Life in Ordinary Time. Blog posts, prayers and meditations for real life.

Father Steve DeLacy

After getting a Master of Art in Sacred Theology and a Master of Divinity from St. Charles Seminary, Father Steve was Ordained to the priesthood in 2004. He served as parochial vicar of SS Peter & Paul Parish and as school minister (chaplain) for Archbishop Carroll and Pope John Paul II High Schools before being named to his current position as Vocation Director, Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Father Steve is a gifted retreat leader and speaker and is very alive in the Spirit! During his first parish assignment Father was able to reinvigorate the parish’s youth ministry from seven to seventy participants! He also ran the Alpha Course and started Door to Door evangelization. During this time he became active with Rachel Vineyard’s post abortive healing retreats as well as retreats offered by the Malvern Retreat House, including Women Afire and Spirit Power. Father Steve has run the Kairos Retreat Program for high school seniors and has become a popular speaker for Theology on Tap. He was honored to be the Chair of the World Meeting of Families Youth Congress in Philadelphia in September 2015.

Maria Richardson

Maria Richardson spent 20 years as a corporate executive while serving local parishes as a Life Teen Coordinator, Religious Education Catechist and Prayer Group Leader. She continued her education at St Charles Borromeo Seminary and received certification in Catholic Religious Studies.

In 2004, she left the corporate world behind and accepted a position in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia working with parishes to begin and grow youth ministry programs. Maria was the Youth Congress Director for the World Meeting of Families – Philadelphia, 2015.

Maria has taught for the Church Ministry Institute connecting professional leadership skills to Catholic Ministry and is currently the Committee Chair for the Spiritual Motherhood – Adopt a Priest ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.

Maria is currently the Director of Family Faith Formation, Religious Education and Parish Services at St. Maria Goretti Parish in Hatfield, PA. Her goal is to engage families more fully in the life and ministry of the church, empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in our world today, and foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each person. Maria has a genuine desire to bring Jesus to everyone she encounters and everyone she encounters to Jesus.

Bethany Music Ministry

Russ and Gina have been in music ministry for over 20 years with Bethany Music Ministry. They live in the suburbs of Philadelphia with their 5 beautiful children. Bethany Music Ministry has provided praise and worship music for a variety of events including Philadelphia Archdiocese Youth for the Eucharist, World Meeting of Families Youth Congress and the Wildwood Camden Charismatic Conference, as well as local retreats and parish events. Due to the COVID 19 quarantine, Bethany Music Ministry is unable to lead this conference together as a band. Russ and Gina will be accompanied by their children, Charles, Joe, Mikayla and Cecilia from their home for this exciting virtual conference.

Gloria Domino

Gloria Domino has been active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal for over 40 years. She has held various leadership positions, within the National Charismatic Committee as well as in local prayer groups and Life in the Spirit seminars. Gloria, with her passion for our Lord and her high energy personality, is a living example of “Life in the Spirit!”

Kathleen McCarthy

Kathleen McCarthy is a published author, Catholic radio broadcaster and has been a Catholic lay evangelist for more than 40 years. Her message of the Father’s merciful love, the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist and the power of the Holy Spirit are central doctrines of the Catholic Church.

Kathleen has been involved in healing ministry for over four decades. She shares, through her gift of storytelling and prayer, the fire of God’s love and healing through His Word and His Eucharistic Heart of Mercy.

Kathleen has traveled across the United States and internationally, most recently to Canada, Fatima, Venezuela, France, the Dominican Republic and other global communities.

Countless stories of healings have taken place through the power of the Holy Spirit when she uses these gifts as a conference speaker, retreat master, television guest, at parish renewal days, and so much more. The fire of the Holy Spirit emanates through her in every aspect of her ministry.

She has the gift of storytelling that touches the hearts of all individuals. Her willingness to share her faith and wisdom has established her as a dynamic instrument for proclaiming God’s Word to both believers and inactive Catholics of all ages.

Kathleen has experienced the death of a husband, loss of a house through fire, personal and family illness and loss. Through it all, her uncompromising love of God and faith in His love for her has been her source of strength in weakness and her light in darkness. She is a gifted speaker who shares with enthusiasm and motivates many hearts to experience the living God.

How to Connect

Our meetings begin at 8:00pm ET. Please join around 7:55pm ET. If you need the zoom link, please contact De directly. Please connect using ear buds. It helps to reduce background noise.

Once connected to the dashboard, you’ll need to join the audio portion of our call.

If joining from your phone:

In the bottom left corner, you should see two options: “Call via Device Audio” and “Dial in.”
Choosing “Call via Device Audio” will automatically connect you to the audio portion of the zoom chat. I recommend trying this option first. If for some reason it doesn’t work, you can dial the phone number manually (see next step).
If you choose “Dial In” you’ll see a few options of phone numbers. Click on the number you want to dial. Your phone should automatically dial the number. Once connected you’ll need to enter the meeting ID followed by the pound or hashtag symbol.

If joining from your computer:

A menu should pop up, as in the screenshot below. At the top you can choose “Phone Call” or “Computer Audio.”
Phone Call: Using your telephone, dial one of the provided phone numbers. Once connected you’ll need to enter the meeting ID followed by the pound or hashtag symbol.
Computer Audio: Click the green button in the middle that says “Join with Computer Audio.”

If you do not see yourself on camera, check to be sure your video camera is enabled. Scroll over the dashboard and you’ll see the video camera icon in the bottom left. If it has a red line (slash) through it, click it to turn on your camera.

Tips for a Positive Experience on Zoom:

Please connect to our zoom calls using a headset or ear buds. This greatly reduces any feedback on the line and minimizes outside distractions.
We ask that everyone keep their line muted when you are not speaking. Feel free to unmute yourself to offer appropriately throughout the meeting.

Reading Schedule

Session 1, Feb 27th
Introduction & Reading Schedule
Walking the Lenten Journey

Session 2, March 5th
A Completely New Way

Session 3, March 12th
An Elevator For Small Children

Session 4, March 19th
Reconciled to our Weaknesses

Session 5, March 26th
Trusting More and More

Session 6, April 2nd
God’s Infinite Mercy

Session 7, April 7th
Enduring Trials

December 22

This Advent, my husband and I have been reading/praying with Rejoice! Advent Meditations with Joseph (Fr. Mark Toups). In one of the meditations he says: ‘Msgr John Cihak begins to draw us into this mystery:’ “In marriage, a man’s wife changes him. He practices giving himself in love to her. He allows himself to be determined by her. He must attune himself to her, and she engages his heart and helps to develop his eros into agape love.”… “There is greatness inside of every man, but for many men, this must be pulled out of him. The love that a husband has for his wife pulls the deepest desires out of him, as he longs to “do mighty deeds for her.” (The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Role in the Celibate Priest’s Spousal and Paternal Love)

Sounds beautiful, doesn’t it? But there are hurts we encounter in our marriages, and sometimes it’s hard to feel this ‘love that a husband has for his wife’. That’s where prayer and receiving the sacraments come in. I find many days when I am thinking ‘when is God going to change my husband?’ I sense God showing me I have some things to work on. And through the years of listening to ‘The Spirituality of the Twelve Steps’ CDs by Fr. Emmerich Vogt OP, God reminds me: Step 1) I can’t. Step 2) God can. Step 3) Let HIM!

This Advent I feel God telling me to open my heart and love my husband, to reach out past the comfortable, whether it be a smile, a loving look, a touch… I’m a work in progress on this one!

Dear Jesus, my prayer for my sisters in Christ and myself, is that we are open to your spousal love and are totally filled so we can radiate Your love to our families and all we encounter this day. Amen.

MaryKatherine Bushey lmc

December 20

“O Root of Jesse, who stand as a sign among the people, before whom kings shall shut their mouths, to whom the nations shall make supplication: come to deliver us, and tarry not.”

Come to deliver us, and tarry not! Come quickly, Lord! We cry out in supplication from the depths of our hearts. Rescue us. We are wearied by the heavy burden of life, of our pain, our sin, our broken relationships, our miseries. Lord Jesus, come and plant Your bright light right into the messy muddle of our lives and redeem every drop. Do not delay. Come quickly, Lord. We need You now. We beg Your Presence.
In today’s Gospel, Elizabeth declares, “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he has seen fit to take away my disgrace before others.”
Lord Jesus, You promise to take away our disgrace before others. This brings relief to my heart. I trust in You, Lord. I wait upon You, Lord. I believe You are coming to deliver me.
Blessed Mother, open my heart that I may wait with confidence. Open my eyes that I may see how He comes to rescue me in particular ways today.

In what area of my life does my heart cry out most deeply for Christ’s deliverance?
How may I open this up in full trust for His coming this Christmas?

Written by Marian West Veilleux

December 21

Mary set out in those days and traveled…where she entered the house…and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the infant leaped in her womb. -Luke 1: 39-45

As Advent winds down and we prepare for the joy of Christmas, many of us will be traveling as Mary did in the late days of her cousin Elizabeth’s pregnancy. She traveled in haste as she recognized the importance of being with her relative. Similarly, Elizabeth’s infant, John, recognized the presence of Jesus within Mary’s womb. As we travel and prepare for the liturgical Christmas season, may we continue to recognize the presence of Jesus in each moment. May we greet each person we encounter with the true peace and love of Jesus. May we find moments and experiences each day that cause us to leap with joy. And may we respond to the Lord’s promptings with the same faith as Mary and Elizabeth. Let us enter this winter solstice with the anticipation of the Light that is coming.

Written by Sara Caporaletti

December 18

the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.” – Matthew 1:20-21

Joseph likely had dreams and plans for him and Mary, his betrothed. And then, wham, major life detour! What might he have been thinking in that moment, “Wait, but what about…” “No, I thought we were going to…” What might Joseph have experienced interiorly? Shock? Fear? Uncertainty?

A few verses later, we learn that when Joseph awoke from that dream, he arose and did what the angel of the Lord had commanded. Just like that! Joseph was obedient and steadfast, despite any questions or concerns arising from his humanity. O Lord, teach my heart to respond with such obedience!

What act of obedience is the Lord asking of you today?

December 17

It can be easy to “zone out” when we hear the Gospel passage that lays out Jesus’ lineage; it seems distant, ancient, unrelatable. What significance does that historical context have on my spiritual life and my relationship with the tiny babe whose coming we will celebrate in a mere 8 (!!!!) days? Jesus’ royal and complicated lineage actually has everything to do with us and our life as Christians. Through His Incarnation, birth, life, death, and resurrection He has invited us to be part of that same royal family, no matter how complicated or messy our own histories might be.

In Baptism we are anointed and called to share in Christ’s own identity as priest, prophet, and king. Our kingly calling gives us the responsibility to spread the Kingdom of God throughout the world and to exercise the power and authority we have been given to restore all things to their original value and order. One of the most important ways we can do this in the current place and time in which we find ourselves is to do our part to make sure all people (especially the vulnerable and marginalized) are loved as persons, not used like things.

How can you exercise your kingly authority in one concrete way today?

Written by Megan Gettinger

December 14

Feast day of St. John of the Cross

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his path: All flesh shall see the salvation of God. – Luke 3:4, 6

Today we honor St John of the Cross, a priest and doctor of the Church. A celebrated poet as well, St John of the Cross penned Dark Night of the Soul, which details the journey of a soul from a body to complete union with God. The journey happens during a “dark” time, the many difficulties or hardships that help to lead a soul to the joyful light of reunion with the Creator. This season of Advent can also be a “dark” time, both literally as the days are shorter as the winter solstice approaches or figuratively as we grapple with family dynamics, holiday blues or other worldly stresses. But as St John of the Cross leads up to the joyful journey back to God, we have joy awaiting us at the end of the Advent season. The Light of the World, Jesus, is coming and His light will illuminate all the darkness. The hope that His coming provides is always enough to sustain us as we await our own joyful reunion with our Creator.

Written by Sara Caporaletti

December 13

An Advent Meditation… The Nurturing Silence of Mary’s Womb

Sit or lie comfortably… take a moment to just breathe and let your mind, body, and soul relax in God’s presence.
Visualize Our Blessed Mother standing before you… A beautiful young woman, her long dark hair just slightly visible beneath her sky blue flowing mantle. She fixes her loving gaze on you… looking deeply and tenderly into your eyes and in this moment you know you are truly seen… without a word she places her hands on her pregnant belly and draws your attention to the soft Light glowing within her.

Imagine you can see through her and actually see the Christ Child sleeping peacefully within her womb. How does God, the Holy Trinity, Made Man appear? Can you see the umbilical cord that connects God to Mary? This tiny Baby is your Savior. Take a moment to breathe in His Love… Now imagine yourself resting in the silence of Mary’s womb with Jesus… Let His Peace that passes all understanding envelope you… In stillness and quiet you shall find me and I shall restore your soul… you can always find Jesus here in Mary’s womb… Our Mother, the Mother of God, the Woman clothed with the sun held the Creator of sun and the stars within her womb… surely her holy womb is more spacious than the heavens and can hold you in holy nurturing silence too. Here in Mary’s womb Heaven and earth meet and humanity is infused with Holiness and Light.

Written by Laura Ercolino

December 12

In 1531, on the darkest day of the year, the winter solstice, Our Lady of Guadalupe came into a land darkened by the violence of human sacrifice. She came to the humble Juan Diego, to the Aztecs, and the Spaniards bearing the Light of the World, the Son of the one true God who would live and die so all might have eternal Life.

Our Lady comes to us again now, in this Advent season and every day. Our Mother is not afraid of the dark… she comes into the darkness of the death and human sacrifice of our culture and into the darkest recesses of our own hearts. She is the eternal Bride whose courageous ?Yes.? to the will of God fills her with His radiant Light.

She comes to you today asking, ?Am I not your mother? Will you let me shine Christ?s Light into your darkness so you might have new life with Him??

“Listen and let it penetrate your heart…do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am your Mother? Are you not under my shadow and protection? Am I not your fountain of life? Are you not in the folds of my mantle? In the crossing of my arms? Is there anything else you need?” (Our Lady’s words to her servant Juan Diego.)

Written by Laura Ercolino

December 11

To whom can you liken me as an equal?
says the Holy One.
Lift up your eyes on high
and see who has created these things:
He leads out their army and numbers them,
calling them all by name.
By his great might and the strength of his power
not one of them is missing!
Why, O Jacob, do you say,
and declare, O Israel,
“My way is hidden from the LORD,
and my right is disregarded by my God”?

Do you not know
or have you not heard?
The LORD is the eternal God,
creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint nor grow weary,
and his knowledge is beyond scrutiny.
He gives strength to the fainting;
for the weak he makes vigor abound.
Though young men faint and grow weary,
and youths stagger and fall,
They that hope in the LORD will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.
– Isaiah 40:25-31

Father God, How many times have I read: ‘They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength’, when so broken, alone, seemingly without Your strength? And through this Scripture, I hear Your answer. I am comparing You to humans and not the powerful, yet tender, loving God Who You are. You’ve allowed me to go through the fires, but You have been with me every step of the way. You’ve strengthened me as part of Your army through the struggles and pains of life. Now, I wait on You, with expectant faith and ponder these things in my heart just as Mary, our Blessed Mother. Holy Spirit, I ask You for all the graces You have for me during this Advent season, the grace to wait, the grace to give you my FIAT as Mary did, and then to step out in faith knowing that Your Word promises the strength I need. In Jesus Holy Name, AMEN.

Written by MaryKatherine Bushey, LMC

December 9

“On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse, and from his roots a bud shall blossom.” ~ Isaiah 11:1

I am new to gardening. Last winter, I pruned back my perennial hibiscus from 3 flourishing feet to a 2-inch stub of dry nothingness. It looked dead and done. I thought I had surely ruined it forever in my amateur drastic cut. The following spring, much to my delight and total wonder, the miracle happened! Little tiny fresh chartreuse sprigs of green began to emerge from the seemingly barren stump. My heart quickened. Oh God, if you can bring new life here, surely you can bring new life out of the dry stubs of my heart! Not only did the hibiscus grow again, but it thrived! It was bushier and fuller and produced an abundance of blossoms!
Oh Gardener of my heart, sometimes You allow my life to be cut to a stump. The sharp, sudden blow hurts. It can feel like a lifeless finality. There are corners of my heart that can go dormant and dry. Mother Mary, help me to rejoice in hope as I am brought low, brought to nothingness. With you, I trust that He looks with “favor on His lowly servant.” (Luke 1:48) This pruning is for my good. These deep cuts are for fuller flourishing and abundant blossoming! Father Gardener, I trust You to tend to my garden heart with Your mercy and grace and love, for a beautiful spring harvest. I trust there will be a day when a shoot shall sprout from this stump and blossoms from these roots.

Where in my life do I feel pruned to a stump, where in my heart do I feel dormant or barren? How can I open this to the Light and further entrust myself to the tender, faithful Gardener, rejoicing in hope with the Blessed Mother, that new life will indeed come?

Written by Marian Veilleux

December 7

“‘In the beginner’s mind there is no thought ‘I have attained something.’ All self-centered thoughts limit our vast mind. When we have no thought of achievement, no thought of self, we are true beginners. Then we can really learn something. The beginner’s mind is the mind of compassion. When our mind is compassionate, it is boundless.’ Shunryu Suzuki

I like these words. Also very important for Advent. Open, free, flexible, receptive. That is the attitude that makes us ready. I realize that in Zen you are not expecting anything or anyone. Still, it seems that all the things Shunryu Suzuki tells his students are important for Christians to hear and realize. Isn’t a beginner’s mind, a mind without the thought “I have attained something,” a mind opened for grace? Isn’t that the mind of children who marvel at all they see? Isn’t that the mind not filled with worries for tomorrow but alert and awake in the present moment?” – Henri Nouwen

I read this reflection twice… then I sat and just meditated on Henri’s “Advent words”…. open, free, flexible, receptive….” Show me Lord where in my life, in my thinking, in my prayer, do I “think” I am open, free, flexible, and receptive to Your Love and Will but You know that I am not.

And, Jesus, please help me to have the spiritual courage to give You, not a hesitant restrained “maybe”, but a total, free, faithful, and fruitful… enthusiastic YES.

Jesus, I trust in You… help me trust more… help me to grow in the Truth that You are Love and all that You will for me is Love. Thank you, my Beloved Jesus… I love You.

Written by Laura Ercolino

December 6

Luke 2: 29-32 “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”

This line in the Gospel of Luke takes place at Jesus’ presentation in the Temple. Simeon, a righteous and devout man, was spared from death until he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. Once Simeon had seen the Lord, he was prepared to die.

How can you embrace a life like Simeon? How can you open your heart to the work God wants to do in you and through you before your last day on earth?

Written by Charlie Soule Mitton

December 5

As I drew this image below, I contemplated the “Promise” that Our Lady bore within her very being… her womb… her body. I come undone… again and again….
I drew through tear-blinded eyes overcome by Love… the immensity of His Love and Light… the purity of her love… love of God that caused her to unhesitatingly say “Yes”… love of her precious only Son… love of us, of all of humanity, that caused her to bear, to birth, to care for and suffer with our Savior… my little heart cannot even hold these thoughts without pain… how did she bear this Promise and not just burst into brilliant fractals of sheer Light?

I tried to draw His Light seeping out into the darkness but as I tried I realized that would not be accurate for the meaning I was attempting to make visual. Only Mary knew she was bearing the Light of the World. The world was still waiting in darkness for her to give birth to the Light she bore. The light shining in the darkness that first Advent was radiating from Our Lady… from her pure heart beating for God alone…. Purity and Love shone from her face….. Christ, The Light, remained hidden in her womb.

To ponder: As we journey through Advent with Mary, it is good to reflect on the hiddenness of our Lord, The Light of the World, within her most holy womb. And it is good for us to remember that He has already come into our darkness and is no longer hidden. In what ways do you keep the Light hidden within you? How can you shine the Light of the Infant Christ into the darkness of this world?

Written by Laura Ercolino

December 8

“In my time of trial I called out to the Lord:
he listened, and led me to freedom.
The Lord is with me,
I will fear nothing that man can do.
The Lord, my help, is with me,
and I shall look down upon my enemies.” Psalm 117

Lord Jesus, You desire to lead us ever deeper into the freedom You have in store for us. As we enter into the second week of this Advent season, may we be reminded of your great love and faithfulness and be filled with holy boldness and zeal, even in the face of difficulties. We await your coming with great expectation, Lord, please hurry!

In what area of your life is Jesus leading you to deeper freedom this Advent?

Written by Megan Gettinger

December 3

Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said,
“I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows who the Son is except the Father,
and who the Father is except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” Luke 10:21 & 22

In today’s Gospel reading we are given a glimpse into the mind of God the Father, which operates in ways that seem so illogical to those of us who are all “grown up.” Why reveal the promises of the kingdom to little ones instead of the wise who would seemingly understand them better? What qualities do the childlike possess that so endear them to the heart of God? Children are receptive and imaginative- they aren’t bound to what is rational or possible- just like God. Children are small- their smallness leaves room for God’s bigness and gives Him the freedom to work in big ways.

How will you strive to keep your heart childlike this Advent?

Written by Megan Gettinger

December 4

Luke 1:42-43 “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does it happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”

In the Gospel of Luke, Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit as Mary approaches her. Oh, that we might approach Jesus in the Eucharist like Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit!

What practice(s) this Advent will help you prepare to receive Jesus in the Eucharist with joy and great reverence?

Written by Charlie Soule Mitton

Jenn Lozano

Jenn is a member of the Unbound team with Heart of the Father Ministries (www.heartofthefather.com). She coordinates all the local conferences and acts as a liaison for those hosting Unbound events around the world. Along with oversight of the administrative team, Jenn helps with strategic planning for Heart of the Father. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a Human Resource Management concentration at James Madison University. Although mostly serving on the home front, you might occasionally meet Jenn on the road when she travels and speaks at conferences with her husband, Matt Lozano. They have been married for 16 years and live outside of Philadelphia with their 5 amazing children.

Megan Murphy

Megan Murphy is a dynamic Catholic speaker, teacher, and evangelist engaging audiences of all ages in the New Evangelization. She is featured at conferences, retreats, seminars, universities, and youth and young adult events. She serves her home parish as Youth Minister and an Instructor for their parish-wide Family Catechesis Program. Throughout three dioceses, Megan teaches Theology of the Body, and has been instructing couples in St. John Paul II’s teaching since 2006. Megan is currently a presenter for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s “Remain in My Love” initiative and is the newest member of the speakers guild for Integrity Restored (integrityrestored.com). She has been a certified Natural Family Planning instructor for the past twenty years. She hails from Dunmore, Pa where she lives with her husband Neal and their four beautiful daughters. You can find her at meganmurphyministries.com.

De Yarrison, CPCC

De Yarrison is a Professional Coach, Speaker, and Women’s Retreat Facilitator. In 2009, after coaching leaders and their teams within the business community for several years, the Lord called her to work more exclusively with women within the Church. In addition to speaking and coaching, De facilitates retreats for women healing from betrayal trauma, abuse and emotional wounding. It is her great privilege to come alongside God’s beloved daughters in their time of need and support them in (re)discovering the healing love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

De graduated from Immaculata University with a degree in Psychology. She holds post-graduate certifications in Coaching and Gestalt Therapy and is trained in Unbound Ministry.

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You Are Made New Ministry
749 Martingale Road
Schwenksville, PA 19473

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Oh Jesus,
I am becoming aware of the hurtful way I speak to myself. I hear me uttering judgments, negativity, and demeaning words to myself and I come to You seeking forgiveness and help.

It is a new idea for me to consider myself as Your beloved daughter, and as such I sense that my self-criticism is offensive to You. For offending You Lord, I am sorry and I ask Your forgiveness.

Lord, I desire peace in my interior life, peace in my relationship with myself. Please show me the way. Thank you for guiding me to speak words to myself that are kind and supportive. Thank you for helping me to grow in self-acceptance and self-compassion. Thank you for raising my awareness to the thoughts I think and the beliefs I hold about myself that are not of You, so I may cast them aside by the power of Your name.

I yearn for an interior existence that is settled, not stirred up; at peace, no longer rife with conflict. Father grant me this grace! Give me the grace to lift my eyes from myself, and to see You looking upon me with great love and kindness. Teach me to let in, to truly receive, the life-giving riches You offer to me as Your beloved one, that You may be glorified in all I think, say and do.

In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

Surrender Novena

This is one of my favorites! I find myself repeating the “chorus” many times a week, outside of the novena itself: O Jesus, I surrender myself to you,
take care of everything! The daily prayers of this novena were given to Father Don Dolindo Ruotolo in a private revelation from Jesus.

Mark Griswold, Worship Leader

Mark Griswold plays piano for the band FireHill Worship. He is the Director of Religious Education for St. Norbert parish in Paoli, PA where he has been directing teens & adults, leading worship, and organizing events and trips for over twelve years. Mark married his beautiful college sweetheart and together they have four children.

FireHill Worship played on the main stage at the 2015 World Meeting of Families held in Philadelphia, PA. Mark is a founder of The Abbey Faith & Music Festival, “AbbeyFest,” an annual experience of faith-filled music, inspiring prayer, communal worship and the joyful celebration of our faith. We are thrilled to have Mark be a part of Made New Retreats, leading us in praise and worship to the Lord!

Novena to Mary, Undoer of Knots

We all have some “knots” in our lives… and Mary can untie them!

The devotion to Mary, Undoer of Knots has become more popular ever since Pope Francis encouraged the devotion in Argentina, and then spoke about it during his first year as pontiff.

The theology of the devotion actually goes back to the second century. Saint Irenaeus wrote that, “The knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith.”

Mary’s faith unties the knot of sin!

Christ the King Novena

The Feast of Christ the King is a moveable feast that occurs on the last Sunday of the Liturgical year. Pope Pius XI created this feast to help the faithful to remember that allegiance to Christ is above any allegiance to government of a nation.

Holy Spirit Novena

The novena in honor of the Holy Spirit is the oldest of all novenas since it was first made at the direction of Our Lord Himself when He sent His apostles back to Jerusalem to await the coming of the Holy Spirit on the first Pentecost. It is still the only novena officially prescribed by the Church. Addressed to the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity, it is a powerful plea for the light and strength and love so sorely needed by every Christian.

Litany of Humility

“He who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted” (Matt 23:12).

The litany of humility is a moving prayer that can bring us closer to Christ. I first found it in one of those little prayer booklets that showed up on the bookshelf, but I had no idea when it got there or from whom. Know what I mean? Let’s just say Jesus put it there for a reason. In the case of the Litany of Humility, it was time for me to release to Him all those nagging doubts and fears about myself, as well as my misguided search for others’ approval and recognition. The harder I sought to have these needs met by people around me, the less fulfilled I felt. The litany of humility is a powerful way to claim the Lord’s freedom from all that is not of Him!

Use the link below to download the Litany of Humility.

Consecration to Mary, Mother of God

There are many, many consecration prayers to Mary. Below is one that I (De) feel particularly drawn towards.

O Exalted Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth, Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, I consecrate myself to you this day and humbly ask that you take me into your constant care and protection as your devoted child.
O tender Mother of our Redeemer, fill me with your love for your beloved Son and make me into a likeness of Him. Fashion my heart after your heart. Make it tender, pure, gentle, and kind. Give me great reverence for life and devotion to duty.
O Spouse of the Holy Spirit, fill me with your virtues that by the power of the Holy Spirit I may become a true spouse of Jesus Christ.
O Star of the Sea, guiding light, ever guide me into a deeper union with Jesus that I may glorify Him in time and eternity for the greater glory of the Most Holy Trinity, now and forever. Amen.
– Adapted from “Consecration to the Mother of God,” The Apostolate of Holy Motherhood, page 122.

Liturgy of the Hours

The Liturgy of the Hours is the prayer of the whole People of God. In it, Christ himself “continues his priestly work through his Church.” His members participate according to their own place in the Church and the circumstances of their lives. The laity, too, are encouraged to recite the divine office either with the priests, among themselves, or individually.

The celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours demands not only harmonizing the voice with the praying heart, but also a deeper “understanding of the liturgy and of the Bible, especially of the Psalms.”

The hymns and litanies of the Liturgy of the Hours integrate the prayer of the psalms into the age of the Church, expressing the symbolism of the time of day, the liturgical season, or the feast being celebrated. Moreover, the reading from the Word of God at each Hour with the subsequent responses or troparia and readings from the Fathers and spiritual masters at certain Hours, reveal the deeper meanings of the mystery being celebrated, assist in understanding the psalms, and help one prepare for silent prayer. The lectio divina, where the Word of God is so read and meditated that it becomes prayer, is thus rooted in the liturgical celebration.

The Liturgy of the Hours, which is like an extension of the Eucharistic celebration, does not exclude but rather (in a complementary way) calls forth the various devotions of the People of God, especially adoration and worship of the Blessed Sacrament.

The worship “in Spirit and in truth” of the New Covenant is not tied exclusively to any one place. The whole earth is sacred and entrusted to the children of men. What matters above all is that, when the faithful assemble in the same place, they are the “living stones,” gathered to be “built into a spiritual house.” The Body of the risen Christ is the spiritual temple from which the source of living water emanates. Incorporated into Christ by the Holy Spirit, “we are the temple of the living God.”

Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part Two, Section One, Chapter Two.

Good morning Jesus

Good morning Jesus! Thank you for bringing me to the light of this new day. Thank you for all the blessings and graces you have in store for me today. Thank you for _____________[what are you grateful for today?]

Send Your Holy Spirit to open my heart and enlighten my mind so I may receive everything that You will offer me today. Help me to be ready for all, and to accept all. I wish only Your will be done in and through me this day. Jesus, with you by my side, enough has been given. I trust that however much sleep I had last night, it is enough. I trust that however much time I have for each activity of the day, it is enough. I trust that Your grace is always enough for me.

Jesus, I love you. I trust you. I am grateful to be journeying through this day with You by my side. I pray in Your most Holy Name, Amen!

Prayer of Protection

Lord Jesus, I pray your protection today upon me, my family, ____________ [name of others]. Mary, my Mother, I seek your protection and intercession especially for _____________ [specific intention]. St. Michael the Archangel and our guardian angels, come defend us in battle this day. Guard our hearts and minds, delivering us from all thoughts and beliefs that are not of the Lord.

In the name of Jesus, I command each and every spirit that is not of the Holy Spirit, to depart right now from me, my family members, and __________ [name of others].

I thank you and praise you, Lord Jesus, for your boundless Mercy, Love, and Protection! Amen.

Megan Gettinger, Speaker

Megan first discovered her passion for ministering to girls and women in high school, while serving as a youth leader for annual girls’ retreats. While studying at Franciscan University of Steubenville, Megan had the opportunity to serve as a founding core team member of the campus Women’s Ministry and later as the ministry’s Student Coordinator. Through this ministry she was introduced to the writings of St. Edith Stein and Pope Saint John Paul the Great on women and the feminine genius. Exploring these writings, and studying about the influence of female saints throughout the history of Christianity, deepened her desire to share these truths and, by doing so, empower women to embrace their gifts and vocations.

After graduating with a degree in Theology and Classics in 2012 Megan continued to serve college-aged women as a Residence Hall Director at a small Catholic college for 4 years, where she assisted in the formation of a campus women’s ministry group and faith based learning-living community. She has presented papers at The Edith Stein Conference (The University of Notre Dame, 2015) and The Labor and Leisure Conference (Holy Cross College, 2017); and has been invited to speak at youth and women’s events in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana. Attending the GIVEN Young Catholic Women’s Leadership Forum in Washington D.C. in June of 2016 confirmed for Megan her call to serve in women’s formation. Megan loves writing and speaking on women’s role in the Church and the World, living out our vocation in the day-to-day of marriage and motherhood, growth towards a fully integrated life, and really anything to do with our faith.

Megan Mastroianni Bio

Megan first began speaking in 2009. Since then she has been featured as a speaker for Youth Defense at World Youth Day 2011 in Madrid, on EWTN’s Life On the Rock, at the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, and for retreats, assemblies, and rallies all over the country. Megan has also been a speaker for the Steubenville Youth Conferences for 6 years and will continue.

After graduating from Franciscan University in 2009, she has been in full-time ministry; she spent three fulfilling and wonderful years at Mount de Sales Academy serving as their Campus Minister. Her hopes were to create a culture of authentic beauty, femininity, freedom and identity in Christ; that is her driving force when speaking to women of all ages. Since then, Megan has become the Associate Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministry for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. She will continue to take what she has learned through her experiences and apply it to her new role. Her desire is to ignite the people of Philadelphia, to remind them the truth of who they are, and that they are infinitely loved by God. She is passionate about her work, and she is grateful that God calls the weak to lead the strong!

The Little Way of Lent

Speaking Wholesomely to Myself

Ascending the Mountaintop – our Lenten Journey

Docility to the Spirit

The Way of Trust

Overcoming Darkness with the Light of Love

Listening to the Wisdom Within

Holy Trinity, Hold Us

Advent Silence

The Heart of Advent