​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Friday greetings and blessings to everyone! As I mentioned as I began my reflection for today, I am sorry that I am a bit late this morning. I have been up since 2:30 am dealing with a leaking roof! Today certainly has not started off well in my world! I hope you day is trending better than mine and that you are continuing to navigate through these unusual and at times difficult days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Today is the Feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola the founder of the Jesuits so I send a shout out to Pope Francis and all Jesuits today – Happy Feast Day – many blessings and much peace to all!
 
I would especially like to remember Fr. Ron Windmueller, S.J. and Fr. Chet Gator, S.J. both of whom have passed on but through their friendship during my St. Louis years helped to make my vocation possible because they shared the treasure of God’s Kingdom with me. And Fr. Louis Padovano, S.J. who also has passed but who often showed me the light of God’s grace when I founded myself in darkness. Rest in peace with God my good Jesuit friends!
 
Once again as we journey through this uncertain time, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
For my prayer of blessing today – As we journey through this day may we be blessed with Christ within us, with Christ behind us, with Christ before us, with Christ beside us, with Christ to comfort and restore us, with Christ beneath us, with Christ above us, with Christ in our quiet moments, with Christ in our moments of struggle, with Christ in the hearts of all who love us, with Christ within all of our friends and every person we encounter. May the presence of Christ bless our day, Amen! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all I have and call my own. You have given all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and your grace that is enough for me. (St. Ignatius of Loyola)
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​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Thursday greetings and blessings to all! I hope this find you well and continuing to navigate through these unusual and at time difficult days with faith and a hopefulness in for the future.
 
Once again as we journey through this uncertain time, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
My prayer of blessing today is – May God, the Eternal Potter, who formed us in our mother’s womb, who breathed life into us, who gifted the world with our present, hold us once again in his loving potter’s hands as we journey through this day. May God bless us with the gift of a joy filled day. May God bless us with the gift of his presence that we will share with everyone we encounter and may God keep us safe, healthy, and graced in his love this day and always! Blessings on your Thursday journey everyone. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: Christ Jesus, we ask not that you will spare us affliction, but that you will not abandon us in it. When we encounter affliction, teach us to see you in it as our sole comforter. Let affliction strengthen our faith, fortify our hope, and purify our love. Grant us the grace to see how we can use our affliction to your glory, and to desire no other comforter but you, our Savior, Strengthener, and Friend. Amen (Prayer by St. Bernadette Soubirous)
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​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Saturday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope you will be blessed with the spirit of St. Martha today so that you can continuing to navigate through these unusual and at times difficult days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again as we journey through this uncertain time, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
My blessing prayer today is that God will bless our day with many good experiences through the presence of God and like St. Martha we will have the faith to recognize God’s presence in our encounters today. I pray and hope that we will all have a great Wednesday no matter where we are or what this day brings to our life! I pray for God’s blessings upon all of us as we navigate through your day. May God bless us in the spirit of St. Martha in all our endeavors, in all of our challenges and in all of our struggles. Let us trust in the presence of God that we carry within us and let us not be afraid to share our gift. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Daily Prayer:
Loving Jesus
 We give you our hands to do your work
 We give you our feet to go your way
 We give you our eyes to see as you do
 We give you our tongue to speak your words
 We give you our mind that you may think in us
 We give you our spirit that you may pray in us
 Above all, we give you our heart
 that you may love in us
 your Father and all humankind
 we give you our whole self that you may grow in us
 so that it is you Loving Jesus
 who lives and works and prays in us.
Amen! (Adapted from the Grail Prayer)
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​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Tuesday blessings and greetings to everyone! I hope you are continuing to navigate through these unusual and at times difficult days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again as we journey through this uncertain time, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
May we all have a blessed. holy, safe, and healthy Tuesday – may God bless our journey through this day no matter where we are or what today will bring! May God bless all our endeavors. May God be with us in all of our challenges and in all of our struggles. May we trust in the presence of God that we carry within us and not be afraid to share our gift with whomever we encounter or in whatever we do today. Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy affection may drag downwards; give us an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; give us an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen! (Prayer by St. Thomas Aquinas)
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​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Monday greetings and blessings to everyone! I hope you are continuing to navigate through these unusual and at times difficult days with faith and a hopefulness in the future.
 
I would ask you to offer a prayer today for the Hammes family in Bismarck, North Dakota as they remember their mother this morning in a memorial mass. Leona Hammes died March 31, 2020. She was a member of The Sunday Mass faith community for many years. She and her son, Shawn sent me a picture of Roberto Clemente a couple of years back that sit proudly next to my desk. May Leona now rest with joy and peace in the eternal Kingdom and may her family find comfort and peace as they continue their journey of faith.
 
Once again as we journey through this uncertain time, I offer you Pope Francis’ Prayer…
 
O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope.
We entrust ourselves to you, and the Health of the Sick.
At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain,
with steadfast faith.
You, Salvation of All People, know what we need.
We are certain that you will provide, so that,
as you did at Cana of Galilee,
joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial.
Help us, Mother of Divine Love,
to conform ourselves to the Father’s will
and to do what Jesus tells us:
He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us,
through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen.
 
We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God.
Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.
(Prayer Composed by Pope Francis)
 
Have a blessed, holy, safe, and healthy Monday everyone. May it truly be a good start to your week, but if not please know that I am praying that things will get better for you. May God’s blessings be upon all of us wherever we are and wherever our lives bring us today. May our day be rich in God’s grace, hope, love, and joy and may we find the strength and energy to share God’s blessings with whomever you encounter! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: Loving God, bless us and all that we do today, with the blessing of your love and mercy. Awaken in us our true image, our true likeness, our true gift. Water with your rain the dry places of our hearts and souls. Let your Holy Spirit direct us from the beginning of this day until its end and your Holy Spirit be our will, our work, and our end. Amen (Adapted from a prayer by Jacob Böhme)
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