​


By: Anne DeSantis
​
Philly March for Life

The Pro-life Union of Greater Philadelphia held the 2nd Annual March for Life in Center City Philadelphia on Saturday, March 26th, 2022.  The day began with Roman Catholic Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul with Fr. Dennis Gill as the presider of the Mass.

After the Mass, an ecumenical prayer service was held on the side lawn of the Cathedral which included praise and worship. More than 1,000 people marched from the Cathedral to an abortion facility nearby to pray together for an end to abortion.  The day concluded with a rally at Independence Hall in Center City where speakers such as Dr. Monique Ruberu, pro-life OB-GYN, Pastor Herb Lusk III, Michael Geer, President and CEO of the Family Institute, Pete DeMaio, President of Pennsylvanians for Human Life, Fr. Christopher Walsh, Pastor of Saint Raymond of Penafort and Chairperson of the Pro-life Union, Toni McFadden, Pro-life Activist and Speaker, Sister Maeve, Sisters of Life, and headline speaker Kristan Hawkins, National Director of Students for Life. Those who attended the rally were blessed to hear awesome testimonies for life.

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation was blessed to be in attendance for the event as we are a partnering organization with the Pro-life Union of Greater Philadelphia. Anne DeSantis, Executive Director and Mickey Kelly, President of SRNF were in attendance as well as two Mercedarians, Fr. Daniel Bowen, O.deM accompanied by postulant to the priesthood Kevin who studies at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, PA.

To learn more about our Catholic pro-life non-profit, visit our website at Nonnatus.org.  We offer pastoral accompaniment for families in crisis which covers an arrary of areas of concern such as marital issue, divorce/separation, job loss, sickness/health crisis, relationship challenges, pro-life issues, and more. Be sure to make a free pastoral consultation with us to speak to a Mercedarian friar who will offer you prayer, care, and the guidance of the Catholic Church. Click HERE to make your free appointment. We thank all those who support our mission through prayer and partnering with us for a donation to our cause. Be sure to help us spread the word about our work to bringing hope and healing to families in crisis.

Click below for more information about the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation and the Pro-life Union of Greater Philadelphia:

St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith
The Pro-life Union of Greater Philadelphia

​​
​By: Anne DeSantis

Who Are Families in Crisis?

Families who are facing adversities come in various forms. Some families are affected by divorce or separation, some deal with health crises and sickness. Other families deal with job loss, relationship issues, or emotional/psychological traumas. During this season of Lent, families facing hard times can grow in their relationship with Christ and the Catholic Church.

Three Ways for Families to Grow

Families who are suffering and facing adversity can grow closer to God in various ways. Below are three specific ways that you and your family can grow closer to the Lord and one another during the Lenten Season.

Prayer as a Family

Daily prayer is essential to foster a relationship with God. Taking the time to pray together as a family is the best way for growth. When prayer becomes a commitment to love and serve Christ in unison, good things will happen. Carve out time each day to pray together even if just for a short while. You will be glad you did.

Accpetance of Your Situation with God's Help

We live in a world that attempts to avoid suffering at all costs. When your family is going through trauma, perhaps the best way to unite to Christ is through acceptance of your current situation as a cross that Christ will help to carry for you. This does not mean accepting evil, bad behavior, or sin. It means accepting the circumstances in your life at the current time and trusting that God will lead you through the darkness to better times. There are no magic wands in the spiritual life. Be patient with God, and He will continue to stay close to you each day.

Helping Others

Almsgiving is a wonderful way to grow closer to God as a family. Although you may be suffering yourself due to your life circumstances, the Lord can use you and your family to be a blessing to others especially those who have a worse situation than you do. Monetary giving is not the only way to give to others. We can give our time, our care, and our prayers.

Make Your Free Pastoral Consultation

The Church CARES and so does the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith. Make your free pastoral consultation with a Mercedarian friar to receive the pastoral support your may need at this time. Click the link below to make your appointment, and have a blessed Lenten Season:

Free Pastoral Consulation Link

 

​


By: Anne DeSantis

A World Celebration of Marriage

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith has a deep focus on the sanctity of marriage and the celebration of the beautiful Sacrament of Holy Matrimony. Since 2015, our non-profit has made it one of our focuses to promote, educate, and encourage healthy marriages through the lens of the Catholic faith.

Ways to Support Marriage

On this day of celebration which is the World Day of Marriage, pray in a special way for all couples around the world who are married and those who are engaged to be married. Marriage has been under attack in a variety of ways through the years and especially in today's culture. When we offer our prayers, our care, and our time in promoting good marriages, we help to make our world a better place to live for all. This is the mission of the Church to foster healthy marriages and families throughout the world.

There are numerous avenues to support marriage both personally and globally, but perhaps the best place to start is within your own home or community. Praying for your marriage and other married couples, spending time together as a couple, and supporting marriages which are in trouble are ways to encourage strong marriages.  Becoming well-catechized on the importance of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony and the gifts along with the responsibilities of the sacrament, and making a commitment to your own spouse in a greater way is a monumental course of action to promote marriage. Letting your family and your friends who are engaged or married know that you are there for them through prayer, concern, and love is a great way to let others know you are there as a support system especially through challenges.

Be sure to learn about and educate couples on Natural Family Planning as a key in marriage catechesis especially to engaged or newly married couples.  Click this link HERE to be brought to the USCCB for info on NFP. There are a variety of resourses on-line on NFP, so be sure to learn more. Click HERE to be brought to the Outside Resources page for our foundation with several marriage, family, and NFP links.

Learn More About SRNF

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation offers pastoral support for familes in crisis. The foundation offers care and outreach in a multitude of ways including those who have relationship issues, marriage-related concerns or questions, and several other facets which are covered on the website. Learn more about the foundation by going to the website at Nonnatus.org. The Church cares, and so does the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith.
​

​

By: Anne DeSantis


What are the Benefits of Scheduling a Pastoral Consultation?

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith offers a free pastoral consultation with a Mercedarian friar as one of the primary offerings made available to those who need our support.  What are the benefits to scheduling one? One of the first things clients tell us is how grateful they are that the consultations we offer are free of charge. We are a 501c3 non-profit organization, so everything we offer is free. We were founded by the Mercedarian Religious Order in 2015, and since that time we continue to offer all of our services without cost. We operate through the generous donations of those who wish to be a part of our mission by partnering with us in this way.

The main benefit of the pastoral consult is the healing received as you will have a chance to be heard, tell your story, and to find the guidance of the Catholic Church during the call. We offer the calls either as a cell phone conversation or as an on-line call on a platform such as Zoom or Skype. Our Mercedarian friars do an excellent job at listening, guiding, and praying for those we help through the consultation. Please note: we are not licensed counselors or therapists. What we offer is a listening ear, prayer and care, and the guidance of the Church. If you do need a therapist, be sure to check out our Outside Resources page where we list highly qualified licensed therapists. (The information is toward the bottom of the website page.)

You May Have as Many Appointments as Needed

Another major benefit of scheduling with us is the fact that you can have as many appointments as needed. We have had quite a few returning friends who have contacted us more than one time asking to have another scheduled call with a friar. Our clients are those within the following catagories: families in crisis, those seeking pastoral help for their marriage, and for those affected by divorce/separation. Every non-profit has a targe audience, and these are the areas we focus on. If you do not fit within these catagories or areas, please check-out or Outside Resources page which could be helpful in your finding the proper outreach you are looking for.

Schedule with Us!

We would love to hear from you. Be sure to make your appointment with us for your consultation. Click the link below to schedule:

Free Pastoral Consultation

Thank you! If you would like to support our ministry, click below to be brought to our Giving Tuesday link. 

Giving Tuesday 2022

​


By: Anne DeSantis

​Family Crisis

When family crisis occurs, it is sometimes hard to navigate what to do first. Of course, there are many areas of challenge, and there are levels and degrees of the varied types of adversities which families face.  As people of faith, one may ask: What do I do first when I am shaken to the core of my faith because of a crisis?  How do I navigate the troubled waters of my life?

The St. Raymond Nonnatus May Be Able to Help

As a Catholic non-profit organization, the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation has made it the most important task of our existence since 2015 to make pastoral outreach to families in crisis.  This is exacly why SRNF was formed by the Mercedarian friars to offer spiritual and pastoral care to families facing adversities and tough times.

One of the most visited pages on the SRNF website is our Outside Resources page listing many non-profits and organizations which help families and individuals who are in need of pastoral support and /or other areas of outreach. To learn more click on the title below to be brought to the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation Outside Resources page:

Outside Resources from SRNF

What is the First Thing to Do When Crisis Hits?

To answer this question in all honesty, two answers come to mind.  First and foremost, prayer is number one when adversity comes to a family.  It may be so difficult to pray and to trust God, but our faith is what sustains us in hard times.  Even if it is just an aspiration to ask for God's help, this is the best way to get through those tough times of life by depending on the Lord for strength and for his providence and guidance.

The second answer it to get the appropriate help depending on your situation. Of course, the right kind of help will vary greatly depending on your situation. If you need pastoral help, you are in the right place.  Perhaps one of the first things you may wish to do is to make a free pastoral appointment with a Mercedarian friar through the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation.  This is easy to do, and our friars are receptive to your pastoral needs in terms of listening, care, prayer, and guidance.  Click the link below to set up your free appointment.  You may have as many appointments as needed. Again, SRNF is here for YOU and your family.  The Church cares and so does the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith.  

Free Pastoral Consultation Link

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith is a non-profit 501C3 organization making pastoral outreach to families in crisis. We were formed through the Mercedarian Religious Order in 2015, and since that time we have worked to make pastoral outreach within this realm.

Our Mission

There are four-tiers to our mission.  Number one is toward famiies in crisis.  Second to this is marriage enrichment, and third is outreach to Catholilcs affected by divorce/separation. In 2021, we did surveys to find out which areas of ministry were most in need in terms of our free services.  After the survey results came in, we re-determined this three-fold mission. 

Three Simple Tips to Grow in the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony

Matrimony is a Sacrament of the Catholic Church, and as a non-profit who cares deeply about marriage and family, we take this aspect very seriously.  Below are three simple ways you and your spouse can grow as a Catholic couple.

Understand Your Catholic Faith

Understanding the Sacrament of Marriage fully helps to make your marriage better and to grow.  Many couples go through the process of Pre-Cana at church, but even after this, they do not understand the covenantal aspects of this beautiful sacrament.  Marriage is meant to last a lifetime and/or until one spouse passes away.  It is lifelong, and it is permanent.  If you are not as educated as you should be on marriage, commit yourself to find out more. Here is a link to the USCCB which is a good place to start, however don't stop there.  Continue your education on the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony:

USCCB Marriage

Attend Sunday Mass/Pray

Attending Sunday Mass is the most important way to not only fulfill the obiligation to attend Mass, but to grow in faith, hope and love as a couple.  Make the commitment to go to Mass every week. Couples who practice their faith together in an active way will grow together in commitment to God and to the church.  It is the most important thing one can do to be a part of the mission of the church and live out your baptismal call.  In addition to Mass, making a dedication to prayer is integral.  Start in small ways such as prayer at meals and before bed, and consider praying more often together.  Most importantly, make your faith the most important part of your relationship, and you wil definitely prosper spiritually as a couple!

On-Going Learning

Once you have grown in terms of understanding your faith, attending Mass, and daily prayer, make a promise to youself and to your spouse to keep learning about your Catholic faith as a couple.  There are many wonderful resources to grow togther as a couple available through the Catholic Church. Places such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a great place to start. See below for a link:

USCCB Resources

In addition, our foundation has resources on our Outside Resources page of our website, be sure to check-it-out:

Outside Resources

Don't end here, be sure to learn more about your Catholic faith, and the beauty of the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony.  Do you have questions on anything to do with the sacrament or how you can grow in faith?  The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation offers free pastoral consultations with a Mercedarian friar. You are entitled to as many on-line/cell call meetings as needed, and everything we offer is free.  Make your appointment by clicking the link below:

Free Pastoral Consultation(s)

Stay in touch with us at the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation!  We value our relationship with you.  Have a blessed Advent/Christmas Season 2021! 

Learn more about us on our website at Nonnatus.org.  God bless!

By: Anne DeSantis

Beginnings

The St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation for Freedom, Family, and Faith came into existence in 2015 through the Mercedarian Religious Order.  Since that time, slowly and methodically and day by day, the foundation has grown year by year staying true to the mission of making pastoral outreach to families in adversity especially within the realm of keeping the faith in hard times.  Here are reasons on this day for you to consider donating to SRNF so that we can continue outreach to others.

1. We are a Non-Profit 501C3 Approved by the USCCB and Our Archdiocese

When the foundation was formed, necessary steps were taken to ensure that those who formed SRNF took all the proper steps in developing a Catholic non-profit.  This was a process that took time, dedication, and careful decisions to be sure that the St. Raymond Nonnatus Foundation would be off to a good start. 

2. We were formed by the Mercedarian Order

The foundation is proud and grateful to the Mercedarian friars for developing SRNF to a point where we have now been working in active mininsry since 2015.  There have been slight changes of direction along the way all for the betterment of our outreach, but the board has kept the foundation on the right track helping so many families in crisis through the Mercedarian charism.

3. We offer: Prayer, Priesly Consults, Podcast, and Programs

We call the above "the four p's" because they represent each aspect of who we are and what we do.  You can be assured of our prayers if you are family or individual in crisis or anyone needing prayer.  All of the other areas of ministry are ones we take very seriously.  Be sure to check out our website to learn more at www.Nonnatus.org.

4. We are Dedicated to You

We have an eight-person board and a director serving us as a non-profit.  When you reach out to us we are very responsive, and we will return and email or any form of outreach just as soon as we can.  We will also find out the exact steps to take in order for you to find the pastoral help you need.

5. We Won't Stop Praying

Most importantly, we are praying for all of our friends and benefactors always.  Be sure to send us a prayer intentions at this link. Click HERE.

Would you like to donate to us for #GivingTuesday so that we can make greater impact for families in crisis who have pastoral questions or need our care? 

We would be so grateful for a donation of any size through your sacrificial gift.  Click below to donate and we thank you SINCERELY for you for your prayers and your care for the work we do!

#GivingTuesdaySRNF Giving Link

Help For Families in Crisis

World Meeting of Families 2015
​
Back in 2015, Pope Francis came to the U.S. and made a special stop in Philadelphia. This was a monumental event not only for the United States but for the city of Philadelphia. The Mercedarian Religious Order attended the event and the Mass by the Holy Father.

​After the event concluded, some of the friars felt a nudge of the Holy Spirit. That nudge was a question to them regarding what they as friars could do as an Order to help families. With that, they decide to vote together with all the other priests and brothers of the Order in the U.S. about starting a foundation. It was between two areas, either: Families in Crisis or Outreach to those Affected by Human Trafficking. The votes were cast and decided, they would create a foundation with special emphasis toward Families in Crisis. Since 2015, that is exactly what they did.

​With the feast day of St. Faustina and Our Lady of the Rosary going on, it seems appropriate to think about the Rosary and Divine Mercy. For people from broken families and families in crisis, the Rosary and Divine Mercy have special importance as opportunities for facilitating conversion and reconciliation, as well as peace, among families and marriages.

​All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day serve as helpful reminders of the need to aspire towards perfection and union with God. We see souls at various stages. On one hand, we see souls who have attained perfection and are in Heaven. On another hand, we see souls going through purification – the Holy Souls in Purgatory and ourselves. We see what we are aspiring to in the Saints, and we see the need to aspire towards perfection now in the Holy Souls. In addition we see that we should pray for the Holy Souls, and perhaps in a mirror-like fashion, we see that we need to pray for others who are alive now to help them to reach Heaven and sanctity.