​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Wednesday greetings and blessings to all! I hope you are continuing to navigate through this last day of August with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, 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 for all of us today is that as we find ourselves navigating through this last day of August, that God will bless us with some time to pause and take into account our blessings, our gifts. The hopelessness of violence, anger, racism, abuse and negativity seem to be all around us but as I have often learned if I pause and take some time away from the craziness of life I can encounter God’s gifts in very real and wonderful ways. God’s presence is all around us, we just have to not let the noise of the world distract us from God. May God bless us with the gift of his presence today in some small way so that we know we are loved and not alone!
 
Have a blessed and holy Wednesday everyone and please know as always you are in my prayers! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer:
Lord, take us where You want us to go;
Let us meet who You want us to meet;
Tell us what You want us to say; and
Keep us out of your way. Amen
(Adapted from a prayer by Fr. Mychal Judge, OFM)

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Tuesday greetings and blessings to everyone. I hope you are continuing to navigate through these last days of August with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, 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 that all of us will have a great Tuesday no matter where we are or what today will bring! I pray for God’s blessings upon all of us as you go through our day. May God bless all our endeavors. May God be with us in all our challenges and in all our struggles. May we trust in the presence of God that we carry within us and may we not be afraid to share our gift. Again, blessings today upon everyone today and always! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer:
All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe
and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists.
Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.
Fill us with peace, that we may live
as brothers and sisters, harming no one.
O God of the poor,
help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth,
so precious in your eyes.
Bring healing to our lives,
that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction.
Touch the hearts
of those who look only for gain
at the expense of the poor and the earth.
Teach us to discover the worth of each thing,
to be filled with awe and contemplation,
to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature
as we journey towards your infinite light.
We thank you for being with us each day.
Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle
for justice, love and peace.
(A prayer for our earth from Laudato Si by Pope Francis)
​

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Monday greetings and blessings to all! I hope you are continuing to navigate through these last two days August with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, 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 that God’s blessings upon all of us today that our day will be filled with many positives and that the negatives will only be fleeting moments. May the richness of God’s grace and blessings be upon all of us, upon everyone we meet and interact with today and upon everyone we love! May there be many words, signs and people of encouragement in our life today! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

​Today’s Prayer:
O God, You raised up St John the Baptist
to prepare a perfect person for Christ.
We call upon St John’s intercession to properly
prepare us with a true sense of repentance to receive
Your grace and salvation.
Make us faithful to truth and justice,
as You did Your servant, John the Baptist, herald of
Your Son’s birth and death.
Lord, may You increase Your life within us.
Amen.

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Sunday greetings and blessings to all. I hope you are continuing to navigate through these late days of August with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, 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)
 
I would like to send a shout out to the School Sisters of Notre Dame in the African Province. Today is the 12th Anniversary of the beginning of their province. It is an alive and growing province, and I would just like to say happy anniversary, many blessings today and into the future. May the spirit of St. Augustine, whose feast we celebrate today, energize and enliven the ministry, the work and the lives of all who call themselves School Sisters of Notre Dame and who serve the people of Africa!
 
Even though today is Sunday we take a moment to honor St. Augustine whose feast it is today. We join the Augustinian family in celebrating their patron saint and all theologians, teachers, and scholars who draw upon his wisdom.
 
My prayer of blessing today is that whatever you are doing today, relaxing, working, traveling, vacationing or just being I pray that God’s blessings will be upon your Sunday, your long weekend filling them with the richness of joy, hope and the goodness of God’s presence. May today be filled with Spirit and life so that you will always live in the presence of God! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

Today’s Prayer: O God, to know you is life. To serve You is freedom. To praise you is the soul's joy and delight. Guard us with the power of Your grace here and in all places. Now and at all times, forever. Amen. (Adapted from a prayer by St. Augustine)
​

​Today’s Blessing Prayer: Saturday greetings and blessings to everyone. I hope you are continuing to navigate through these late August days with faith and a hopefulness for the future.
 
Once again, 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)
 
In the spirit of St. Monica whom today we honor a shout out to all mothers that the gift of St. Monica’s spirit will be with you throughout your journey as mothers. And a prayer of thanks to all mothers, both living a deceased for their strength, courage, faithfulness and love!
 
My prayer of blessing for all of us today is that our Loving God, the giver of all good gifts, will bless us today with hearts that love, so that by deepening our sense of respect and reverence for yourself and others we may nurture within ourselves and others only what is good. May God bless us with a watchful care throughout this day so that wherever we go and whatever we do it will be in, and through and with God. May God bring us home safe if we venture out to those, we love that we might celebrate the gift of family, of friendship, of community, of our love so that our sleep will be restful, and we will be energized to welcome tomorrow! May God bless our journey through this day and may the spirit of St. Monica grace us with a mother’s love! Peace in Christ’s Passion…Fr. Paul

​Today’s Prayer: Loving God, we pray today through the intercession of St. Monica for all mothers, grant them the grace to appreciate the dignity, grace and blessing which you have given them as mothers. Help them to realize that not even the Angels have been blessed with the privilege to share in your creative miracle of bringing new life into the world. Bless all mothers today and help them to be good, faithful, caring, nurturing and strong after the example of Mary, the Mother of your Son. Through the grace of Jesus’ love and the intercession Mary and Monica we ask your continued blessings upon all families. Let mothers and fathers be dedicated to your service on earth and attain the eternal happiness of your kingdom in heaven. Amen!