This is an invitation for anyone already doing and anyone interested in doing pastoral care. These meetings will give us a chance to share experiences, ideas, and needs and talk about how to move forward. We do have a possibility of training from the diocese if there is enough interest. Please encourage anyone you think might be interested in this ministry to come.
Homily for Sunday May 26, 2019 at Our Lady of Hope Copake Falls, NY Acts 156:1-2, 22-29; Revelation 21:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29 How did the early followers of Jesus sustain themselves? How did they support their needs for food, clothing and shelter? How did they maintain their inner peace while struggling to support themselves? Jesus tells us “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” Dear Lord, that is much easier said than done! I’m worried about the attendance here at Our Lady of Hope, and about the finances. We need more people coming to Masses on the weekends and we need more money in the collections. Some of us go to the Doctor for six month or annual physicals. When we go for our physicals, we may hear that we have high blood pressure, or we’re overweight, or our cholesterol level is off. We don’t like hearing bad news. But if the Doctor doesn’t tell you the truth about your health problems you won’t take corrective action. Today I want to talk to you about our problems and about corrective action. This is Memorial Day weekend. Will there be more or fewer people here this weekend? Will the collection be up or down? I would like to tell you all not to worry, don’t let your hearts be troubled. Peace be with you. But frankly I’m worried about attendance and about the offertory collection. The reality is worrying won’t help. We need to do something! It’s good to know what the situation is, but anxiety and worry won’t help. We need to think about evangelizing. You need to invite people you don’t see here, who came in the past. Tell them about the wonderful liturgies we have. Tell them about the community of faith, the sisters and brothers who support each other. Tell them that you have found Jesus here. Am I preaching to the choir?! Well of course. I can’t preach to people who aren’t here can I? I know you love this church. I’ve only been here five months and I can see why you love it. You are welcoming, kind and a reflection of Jesus – most of the time. However, there are still some separations in our Parish family – people who identify as from St. Bridget’s, St. John Vianney, or Holy Cross or Sacred Heart. And people who disagree about this or that. It is fine to disagree, but it isn’t fine to be disagreeable! I had a drill sergeant who told us that two wrongs don’t make a right – two wrongs don’t make a right; and two rights don’t wrong nobody. Not good English but very smart - two rights don’t wrong nobody. Please do your best to put your separations behind you. We have a Parish of about 280 families, around 450 people. On any given weekend we have about 150 to 200 people who come to Mass. Where are the other 250? How can we bring these missing faith family members back - people from Holy Cross, St. Bridget, St. John Vianney, and Sacred Heart? How can we get them back to experience our wonderful liturgies? How do we make them feel the love? Everything we do should include evangelization. For example, we are very happy that Justin and Chelsea Charter are planning to have their daughter Allison Baptized here. Please let them know we welcome Allison into our faith family. Perhaps we can invite a Young Adult and a Faith Formation Student to be on the Pastoral Council. When we plan events like the Summer Suppers, we should think about how to attract young adults and youth to the suppers. I invite you to reach out to people from St. Bridget’s, St. John Vianney, Holy Cross and Sacred Heart. Today when you exchange the sign of peace look around, be grateful for all who are here, your family, your friends and your neighbors. And think about who is missing. Our Lady of Hope Parish, and I, need all of you to step up and seize the opportunity to invite others to come here to Mass and share the love of Jesus. Peace be with you.
Come and hear about what is happening about Waste & Recycling in Columbia County from Jolene Race, the County Director of Solid Waste. Bring a bag lunch and your questions. Coffee, tea and other drinks will be provided. Presented by Our Lady of Hope Human Development Committee.
Celebrate our Parish Community -- join us for Mass. Saturday 5PM followed by the Polish Dinner Fundraiser Sunday at 10AM followed by a special "Coffee and...."
Here is a link to the National Catholic Reporter stories on St. Oscar Romero https://www.ncronline.org/feature-series/memories-of-romero/stories?utm_source=OCT_14_ROMERO+EDITION&utm_campaign=cc&utm_medium=email