Our Lady of Hope News

Archdiocese of Hartford Guidelines for Opening Churches for Public Worship dated May 27, 2020

https://archdioceseofhartford.org/guidelines-for-opening-churches-for-public-worship-in-the-archdiocese-of-hartford/

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"CHANGE FOR LIFE”

Your spare change can make a big difference in the lives of mothers and babies!

Our Lady of Hope will again hold the  “Bottle Drive” to benefit the Two Hearts Pregnancy Care Clinic in Torrington.  Baby bottles will be available to you to take home and use as a bank on Mother’s Day weekend. Please fill up your bottles with change or bills and return them to church on Father’s Day weekend.  (Tax receipts available for checks only-payable to Our Lady of Hope)

Two Hearts Pregnancy Care Center in Torrington is a place where woman and teens can find hope, help and life-affirming support, reflecting the pro-life teachings of the Catholic Church.

Thank you for your support.

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Attention Our Lady of Hope High School Seniors -

Charlie Buonocore Scholarship

Charlie Buonocore was a wonderful young man who died in a car accident at the age of 18.  His death and that of Melissa Andrew will always be felt deeply by those who knew and loved them.  A few years ago, his family established a scholarship to honor the memory of this extraordinarily generous and good-hearted young man.  A scholarship of $1000 is awarded each year to a student who is furthering his or her education in the fall of that year.  The recipient must be a registered member of Our Lady of Hope Parish.  The scholarship is available to a graduating senior or continuing student who will be attending a vocational school, two year school, four year college or one of our nation’s service academies.  Selection will be based on community and parish service, citizenship, financial need and an evaluation of the applicant’s essay on the importance of service to others.  Applications are due by June 30.

Click here for Scholarship app

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Garden Time!!

It’s time to start planting at Immaculate Heart of Mary.  This year will be a little different.  Only a couple parishioners will work together at a time.  With that being said, the job will take a few days.  We need your help to keep the gardens beautiful.  Contact May Louchen 860.482.4380 or Margaret Johnson via email at waterexplorers@yahoo.com if you are available to help.  Margaret and May will call you in regards to a schedule.

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Our Lady of Hope Social Concerns Food Pantry

The Social Concerns pantry needs a few specific items: canned tuna and chicken, paper towels, toilet paper.

We realize that there is a shortage on paper goods but if you are out shopping and by chance the store has a supply please consider purchasing one for the food pantry. 

These items can be placed in the red wagon at IHOM or in the Bell Tower at ICC. On behalf of all the members of our ministry we want to thank our parishioners on their love and generosity to make our collections so successful.

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New FACEBOOK page

Please "follow" and "like".  See link above.  

Religious Education Update

• Religious Education Registration forms for the school year 2020-2021 are now available for registered parishioners.  The forms have been emailed to families with children who are continuing students in grades 2 – 10, and sent via postal mail to families who are new to the religious education program with children who are potential first graders.

  Please plan to return the completed form by June 30, whether or not you are able to send in payment at that time.   If you have a child who will be entering First Grade, or if you are new to our parish and interested in religious education in any grade, contact Teresa Lovejoy for information: Religious.ed@ourladyofhopeparish.com, (860) 806-5347. I look forward to hearing from you!

• Book Returns: If your child was a student in Grade 1 – 5 during the 2019 -2020 school year, Please return your child’s text book (Faith and Life series) to either church (the churches are opened daily from 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.) or at the parish office (60 Town Hill Road) along with your completed registration form for next year if not already registered. We need these books for next year’s students. Thank you!

•  First Reconciliation: 1) When visiting either church, please take a moment to notice the display of “sheep.” These represent the 26 children (13 at each church) receiving First Reconciliation this spring or summer.  Please pray for these children and their families as they prepare for (or have taken) this important step on their spiritual journey.   2)  Parents of Second Graders: when things begin to return to normal and Archbishop Blair announces that Masses and Confessions can again take place, you will be notified of the plan for First Reconciliation (for children who have not yet received this Sacrament) and First Holy Communion.

• Confirmation Class (9^th Graders): Please mail your paper work, if you have not already done so, to Religious Education Coordinator, OLOH Parish, P.O. Box 285, New Hartford, CT 06057. This includes Sacramental Data form, sponsor form (if necessary), Pathway to Discipleship, and, if you’ve completed your service hours, the Works of Mercy Service Reflection. (Obviously, most forms of service have been suspended for the time being, so it’s fine to do this over the summer or even in the early fall.)  And please check your email for a fun, socially distanced, service opportunity!

• Parish Website Slideshows:  Check out the slide shows in the “Family Faith” section under the Religious Education tab on our parish website!

  Call for pictures! Please send family photos for the parish website depicting creative ways your family is practicing social distancing while still practicing their faith and/or just staying healthy and positive.  Send in photos of your family’s Memorial Day picnic, patriotic display, gardening, or other outdoor activities! We would also love to see photos of your prayer corner or other religious display in your home that you have improvised while not able to attend Mass this spring.  

  Send photos to Religious.ed@ourladyofhopeparish.com.

Call/text Teresa Lovejoy for any questions: 860-806-5347 or email Religious.ed@OurLadyofHopeParish.com.

Update regarding hospital visitations…..

Due to HIPAA Privacy Rules, Charlotte Hungerford Hospital no longer can provide the parish with names of our parishioners who are in the hospital.  If you or your loved ones would like to be visited or receive the sacraments while in the hospital, please notify the parish office at 860.379.5215.

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RCIA

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. This faith formation program is available to non-Catholic adults and young adults past the age of reasoning who wish to become members of the Catholic Church, and to Catholic adults and young adults past the age of reasoning who have not yet received the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation.  Classes meet on a weekly basis, and can be begun at any time.  Contact Father Michael (860-379-5215) if you are interested. Young adults under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18.

Online Giving Message

We are proud to announce that Our Lady of Hope is keeping up with technology, and now has the ability for online giving.  Contributions can be made to the parish online safety via an encrypted website.  Online giving makes it easy when you are unable to attend Mass.  It's real simple to do.  Here are two simple ways:

     1.  Sign up here at the website.  Click on the "online giving" button that is found on the home page.  For the first time user, just click on "create new account".  This is a one-time account set-up.  This allows you to make donations to the church with options as a one-time gift or recurring.

     2.  The second way for accessing online giving is from your phones. Simply download the app for free from Apple or Google stores.  The name of the app is "Online Giving by Our Sunday Visitor".  From there it's the same login process as the website.

Upcoming Events

Please see Event Calendar for further details