​Tuesday June 26, 2018
Today’s Prayer: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. (Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude)
 
Wednesday June 27, 2018
Today’s Prayer: O God, grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart, so that desiring you we will always seek you with our whole heart and find you; and in finding you, we may always love you, and may let go of those thing that separate us from you, for the sake of Jesus. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Anselm of Canterbury)
 
Thursday June 28, 2018
Today’s Prayer: Search us today, O God, and know our hearts; test us and know our thoughts and action. See if there are any wicked ways in us. If there are forgive us. If there are heal us. May we always be truly faithful so that you can lead us down the path of wonder and amazement. Amen!
 
Friday June 29, 2018
Today’s Prayer: O God, source of every good gift and sure foundation of our life together as Church, today we honor and celebrate Saints Peter and Paul, grace us with a share in their zeal for preaching and living the gospel. Strengthen our faith to be witnesses, even unto staking our lives on your promises. We offer this prayer today and always through our one Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
 
Saturday June 30, 2018
Today’s Prayer: Help me, O God, to be a good and true friend: to be loyal and never to let my friends down; never to talk about them behind their backs in a way that I would not do before their faces; never to betray a confidence or talk about things I should be silent about; always to be ready to share everything I have; to be as true to my friends as I would wish them to be tome. This I ask for the sake of him who is the greatest and truest friend, for Jesus’ sake. Amen. (William Barclay)
 
Sunday July 1, 2018
Today’s Prayer:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
 Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
 where there is injury, pardon;
 where there is doubt, faith;
 where there is despair, hope;
 where there is darkness, light;
 where there is sadness, joy;
 
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love.
 
For it is in giving that we receive;  it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
 and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. (Prayer attributed to St. Francis Assisi)
 
Monday July 2, 2018
Today’s Prayer: Loving God, we thank you for wanting to enter our lives. Help us to let go of the things we think are so important yet they always seem to stand in the way of your presence in our lives. Grace us with the strength to open the door of our hearts today, so that as we ask you to come in nothing will stand in the way of our love for you. We want you to make our hearts your home, today and always. Amen!

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Monday greetings and blessings to all. I hope your day is starting off well. It is a cloudy and rainy start to the morning here in Louisville, but I think the sun will be out by the afternoon.
 
Later this morning I will head to the Abbey of Gethsemane which is about an hour south east of Louisville to begin my own retreat for the next eight days. I would ask for your prayers as I take some time to focus on my friendship with God and life. My hope is that during this special time of retreat God will help me focus my life and walk by faith and not by sight in the days, weeks and months ahead. So your prayers for a successful retreat would be greatly appreciated.
 
Have a great Monday everyone. May it truly be a good start to your week, but if not please know that as I begin my retreat later today I will be praying for you. May God’s blessings be upon you wherever you are and wherever your life brings you today. May your day be rich in God’s grace, hope, love and joy and may you find the strength and energy to share God’s blessings with whomever you meet! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Sunday greetings and blessings and happy Feast of the Birth of John the Baptist! I hope everyone’s day has started off well. I begin my day in Louisville, Kentucky where I arrived last night. I am visiting my nephew and niece-in-law for a couple of days before beginning my retreat. It rained early this morning, but the sun is out now and it looks like a beautiful day. I hope the sun is shining wherever you are and that you are moving about today with a lively step and a hopeful purpose. If not, I pray that your day will get better!
 
I pray for God’s blessings today upon you, your work, your ministry, those whom you meet and those whom you love! May you enjoy the places you go to, the people you encounter and the experiences that you have and also know that as you journey through this day you are in my prayers!
 
May you have a blessed and holy Sunday and don’t forget to give God a little time today!
 
Remember, “Seek God and you will find God and every good thing as well!” (Meister Eckhart) May you be rich in the spirit of John the Baptist today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Saturday greetings and blessings to all! I hope your Saturday has started off well? It looks to be a sunny morning here in Manitowoc, WI. I hope the beginning of this day is a beautiful one foe you?
 
This the last morning of retreat with the Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity. In a little while we will have the closing mass and then hit the road. My next stop will be Louisville, KY. So if you could say a final prayer for the sisters who have been on retreat all week and a prayer for safe travels it would be appreciated!
 
Well friends I hope this day will be a good one for you. I pray that God will bless your day. May you be gifted and blessed with smiles, laughter, family, friends, fun and peace today! And be safe out there if you are traveling!  Have a great day and may you be blessed with God’s joy in whatever you do and wherever you go. May God’s joy be found in the people you meet today and within you! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Friday greetings and blessings to all. May this be a day of many blessings for all. Our day here in Manitowoc looks to be another sunny and beautiful one. I hope the same is true wherever you are today!
 
We are entering the last full day of retreat and once again I ask for your prayers for the sisters who continue to journey on retreat. And if you could add a little prayer for the preacher it would be greatly appreciated.
 
I hope your week has gone well and that you will get a chance to enjoy the weekend that is almost upon us. Have a great Friday everyone and may God bless you as you journey through this day. May today be rich in God’s grace for you, your loved ones and everyone you meet. May your work today be blessed with the richness of God’s presence. May any traveling you might be doing be safe and bring you home this evening to those you love. Enjoy your day everyone and may your Friday be filled with God’s love, mercy and peace! Peace in Christ Passion…Fr. Paul

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Thursday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope your day has started off well. It looks to be a nice day here this morning weather wise, I hope the same is true where you are.
 
I am getting ready to begin our fifth day of retreat with the sisters here in Manitowoc, WI. In a little while I will head to breakfast and then I will have a little time before morning mass followed by the morning conference. The retreat seems to be going well, the sisters have a good spirit about them. Please keep the sisters who are on retreat in your prayers today and if you could say an extra prayer for the preacher it would be greatly appreciated!
 
My prayer of blessing for you today is that you will have a great day and that you know that all of you continue to be in my prayers. May God’s blessings be upon your work, your travel, your encounters with others, your struggling moments, your smiling moments and upon all that you do and all whom you meet…Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul