Our Lady of Hope Parish Newsletter — May 2023

Our

Lady of HOPE

Young Married Couples Ministry: Opportunity for Spiritual Growth and Fellowship

Marriage and the family are cornerstones of any Catholic community. It is within the family — the domestic church — that children should first be introduced to who God is and how much He loves them. It is within the family that children should be taught to pray and to discern their vocations. For many young couples and parents, the early years can be challenging as they strive to live out their vocations faithfully, trusting in the Lord’s plan. And that is why it is so important to support young married couples and their families.

The Young Married Couples Ministry here at Our Lady of Hope provides couples or families in our parish the opportunity to meet together once a month for food and fellowship. The kids play while the adults discuss different spiritual topics. It is a great opportunity for both social and spiritual support. Emily Swartzentruber and her family currently host the group at their home.

“The group strives to provide positive peer pressure amongst the parents to help and support them in their spiritual growth,” Emily says. “We also want our kids to be able to look to other families and kids as their peers. We want

them to have a strong social system that will help reinforce their Catholic formation.”

In addition to their monthly meetings, the group provides some day-to-day support to the young couples and families. They help families who are moving or who recently had a baby. They pass around different materials and help with continued education in the faith. They also offer spiritual support in the form of prayers for each other.

The Young Married Couples Ministry gathers twice

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Mothers AND STEWARDSHIP

We celebrate the month of Mary during May, and during this month, we also celebrate Mother’s Day. It seems fitting that we honor our mothers during May since Mary is given to us by God as the example of true Christian motherhood.

Those who are called to be mothers have been blessed by God and called to fulfill a very important responsibility. Mothers are the vehicle through which God brings new life into this world. When we talk about Christian stewardship, we talk about sacrificially returning to God what we have been given. What can more clearly be a demonstration of complete sacrifice than the relationship between mother and child during the nine months of growth in the womb? During these nine months, the child’s life depends on the actions of the mother as her energy and nourishment goes directly to the growing baby.

Although this relationship may change to some extent after the child is born, a mother’s sacrifice for her child is far from over after the birth. The role of the mother is critical in the child’s development — both spiritually and physically — throughout life. Mothers provide the comfort, nurture and support necessary for their children to become productive citizens and responsible Christians.

The job of a mother is not an easy one. This is a fact that Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew very well. She worried when her young Son appeared to be lost, only to find Him later in His Father’s house. She was probably concerned as Jesus began His public ministry — not knowing what difficulties and rejections He would encounter along the way. And, Mary must have experienced great anguish as she watched her Son’s body being crucified to a cross.

May all mothers look to Mary as their model for motherhood and ask her intercession as they strive to fulfill their God-given role in their children’s lives. During the month of May, let us all take some time to express our appreciation to our mothers for allowing us to come into this world, for loving us, and for serving as an example of what it means to be a steward for life.

A Letter From Our Pastor

Honoring Our Lady in May

Dear Parishioners,

May is Mary’s month. For centuries, Catholics throughout the world have included special devotions to the Blessed Mother in their activities during May. Best known, I’m sure, is the widespread and ever-popular practice of crowning an image of Our Lady with flowers during the month.

May is a beautiful month, full of renewal and hope. The March winds and the April showers have done their work, and the spring flowers are in bloom. Even though the earliest signs of spring have passed, May doesn’t quite have the look or feel of summer. It is spring at its finest! And it’s not only the flowers or trees that show new life in May. For many students, May is the month to prepare for graduations, and these students will soon move on to new phases in their lives.

And of course, May is a month of joy for all of us who claim the Church as our spiritual home. We spend the whole month this year in the Easter season, which closes with Pentecost on May 28. The joy of the Resurrection, the glory of the Ascension,

and the descent of the Holy Spirit are the themes that fill our Christian calendar. But as we rejoice with Mary at her Son’s triumph over sin, Satan, and death, we remember her faithfulness to God’s will throughout her life. Indeed, she can be viewed as the model Christian steward. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops pointed to her in its pastoral letter on stewardship: “After Jesus, it is the Blessed Virgin Mary who by her example most perfectly teaches the meaning of discipleship and stewardship in their fullest sense” (Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 41).

Let us follow her example of total dedication to God as we rejoice in the blessings He gives us this month!

In Christ,

Fr. Paul Ferguson Pastor

“After Jesus, it is the Blessed Virgin Mary who by her example most perfectly teaches the meaning of discipleship and stewardship in their fullest sense”

(Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response, 41).

Vacation Bible School A

PLACE FOR OUR YOUNG PARISHIONERS

Hereat Our Lady of Hope, Vacation Bible School has become a beloved annual parish activity. This summer, the program will teach children about the sacraments through a special wilderness theme. Through VBS, children will not only have fun with their peers, but they will also get to know Jesus Christ, read the Word of God, and learn more about our Catholic faith.

“Our Lady of Hope has a long tradition of Vacation Bible School — it has been done for about 25 years,” says Kande Batz. “VBS is a fun way to get kids involved in our Church’s life.”

This year’s theme is A Wilderness Adventure Through the Sacraments and it will take place from June 12-15 at the Washington Catholic Middle School gym and

classrooms. VBS is open to children in Pre-K through fifth grade.

“This year our theme is going to introduce and help the children learn about the sacramental life in our church, while they learn and deepen their faith in a fun and entertaining way,” Kande says. “The children attend four days for three to four hours each day. They participate and learn about our faith through music, crafts, games, and snack stations.”

On the Sunday following the week of VBS, the children will have the opportunity to share a bit of what they’ve learned with parishioners by performing songs at the 9 a.m. Mass. One of the program’s goals is to teach children about the value of the parish community, and the teen and adult

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For more information about Vacation Bible School, or how to volunteer, please contact Kande Batz or Mallory Haag at the parish office, 812-254-2883.

Program Draws Children Closer to the Sacraments PARISHIONERS TO DEEPEN THEIR FAITH IN A FUN WAY

assistants that contribute their time to the program are a great example.

“Our parish has wonderful and generous teen and adult volunteers,” Kande says. “Our teens give their talents and gifts to the service of the children during that week. This helps them to understand what is important in their lives — not just to give, but to receive, too. The contact with the children helps them to learn how important is to build our Catholic community. Our adult volunteers give their gifts and talents even if they have a day of work. They are really committed to helping our children learn about our faith.”

Teens can begin to volunteer starting in sixth grade, and adult volunteers are required to do a background check. All are welcome!

Married

a year for bigger, social gatherings. Towards the end of the school year, the group gets together for games and BBQ and also shares in a Friendsgiving celebration.

“This has been a great way for us to build friendships within the parish and for our kids to build faithful friendships as well,” Emily says. “We have a community that we can look to when we have a need that will force us to call on someone outside of our own family. And it encourages us to live out the liturgical year at home, knowing that other families are doing that as well.”

“Our Lady of Hope has a long tradition of Vacation Bible School — it has been done for about 25 years. VBS is a fun way to get kids involved in our Church’s life.”

Kande Batz

Summer Social Returns

to Catholic Community of Washington

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TheCatholic Community of Washington’s Summer Social is returning this year with all of its fun, food, and fellowship!

Our long-standing summer tradition will open Saturday, June 3, after the 4 p.m. Mass, and will continue on Sunday, June 4, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Chair Scot Brown and his committee have been working since late November to organize this favorite event that will benefit our Catholic Community of Washington and our Washington Catholic Schools.

“During the COVID restrictions was the first time we had it in a limited way with only the raffle, done remotely,” Scot says. “During the last couple years, it was limited.”

On Saturday evening, the Social will have food trucks, (Big Al’s Smokin’ BBQ and Woodshed Pizza have already committed) and a beer garden serviced by the St. Benedict’s Brew Works in Ferdinand. The Ed Rodimel Band will provide live music from 7-10 p.m.

On Sunday, there will be a variety of food booths featuring hamburgers, hotdogs, fish and a variety of Hispanic foods, as well as homemade ice cream. There will be an abundance of children’s activities, including a train ride, face painting and games. The raffle will be drawn at 3 p.m. Sunday to include a grand prize, cash prizes, gift certificates, and merchandise donated by local businesses. A variety of theme baskets also will be raffled.

The regularly scheduled bingo will be held at 5 p.m.

“The raffle tickets will be mailed to our parish families and will be available for purchase from any of our committee members,” Scot says.

Besides being a financial help for our Catholic Community of Washington, the Summer Social provides a wealth of

opportunities to build fellowship and engage in stewardship.

“The Summer Social definitely helps build fellowship,” Scot says. “We all get a chance to get together and spend time eating together and talking. We don’t get a lot of chances to socialize, and this is a good opportunity. As for stewardship, people give of their time and talent by volunteering or donating prizes.”

The Summer Social is open not only to our parishioners but also to our wider community.

“Since we are a small town, this provides an exciting weekend for all,” Scot says.

Although there is a committee working on the Summer Social, stewards of the parish are needed to help with setup, staffing the booths, and teardown.

Everyone is also invited to donate new or gently used stuffed animals as prizes for the children’s games.

“The Summer Social definitely helps build fellowship. We all get a chance to get together and spend time eating together and talking. We don’t get a lot of chances to socialize, and this is a good opportunity.”

To assist with the Summer Social or to donate stuffed animals, please call Scot Brown at 812-617-3203.

n E xciting W EE k E nd for A ll ”

— Scot Brown

The Patron Saint of Impossible Causes: St. Rita FEAST DAY, MAY 22

St. Rita of Cascia is an important saint in the Catholic Church, revered for her steadfast faith, exemplary life of stewardship and discipleship, and her miraculous intercession.

Born Margherita Lotti in 1381 in Roccaporena, Italy, St. Rita lived during a time of great turmoil, marked by conflicts between rival Italian city-states and the Papal States, as well as widespread poverty, disease, and lawlessness.

Despite these challenges, St. Rita was raised in a devout Catholic family, and from an early age, she exhibited a deep love for God and a desire to serve Him. As a young girl, Rita desired to become a nun. However, her parents arranged for her to marry a man named Paolo Mancini. Paolo was known for his violent temper and abusive behavior towards Rita. Despite this, Rita remained patient and forgiving, even as she endured physical and emotional abuse from her husband.

Eventually, her husband was killed in a feud between rival families, and St. Rita was left a widow with two young sons. She faced many trials during her widowhood, especially when her late husband’s brother continued the feud and hoped to convince Rita’s sons to seek revenge. As her

sons grew, they wished to avenge their father’s murder. Fearing her sons would lose their souls, she tried to dissuade them from retaliating to no avail. She asked God to remove her sons from the cycle of vendettas and prevent mortal sin and murder. Her sons died of dysentery a year later, which pious Catholics believe was God’s answer to her prayer, taking them by natural death rather than risk them committing a mortal sin punishable by Hell.

After the death of her sons, St. Rita was free to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming a nun. However, the convent she wished to join had a strict rule that only women who had never been married could enter. St. Rita prayed for three days, asking for a sign from God, and on the third day, a miracle occurred. She heard a knock on the door, and when she opened it, she found herself surrounded by a group of nuns who took her into the convent without question.

St. Rita lived the rest of her life as a nun, dedicating herself to prayer, penance, and service to others. She lived a life of true stewardship, exemplified by her work caring for the sick and poor. Her life of service and dedication to God has made her an important figure in the Catholic Church.

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315 N.E. Third Street

Washington, IN 47501

812-254-2883

www.ccwash.org

The Patron Saint of Impossible Causes: St. Rita

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She is known for her ability to intercede on behalf of those facing impossible situations, and is best known for her association with roses, which often are used as a symbol of her life and legacy. It is said that as she neared the end of her life, Rita was bedridden from tuberculosis. It was then that she asked a cousin who had come to visit for a rose from the garden in her old home. As it was January, her cousin did not expect to find any roses, but there was a single rose in bloom, which was brought back to Rita at the convent. Rita passed away four months later, on May 22, 1457. Follow-

ing her death, she was buried at the Basilica of Cascia.

Today, St. Rita is venerated as the patron saint of several causes, including desperate and impossible situations, abuse victims, and marital problems. Beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1627 and canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900, her feast day is celebrated on May 22.

As we look to St. Rita’s life and example, we can learn much about what it means to be a disciple of Christ in our own time. We can strive to emulate her virtues of compassion, forgiveness, and humility, seeking to serve others and live a life that reflects our faith.