Our Lady of Hope Parish Newsletter — February 2022

Feb 2022

Our Lady of

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

Upcoming Parish Retreat Offers Opportunity to Grow Closer to Christ

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here are few ways to nurture our faith life in a more meaningful way than by participating in a parish retreat — and there are not many times better than Lent to do so! Here at Our Lady of Hope, we are blessed to have the opportunity to increase our spiritual awareness this Lent with a one-day parish retreat on the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship, led by the dynamic Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB. By opening our hearts and minds during such an important liturgical time, we can answer the call to deepen our faith this Lenten season.

Fr. Godfrey, the current Rector at St. Benedict Cathedral in Evansville, Ind., is looking forward to joining us on March 5 to share his deep passion for the stewardship way of life. He brings with him a great enthusiasm for the topic in addition to a wealth of personal experience.

“Through the grace of God, I’ve been a Benedictine monk of Saint Meinrad Archabbey since 1988 and a priest of the Catholic Church since 1994,” Fr. Godfrey says. “Each assignment I’ve been given by the superior has brought many blessings. I have served the Church as a seminary teacher, pastor, chaplain

for a community of Benedictine Sisters, seminary administrator, Choirmaster, and other tasks. I’ve directed retreats since soon after I was Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB ordained a priest.”

Our retreat day will be a unique opportunity for parishioners to come and experience spiritual renewal as they learn more about the Four Pillars of Parish Stewardship — Hospitality, Prayer, Formation, and Service — and opportunities to transform both individual lives and entire faith communities. The theme of stewardship is near and dear to Fr. Godfrey’s heart as it provides us with a valuable guide to life in Christ.

“This topic is important because it helps people see their true vocation as Christian disciples,” he says.

“In other words, what has Christ asked me to do?

The pillars are important because they embody the movement of the Christian life. Each of us has the call to grow along the four ways: What does welcoming look like in our day? Do I tell God what I need

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Our Lady of

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Upcoming Parish Retreat Offers Opportunity to Draw Closer to Christ continued from front cover and also listen for the answer? Am I willing to learn, be formed, and grow in my faith? And how does all of this move me to notice the needs of others and serve Christ in them?”

In today’s busy world, a Lenten parish retreat invites us to step out of our daily routines for a moment and focus on strengthening our relationship with God and, in turn, more fully answering the Gospel call to community and discipleship.

“It’s not an easy task to take stock of the most important elements of our lives while we’re in the thick of daily living,” Fr. Godfrey says. “A retreat, at its best, gives us the ‘time away’ — even if it’s in our parish — to examine what is important and how we’re measuring up. Retreats also encourage the important art of listening to God’s grace speak to our hearts. It’s so easy to miss that still, small

voice in our otherwise hectic lives. It’s also a wonderful time to connect with other parishioners, an act of hospitality in itself so that we become stronger communities of faith.”

With the inspiring Fr. Godfrey at the helm, our 2022 parish retreat promises to be an engaging experience for all. We hope that parishioners will plan on taking advantage of this opportunity to experience a deepening of faith during the Lenten season by participating in our one-day stewardship retreat on March 5!

“More than anything, I appreciate the good work the Holy Spirit chooses to do in the lives of people as a result of drawing near to the quiet voice of God’s grace,” Fr. Godfrey says. “I look forward to getting to know my fellow disciples on the journey.”

“It’s not an easy task to take stock of the most important elements of our lives while we’re in the thick of daily living. A retreat, at its best, gives us the ‘time away’ — even if it’s in our parish — to examine what is important and how we’re measuring up.” — Fr. Godfrey Mullen, OSB

The retreat will be March 5 from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. If you would like more information or to RSVP, please contact the parish off ice at 812-254-2883 2

A Letter From Our Pastor

The Word of God: How Do We Hear It? And How Do We Respond to It?

Dear Parishioners,

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few short weeks ago, we completed our Christmas season.

We are now in what we call Ordinary Time — but before long, we will begin Lent. This is one of those rare years when Ash Wednesday is in March — so, Lent does not, of course, begin in February this year.

The Gospel of John begins with the statement, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” We speak often of the Word in the Church. As most of you are aware, the first part of our Mass is called the Liturgy of the Word. What does that mean to us?

Basically, there are four parts of our celebration of Mass: Introductory Rites; Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Eucharist; and Concluding Rites. My focus in this reflection is that second part — the Liturgy of the Word. The main parts of that are a First Reading, a Responsorial Psalm, a Second Reading, the Gospel, and a Homily.

We draw on Holy Scripture from the Bible for the readings. As Catholics, we do not consider that these readings are about God, or about the Church, or about our faith, or a history lesson, or a nice story from long ago. We consider them to be God speaking directly to us. Thus, our attentiveness to what is being proclaimed is important. Are we listening? Do we hear? And then,

do we respond in our lives? All of those should be facets of how we approach the Word of God. For us, the Word of God is the living Word. God is speaking to us as a community, and He asks us to be faithful to His Word. If we pay attention and truly listen, God can nourish our spirit, and Christ can be more real and present to us. The Homily, the Responsorial Psalm, the Profession of Faith, and the Intercessions develop the Word further and complete it. The Profession of Faith is our acceptance of God’s Word.

However, the question for us is, how do we respond to the Word? Does it change our lives? Does it bring us to the conversion necessary to live lives of stewardship and service? It is not easy, I know. Being able to listen, to hear, and then to act requires time, practice, commitment, and a desire to fulfill all of this. That is one of my prayers for us — that we can hear the Word, and that we can bring it to life in our own lives and in the lives of others.

In Christ, Fr. Paul Ferguson Pastor 3

Our Lady of

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C AT H O LI C S C H

Celebrating the Gifts and Bl W ashington Catholic Schools are a special place that serves students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade. At our schools, children are cared for, and teachers and staff are like family. Academics, excellence, service, and the Catholic faith all work together to form our students.

Middle and High School Principal Karie Craney can’t wait to take time to truly celebrate the school during Catholic Schools Week, from Jan. 30 to Feb. 5. Mrs. Craney values Catholic education and all it offers to our youth. Having graduated from here, taught here, and having served as principal for around 10 years, Catholic education is all Mrs. Craney has ever known. It’s an honor for her to have been a part of this family for all these years.

“I was blessed with this education, and I want to do everything I can to continue to make Catholic education possible in Washington,” Mrs. Craney says. “This school made me who I am today.”

Mrs. Craney’s husband, Chad, is also an alum of the school. They have three children who have all attended Washington Catholic School. Their youngest, Logan, is currently a senior. Their oldest, Kaitlyn, is a thirdgrade teacher at Flaget Catholic School in Vincennes.

Their middle child, Brock, is a junior at the University of Southern Indiana.

“I am so proud to say my whole family has graduated with a solid education from here,” Mrs. Craney says.

Catholic Schools Week allows students, faculty, and staff to not only celebrate the school but step out of the norm and have fun.

“We are always focused on education and spiritual development, but it’s fun to see everyone have fun and enjoy themselves,” Mrs. Craney says. “It’s just different from a normal week.”

All week, there are special dress-up days. One of the most important parts of the week is the service projects, which are an excellent way for parishioners to get involved in Catholic Schools Week. The most popular is the Penny Wars — students earn points for pennies and paper bills.

Any silver coins added to the stash of another class count as negative points. The money raised this year will benefit the Heidi Deckard family and the Lymphoma Society.

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H O O L S W EEK :

essings of Catholic Education “Our families are so very generous,” Mrs. Craney says. “It’s important to us, at the school, to serve those around us.”

The week kicks off with Sunday Mass, where students performed many of the Mass ministry roles. When the pandemic threat is over, school staff hope to return to the Catholic Schools Week breakfast.

On Monday, there is an all-school prayer service as an opportunity to celebrate the kids and remember the reason they are all here — the Lord. And on Thursday, the whole school will come together for Mass.

Another fun activity for the students is putting together the Catholic identity bulletin boards. Each “house” designs a bulletin board — a “house” is made up of several students from each grade in the middle and high school.

One particular Catholic Schools Week highlight for the fifth-graders and seniors is the Mass at St. Benedict’s Cathedral for representatives from every Catholic school in the Diocese of Evansville.

“My favorite part of the week is the Mass in Evansville,” Mrs. Craney says. “It’s great to see all the schools come together, and it’s a bonding experience for the fifth-graders and seniors.”

All in all, Mrs. Craney enjoys seeing the 314 students from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade have fun celebrating their Catholic identity. She feels so blessed to have spent a large part of her life immersed in Catholic education.

“It’s so amazing to share the sacraments with the children,” she says. “We can go to Mass together and begin the day with prayers. What could be more beautiful than that?”

For more information about Washington Catholic Schools, please visit www.ccwash.org/school.

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Our Lady of

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

E Bring Your Gifts to the Spotlight!

S T E WA R D S H I P

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he word “talent” often conjures up images of stage performers in the spotlight, captivating awestruck audiences with their impeccable musical or acting skills.

While these talented performers are certainly deserving of applause, the majority of the population sits hidden in the shadows, staring on in amazement while feeling overlooked — and perhaps wishing to possess such talents themselves. But even when we feel overlooked and untalented, God knows better. As Christians, we are all called to dig deep and trust that we are uniquely blessed with valuable talents and abilities, even if our talents aren’t so obvious or don’t garner applause and accolades.

Along with “time” and “treasure,” “talent” is one of the “three Ts” of stewardship. Exploring our natural inclinations and preferences, especially when guided by the intricacies of our unique personalities, can unearth God-given talents.

“There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same spirit,” writes St. Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians. “There are different forms of service, but the same Lord.”

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TA L E N T

Some people have the gift of working peacefully with children.

Equipped with patience and gentleness, they are able to guide young souls to the Lord. Yet, others shudder at the thought of a classroom full of 5-year-olds and instead seek the quiet solace of behind-the-scenes tasks — cleaning the church, sewing altar cloths, or stuffing envelopes.

Our interests and abilities are varied, and our volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our talents back to God in loving service. Examine your heart and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts towards serving the people of God. H. Jackson Brown, Jr., author of Life’s Little Instruction Book, once said, “Talent without discipline is like an octopus on roller skates.

There’s plenty of movement, but you never know if it is going to be forwards, backwards, or sideways.”

If our gifts of talent are not guided by the discipline of prayer, just like an octopus on roller skates, we will get nowhere fast! Yet, if we keep our eyes on the goal of heaven and serve the Lord with joyfulness, our efforts will produce a bountiful harvest.

In the words of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will reap bountifully.”

The next time you sit quietly in the shadows behind a glaring stage spotlight, rest assured that your talents are no less impressive in the eyes of God, and will always be “applauded” when directed to the service of His people.

Our interests and abilities are varied, and our volunteer options are endless, as we are called to give our talents back to God in loving service.

Examine your heart and prayerfully discern your gifts, then direct those gifts towards serving the people of God.

Growing in Faith During the Season of Lent “See the ‘God Moments’ of Your Day”

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“In Lent, we are called to take an account of our relationship with Christ and to rebuild that relationship,” says Fr. Paul Ferguson. “See the ‘God moments’ in each day and reflect on those moments in the evening. Slow down and create a time for meditation so that you will celebrate Easter with a true conversion of the heart.”

Our Lady of Hope offers us many opportunities to plan an intentional Lenten journey. This begins with a Lenten calendar that will be shared in the bulletin the weekend before Ash Wednesday.

“We’ll be sending out this calendar that highlights all the dates for Lenten liturgical services beginning with multiple Masses on Ash Wednesday, March 2,” Fr. Paul says. “There will also be Stations of the Cross every Friday, and usually these are bilingual.”

On March 5, which is the first Saturday after Ash Wednesday, the parish will offer the faith community a Lenten retreat. Throughout the season there will also be many opportunities for Confession.

During the Lenten season, prayer, almsgiving, and

fasting help us deepen and rebuild our relationship with Christ in particular ways.

“Almsgiving is giving of our time, talent, and treasure in whatever ways we can,” Fr. Paul says. “Fasting is also a way for us to sacrifice. We can fast not necessarily only from food, but perhaps also from a bad habit that has kept us from Christ.”

Faith community members will also receive a book or pamphlet near Ash Wednesday with Scripture passages to help foster our prayer lives. This particular ritual is one that Fr. Paul practiced from his childhood.

“My grandmother was my Godparent, and she would always give me a Lenten book of some kind to help me pray and meditate,” Fr. Paul says. “We also did all the regular Lenten activities as a family, including going to Confession and having fish on Fridays. I remember Mom’s tuna casseroles and tuna cakes.”

One community-wide opportunity during the Lenten season is a play called One Voice - One Word: The Promise.

“The community of Washington, Ind., does this beautiful ecumenical play over a period of eight days,” Fr. Paul says. “Members from most of the Catholic and

Celebrating Holy Thursday, 2021

Our Lady of Hope decorated for the Easter season

life.

uring the liturgical season of Lent, we are called to slow down and to take an account of our faith

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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

Growing in Faith During the Season of Lent continued from page 7

Christian parishes in our community participate, and they sing and reenact the Passion.”

This year, the play is scheduled to run March 1119, and it is a tradition that has been part of our community for years.

“I’ve been many times, and it is really nice,” Fr. Paul says. “They even bring in live animals! We have a lot of people from our parish who have participated in different roles. It’s one of those times when you get to see talents your parishioners have that you didn’t know about.”

There are also opportunities for us to engage in service and give back to our community during Lent.

Fr. Paul hopes our parish’s meal delivery service to the

homebound will resume before Lent.

“Some other possibilities include collecting food for Feed My Sheep,” he says. “Of course, you can give to the Rice Bowl, which doesn’t only impact our local community but also impacts the world. You can also volunteer at the St. Vincent de Paul store here.”

The most important thing is to remember that Lent is a time to reflect on our relationship with Christ and our intimacy with God. “Those three things — prayer, fasting, and almsgiving — help us refocus our life and get away from the noise of the world,” Fr. Paul says. “If we participate in these, then on Easter morning, we’ll have had a renewal of our relationship with Christ.”

For more information about the Lenten season at Our Lady of Hope, please check out the bulletin and our parish website at www.ccwash.org.