Welcome
St. Raphael Society is based out of St. Charles Borromeo Church in Bloomington, Indiana. This social and service oriented organization is open to all single Catholics in the Bloomington area over the age of 21. One does not have to be a member at St. Charles to be involved.

Mission Statement
The mission of St. Raphael Society (SRS) is to nurture a community of faith, hope and love for the never married, separated, divorced, and widowed. SRS promotes spiritual growth, Christian service, recognition of the role of singles in the church, and social interaction among single adults within the Catholic community of the greater Bloomington area.

Organization Purpose
The purpose of this organization is to bring together Catholic singles that share a common faith and build friendships through parish involvement, social events, and community outreach. We hope to add new members allowing the organization to form multiple committees addressing needs of the parish, community and the organization and its individuals. The organization will allow the Catholics in the Bloomington area to make new friendships and network to others in the tri-parish community. Through developing relationships and friendships, the organization will flourish and play an important role in tri-parishes as well as the community.

Please visit the links to the right to explore the St. Raphael Society in Bloomington, IN.

Why Do We Need a Catholic Singles Club?
Let's face it...Many singles don't fit in with the rest of the Catholic family. We may not have kids in the school, often sit alone at Mass or parish social events. If we're divorced or widowed, others may feel uncomfortable talking with us or about our situation. Others may even avoid us because we seem to be a threat to their couples-oriented social life. Of course that's not always the case, but more often than not, it is. The group allows individuals in the tri-parish community to come together who already share t a common faith and being single, creating an environment for life long friendships. At SRS we invite all single Catholic adults from Bloomington and its surrounding areas to find a safe place of fun and friendship but mostly where we can deepen our faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church.

SRS is hopes to allow many Catholic Singles in the Bloomington and surrounding areas, to build friendships through faith based church related activities, social events, and providing some community outreach by group volunteering events . We hope to attract faithful followers who will assist in the leadership of this organization. Based on the need of membership we hope to have different committees such as social event planning, community outreach, parish involvement, membership, single parents, divorced singles, and widowed.

Saint Raphael: Patron of Catholic Singles
St. Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession. Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of Catholic singles, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians, the blind, and of travelers. His feast day is September 29th

Prayer to St. Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings & Catholic Singles
O Raphael, lead us towards those we are waiting for, those who are waiting for us! Raphael, Angel of Happy Meetings and Catholic singles, lead us by the hand towards those we are looking for! May all our movements, all their movements, be guided by your Light and transfigured by your Joy. Angel Guide of Tobias, lay the request we now address to you at the feet of Him on whose unveiled Face you are privileged to gaze. Lonely and tired, crushed by the separations and sorrows of earth, we feel the need of calling to you and of pleading for the protection of your wings, so that we may not be as strangers in the Province of Joy, all ignorant of the concerns of our country. Remember the weak, you who are strong--you whose home lies beyond the region of thunder, in a land that is always peaceful, always serene, and bright with the resplendent glory of God. Amen.