Our Lady of Hope Parish Newsletter — April 2022

apr il 2022

Our Lady of

HOPE C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

The Lector Ministry:

Proclaiming God’s Word for All to Hear

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e are called to share the Good News of the Gospel and Bible in our daily lives and actions. In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul has much to say about those who bring the Word of God to others — “How can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard?... Thus faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:14-17).

Within our own parish, there is a special way of sharing the Word of the Lord with others, as lectors proclaim the Word of God for all to hear.

“I can’t say that there is anything in particular that made me want to become a lector,” says parishioner Greg Litherland, who has been a lector at Our Lady of Hope for about 10 years. “But they put a call out asking for more people. I had been reading since grade school, so I figured I could try it Greg Litherland has been a lector at Our Lady of Hope for about 10 years. out!”

When we are involved in the roles of the Mass, it can help us be more active and engaged in the liturgy.

We experience the Mass in a different way and take responsibility for the liturgy more than when we simply sit in the pews. Being a lector is one way to help others hear the Word of God and live lives of holiness.

“It is kind of a surprising and amazing reaction that happens when you are a lector,” Greg says. “When you are sitting in the pew, you either listen, or you follow along in the missalette. Once I became a lector, it almost seemed like the Word came more alive. It isn’t me — it is the Word of God. You are following the call of active and conscious participation in the Mass.”

Becoming a lector is simple — anyone interested can call the parish office and let them know you are interested. There are short training meetings that are held periodically throughout the year.

Greg encourages even those who may be hesitant to volunteer in this way.

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Our Lady of

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HOPE

C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

Cultivate Your Personal Garden for Christ This Spring

veryone loves springtime. The weather is warmer and beautiful flowers are blooming all around us.

But anyone with a beautiful garden will attest that the flowers do not magically appear as if the season change itself miraculously makes the flowers bloom.

Beautiful flowers and lush gardens are the result of the gardener’s hard work.

Imagine that a man is given some flower seeds. The man then buries the seeds in the ground and leaves them on their own. As the months pass and rain falls, some seeds may receive enough nourishment to bloom.

But simply burying seeds in the ground will hardly make for a gorgeous garden. Rather, if the man truly wants to enjoy many beautiful flowers, there is much care and work ahead. Recognizing the hidden beauty within these simple seeds, he must cultivate the ground, plant the seeds in a solid foundation, then water and fertilize them throughout the year. Only then will he see the proper fruit these seeds were made to bear.

This simple illustration speaks to the heart of us this season — not only as we look around at the flowers, but more importantly as we reflect on the springtime of the Church. We are celebrating the great feast of Easter when, through His death and resurrection, Christ offers us the greatest gift of all — eternal life with Him forever. This celebration leads us to reflect

on the many gifts God has given us in this life and the fruit they will bear, especially as we look to life eternal.

He has given each of us a multitude of gifts so that we can better serve Him and bring others to Him. Do we notice the hidden potential of our gifts? Do we see them, like the seed — as seemingly small, yet so full of fruit? Everything we have — our time, talents, and treasure — is a gift from the Lord. Do we accept gifts in gratitude, then put them to use by cultivating and nourishing them so they will bear the proper fruit?

Just like springtime flowers that we enjoy, our time, talents, and treasure need to be cared for. Our gifts need to be cultivated and nourished. Only then will we see them for what they are — wonderful gifts given by God meant for His greater glory.

Like the seeds, if we use our gifts flippantly, we may see some fruits here and there. But we are called to so much more — we are called to build a beautiful garden. We are called to offer God the most beautiful flowers of all.

This season, as we look at all the beautiful flowers around us and enjoy God’s creation, let us think about the seeds in our own lives. Ask yourself if you have accepted the gifts God has given you — your time, talents, and treasure — and have cultivated and cared for them properly. Or, do they just sit dormant within you yearning to bloom?

Just like springtime flowers we now enjoy, our time, talents, and treasure need to be cared for. Our gifts need to be cultivated and nourished. Only then will we see them for what they are — wonderful gifts given by God meant for His greater glory.

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A Letter From Our Pastor

All Things and All People Are Made New Dear Parishioners,

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his month our Lenten journey ends and we begin the Easter season. We associate the Easter season with springtime — a time of new life and new beginnings — and Holy Scripture addresses this idea of newness many times. The Lord declares, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev. 21:5).

This idea of being “new” is important to us as Catholics, and it is important to our parish. We need to strive to do this on a regular basis — even on a daily basis.

Think of the fact that all was once new. Regardless of how you view the development of this earth and those of us who occupy it, all was once new.

As we prepare for this Easter season, we need to retain that idea of being “new.” And being “new” means conversion, and we have often pointed out that conversion is at the heart of a life of stewardship.

As the Catechism of the Catholic Church puts it, “The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life” (654).

In other words, Christ’s Resurrection is the source of our new life — our own future resurrection.

St. Paul wrote about it to the Romans (Rom 6:5) — “For if we have grown into union with him through a death like his, we shall also be united with him in the resurrection.”

Hope for a new life beginning now and extending on into heaven is the result of Jesus’ Resurrection.

What greater grounds for thanksgiving can there be than this Easter hope? We should sing with joy about God’s promise to us, “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5).

St. Paul also wrote (Col 3:1-2), “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ

is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth.” Jesus’ Resurrection and His promise of a new life for us means that we need to live in conformity with our status as adopted children of God. How do we show our joy and our gratitude to God for this amazing gift He has given us? We join in worship and praise God by word and song. We share the Good News of Jesus’ victory over death with our family, friends, and neighbors. And we offer back to the Lord a portion of the time, talent, and treasure He has entrusted to us.

Yes, the Easter message that we share in the benefits of Christ’s Resurrection indeed makes all things new — the ultimate foundation for all Christian stewardship.

In these last moments of our Lenten season, let us strive to prepare our hearts for this glorious Easter message.

In Christ, Fr. Paul Ferguson Pastor

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Our Lady of

HOPE

C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

The Church Decorating Ministry T

he architecture of our beautiful church serves to lift our eyes and our spirits up in prayer to our Creator. As we journey through the liturgical year, the Church Decorating Ministry fills our sacred space with the beauty of nature and the colors of the changing liturgical seasons. The artful decorations enhance our personal prayer and our liturgy as they help us enter into each season. As we pass through Lent and Easter approaches, the Christmas and Easter decorating team is hard at work, preparing to make the church come alive for the Resurrection. Bonnie Graham and Shelly Deem coordinate the church decorations for these special seasons.

“The decorations are sort of an exclamation,” Shelly

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says. “It’s a magical time and the decorations enhance that. This is such a big important time and the church takes on such a transformation.”

Bonnie and Shelly like to take a fresh approach each year and consider how they might use all the possible Easter flowers and colors. The church transforms from a somber, Lenten purple to the vibrant and bright Easter white with spring flowers and color filling the beautiful space. Flowering crabapple trees, ferns, and Easter lilies are some of the natural décor you might find for Easter. Whatever the decorations might be, they draw our eye to the sanctuary and, most importantly, the altar.

“We don’t overdo the tabernacle, but we never take

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away from the tabernacle,” Bonnie says. “The altar of celebration is definitely a focus. That’s key, especially at Easter. It’s a ‘wow’ moment when people walk in.”

Bonnie and Shelly pull out all the stops for the Christmas and Easter seasons. They rely on a dozen men from the parish every Christmas to move and set up 15 Christmas trees. Then they get to work hanging lights on the trees and placing the many, many baskets of poinsettias. For Easter, there isn’t as much heavy lifting, but they still need plenty of help setting up.

“People might think they need a special talent to come and help, but some of it is just a matter of placement and tweaking,” Bonnie says. “I know there are people out there with wonderful ideas and we are very open to that.”

Beyond just beautifying the church, Bonnie and Shelly see their work as a special ministry that reaches those who might only come to church for Christmas and Easter Masses. They hope their work makes the church truly special and welcoming and helps all who attend enter into the liturgy.

“Parishioners do seem to really enjoy it,” Shelly says. “After Mass, all the families take pictures in front of the decorations.”

Gathering to decorate the church is a full day’s work. It’s a chance to work around the church while enjoying the fellowship of other parishioners. Bonnie and Shelly welcome all who have an interest in helping.

If you would like to assist the Easter and Christmas church decorating team, please contact Bonnie Graham at 812-617-0233 or Shelly Deem at 812-881-8182.

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Our Lady of

HOPE

C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

Divine Mercy Sunday and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

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n the 1930s, Sr. Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Most Blessed Sacrament, a Sister of Our Lady of Mercy, received a message from the Lord that she was to live her life as a model of Christ’s merciful love and spread Christ’s mercy throughout the world. She proceeded to offer up all of her personal sufferings in atonement for the sins of others. She kept a diary in which she wrote of God’s mercy, as well as about her special devotion to Mary Immaculate and to the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation, which gave her strength. Sr. Faustina’s diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul, serves as the handbook for the devotion to the Divine Mercy. In it, we read of the message of mercy that she received from Christ.

On April 30, 2000, Sr. Faustina Kowalska was canonized by Pope John Paul II. Then, on May 23, 2000, the Congregation for Divine Worship decreed that “throughout the world, the second Sunday of Easter will receive the name Divine Mercy Sunday, a perennial invitation to the Christian world to face, with confidence in divine benevolence, the difficulties and trials that humankind will experience in the years to come.”

On Divine Mercy Sunday — occurring this year on April 24 — all parishioners are encouraged to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, always remembering and practicing the essential “ABCs” of Divine Mercy: • • •

Ask for mercy Be merciful to others Completely trust in Jesus

How to Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet “Chaplet” simply refers to the prayers counted on a rosary. The Lord said to St. Faustina, “You will recite this chaplet on the beads of the Rosary in the following manner:” Begin with: One Our Father, one Hail Mary, and the Apostle’s Creed On the “Our Father” beads, say: Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

On the “Hail Mary” beads, say: For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

In conclusion, three times recite these words: Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

“I want the whole world to know my infinite mercy. I want to give unimaginable graces to those who trust in my mercy” (Diary, 687).

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The Divine Will Prayer Group Discovering the Beauty of God’s Providential Care

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or the past 25 years, faithful followers of Our Lord have gathered to immerse themselves in His love, peace, goodness, and wisdom at the Divine Will Prayer Group meetings. Together, these followers have discovered the richness of God’s providential care in their lives, and seen the wonders of His will unfolding before them.

“Together, we learn about God’s Will and gain a much deeper understanding of the Bible,” says leader Kitty Lawson, who helped to found the group. “As a group, we have experienced how to become better Christians, working towards holiness and following the Divine Will. Even though I helped to found this prayer group and I have been a faithful member of it all these years, I am still learning about what it means to live in the Divine Will. Every meeting reveals a wonderful truth of just how much Jesus loves us.”

The Divine Will Prayer Group meets on the first and third Mondays of each month after Mass in the sanctuary.

At their meetings, they follow a specific format with special prayers written by Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta of Corato, Italy, known as the “Little Daughter of the Divine Will,” along with the “Our Father,” “Hail Mary,” and the “Glory Be.” Amazingly, the format they follow has not

changed for the past 25 years.

“As we know, Jesus taught all people to ask the Father, ‘Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven,’” Kitty says. “This is the mission that was given to the Servant of God, Luisa, the ‘Little Daughter of the Divine Will.’”

Furthermore, they study the writings on the Divine Will, which were given to Luisa from Jesus under the strict obedience of her confessor. These writings are bound in 36 volumes and named The Book of Heaven.

“We have been so blessed by our studies,” Kitty says.

“Catholics and all other Christians need to know about the eras God has given us — Creation, Redemption, Sanctification. We also read Scripture and study the lessons based on Jesus’ call to the creature to return to the order, the place, and the purpose to which it was created by God’.”

Kitty offers encouragement and extends a warm invitation to join the group.

“Jesus wants this,” she says. “It is time to live in the Divine Will, freely giving up our own will to build the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. This is our way of giving our ‘Fiat,’ just as Our Blessed Mother gave hers.”

All are welcome to come and discover the profound beauty of the Heavenly Father’s will for their lives through the Divine Will Prayer Group.

If you would like more information, please call Kitty Lawson at 812-254-0467.

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Our Lady of

HOPE

C AT H O L I C C H U R C H

315 N.E. Third Street Washington, IN 47501 812-254-2883 www.ccwash.org

The Lector Ministry

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“I see that the fear of public speaking is really what holds many people back,” Greg says. “But this really is different. You aren’t speaking your own words — you are speaking God’s Words. There are prayers for lectors. One of them says, ‘Free me of excessive concern over my performance. Convert my feelings of nervousness.’ These prayers really can

help you find the courage to do this ministry.

“My hope is that after I have returned to the pew, the congregation has not only heard the Word, but they have felt it,” he adds. “I hope that there was a bit of a spark so that when they walk out of church, they feel enlightened or have the drive to read the Bible more on their own.”

“Once I became a lector, it almost seemed like the Word came more alive.

It isn’t me — it is the Word of God. You are following the call of active and conscious participation in the Mass.” — GREG LITHERLAND If you would like more information, or are interested in training to serve as a lector, please call the parish office at 812-254-2883.