"Genuine forms of popular piety, expressed in a multitude of different ways, derives from the faith and, therefore, must be valued and promoted. Such authentic expressions of popular piety are not at odds with the centrality of the Sacred Liturgy. Rather, in promoting the faith of the people, who regard popular piety as a natural religious expression, they predispose the people for the celebration of the Sacred Mysteries. The correct relationship between these two expressions of faith must be based on certain firm principles, the first of which recognizes that the Liturgy is the center of the Church's life and cannot be substituted by, or placed on a par with, any other form of religious expression. Moreover, it is important to reaffirm that popular religiosity, even if not always evident, naturally culminates in the celebration of the Liturgy towards which it should ideally be oriented. This should be made clear through suitable catechesis"
(Address to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, September 21, 2001).
The devotional life of a parish add opportunities for encounter for those who may be drawn to a particular sacramental or prayer ritual. These opportunities should always flow from and point us back to the central means of prayer, the Eucharistic Liturgy. At St. Maria Goretti we have a number of opportunties to engage in devotionals.
Communal Opportunities for Prayer
Our Mother of Perpetual Help Novena
Every Tuesday morning following the 8:30 am Mass the community gathered prays the novena prayers to Our Lady of Perpetual Help.
First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart
On First Friday mornings following the 8:30 am Mass the community gathered prays the novena prayers.
The Holy Rosary
Members of the community gather each morning prior to the 8:30 am Mass to pray the rosary beginning at 8:00 am.
The Scriptural Rosary is prayed on Saturdays at 3:30 pm before the 4 pm Mass and on Sundays at 8:00 am before the 8:30 am Mass. All parishioners are invited to arrive early to pray the rosary.
Eucharistic Adoration
Eucharistic Adoration is currently on pause due to the Coronavirus pandemic but will resume soon.
Stations of the Cross
The Stations of the Cross are prayed communally, during Lent, after the 8:30 am and 6:00 pm Friday Masses. A member of the community leads the stations after the 8:30 am Mass and a member of the clergy leads the stations after the 6:00 pm Mass.