The Prayer Corner

Daily Prayer & Reflection

Our Franciscan Charism focus for this school year is: INTEGRITY AND GRATITUDE

PALM  SUNDAY - can it be here already?!  We are approaching the holiest week of the Christian calendar, bringing Lent to its conclusion and carrying us over into the most glorious day of Christ's Resurrection!   What a rollercoaster of events and emotions. How can we take it all in within a few days' time?  
 
Here we are, two thousand years after the fact and it's overwhelming to imagine that all of this really did happen to God's beloved...God's own Son. But try to imagine how those apostles and disciples must have thought and felt. Their world was crumbling all around them, all of their hopes and beliefs and dreams - now what? How could all of this happen? What are we going to do?

That beautiful, triumphant entry into Jerusalem on that  amazing Sunday morning...
That wonderful dinner they all shared, unaware of betrayal in their midst, but Jesus knew... 
That mob-driven arrest out in the Garden of Olives, overpowered by the crowd, the apostles fearing for their lives, but Jesus was calm and went with them, leaving the apostles safe, Jesus knew.....
That long, long torturous night when Peter heard himself deny his best friend....three times!....and fled the courtyard in shame, leaving John to keep vigil, looking for answers....and Jesus knew
That slow and deadly walk to Calvary, assisted not by his friends but a man names Simon, a stranger from a foreign land; wept for by many of the women who believed and followed..
And there was Mary, His own mother, if He could only console her...
That last breath mid-afternoon...seemingly nothing left to do or say, they all wandered away with their own thoughts, remembering His words....'It is finished." Was it?

The exultation of Easter is that in the darkest moments when all seems lost, hope can rise from the depths and our confidence can be renewed...The love of God reigns down in the presence of the risen Savior, showing us that all He suffered was for us...this is what love is, this is how love acts, this is what the power of love is all about...

You and I are invited, each day of our lives, to see that love, to be thankful for that love, and to live up to our role in this world by responding to God's gift to us by doing our best to share that same love with others and live as Jesus would if He were here on this earth today...nothing is too great to ask if we recognize that love of God for us...in each of us and share it. That is our call.

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Intentions

Email Sister Ann

As we start our new year, we have had many requests from faculty, staff, and TCHS families for prayers for the sick of body and mind.  We include all of our families and friends each and every day in our prayers and trust that God who sees and knows all of our good intentions will hear our prayers and assist us in times of need.  Please don't hesitate to be in touch with us for specific intentions and know that we do include them in prayer.

The Cole family, including Elizabeth and Rebecca, have requested prayers for a young man, Charlie, who is just 19 years old, but has been battling leukemia for over a year and is very sick. He and his family need our support through our prayerful thoughts each day. Please keep him close and ask the help of our compassionate Lord.
 
Ro Curran '68 has requested prayers from the TCHS Community for her husband, Steve, who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that is advanced.  We offer Ro and all the family our prayerful support during this very difficult time.

Prayers are requested for the repose of the soul of Kaylin Waclawski, a young woman of 19, who died tragically from an overdose a few days ago...we mourn with and for her family and friends and ask God's gentle compassion and support.
We pray for all of those undergoing radiation and other treatments for cancer and ask for God's guidance and wisdom for all caregivers who are tending the sick.  May we be compassionate and caring to those who have lost loved ones in these recent months and show them the support they need at this time.

A member of our faculty has asked for prayers for a good friend named Linda who is having a very rough time right now.  This is what good friends do...help whenever they can and pray for God's support and graces as we see someone we care about struggling with duties and responsibilities in life.  This request came to us because Linda is an alumna of TCHS and her friend thought we would all pray for her and her family as they deal with many, many issues at this time.  Many of us know how that feels and can sympathize...thank you for including Linda in your thoughts and prayers.

Prayers for a successful surgery and recovery for Diane Prochnow have been requested. She is a friend of one of our seniors. The TCHS community will keep her in prayer and ask God's comfort and a speedy recovery.

The entire TCHS community mourns the loss of Nikoletta (Nikki) Roros '08, who was killed in a car accident this past weekend.  We offer our sympathies and prayers to the family and friends of Nikki and ask God's comfort and support.

Prayers have been requested by the Pell family for the recovery of Mrs. Sharon Pell, grandmother of Olivia Pell '27, from serious surgery.  We ask God's grace and blessing for Mrs. Pell and all the family.

Prayers have been requested for Maryanne Czyz '77  who died suddenly after a recent diagnosis of lung/liver cancer.  Her family has asked for prayers for her and we also include all of her family and friends who mourn her loss.

Prayers have been requested for Liam O'Reilly who is suffering with leukemia and has contracted several infections that are resisting treatment. Please keep Liam and family in your prayers.

Prayers are being requested for Mrs. Shirley Thoman, who has had a bad fall and broken three ribs. Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

We have been asked by Mrs. Barbara Hoey '57,  to please include in our prayers her husband, Vernon, who is suffering from side-effects in treatment for his illness.  We would include Vernon and all the family in our prayers and ask God's graces for recovery.

Prayers have been requested by Peg Miller '77, Kathy Miller Krause '79, and Erin Miller Brown '83  for their dad, Greg Miller, who is having heart surgery on November 13. We include Mr. Miller and all the family in our prayers and offer our  support for a successful surgery and full recovery.

Please remember in your prayers the repose of the soul of Stephanie Buckley, Class of '65, IND, who died this past weekend and all of her family and friends who mourn her loss.

Let us remember two relatives of our Sisters in Aston, PA.
Mr. Jack Gunder, brother-in-law to one of our sisters and Mrs. Janice Clow, a cousin to another sister at the Motherhouse.  We also remember in our thoughts the families of these two individuals and ask God's comfort and grace.
Please keep in your prayers Duffy Baker, the son of Linda Baker, '66. Duffy suffered a stroke last week and is currently in the hospital recuperating.  We keep him and his wife and children in our thoughts and prayers and ask for his full  recovery.

'Prayers are requested for Addy Eppig, a premature baby, born very early and weighing only 2lbs. 7 oz. Please keep Addy and her family in your prayers.

Our TCHS community has been asked to pray for Ms. Theresa Taulbee who is ill and awaiting test results...family asks for our prayers for a good outcome.


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Resources

Center for Action and Contemplation - author Richard Rohr, Franciscan priest, several options, of the most popular is daily reflections with weekly themes, several books available and other subtopics

Gratefulness.org -  thoughts for the day, various sources

On Being Project - several options including poetry, essay, photos, Krista Tippett shares weekly

Laudate - broad, general resource/reference for all kinds of religious needs, information bank

The God Minute - daily ten-minute prayer/reflection each day

National Catholic Reporter - daily Catholic press articles, including Earthbeat, other topical sources

Take 5 For Faith - brief, prayerful reflection each day

Daily Readings - liturgical references to daily masses

Missio.org - Pope Francis' COVID-19 Emergency Solidarity Fund

The Word Among Us - daily meditations, reflections, and print materials

Insight Timer - free, daily meditation app

CatholicMom.com - daily prayer reflections

Heart of the Nation - Catholic Mass online, prayers


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