40 Days for Life

I hope this email finds you all enjoying this glorious day that God has provided!! I would like to invite those of you who are interested in celebrating LIFE,  to join us on Sunday October 7th in Germantown. St Raphael has adopted this day in our efforts to support 40 Days for Life. For those of you who are not familiar with this amazing and inspiring program I invite you to visit their website to learn more! The link below will take you to the website where you can support your parish and your community by signing up to participate. Please encourage your family and friends as well. We will also be holding a candlelight vigil from 5-6:00pm so please join us!! Please email me for more information at ginawitt@comcast.net

http://vigilcalendar.com/germantown/schedule/weekly/1349586000

http://www.40daysforlife.com/

God Bless you all...~gina

There are no coincidences with God

Posted by Molly

Today was Grandparents Day at St Raphael School.  It is a lovely tradition and the grandparents enjoy it so much but it can be bittersweet if there is someone who is noticeably not there.  My son, Mac, loves Grandparents Day so I try to get excited about it, too, but a little of my heart feels broken every year knowing my mom should be there.  My husband's parents are great about going.  Last year my own Dad couldn't make it.  It wasn't his fault but I still felt I let down.  He has had it tough since my mom died.  As hard as it was on me, it was a thousand times worse for him and he lost his faith.  I try to be extra faithful to make up for that and I hope one day he will find his way back to God but for now all I can do it pray for him and love him

Novena to the Mother of God

An excerpt from a letter by Rev. Frederick L. Miller, S.T.D

Here is a wonderful secret of prayer:

Christ wants us to go humbly to his mother in search of his help. 

Mary's maternal relationship to Christ and to all the members of His Body is the foundation of Christians’ confidence in her ability to help her children on earth who face any danger.

We fly to your patronage, O holy Mother of God;

despise not our prayers in our necessities,

but ever deliver us from all dangers,

O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Sub Tuum Praesidium prayer  from 250 AD



Join Women of St. Raphael as we pray the Novena to the Mother of God beginning September 29 - Feast of St. Raphael the Archangel through October 7 - Feast of the Holy Rosary.  You can find the Novena prayers at a special website http://www.religiousliberties.org/novena/index.asp. 

We await a powerful outpouring of the

graces of Heaven through Mary’s hands.

+++

Visit our Works of Mercy page to learn how you can share the love of Christ with others.

15 Years

Posted by Molly

My mother died on September 16, 1997.  At that moment in time I could not imagine how I would ever get through it.  I honestly felt as though I would never ever be happy again and when I did feel happy I felt guilty for it.  I went through all the stages of grief in an almost violent way - especially anger and depression.  Losing my mom made me want to punch someone and then immediately curl up in a little ball and cry.  It was excruciating and if I let myself really think about it I still cry.  Understatement.  I still sob.  Uncontrollably.  Without hope.  And then I remember that the crying is not going to bring her back.  It's probably just going to make her feel bad as she watches over me from heaven and I don't want that. 

Perpetual vows

Posted by Adrienne

Sister Maria de la Revelacion Castaneda has visited St. Raphael School and Religious Education students many times to share the joy of Christ. 

Click here to read a summary of her beautiful talk on helping your children listen to God in prayer. 

Sister Revelacion has spent the past seven years in formation with her religious order, the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara (SSVM - the same order as Father Mario Majano's sister!)

Please join us in praying for Sister as she makes her profession of perpetual vows this afternoon at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.