The Healing Journey

November 5, 2026“I pray for folks that need a hand” By James P. Bohan I have an alphabetical prayer list. I pray for folks that need a hand. In gratitude to them when they have helped me. And to God...

November 4, 2026 “His heart, his hand, and his purse were always open.”— Mark Twain Born into privilege, he is often depicted with a rope around his neck, his bare feet bloody, and a cross over his...

November 3, 2026 Inscription on Ronald Reagan’s memorial: “I know in my heart that man is good, that what is right will always eventually triumph, and there is purpose and worth to each and every...

November 2, 2026 Here are some prayers for All Souls Day and the month of November, when we remember the Holy Souls in purgatory. A Prayerful Remembrance Most Sacred Heart of Jesus,remembering the...

November 1, 2026November 1st and 2nd call to mind an aspect of the reality of the Church that many people are unaware of: that the Church is composed of Christ who is the Head, as Saint Paul says,...

October 31, 2026The following is excerpted from a 2015 bulletin of the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist from a reflection by then-pastor Monsignor Stephen DiGiovanni. Why are the traditional...

October 30, 2026 When I'm Weary By Shirley Kobar When I’m weary,And no longerHear Your voice,I take it upThe mountainTo breatheYour BlessingWhere pinesAre as tallAs cathedralsAnd silenceIs brokenBy...

October 29, 2026Masses scheduled in cemeteries for All Souls Day By Joe Pisani On All Souls Day and throughout the month of November, Catholics make a special effort to pray for their loved ones who...

October 28, 2026 Prayer to Saint Jude for Deceased Loved Ones O glorious Saint Jude, Patron of hope and miracles,I turn to you in my time of sorrow.With a heart full of faith, I entrust my beloved...

October 27, 2026Our Lady of the Rosary has followers everywhere, sometimes in the least likely places. They’re followers who turn to her for solace and strength, followers who turn to her in...

October 26, 2026November 1st and 2nd are days of great hope, because God’s mercy is stronger than our sins; stronger than the power of Satan and death. As a sign of that, the Church offers special...

October 25, 2026Life Goes On By Melanie Barnard Should you see a flag flying on a pole outside your local hospital saying “The Gift of Life is Given Here Today”, pause to say a prayer of...

October 24, 2026 This poem was written by grieving mother Tonia Brendel and sent to her family and friends on the first anniversary of her son Peter’s death. Talk about Peter.Peter left suddenly a...

October 23, 2026 “As we enter Heaven, we will see them, so many of them, coming towards us and thanking us. We will ask who they are, and they will say ‘a poor soul you prayed for in Purgatory.’”—...

October 22, 2026Years ago, as a young boy, when I visited my maternal grandmother, she’d take me to church at St. Augustine Cathedral, where I made one of my first confessions, back in the day when...

October 21, 2026The Sacred Heart of Jesus illuminated in heavenly glow Almost 60 years ago on an October afternoon, a young novice was praying in the Mount Sacred Heart Chapel in Hamden, when...

October 20, 2026John Kolenberg Sr. of Stamford had a deep devotion to the Rosary. As a young man, John served as a gunner and tank commander with the 3rd Armored Spearhead Division and received...

October 19, 2026 The Gift I Give Myself By Jane Butkin Wagner Our voices turn so easily intotoo much noise.The gift I give myselfis a day of silence so that I mightretrieve what has been lost in the...

October 18, 2026The following excerpt is taken from “Imagine Heaven Devotional: Reflections to Bring Heaven to Your Life Today” by John and Kathy Burke. Remember what it was like to have endless...

October 17, 2026“And once the storm is over, you won’t remember how you made it through, how you managed to survive. You won’t even be sure, in fact, whether the storm is really over. But one thing...

October 16, 2026 The following excerpt is taken from the “Imagine Heaven Devotional: 100 Reflections to Bring Heaven to Your Life Today” by John and Kathy Burke. You may feel like much of your time...

October 15, 2026When it comes to good fortune, people with wealth, intelligence, prestige and popularity often claim credit for everything. How many times did your mother tell you that those things...

October 14, 2026Today we observe the feast of Pope Saint Callistus I, a martyr who is also patron of cemetery workers and the dying. He was pope from 217 AD until his death by martyrdom in 223...

October 13, 2026 Prayer for Generosity O gracious God,You who so generously lavish our liveswith riches of the spirit, create in my heartdeep wells of gratitude that I may share freely of my...

October 12, 2026 While there is no epitaph on the grave of Sir Winston Churchill and his wife Clementine, he was widely quoted as having said: “I am ready to meet my Maker. Whether my Maker is...

October 11, 2026 The poem “Crescent Arms” is a reflection by Brian D. Wallace on his late grandparents, Bill and Mal, who once owned famous Crescent Arms boarding house in Bridgeport. In the poem,...

October 10, 2026 The following is an excerpt from Volume 7 of Directions for Our Time. St. Damien of MolokaiWhen your work is successful, praise God. When your work fails, praise God. When the sun...

October 9, 2026 “To have played and laughed with enthusiasm and sung with exultation; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived...this is to have succeeded.”— Ralph Waldo...

October 8, 2026‘I was sorrowful, angry, resentful’ By Mike Falbo I remember coming back up from the cafeteria in the elevator with my father, and the hallway with the reception desk felt darkened,...

October 7, 2026“People must say the rosary. Let them continue saying it every day.”— Our Lady of Fatima The night before a naval battle that would determine the future of Christian Europe, sailors...

October 6, 2026Lately, I’ve been thinking about my obituary, although I hope I don’t need it anytime soon, but you never know. What do you want people to remember about you when you pass on? Do you...

October 5, 2026 The Guest House By Rumi This being human is a guest house,Every morning a new arrival.A joy, a depression, a meanness,some momentary awareness comesas an unexpected visitor.Welcome...

October 4, 2026Our Lady of Guadalupe comes to Little Angels Shrine They came in sorrow and they came in joy to what had been an empty field, but was transformed into Little Angels Shrine at...

October 3, 2026 Eight hundred years ago, on October 3, St. Francis of Assisi embraced Sister Death. The founder of the Franciscan order lived a life caring for the marginalized and the poor, always...

October 2, 2026The following Gospel reflection on Matthew 18:1-5,10 was written by Bishop Robert Barron for the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels, which we celebrate today. It’s wise to always...

October 1, 2026 St. Therese, the Little Flower You know that when you spend time in Eucharistic Adoration and contemplation of the living Christ, you walk in calm, trusting peace. You find it easier...

September 30, 2026 The following is excerpted from the book “When God Winks at You: How God Speaks Directly to You Through the Power of Coincidence” by Squire Rushnell. At times of transition in...

September 29, 2026Michael, Gabriel and Raphael — the Archangels By Father Richard Murphy Today is the Feast of Archangels. Over the course of salvation history, as recorded in Scripture and the oral...

September 28, 2026 “Sunsets are proof that endings can often be beautiful too.”—Beau Taplin ***

September 27, 2026Grief is a strange and patient teacher By Maureen Munger I was still in shock. My husband had come home from work feeling punk. As I was continuing to prepare dinner, he went into...

September 26, 2026The following is excerpted from a column that originally appeared in the Hearst Connecticut newspapers. Many years ago when I was a young man, I put on a suit jacket, a white shirt...

September 25, 2026Hogan’s Bar, Gerard Avenue, Bronx, September 1955 By James P. Bohan Jim Kelly had been a 19-year-old B17 tail gunner from the Bronx based in Britain in WWII. One night coming back...

September 24, 2026Someone once told me — someone who’s more tolerant of dislikable people than I am — that you should never judge a disagreeable person because you don’t know what they’re going...

September 23, 2026 Prayer to Padre Pio Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, patron saint of pain,suffering and healing,you suffered the pains of Jesus Christ crucified,yet you continued to serve God’s...

September 22, 2026 “Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He...

September 21, 2026After battling depression for ten years, 29-year-old Katie Shoener lost her life to suicide on August 3, 2016. The obituary her father, Deacon Edward Shoener of Scranton, Penn.,...

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...