Christmas Wonderings
When each of my three children were born and the midwife lifted them up for me to see and placed them on my chest all I could do was stare at them and whisper, “Oh my God. Oh my God.”…
baby
When each of my three children were born and the midwife lifted them up for me to see and placed them on my chest all I could do was stare at them and whisper, “Oh my God. Oh my God.”…
Subscribe to receive news & blog posts!
Father Allen Hoffa was trained for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia. He holds a B.A. in Philosophy and Master of Divinity. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Allentown on June 6, 2009. During his priestly ministry, Father Hoffa has served in a number of ministries including: Parochial Vicar, High School Chaplain, Catholic College Chaplain at Lehigh University, Director of the Diocesan Office for Youth and Young Adult Ministry, and Catholic Youth Event Speaker and Worship Leader.
Father Hoffa was first connected with Integrity Restored in the Spring of 2016. In February 2017, he was appointed by Bishop Alfred Schlert to lead the Integrity Restored initiative in the Diocese of Allentown to assist those struggling with pornography in their life. Since that time Father Hoffa has worked with his bishop to develop a diocesan plan to address pornography for the faithful of his diocese at every level. This work has resulted in the Lumen Christi Commission in the Diocese of Allentown dedicated to bringing the faithful out of the darkness of pornography and back to the bright light found in Jesus Christ.
Father Hoffa partners with Hope’s Garden to offer his experience and his compassion to women healing from betrayal trauma.
Bonnie West is a wife, mother, grandmother, hospital chaplain and spiritual mentor. Through the circumstances the Lord has allowed in her own life and the grace of Jesus’ tender remedies for them, she has come to know the riches of His tender love. Her joy is to share His healing heart with those He brings to her.
“How it breaks Jesus’ heart to have us picking up nickels and dimes off the sidewalk when there is a bank vault of treasure He offers us! He lives and moves and has His being within us. His very life is ours, from being carried in the safety of His Mother’s womb, to the security of His home life with her and Joseph, to His transforming miracles, to all He is in His Cross, bearing away every barrier– and is in His risen life and presence forever with the Father, interceding for us without cease. The same Spirit that animates Him animates us. He came to show us the magnificent, simple truth–God wants to marry us. Be one with us here and for all eternity. Share everything of His life and beauty with us. He does not disdain our misery, but is madly drawn to it, longing with infinite patience to restore us to our true selves. Let us discover His Heart together! Let us learn to live heaven on earth.” – Bonnie West
Bonnie studied Spiritual Theology at Lancaster Theological Seminary in Lancaster, PA. She holds a certification in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) in Hospital Chaplaincy and a certification in Gestalt Pastoral Care and Spiritual Companioning (GPC). She completed study of Theology of the Body with The Theology of the Body Institute and Leadership Training with Desert Stream Ministries in Kansas City, MI.
Marian West Veilleux is a Catholic “heartist”, seeking to live the art of heart to heart in every encounter. Marian is a modern dancer, vocal artist, licensed massage therapist and labor doula. In 2006, Marian received her B.A. in Dance from DeSales University and then received her massage training at the Swedish Institute in Manhattan in 2007. She served as a missionary with Heart’s Home in Brooklyn for 14 months, offering a presence of compassion to the abandoned, lonely, and suffering. Marian prays that the Blessed Mother be her heart, hands, movement, and melody to touch Christ’s broken body in our thirsting world.
Laura is a mother, writer, artist, spiritual mentor, and founder of Hope’s Garden. She has experienced the redemptive power of the spousal love of Christ the Bridegroom and like the Bride of The Song of Songs is passionate about sharing the truth of His intimate love for each one of us. Creativity and art have been at the heart of her healing journey. In her therapeutic work to heal from betrayal trauma as well as childhood sexual trauma, she has integrated journal writing, poetry, and various artistic mediums. Laura shares her personal story, her creative talents and the wisdom she has gained from her journey through our healing retreats and speaking events.
In 2009, after coaching leaders and their teams in the business world for several years, De answered the Lord’s call to work more exclusively with women within the Church. In addition to speaking and coaching, De facilitates retreats for women seeking emotional healing and deeper freedom. It is her great privilege to come alongside God’s beloved daughters and support them in (re)discovering the healing love of our Lord Jesus Christ. De is consistently awed at the presence and power of the Holy Spirit within each of us, and has witnessed Him faithfully and untiringly leading us to experience inner healing that may have seemed “impossible” and the peace that truly transcends our circumstances.
De graduated from Immaculata University with a BA in Psychology. She holds post-graduate certifications in Co-Active Coaching and Gestalt Therapy and is trained in Unbound Deliverance Ministry.
We meet every Wednesday evening from 8:15pm-9:15pm ET, via zoom video conference: https://zoom.us/j/614368635
We follow this basic meeting structure:
We use the book titled, “Intergenerational Healing Rosary” by Father Gustavo E. Jamut, OMV for our rosary prayers. Here is a description of the book “Using biblical texts and appropriate prayers within the context of the Holy Rosary, the booklet shows us how to pray for family healing and liberation going back to 15 generations of our maternal and paternal bloodlines.“ If desired, booklets may be purchased here for $5.00 each.
We meet four times weekly to pray this rosary via this zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/434768262?pwd=SU9DZUZIUVc2SnBUcW1sNy9RT2hnZz09
We use the book titled, “Theology of the Body Rosary Meditations” by Debbie Staresinic. Learn to pray the “favorite prayer” of St. John Paul II in a whole new way. The rosary radiates new personal insights every time you pray it through the lens of Theology of the Body.
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 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.
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 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 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.
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:
If joining from your computer:
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:
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
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 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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! 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!
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.