The Healing Journey

September 20, 2026The following reflection was written by Deb Marusa as a tribute to her late uncle, Pat Healy. I’ll be right there By Deb Marusa I was around 12 when I called my Uncle Pat and asked...

September 19, 2026“A Jewish tradition many people find comforting is putting a stone on the place where a family member, friend or anyone is buried in a cemetery,” says Stephen P. Herman, M.D. “The...

September 18, 2026Padre Pio with relics scheduled During Padre Pio’s life and after his death, he was known for many extraordinary graces — the stigmata, bilocation, the ability to read souls, along...

September 17, 2026                                                                                                    (Photo by James Maldonado Berry) The following is excerpted from “A Home for...

September 16, 2026 “Big miracles happen sometimes; personal miracles happen often. God invites us to notice His miraculous presence all around.”— Mary C. Neal M.D.Author of “7 Lessons from Heaven:...

September 15, 2026 It is often said that each person’s grief is unique, but there are common characteristics. There are also truths you can be sure of, among them, this one: The Blessed Mother, also...

September 14, 2026The Cross: God’s Ultimate Sacrifice of Love By Karen A. Avitabile On September 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross (or Triumph of the Cross), we honor the Holy Cross by...

September 13, 2026Our grandparents … and how they loved us Whenever I got into trouble as a young man — largely of my own creation — I always thought “Uh oh, the end is near.” But then, it seemed, I...

September 12, 2026 Letters to my Grandpa in Heaven They say there is a reasonThey say time will heal;Neither time or reasonWill change the way I feel.Gone are the daysWe used to share.But in my...

September 11, 202625 years later, an unforgettable tragedy Jimmy Quinn, 23, loved basketball. He played in high school and managed the team at his alma mater, Manhattan College. He was also a...

September 10, 2026“I am the Resurrection and the Life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”— Jesus to Martha Fr. Peter...

September 9, 2026Lourdes Mass and healing retreat to be held September 27 STAMFORD — Bishop Frank J. Caggiano will lead the fifth annual Lourdes Retreat & Mass of Hope and Healing on September...

September 8, 2026 She Is Gone by David Harkins You can shed tears that she is goneOr you can smile because she has livedYou can close your eyes and pray that she will come backOr you can open your...

September 7, 2026“It’s a great day to be alive!” “I play this song at my husband’s grave each year on his birthday. He insisted on hearing it while he was dying from cancer due to his Agent Orange...

September 6, 2026(Photo from Jennie DiBerardino’s hospital room)   “Have a Rainbow Day!” By Louis A. DiBerardino, AIA August 19th marked the fifth anniversary of my mother Jennie DiBerardino’s...

September 5, 2026 “The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy.”— St. Teresa of Calcutta ***

September 4, 2026Little Angels Shrine at Resurrection Cemetery in Newtown has installed a marble statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is widely revered as the patroness of the unborn. On September...

September 3, 2026“And I brought Jesus, too” By Emily Clark As a child, I found my mother’s pocketbook both an object of curiosity and a depository for anything one might need. It had the requisite...

September 2, 2026                                                                                                                     (Photo by Janice Wallace) Prayer for the Souls of the Dead God,...

September 1, 2026How do I know if I am ready for a bereavement group? Nothing can prepare us for losing someone we love. The intensity of the emotions is not like anything we have ever experienced...

August 31, 2026Hope By Paul E. Tupper It was coming up on two years of being widowed, and I was really starting to feel the effects of being alone. My wife had passed on August 31. I could deal with...

August 30, 2026St. Jeanne Jugan, Foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor, was born in 1792 when France was in great turmoil during the revolution. Her father was a fisherman who was lost at sea,...

August 29, 2026 Mining the Heart By Arlene Gay Levine Let us kneelbefore the streamof our lives mining for thosegolden moments whenwe see right through to the real: kindness,laughter, innocence,the...

August 28, 2026 A 2009 oil painting of the “Rainbow Bridge,” by artist Stella Violano. “The way I see it, Rainbow Bridge leads to a vast and beautiful place that is wide open and not crowded where...

August 27, 2026 Dear St. Monica,troubled wife and mother,many sorrows pierced your heartduring your lifetime.Yet you never despaired or lost faith.With confidence, persistenceand profound faith, you...

August 26, 2026Not a day goes by when Ann doesn’t think about her beloved husband Paul who died after 70 years of marriage. Their love was eternal. And George always told his wife Lillian, “You’ll...

August 25, 2026The following story is excerpted from 10,000 Reasons: Stories of Faith, Hope and Thankfulness by Matt Redman, a Christian singer-songwriter. He Gives and Takes Away By Matt Redman A...

August 24, 2026 Searching For God © John P. Read When searching for God,There's no need to look far.He's not in the cloudsOr some faraway star. He doesn't hide in the shadows,Even though he's hard...

August 23, 2026A lesson from the tenth leper For much of my life when I fell down on my knees in front of the tabernacle, my prayer went something like this: “Please, Jesus, PLEASE ____!” (Fill in...

August 22, 2026“There are no shortcuts or positive-thinking techniques we can employ when it comes to death.”— Mother Angelica Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation, otherwise known as Mother...

August 21, 2026The following is excerpted from Conversations With the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, published by Direction for Our Times. August 21, 2003JesusMy child, how often during your day do you...

August 20, 2026People often wonder what they should or shouldn’t say to someone who is grieving. Regardless of the words, they should be spoken with compassion. The following is excerpted from a...

August 19, 2026 Family History By Brian D. Wallace My Father, my Father, you hover over us. You are my face in the mirrormy hands when I lift them out of the sinkthe sigh as I clear my throat. I...

August 18, 2026 One household chore Carol dislikes is wiping down the shower doors. It’s a tedious yet monotonous task that we all have to do (except, of course, those of us who try to avoid it...

August 17, 2026 The following petitions to Jesus are taken from a novena to St. Therese of Lisieux at praymorenovenas.com They are worth saying every day, especially the first line, with our morning...

August 16, 2026 “And in the noise and clutter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess GOD in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees...

August 15, 2026I sometimes wonder whether Jesus was thinking about modern America when he said to go into your room, close the door and pray in private to our Heavenly Father. Every morning on the...

August 14, 2026The following is excerpted from The Blues Foundation. Blind Lemon Jefferson recorded “See That My Grave Is Kept Clean” for Paramount in Chicago in 1928, following up an earlier...

August 13, 2026“Grief is work — avoiding grief is even more work.”— David Kessler The road to healing is a long one … but you have to stay on the road. One popular book about grief offers this...

August 12, 2026 “Although it's difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort you tomorrow.”— Unknown ***

August 11, 2026“There ain’t nothing better in life than true love and a homegrown tomato.”— Old saying For most of his young life Mario hated tomatoes. What Italian hates tomatoes? Who doesn’t love...

August 10, 2026The following excerpt comes from “How to Let Things Go” by best-selling Buddhist monk Shunmyo Masuno. Deal with the problems that are in front of you. At the root of anxiety is the...

August 9, 2026Welcome to the Party By Emily Clark These words are not mine to tell. They are the words of a woman whose story is now complete. A story of faith, devotion and a love that reaches...

August 8, 2026                                                   (Photo by Janice Wallace) On International Cat Day, let’s remember that God sent them to serve as our companions. “No heaven will...

August 7, 2026(The following reflection is excerpted from a column written by Karen A. Avitabile, editor of the Catholic Transcript of the Archdiocese of Hartford, about her aunt Carmella “Carmel”...

August 6, 2026When we think about life after death and those who have gone before us, the Transfiguration of Jesus offers some comforting insights. In Matthew 17:1-9, we read: “After six days Jesus...

August 5, 2026“New birth is the power that God is going to use to regenerate the world, brought into your present.”— Tim Keller Cynthia’s father died while she was pregnant with her son, and the...

August 4, 2026Reflections on Bereavement By Stephen P. Herman, M.D. We all die. For some, it comes as a relief after years of toil, longstanding pain from various illnesses without cure or with...

August 3, 2026We’ve all heard of the three theological virtues — faith, hope and charity. Faith and charity are easy to grasp, but what about “hope”? Does that mean having a desire to win the...

August 2, 2026 A Prayer to Our Blessed Mother Take my hand, O Blessed Mother.Hold me firmly lest I fall.I grow nervous while walking andHumbly on thee call.Guide me over every crossing,Watch me when...

August 1, 2026 “It is also noteworthy that end-of-life dreams and visions have been well documented throughout history and across cultures. For many people, particularly indigenous people, such...

July 31, 2026Today is the feast of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus. The Prayer of St. Ignatius is known as “Suscipe,” which is Latin for “Receive.” It is a prayer of...

July 30, 2026Remembrance By Emily Brontë Cold in the earth—and the deep snow piled above thee,Far, far removed, cold in the dreary grave!Have I forgot, my only Love, to love thee,Severed at last by...

July 29, 2026“You will find as you look back upon your life that the moments when you have truly lived are the moments when you have done things in the spirit of love.”— Henry Drummond Twenty years...

July 28, 2026When “Megs,” as she was known to her family and friends, died last year at 102, she left behind a legacy that will last into eternity, a legacy that included seven children, 12...

July 27, 2026 “Grief is like the ocean. It comes on waves, ebbing and flowing. Sometimes the water is calm, and sometimes it is overwhelming. All we can do is learn to swim.”– Vicki Harrison ***

July 26, 2026So much has changed. Families no longer have two days of calling hours, some not even one. And more often, we get news of a death through social media and the internet. Sadly, some...

July 24, 2026A Prayer for Inner Peace Loving Spirit of Wisdom,guide my thoughts and my memories in the light of your love.May I see what is important for me to remember,what is important for me to...

July 23, 2026Why Do We Pray for People Who Died? By Laura Brennan I was a last-minute substitute teacher for a 3rd-grade religion class, so I felt no guilt for going completely off script. We opened...

July 22, 2026Be faithful in little things By St. Teresa of Calcutta Always be faithful in little things, for in them our strength lies. To God nothing is little. ... Practice fidelity in the least...

July 21, 2026 “Out of the darkness of my life, so much frustrated, I put before you the one great thing to love on Earth: The Blessed Sacrament ... There you will find romance, glory, honor,...

July 20, 2026 “I’m trading my sorrows, I’m trading my shame, I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord…”— Darrell Evans “I am pressed but not crushed, persecuted not abandoned, struck down but...

July 19, 2026 "My dog came back to me and it means that I am okay, and I am not alone.” The following is excerpted from “death is but a dream” by Christopher Kerr, MD, PhD. When I met Jessica, she...

July 18, 2026My friend David was standing near the door of the crowded commuter train, making the great escape out of Manhattan along with the rest of us. For some time, I noticed him pressing the...

July 17, 2026 “Grace does not depend on what we have done for God, but rather what God has done for us. Ask people what they must do to get to Heaven and most reply, ‘Be good.’ Jesus’ stories...

July 16, 2026Let Me Never Forget By Karl Rahner S.J. O God of those who are silently summoning me to enter into your life, never let me forget my dead. May my love and faithfulness to them be a...

July 15, 2026Sorry for Your Loss By Maire Ullrich If one more person says “sorry for your loss,” I think I’m going to scream. The bank manager says it. The cable company representative says it—right...

July 14, 2026                                                    (Photo by Janice Wallace) “Grief is like a storm. It can be calm, or it can be as unforgiving as a hurricane... But just like with...

July 13, 2026 An Irish Prayer May the Good Shepherd protect me inUps and downs, ins and outs,Bounds and rebounds, highs and lows,Comings and goings, heat and cold,Darkness and light, joy and...

July 12, 2026The Lord had me by the hand By George Sheehy I am one of the old folks at the 7 a.m. daily mass at St. Joseph Church. I believe that I am the longest communicant, which is going on 32...

July 11, 2026 A prayer for the grace to listen Teach me to listen, O God,to those nearest me,my family, my friends, my co-workers.Help me to be aware thatno matter what words I hear,the message...

July 10, 2026The following meditation comes from the book “24 Hours a Day.” Try not to give way to criticism, blame, scorn, or judgment of others, when you are trying to help them. Effectiveness in...

July 9, 2026A class I teach in public speaking usually causes my college students a lot of anxiety — and sometimes outright fear. You see, according to some surveys, public speaking ranks right up...

July 8, 2026 From the Four Quartets By T.S. Eliot Home is where one starts from. As we grow olderThe world becomes stranger, the pattern more complicatedOf dead and living. Not the intense...

July 7, 2026The following is excerpted from “Be Not Afraid: Overcoming the Fear of Death” by Johann Christoph Arnold. My one-day-old sister Marianne died when I was six. I never even saw her alive,...

July 6, 2026 A Prayer for My Deceased Beloved Holy saints, through your great faith you accepted the gift of eternal life and have received a sanctified place in the presence of God. You dwell now...

July 5, 2026A Wealth of Seashells and Wonders By Barry Wallace Did you ever dream of being fabulously wealthy and having piles of diamonds and rubies in casks by your side? I sometimes did as a kid....

July 4, 2026Happy 250th birthday, United States of America! On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress declared independence from England. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted...

July 3, 2026 Most glorious God,Today I pray that our country will once again be one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.I pray for a country that protects its citizens...

July 2, 2026Back in the olden days, my parents would quibble over who got the newspaper first when it arrived on the doorstep, and since my mother was usually busy preparing dinner — with no help...

July 1, 2026 The following is excerpted from the book “Serving in Clarity” by Anne. “Let everyone, in silence, ask themselves to consider a time when they knew God was with them. Perhaps it was a...

June 30, 2026 Sometimes By Colleen Ranney Sometimes I catch a glimpse,In softened waves of blue,My child, my heart ...when I see a smile,I can't help but think of you. Sometimes these waves fill...

June 29, 2026For much of my life when I fell down on my knees in front of the tabernacle, my prayer went something like this: “Please, Jesus, PLEASE ____!” (Fill in the blank.) Lately, however, I’ve...

June 28, 2026Reach out and touch someone you loved By Cynthia Hahn I have recently gotten back in touch with a very old friend. It’s such a blessing! We have a phone call every Sunday afternoon to...

June 27, 2026“In the storms of life, when there's no peace on Earth, there is peace in Christ…”— Nik Day We all want the peace that Jesus promises, but it isn’t a peace the world can give. “Peace I...

June 26, 2026They came in the pouring rain — mothers, fathers, families, from little children to women in their 90s — to celebrate a Mother’s Day Mass for grieving parents who have lost a child,...

June 25, 2026The Blank Page By Laura Brennan We hold onto the Sacraments as intangible treasures given to us by our Father in Heaven. In our hands, we hold His word. Upon the death of my beloved...

June 24, 2026 “Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.”— Robert H. Schuller ***

June 23, 2026The following is adapted from the Wisdom of Ben Sira (Ecclesiasticus), which contains the sayings and teachings of Ben Sira, written circa 180–175 BCE Fear not death; we are destined to...

June 22, 2026 “It is a loving act to show sadness when our dear ones are torn from us, but it is a holy act to be joyful through hope and trust in the promises of God.”— St. Paulinus of Nola Today...

June 21, 2026The following reflection on grief was written by Emily Clark, a columnist for Fairfield County Catholic, on the passing of her father, Ralph G. Okenquist. Searching for a Smooth, Even...

June 20, 2026 So many of us are conflicted by our relationships with our fathers. We love them, we can’t get along with them, we try to please them, we want to run from them, and we spend a lifetime...

June 19, 2026 That I Could Shed a Tear Oh, that I could shed a tear,Instead of living in the fearThat someone standing close will seeI’ve really lost control of me.We men are not supposed to...

June 18, 2026Comfort those who are sorrowful in your own home By St. Teresa of Calcutta What we need is to love without getting tired. How does a lamp burn? Through the continuous input of small...

June 17, 2026                                       (Photo by Janice Wallace) “When the twilight is gone and no songbirds are singingWhen the twilight is gone, you come into my heartAnd here in my...

June 16, 2026 “Jesus proclaims blessed those who mourn over this reality, who trust in the Lord despite everything and put themselves under His shadow. They are not indifferent, nor do they harden...

June 15, 2026Less than three months after Ozzy Osbourne, the rock legend and reality TV personality, died at 76, his wife and daughter mourned the death of their beloved dog Elvis. “I can't believe...

June 14, 2026A Final Absolution By Patricia Martin Aunt Catherine was a relative on my father’s side, perhaps a cousin once or twice removed. But she was on the fringe of the family as she was never...

June 13, 2026The following is excerpted from an article in the National Catholic Register. Why Catholics Are Being Buried in Churches Again By James Day Across the centuries, Church crypts — from...

June 12, 2026Grief can often change us in ways we least expect and in ways we never thought possible. In her blog Diane-Ward.com, she talks about her life, her grief and her poetry. After her son...