Prayer

How many ways are there to pray?  The list is really endless, but just as with exercise, it needs to be something we enjoy or we will not keep doing it. Whether your prayer style is traditional or done on your daily commute, I think there needs to be some time in which we sit quietly, reflect, and listen for answers from God.
Personally, I love the Rosary, partly because it reminds me of my Grandma O'Brien.  She was a wonderful woman, truly Christian in all of her actions.  Her Rosary was always with her, the blue glass beads with the silver crucifix, was either in her apron pocket, her purse, or under her pillow.  Everytime I pick up a Rosary it reminds me of my goal to be a person like her. 
Through the Mysteries of the Rosary I am able to reflect on all the wonderful gifts I have received from God and to be thankful for them.
Each of us has our own style of doing things, and that includes prayer, that's okay, it is the way God made us.  Find your voice, talk to God everyday, you will be glad you did.

Denise Murre
Director of Child Ministry

Are you pretty tech savvy? Then there are lots of different apps and pod casts out there to help you pray! Some that I have found helpful (and I believe most can be found on the app store and on Android phones/tablets):

Pray as you go podcast  -   www.pray-as-you-go.org Daily prayer downloads that combines Scripture, music and questions for reflection from Jesuit Media Initiatives

Laudate - includes daily readings, Liturgy of the hours, Rosary and chaplet, Stations of the Cross, Prayers (lots of!), the Catechism, New American Bible, and Vatican documents

My Year of Faith www.myyearoffaith.com  Daily reflections and prayers to help you learn more about your Catholic faith along with the ability to set reminders about daily challenges such as reading, prayer etc.

Best Daily Prayers  - Short prayers, holy aspirations, and daily devotions

Rosary Guide - A simple guide to help you pray the Rosary

iMissal - Granted an official imprimatur from the Catholic Church, iMissal gives you access to daily Mass readings and does not require WiFi/Cellular. It also includes Our Daily Bread which is a unique Bible verse for everyday of the year as well as Prayers and a Catholic News Feed ($4.99)

And if you are looking to make it to the Communal Penance Service this Wednesday, December 12th (at St. Mary's at 6:00 - not 6:30 as it stated in the email!), you might want to check out Confession: A Roman Catholic App which includes a personalized examination of conscience and a step-by-step guide to the sacrament. ($1.99)

These are just a few tools you can use but there are LOTS more out there!

And while we are at it...its a little after its started, but check out this great, short (2 minutes!) video to help remind us what ADVENT is all about: