Although the traditional TORCH chapter consists of families living in geographic proximity to each other, not all families in TORCH live near other TORCH families. In this cyberage we live in, the internet can be the link that connects these families.

The TORCH Virtual Chapter will provide support to these TORCH members so that they are separated only by geography, but in all other aspects remain connected to each other and to the larger TORCH family. Watch for more information as our Virtual Chapter Leader shares her vision for the Virtual Chapter and begins to create that special bond that comes from families sharing the TORCH philosophy and mission, and supporting each other in their Catholic homeschooling journeys.

A recent headline reveals that 27 million Americans now take anti-depressants; suicide rates are almost equal between the very poor and the very rich; and according to the Surgeon General homicide and suicide are the second and third leading causes of death for young people 15-24 years old. So what’s going on? As Christians, if we have been sanctified through the waters of baptism and are “saved” by the continual outpouring of His grace why does it seem we still live in bondage? Perhaps we’re too deeply discounting our side to God’s salvation equation? St. Augustine once said, “God created us without us: but he did not will to save us without us.” He also said, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” But not before he said, “Give me chastity, but not yet.” The young adult life of St. Augustine is a study in the glamorous temptation of sin. His insatiable appetite for pleasure left him with a hunger so powerful that only by surrendering to the Creator of pleasure would he find peace.

Our society consumes billions of dollars of graphic, immoral films and print materials every year, many thrive on conquering the latest sadistic video ...

If someone were to ask you when you should pray, what would you tell them? Often times we think of the more noticeable. For instance, we could begin by explaining our morning offering. In a morning offering, we offer up to God all we will think, do and say throughout the day; praying that we might have the strength and insight to make the decisions that would honor God the most. Mealtimes are a pretty common one too. It’s an opportunity to thank Him for our food and all the family and material blessings that he showers upon us. We might list those times within our day that test us…like when we feel lonely, tempted, afraid or when we encounter situations like passing ambulances, wrecks or bad news in our community or country. These can be times where we find our hearts imploring God to minister His grace into the situation. Finally, we could add that we close our day with a sincere examination of conscience, where we go over those times during the day where we might have acted badly or where there was good to be done that we neglected to do. We ask for God’s forgiveness and ...

As part of our parish’s weekly Holy Hour for Vocations, we pray the “Mother of Perpetual Help Devotions,” commonly known as the “Mother of Perpetual Help Novena,” or, “the Novena” at our parish. This “novena” has been prayed weekly at our parish since World War II. There are only a few of us who come and pray the novena during Thursday evening’s exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, sadly. But we have heard that, during WWII, the church was regularly packed with people coming to adore, and to pray to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The devotions are beautifully written, and on the back of the laminated cards that we use, it says: Obtain supplies at: PERPETUAL HELP * Redemptorist Fathers* Liguori, Missouri. Especially during this year for the Priest, we need to take time to pray for our shepherds, our priests, as we do in our weekly holy hour for vocations. We also need to pray for families, since vocations are formed in the hearts of the family.
Part of the "novena" prayer particularly touches me, as it encompasses so much of what I desire for my family, and for everyone else’s as well. It is written ...

Thank you for joining the T.O.R.C.H. Virtual Chapter Room of T.O.R.C.H. National. As we launch this new venture with the national organization as a virtual chapter, i.e., a chapter you can plug into rather than visit in your area, let’s open up a discussion about what this is all about. Now, because I started this conversation, I’ll talk first, okay? Before I share my thoughts about this new place we'll be meeting in over the coming months, I’d like to tell you about me, my family, and my history as a T.O.R.C.H. member.

Tom (from Peru, IN) and I (from Brooklyn, NY) married each other in 1989 in Washington, DC at St. Dominic Parish. We met in Northern Virginia where we both lived. Tom worked for Dewberry & Davis as an architect and I was a music-major educated meeting planner for a DC music association. Two children later, we left the fast-paced and costly metropolitan area, and moved with a job to Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton, OH.

Welcome to the Mid-West! We found a very vibrant Catholic community here and joined the faith community of Emmanuel Catholic Church in downtown Dayton. From there, many friendships blossomed. The first thing ...