony as he is healing from surgery…Laia, Spain

Pray that every knee shall bow to Him and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord…Leo, Canada

Prayers for my husband and I to have peace in our marriage and family…Alicia, Australia Prayers for my children who are making poor choices…Rosey, United States Please pray that my wife and I will continue to have a Godly marriage…CL, China

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

Please pray that I will receive healing from a terrible disease…

Vincent, Cameroon Prayers for my son to return to church…Meshach, Nigeria Please pray for my five-year-old grandson who is ill…George, United States

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

Complete and return in the enclosed envelope.

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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 that I will be able to find a new job opportunity…

Marilyn, Philippines

Prayer requested for the protection of all the unborn…Joseph, United States

518 Washington St. North Easton, MA 02356-1200

This Prayer Hero Has a Comic Book The Tale of Patrick Peyton comic book shares Father Peyton’s amazing story from growing up in a humble family in Ireland to becoming one of the most recognized priests in the world.

Discover how Father Peyton’s devotion to the Blessed Mother along with Hollywood friends helped him to promote his message of, “The Family That Prays Together Stays Together.” This is a unique gift for young and old alike. Visit www.

HCFMStore.org to purchase your copy today.

Father Peyton’s inspiring life story is now made accessible for the first time in a comic book format. We pray that Father Peyton will soon be Beatified and eventually known as the “Saint for Family Prayer”!

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