Catholic Health Prayers and Reflections

In this week's Advent Conversation, Brian Reardon, CHA's Vice President of Communications and Marketing, and Coletta Barrett, Vice President of Mission at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, La., discuss hospitality in the home, sharing space with visitors and family, and a generational family recipe Barrett received from her father and mother in law.

In this week’s Advent Conversation, Dennis Gonzales, CHA’s Senior Director of Mission Innovation and Integration, and Mela Perez, Director of Community Health Services at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Health, discuss hospitality amongst family and community. Mela recalls memories of time spent with family before sharing a recipe that can also be used as a holiday gift.

In this week's Advent Conversation, Lori Ashmore-Ruppel, CHA's Director of Sponsor Services, and Paulo Pontemayor, CHA's Senior Director of Government Relations, discuss the influence of hospitality in Paulo's Filipino upbringing. Paulo reflects on the way the way his upbringing extends to his work in Washington DC and shares a simple recipe beloved by his family.

In this week's Advent Conversation, CHA's Director of Mission Services Jill Fisk and Christina Stephenson, Director of Pastoral Care at SSM Health St. Louis University, discuss the concept of hospitality in the Italian language, stories of communities banding together and how to make passatelli.

From September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month and the many Spanish-speaking countries and cultures which have positively contributed to the diversity we share in the United States. CHA is pleased to present the following poem – "Como Tú" – in both Spanish and English translations, along with some questions for reflection. "Como Tú" was penned in Spanish by the Salvadoran poet Roque Dalton (1935-1975) and translated by Jack Hirschman (1933-2021), an American poet from New York. Both were passionate social activists committed to advocating for the poor and vulnerable.

The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.”

The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” SilenceA reflection on the wonders of God’s creation. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation. 

The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” EarthA reflection with Mother Earth. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.

The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” AirA reflection with Father Air. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.

The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” WaterA reflection with Sister Water. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.

The Catholic Health Association is committed to partnering with the Laudato Si Action Platform and is pleased to offer a series of guided audio meditations in this season. Each brief reflection will invite those who serve or are served by the ministry of Catholic health care to listen to the voice of creation through fire, water, earth and air and to prayerfully consider “the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” FireA reflection with Brother Fire. Crafted by Sr. Beatrice Hernandez, OSF, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Coordinator for the Wheaton Franciscans based in Wheaton, IL. Written in the style of St. Francis’ Canticle of Creation.Find all of CHA's reflections and resources for the Season of Creation at: https://www.chausa.org/environment/season-of-creation.

CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print. Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-nativity-and-the-midwives.

CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print. Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-magi-set-up-camp.

CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print. Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-visitation-and-zechariah.

CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print. Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-annunciation-and-st-ann. 

CHA is pleased to offer a Visio Divina reflection series to support its members through their Advent journey. Each week participants are invited to consider the hope, excitement, wonder and confusion of the story from a unique perspective. While perhaps not always given significant attention, these oft-overlooked characters of the Nativity story have much to contribute to the spiritual life. Built around five newly commissioned works of art, imaginative prayer and invitations to reflection, the series is offered digitally as well as in print. Find the visual art, print, video and other resources for this weekly Advent reflection, "The Angel Gabriel En Route to Mary" at https://www.chausa.org/prayers/advent-2021/the-angel-gabriel-en-route-to-mary.

CHA is pleased to offer a set of Meditation Practices varying in length in both video and audio formats. These practices are specifically designed to help support your well-being, amidst the chaos of the day.www.chausa.org/meditations

CHA is pleased to offer a set of Meditation Practices varying in length in both video and audio formats. These practices are specifically designed to help support your well-being, amidst the chaos of the day.www.chausa.org/meditations

CHA is pleased to offer a set of Meditation Practices varying in length in both video and audio formats. These practices are specifically designed to help support your well-being, amidst the chaos of the day.www.chausa.org/meditations

Beauty in Breakdown (a meditation)Pause. Breathe. Heal.Dwell in the beauty you have found and bring it with you into the rest of your day. Even now, God is with you, as near to you as your breath. Continue giving yourself the gift to pause, breathe and heal, knowing you are not alone.  One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.- Psalm 27:4