A place to be fed and find
strength in your Faith Journey
Welcome to the
St. Raphael Spirituality Cafe!
Feed your soul for the journey. . .
Your spiritual journey, like any physical journey, can be a challenging and strenuous task.
To climb your own spiritual mountain is to seek God more closely. To go upward, as did Moses on Mount Sinai, Abraham on Mount Moriah, and Jesus himself with his disciples on Mount Tabor.
On these mountain tops, your spiritual life gives a clearer vision of what it means to be a disciple of Christ, to seek God alone as the pinnacle of one’s life.
However, like any mountain trek, this spiritual journey also requires a fitness of mind, focus, strength of character, and desire to endure for the long haul.
Preparing for the journey requires using tools to achieve a strong and sure foothold. Food is needed for nourishment, and a compass and map help keep one on the right path.
Here, you will find such tools for your spiritual journey.
Such a journey is lifelong, for one can never really reach the mountaintop of your spiritual journey. Yet, one can always climb higher, steeper, and closer to what we seek – trust in God to sustain us through this journey and the ability to climb above the world we live in and experience our own “mountain-top experience.”
This is the goal of our faith lives, and here on this site, you will find a place to nourish yourself, strengthen yourself, and even rest a bit when the journey becomes a challenge.
This is your Spiritual Café – may it always lead you upward!
Read how Bishop Barron likens the physical need for food with the spiritual need for food.
Click on image above to open in new page.
ONGOING FAITH ACTIVITIES
Here you will find recurring offerings and special upcoming events -
for more information, please contact us!
BIBLE STUDY
Small Group
We meet weekly to break open the Scriptures for the coming Sunday.
Come with an open heart and curious mind to learn about how
God speaks to us today through
His living Word.
Wednesdays, 5 to 6:15pm
via Zoom
For information contact
Michelle Fontaine
mfont@aristotle.net
YOUNG ADULTS
Activity Group
Join other young adults to journey in faith through activities like social fellowship, Scripture study, prayer, reflections and more with the parish
and community.
Thursday evenings
For information contact
straphaelyag@gmail.com
PEACE, JUSTICE and
SERVICE
Join others interested in advocacy through parish ministries and
educational programs to foster and transform others in understanding
and engaging with
Catholic Social Teaching and justice.
For information contact
tcashman@saintraphael.com
Be "FORMED"!
Your Premier Faith Formation Resource in one place
FORMED brings beautiful and faithful Catholic content to parishes, families, and individuals.
There is something for everyone here: award-winning studies and parish programs, inspiring audio content, movies, e-books, and family-friendly kids' programming. Led by the Augustine Institute and Ignatius Press, and in collaboration with over 100 content providers, this site reaches more than one million subscribers worldwide.
Click on "sign up" button in menu bar, then look up parish by name and Zip.
Follow instructions from there.
All descriptive text and logos for this site are taken from the site itself - copyright held by the publisher of that site.
PRAYING . . .
Some resources
Prayers and Devotions
My Catholic Life!
Within is a list of beautiful and powerful Catholic prayers. Saying a prayer, however, is not the same as praying. In order for these words to become true prayer, they must be reflected upon, understood, meant, and the prayer must come from the depths of your soul. Let it become your own personal prayer and let God speak to you and strengthen you through it.
Liturgy of the Hours
iBreviary.com
The iBreviary is your digital and portable breviary. You can use it to pray with the full texts of the Liturgy of the Hours. Simply launch the application and all the texts of the day will appear before you.
The texts of the Liturgy of the Hours are formatted just as they appear in the print edition.
Prayers and Devotions
USCCB
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." -
St. Therese of Lisieux (CCC 2558)
Make a Prayer Request; Pray for Others
National Shrine of St. Anthony, Ohio
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
—Matthew 18:20
Welcome to our online community of prayer! Our petitions are more powerful when we lift our voices together. If you are able, please take a few minutes to pray for people’s prayer requests, and in return, others will pray for your intentions. Let’s allow our faith to unite us.
All descriptive text and logos for these sites are taken from the sites themselves - copyright held by the publisher of these sites.
SCRIPTURE
Praying the Word through
Lectio Divina
How To Do Lectio Divina
Pope Benedict XVI referred to the ancient tradition of lectio divina as a “prayerful listening to the
Word of God.”
It is from this prayerful reading of Sacred Scripture, especially, that the Church has developed and taught its holy doctrines through the millennia.
All descriptive text and logos for this site are taken from the site itself - copyright held by the publisher of that site.
All descriptive text and logos for this site are taken from the site itself - copyright held by the publisher of that site.
MEDIA RESOURCES LIBRARY
YouTube Channels
Here you will find unique and spiritually sound media offerings
through sponsored YouTube Channels.
Click link to open in new page.
Please let us know of any resources you feel may be appropriate to add!
Eternal Word Televison Network
Through the power and working of the Holy Spirit, we are called to live out our Catholic Faith amid the chaos, bringing the light and saving Truth of the Gospel to every corner of society.
From a garage studio started in 1981 by Mother Angelica to today being the world’s largest religious media network, EWTN proclaims the Truth of Jesus Christ to the nations.
EWTN delivers trusted news coverage of events around the world through TV and radio, online, and in print. EWTN also educates, entertains, and explores the beauty and teachings of the Catholic faith to fulfill Mother Angelica’s mission of reaching more people with the message that “Jesus loves you.”
Bishop Robert Barron -
Word on Fire
These are brief and insightful commentaries on faith and culture by Catholic theologian and author Bishop Robert Barron. The videos complement his weekly sermons posted and podcasted at WordOnFire.org.
Called to More
Called to More is a Catholic media company based in Ireland. We create short-form videos and podcasts for social media and programmatic resources for the real world.
Pints with Aquinas
Join Matt Fradd for long form discussions, debates,
and teachings on the Catholic faith.
The Thomistic Institute
The Thomistic Institute exists to promote Catholic truth in our contemporary world by strengthening the intellectual formation of Christians at universities, in the Church, and in the wider public square. The thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, the Universal Doctor of the Church, is our touchstone.
The TI is an academic institute of the Pontifical Faculty of the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C.
The Augustine Institute is fixed in fidelity to Christ. Confident that only Divine Truth satisfies human longing, we champion the full and beautiful teachings of the Church not to be hoarded privately, but to be taught, made accessible, and shared.
Augustine Institute -
The Catholic Faith Explained
Renewal Ministries
Renewal Ministries seeks to foster renewal in the Catholic Church through the power of the Holy Spirit for the salvation of souls.
We pray that our work will encourage and strengthen you!
The Bible in a Year -
Fr. Mike Schmitz
In The Bible in a Year podcast, Fr. Mike Schmitz walks you through the entire Bible in 365 episodes, providing commentary, reflection, and prayer along the way. Unlike any other Bible podcast, Ascension’s Bible in a Year podcast follows a reading plan inspired by The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, a ground-breaking approach to understanding salvation history developed by renowned Catholic Bible scholar Jeff Cavins. For each period in the timeline, Jeff will join Fr. Mike for a special episode that will help you understand the context of each reading.
Franciscan School of Theology
Franciscan School of Theology is a graduate school of theology and ministry in the tradition of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi, where both head and heart are engaged in learning. At the Franciscan School of Theology, engage wholeheartedly in your faith journey and discover your unique role in caring for our world and the Catholic Church.
GabiAfterHours
Join Gabriel Castillo in his journey of faith, devotions, and more!
Fr. Mark Goring
Daily inspirations.
Dr. Brant Pitre: Topical Videos,
and Catholic Productions
Dr. Pitre and Catholic Productions' YouTube channel offers a variety of Biblical study videos covering a variety of topics such as explaining the Sunday Mass Readings, explaining parts of the Bible thematically (e.g., the Eucharist, the Old Testament, the Book of Hebrews, the origin of the Bible, Mary, etc.),
All descriptive text and logos for these sites are taken from the sites themselves - copyright held by each publisher of that site.
NEWS, WEBCASTS, PODCASTS, BLOGS. . .
and more!
Here you will find unique and spiritually sound media publications, newsletters,, daily reflections and more!
Click link to open in new page.
Please let us know of any resources you feel may be appropriate to add!
Center for Action and Contemplation -
Fr. Richard Rohr OFM
The Daily Meditations
The Daily Meditations are email reflections featuring Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) faculty, as well as guest teachers and authors, reflecting on the wisdom and practices of the Christian contemplative tradition. We hope these meditations will help deepen prayer practice and strengthen compassionate engagement in the world.
A Monk's Chronicle -
Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB
Fr. Eric Hollas is a monk and priest of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville, MN. He was born in Oklahoma City and received his B.A. in history at Princeton University. Following seminary studies and ordination at Saint John’s University, he received the Ph.D. in medieval studies at Yale University
Catholic News Agency
At Catholic News Agency, our team is committed to reporting the truth with courage, integrity, and fidelity to our faith. We provide news about the Church and the world, as seen through the teachings of the Catholic Church. When you subscribe to the CNA UPDATE, we'll send you a daily email with links to the news you need.
National Catholic Register
Our mission is to provide a perspective on the news of the day as seen through the eyes of the Magisterium. We assist Catholics in engaging the culture with confidence in the saving and sanctifying Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The National Catholic Register was founded in 1927 by Msgr. Matthew Smith of the
Archdiocese of Denver.
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter Publishing Company reports, comments and reflects on the church and society. It strives for excellence in its publications, supporting a full, honest and open exchange of ideas. It works out of a Roman Catholic tradition and an ecumenical spirit. It emphasizes solidarity with the oppressed and respect for all. It understands that peace, justice and integrity of environment are not only goals but also avenues of life.
Vatican News
Vatican News is the news portal of the Holy See. Together with Vatican Radio, L’Osservatore Romano and Vatican Media, it seeks to respond “always better to the demands of the Church’s mission” in contemporary culture. Vatican News’s adventure began on 27 June 2015 with the Motu Proprio of Pope Francis that established the Secretariat for Communication,
Catholic News Service - USCCB
Catholic News Service (CNS) is an American news agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The domestic presence is published by Our Sunday Visitor,
America Magazine
America is a monthly Catholic magazine published by the Jesuits of the United States since 1909. It is known internationally in the Catholic world for its unique opinions and analysis.
Catholic Digest Magazine
Since 1936, the stories in Catholic Digest have demonstrated that a life guided by faith can be exciting, challenging, enlivening, and joyous. While the print edition of the magazine is no longer being published, as of the summer of 2020, the articles you’ll read on CatholicDigest.com contain meaningful ways to connect faith with everyday life. Catholic Digest is owned and published by Bayard U.S.
Catholic San Francisco
The online and print magazine
of the Archdiocese of San Francisco
All descriptive text and logos for these sites are taken from the sites themselves - copyright held by each publisher of that site.
What is Spiritual Direction?
Spiritual Direction is help given by a trained Spiritual Director (clergy or un-ordained) to another person through confidential, ongoing conversation. It is a relationship between the Director and the one being directed but also, it is an encounter with God that they participate in together. The purpose of the relationship is so that the one being directed might grow closer in their relationship with God. In short, it's an opportunity to let someone mentor you in developing a relationship with God.
What Spiritual Direction is not.
Spiritual direction focuses on a relationship with God. It is not about solving problems or overcoming a psychological malady, as professional psychotherapy would address. Instead, spiritual direction focuses on the relationship one has with God and how the person sees or struggles with God in their everyday life. It is not therapy or coaching. It is not career counseling or rehabilitation services. It is however, a mentoring relationship where the director accompanies an individual through a process of developing a prayer life.
In that process, one might find answers to problems or dilemmas in their life, but the focus is not on those issues. The focus is on developing a relationship with God so that one feels God's presence in their life - developing a life of prayer (or better stated, communicating with God) and in being guided in learning to pray and on engaging in a spiritual journey to discover more about the divine is the prime focus.
Why should I be interested in Spiritual Direction?
Everyone needs a coach or a guide. Many of us try to pray, but simply don't know how to do it and don't know where to start. In looking at your own spiritual life, you might have questions about what any of this means! You might have never explored your own spiritual side. Or you might be going through a tough time and have begun to have doubts in your own faith life. A good spiritual director can accompany you through all of these instances and more.
How often would I meet with a Spiritual Director?
It depends. Some folks have a regular monthly meeting with their director. Others are in a different stage and might meet more often. Some might meet a director once and then not meet again for some time. You can meet once a week, once a month, once a quarter, or whatever works for you and your director. Typically, an hour session, each month, at a mutually convenient location (or in online settings) where privacy can be assured is the norm. It is customary to offer a small stipend or donation for each meeting in appreciation for your companion's time (Standard rates vary but are roughly $35/hour on a sliding scale. Some directors wave their fee as part of their job requirements and others depend on their stipend as it is a major source of income for them or their religious community).
Text from: Spiritual Direction | Catholic Diocese of Cleveland | Cleveland, OH
SPIRITUAL
DIRECTION
More questions about Spiritual Direction?
Use the Spiritual Directors International (SDI) website to search for a qualified Spiritual Director near you.
You can filter your search for locations and desired qualifications.
Meet with the director for an introductory session, and if no fit is apparent keep searching! God is waiting for you . . .
Please contact us for general questions regarding spiritual direction.
We'd Love to Hear From You!
Supporting You in
Your Journey
to be Who God
Intends You to be!
Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand.
ISAIAH 64:8 (NRSVACE)