A Treasure To Be Shared

Mass in a Connemara Cabin by Aloysius O'Kelly (1883) A young priest recently pointed out to this blogger an essay by Fr. Nick Schneider titled The Fathers We Are Losing: The Crisis at Noon . It highlights a growing trend of priests leaving active ministry between 15 and 25 years after ordination, with some stepping away even sooner. www.hprweb.com/2026/08/the-fathers-we-are-losing/ Summary Fr. Nick Schneider argues that this pattern is not simply burnout or failure, but a midlife developmental crisis that the Church has not yet learned to accompany. Drawing on Maria Montessori, psychology, and Scripture, he explains that human growth unfolds through crises — birth, adolescence, and again at midlife. Around ages 35–50, a person’s early strengths naturally wane while deeper, more mature strengths begin to emerge. For priests, this transition is especially difficult because their external life often remains unchanged: the same parish routines, the same responsibilities, the same expec...

Rev. Thomas Byles The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, is one of the most famous tragedies in history, inspiring countless books and films. The disaster claimed 1,496 lives during the maiden voyage of a ship once thought to be unsinkable. Among the passengers was Fr. Thomas Byles, who spent his final moments offering comfort and spiritual support to others. After his death, Pope Saint Pius X is said to have called him a “martyr,” and a plaque at his former parish honors his “heroic death in the disaster” for his selfless devotion to fellow passengers. Sources https://saintoftitanic.org/ https://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-victim/fr-byles.html https://catholicexchange.com/priest-on-titanic-the-last-voyage-of-fr-thomas-byles/ Thomas Roussel Davids Byles was born on 26 February 1870, Grosvenor Road in Headingley, England, to Alfred Holden Byles and Louisa Davids, the eldest of their seven children. His father, Reverend Dr. Alfred Holden Byles, was both a congregatio...

Cardinal Ángel Fernández Artime, S.D.B., Pro-prefect of the Dicastery for the Institutes of Consecrated Life and the Societies of Apostolic Life. Homily from 8th day of Novemdiales Masses for Pope Francis  [edited for length] Dearest Sisters and Brothers, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori teaches that praying for the dead is the greatest work of charity. When we help our neighbors materially, we share ephemeral goods, but when we pray for them we do so with eternal goods. In a similar way lived the Holy Curé of Ars, universal patron of priests. [...] On this third Sunday of Easter everything invites rejoicing, exultation. The reason is given by the Risen Lord and the presence of the Holy Spirit. St. Athanasius affirms that the risen Jesus Christ makes man's life a continuous feast. And that is why the Apostles - and Peter first among them - are not afraid of imprisonment, nor of threats, nor of being persecuted again. And in fact they boldly and frankly declare, “Of these things we ar...

Saint Charbel, a Maronite hermit, is a most reliable intercessor. Following Our Lady, he is recognized for having the most recorded miracles, with 29,000 registered. Charbel Makhlouf, O.L.M. (born Youssef Antoun Makhlouf), May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898, was a Lebanese Maronite monk and priest celebrated for his holiness and dedication to uniting Christians, Muslims, and Druze. He was a member of the Baladite order. His feast day is commemorated on July 24 in the Latin Church and the third Sunday of July in the Maronite Church. His body remains incorrupt. O Lord, in Thy Saints infinitely Holy and Glorified, Thou didst inspire Charbel, that blessed monk, to lead a hermit's life most perfect. We render thanks unto Thee for granting him the grace and strength to sunder himself from this world, that the heroic virtues of poverty, obedience, and chastity could triumph in his hermitage. We beseech Thee to bestow upon us the grace of loving and serving Thee, following his hallowed exampl...

In recalling the liturgical commemoration of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is celebrated today, Friday, 22 August, the Pope has invited us to celebrate Mary's queenship by praying and fasting for peace (VATICAN NEWS). Most holy and immaculate Virgin, Mother of Jesus and our cherished Mother, thou art exalted as Queen of Peace. With ardent affection in our hearts, we do salute and honour thee under this esteemed title. We beseech thy intercession to safeguard us and all mankind from malice and strife, and to guide our hearts unto the paths of peace and righteousness which thy Son did teach and exemplify.

O Almighty and all-wise God, known to Thee are our communities beset by those whose heinous actions harm the innocent and the sick. We earnestly beseech Thee, our Heavenly Father, to strengthen the virtuous, confound the wicked, and to assist us, by Thy grace, in affirming and protecting those in most need of Thy boundless mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

O BLESSED Virgin Mary, Mother of God and our most gentle Queen and Mother, look down in mercy upon us, our families, our Parish and Ordinariate, and upon all who greatly hope and trust in thy prayers, as we implore thine aid and intercession in this Jubilee year. By thee it was that Jesus, our Savior and hope, was given to the world; and he has given thee to us that we may hope still more. O gracious Mother, plead for us thy children, whom thou didst receive and accept at the foot of the Cross when thou received the Beloved Disciple into thine embrace. Intercede too for our separated brethren, that with us in the one true fold they may be united to the Chief Shepherd, the Vicar of thy Son. Pray for us all, dear Mother, that our hearts may be filled with holy hope, and that we may never fail to trust in God our Saviour, but by walking in the way of His commandments we may merit to be united with Him, and with thee in the eternal charity of Heaven.  Amen. Our Lady of Walsingham, pray...

Prayer Imploring God To Grant Us Holy Popes Kyrie Eleison! Christe Eleison! Kyrie Eleison! Lord Jesus Christ, Thou art the Good Shepherd! With Thy almighty hand Thou guidest Thy pilgrim Church through the storms of each age. O merciful and gracious Lord, adorn the Holy See with holy popes who neither fear the powerful of this world nor compromise with the spirit of the age, but preserve, strengthen, and defend the Catholic Faith to the shedding of their blood, as well as observe, protect, and faithfully hand on the venerable liturgy of the Roman Church. O Lord, return to us through holy popes who, inflamed with the zeal of the Apostles, proclaim to the whole world: "Salvation is found in no other than in Jesus Christ. For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which they should be saved." Through an era of holy popes, may the Holy See—which is home to all who promote the Catholic and Apostolic Faith—ever shineth as the cathedra of truth for the whole world. Hear ...

Madonna and Child Holding the World | 1894 Library of Congress Events of recent memory - Paris - remind us that Christians, the heralds of reason, goodwill, peace, hope, and eternal salvation in Christ, face opposition from those espoused to the lord of this world, the devil. The Olympic Games have nothing on the epic battle between the Church and the devil's allies. The world caught a glimpse of that struggle between light and darkness when a mockery was staged with organizers' foreknowledge. Contrary to the claims of IOC representatives and those of the producer of the opening tableaux, participants in the weird and crass opening ceremonies admitted on various social media platforms that the episode in question was intended to parody the Lord's Supper. On an artistic level, the opening segment was anything but art. It was an attempt at propaganda in support of a twisted anthropology. These days the world is plagued to the point of annoyance with the arrogant musings of in...

  Take care of the little things (even when you're exhausted): do the dishes; clean the bathroom; sweep the floor; tidy the living room; clean your bedroom. Practice charity at home, toward your wife and kids, toward siblings and parents, toward a roommate, toward a landlord. Give to the poor: donate food and/or cash to a food bank. Volunteer at a food bank; pray silently - or if opportunity presents itself, pray with others - for the needs of each person you encounter. Accompany every task with prayer; give thanks to God for the opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters. Reach out to a coworker who is difficult to get along with. Acknowledge something good, however seemingly insignificant that something might be. Ask them what interests them; listen carefully. Go for a walk and acknowledge passersby: catch their eye and say 'hello', or just smile and nod. Remember: the people you encounter are created in the image and likeness of God. Give thanks to God for the miserab...

The following prayer is an adaptation of a prayer by the Rev. Deacon Keith Fournier, NOVEMBER 17, 2023. In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for Thy great gift of living faith that has opened now our eyes to see life differently because of Who Jesus is and who we are becoming in Him. Lord, we thank Thee for sending Him, Thy beloved only-begotten Son as our Saviour, so that we may be sons in the Son, and see with new eyes all that Thou art accomplishing even in the midst of this present darkness. Vouchsafe to help us, O Lord, to be light to dispel the darkness. Help us to manifest Thy hope for so many people struggling and depressed and fearful. Help us, we beseech Thee, to be disciples who stand with Thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and are faithful to Him and faithful to His teaching, and to take our place following in His footsteps. Be with us alway and guide us henceforth with Thy saving grace. This we ask in the Name o...

Christ and the Woman of Samaria by Giovanni Lanfranco Dear Diocesan Friend, God loves you. You matter to God. You having faith in God matters. Your eternal salvation matters. Faith matters. Keep the Faith! Perspective When the Mass is routinely celebrated without dignity and reverence, it is understandable that you could be tempted to stop attending Mass. Ask God for the grace to see past the problem or obstacle and focus on a solution. Are you involved in helping with the Mass - as a server? a sacristan? a lector? a member of the parish council? It only takes one saint to turn around a parish. Pray Wherever you find yourself, ask the Holy Ghost to illuminate your life and guide you. Come, Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of Thy faithful and kindle in them the fire of Thy love. V. Send forth Thy Spirit and they shall be created; R. And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth. Let us pray. O God, who didst teach the hearts of Thy faithful people by sending them the light of Thy Holy Spiri...

O Raphael, one of the seven holy angels who present the prayers of the saints and enter into the presence of the glory of the Holy One: agent of healing and protector of travellers; guardian of the betrothed; vanquisher of demons: confident of thy mighty intercession, we entrust to thee our prayers for [ name your petitions ]. We beseech thee, gather up our needs and offer to the Lord only those that conform to His sovereign will. Amen. Most Holy Trinity, Thou Who art Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, Who dost inform, form and transform the souls of men; hear our prayer of supplication that we make with the assistance of the blessed spirit Raphael, Whom Thou sent to deliver Tobit from blindness and to guard Sarah and Tobias from torment and harm; deliver us from all spiritual and physical ailments,  and preserve us in health; for we trust in Thy mercy and goodness. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. O MARY, OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM, who didst grant Richeldis a vision of thy house in Nazareth, and who didst entrust her with the mission to build thy shrine, we beseech thee to intercede before the throne of God for assistance to help us build a house of prayer wherein the true, the good and the beautiful celebration of the sacraments ordained for our salvation may be conducted unto the glory of God. We humbly beseech thee, O Mary Most Holy, to pray that God grant to us the wisdom to do His will at all times, and the grace to diligently work to build a house of prayer, a home for all who thirst for truth and who hunger for righteousness and healing; a home for vocations to the priesthood, religious and married life; a home for families who love God and neighbour. May God grant us the strength to persevere in our quest to honour Him by constructing a church worthy of His Name. Pray, O Blessed Lady, that God will in...

Let us support our beloved priests by helping them to live the dignity of their office. Provide for their daily needs and for their retirement:  https://ordinariate.net/give-to-rfp Almighty and everlasting God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Thou dost provide to Thy Holy Church the ministry of presbyters ordained to serve Holy Mass, that Jesus our Saviour and Redeemer may be Present among us in a most sublime manner. Grant to priests every grace to sustain them and to help them fulfill their calling. As Thou didst send an angel to succour Thy Son in the Garden of Gethsemane, provide in Thy mercy solace to Thy sons, our shepherds, and grant to them every blessing in their service. Help us to support our beloved spiritual fathers with our love and care, respect and gratitude. We beseech Thee, Father, grant these requests and all good gifts through Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen. Holy Mary, Mother of Pries...

http://nweparchy.ca/help-the-people-of-ukraine-to-survive-the-war-donate-here/ Please donate to the “AID FOR UKRAINE”. All donations will be directed to regional organizations in Ukraine, who support all people in need including refugees fleeing their homes to other parts of Ukraine. The funds will be forwarded to Caritas Ukraine, a charitable organization with over 20 offices in Ukraine. https://www.caritas.org/where-caritas-work/europe/ukraine/ They supply aid by accessing and delivering food, shelter, medical supplies and providing spiritual and psychological support for those in need. A generous family has pledged to match all donations in support of humanitarian aid in Ukraine up to $500,000. Help us meet this goal. Make cheques payable to ‘Eparchy of New Westminster’ with memo ‘Aid for Ukraine’ mailed to 502-5th Avenue, New Westminster, BC V3L 1S2. Tax receipts will be issued. Another way to donate to Caritas Ukraine is through CNEWA Canada. https://cnewa.org/campaigns/ukraine/ P...

Communities of the Personal Oridnariate of the Chair of Saint Peter are into Day 3 of a Novena of Masses offered for Mr. Murray O'Coin of Christ the King Ordinariate community at the Chapel Royal, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, Ontario. Please join your prayers to those of the Ordinariate community for Murray, that he may recover his health. Almighty God, merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, vouchsafe to send forth Thy holy angels to watch over Murray and to protect him from any and all malicious spiritual influences that may be inhibiting his recovery. This we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, One God, world without end. Amen. Holy Mary, Mother of God: pray for Murray. Blessed John Henry Newman: pray for him.