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71 Central St. Stoneham, MA 02180

Resources for Prayer and Reflection at Home

Resources for Prayer and Reflection while at Home

We are never alone.  God is always with us, most especially when we suffer or face fear or anxiety about things beyond our control.  “For I am the LORD, your God, who grasp your right hand; it is I who say to you, do not fear, I will help you.” (Isaiah, 41:13).  Not only is God with us, he holds onto us and gives us his courage and strength to pull us through the most challenging of circumstances.  By God’s Grace, through faith and prayer, we are also united with our community just assuredly as we are when we gather physically to celebrate the sacraments. 

In the spirit of our faith community, Fr. Mario has invited us all to join spiritually with him and Fr. Frank in prayer in the following ways:

  • As they privately celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at 11:30 a.m. for our intentions and for those whom a Mass has already been booked;
  • For the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the Holy Rosary, beginning each day at 3:00 p.m.;
  • For adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Although the church will remain closed for now, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. each day, the Most Blessed Sacrament will be exposed in the window of Our Lady of Providence Hall on the Pleasant Street side (facing the side parking lot in front of the “new school”).  You may worship from your vehicles and, following social-distancing guidelines, no more than 10 people may gather at one time.

In addition, check out these suggestions from the Archdiocese of Boston: Resources for Prayer and Faith Formation at Home and a free 40-day subscription to Formed.org, which offers thousands of Catholic movies, programs, books, and audio options.

Suggestions for Reflections and Prayer:

Pray the Coronavirus Novena -  Go to www.praymorenovenas.com and enter your email address to receive the daily prayer for nine days.

Join Cardinal Sean O’Malley on a five-part retreat during this Lenten Season at home.  You can view each segment on the Catholic-TV website www.catholictv.org and on the Archdiocese of Boston website www.BostonCatholic.org.  Cardinal Sean offers 6 reflections on the following topics:

  • Prayer
  • Mercy and Forgiveness
  • Faith: The Key to Meaning and Call to Friendship
  • Who is my Neighbor? The Good Samaritan
  • The Seven Last Words
  • The Eucharist

In addition, Catholic-TV offers access to special prayer services offered by Pope Francis, including the weekly Papal audience, the Rosary, Mass and the Urbi et Orbi (translated “to the city of Rome and to the World”), a special prayer service through which the Pope offered Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and a special plenary indulgence on Friday, March 27.  All of these programs may be replayed on-demand from the Catholic-TV website, www.Catholictv.org.

Bishop Robert Barron’s Spiritual Lesson while Hunkering Down during Covid-19 Precautions

Hope during the Coronavirus, Bishop Robert Barron, www.WordonFire.org

On the Coronavirus Quarantine, Bishop Robert Barron offers some suggestions for spending time during of our “self-imposed exile” of Covid-19, www.wordonfire.org 

How should Catholics respond to the Coronavirus Pandemic?, Fr. Mike Schmitz, https://media.ascensionpress.com/ 

Live in My Love, Fr. Larry Richards - address to Florida Eucharist Congress, April 2018  

Jesus is Coming, Look Busy, homily by Fr. Larry Richards  

On the Holy Spirit, Bishop Robert Barron reflection on the Holy Spirit and discerning what God wants for your life  

Homily on the 5th Sunday of Lent, Bishop Robert Barron’s homily at Sunday Mass, March 29, 2020.  Pray the entire Mass or skip ahead to the Bishop’s homily.

Reflection on the Scriptures from the 5th Sunday of Lent, by Jeff Cavins, Ascension Presents  

The Man Born Blind, A reflection on the Gospel from the 4th Sunday of Lent, Year A by Fr. Tom Rosica, CSB, www.saltandlighttv.org

On the Woman at the Well, A reflection on the Gospel from the 3rd Sunday of Lent, Year A by Bishop Robert Barron,, www.wordonfire.org

(Updated May 03, 2020)