As we journey through the Advent and Christmas season, we are invited to reflect on the wondrous mystery of Christ’s birth. The star that guided the Magi to Jesus is a symbol of divine guidance, leading us closer to the light of God’s love.
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We are thrilled to announce that Lily of the Valley has been awarded a Respect Life Grant from the Diocese of Raleigh! This generous grant will allow us to host our second retreat in 2025. Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
The Respect Life Grants were established in 2000 to support initiatives that affirm the dignity of all human life, from conception to natural death, and are made possible through the Bishops Annual Appeal. Thank you to all who donated to the BAA and thank you to Bishop Luis and the Diocese of Raleigh for your generosity and encouragement to keep working towards our mission and vision.
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month, a time to recognize and celebrate the many abilities of individuals with Down syndrome while raising awareness about their unique journeys. This month’s origins trace back to Venerable Jérôme Lejeune, the French geneticist who discovered the third copy of the 21st chromosome, which causes Down syndrome. His devotion to life and advocacy for those with disabilities is why he is now on the path to sainthood.
Experiencing pregnancy or infant loss is an incredibly painful and isolating journey for parents. As friends and loved ones, it’s important to offer support in ways that are sensitive and meaningful. Here are five thoughtful things you can do to help someone who is grieving such a profound loss:
1. Acknowledge Their Loss on Infant Loss Awareness Day (October 15)
On Infant Loss Awareness Day, take a moment to reach out. Send a text or message letting them know you are thinking of them and their precious baby. Consider lighting a candle in memory of their child and share that gesture with them. You can also invite them to join in prayer on Zoom with us on October 28, where we will gather to pray and remember together.
Begin your weekend with Christ-centered self-care in the form of faith, wellness and community at our Fall quarterly event! Participants are invited to attend the 8 am daily Mass in the “Our Lady of the Americas’ Chapel” at St. Raphael Catholic Church where the first and second class relics of St. Gianna Molla are installed. We will then participate in a Soulcore class led by Estela Giroux to pray the rosary combined with light functional movement, followed by fellowship and a light breakfast. All are also welcome to take a moment of prayer and veneration of the relics. Prayer cards will be available.
The picture below looks pretty generic. No faces. Just a mix of arms and legs and bodies. For me, this picture is my heart. My husband and I didn’t know it but I was newly pregnant with our second child when we took these family pictures for our daughter’s 1st birthday. We also didn’t know that our baby would be born into heaven just a few weeks later.
Lily of the Valley Catholic Ministry, in collaboration with Hope’s Garden, will sponsor this six week series hosted by instructor Nicky Verna, M. Th. This event is being offered for free. Please consider making the suggested donation of $60 for the series.
We are all familiar with suffering, but as Catholics, we are encouraged in Christ to see the immense beauty in the suffering. In this course, we will unpack the beautiful Apostolic Letter by Pope St. John Paul II:
Salvifici Doloris
(On the Christian Meaning of Suffering)
Monday Evenings 7:30 – 9:00 PM EST
September 16 – October 21
Location: Zoom
One of the most treasured items in our Prayer Care Packages is the hand-crafted bracelet. This bracelet usually contains the initials of the children in the family. Alternatively, some of bracelets we have sent out in the past have contained a short word or phrase to inspire faith such as “Fiat,” “Hope,” or “St. Gianna.” We have gradually adjusted the bracelet over time to include a St. Benedict medal. We have learned a lot about the protection that this medal is said to provide for the wearers, making the bracelet even more special.
We are excited to share that Lily of the Valley was chosen by The Little Rose Shop to be their “Charity of the Year” for 2024! This is a beautiful online store that brings the Catholic faith into everyday life. Lizzy, along with several of our Prayer Ambassadors nominated us for this honor and we cannot thank those individuals enough! Lily of the Valley will receive a donation from Little Rose at the end of the year. Until then we will continue to serve families through the generosity of our followers and donors. We are so grateful that God is so good.
At various points in my life, I have been encouraged to “let go” and allow the Holy Spirit to move. I didn’t fully appreciate what that phrase meant until 2021 when my wife, Whitney, and I became parents to Colin, our third son. This was not a “normal” pregnancy. At 12 weeks, we learned that Colin had a life-limiting diagnosis and, at 34 weeks, his heart stopped and he was delivered stillborn. Despite being the youngest of 7 children with 5 sisters and 1 brother, I tend to try and control things more so than “let go.” When Whitney and I received this news in November 2020, our world was rocked. Prior to Colin, we were blessed to be parents of two healthy, rockstar children, Liam and Emmett.