Our Lady of Hope News

Welcome back  -- Weekend Masses

While Sunday Masses did resume on the weekend of July 4/5, the dispensation from Sunday Obligation is extended through to Sunday, September 6th.  The elderly, the sick and those who care for anyone who is vulnerable are encouraged to not attend at this time. 

Sunday Masses are still live streamed.  Father Michael is alternating between the 9:30am and the 11:30am Masses. 

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Gardening Volunteers Needed!

Do you ever wonder how the flower beds at Immaculate Heart Mary Church grow so beautifully? They need lots of loving attention and hard work! This summer, additional volunteers are needed to help with their maintenance.  If you can spare even an hour or two of your time, it would be much appreciated! Please call Margaret Johnson and leave a voice message, NO text, at 860 482-4110 or email waterexplorers@yahoo.com

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Resuming Public Worship on Sundays in the Archdiocese of Hartford  --  July 4/5

Please see link  -  https://archdioceseofhartford.org/resuming-public-worship-…/

More information to follow from Father Michael in regards to Our Lady of Hope

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Our Lady of Hope Social Concerns Food Pantry

The Social Concerns pantry needs a few specific items: cereal, canned tuna and chicken, canned corn and green beans, coffee (not dark roast), cups of applesauce, fruit cups, canned chili and paper towels,

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.

RCIA Catechumens and Candidates Receive Sacraments

During a special 7:00PM Mass on Saturday evening, July 11, four adults received the Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church.  This ceremony, usually part of the Easter Vigil Mass on Holy Saturday, could not take place at that time this year because of the pandemic.

At the Mass on July 11 Father Michael baptized Alex Kosloffsky and Thu Maraia, confirmed Alex, Thu, Davey Gallo, and Joshua Spitz, and then all four received First Eucharist.  It was a joyous occasion for them, their sponsors, their families and the catechists who helped to instruct them through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program.

With joy we welcome them into the faith community of Our Lady of Hope Parish.

Any adult who has not yet received Baptism, Confirmation or First Eucharist and wishes to do so should contact Father Michael at the parish office: 860-379-5215.

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REVISED Announcement

11th Annual Dress for Success 

The Social Concerns Ministry from Our Lady of Hope is collecting Undergarments: underwear/t-shirts/socks (sizes 3T-16) for the 13th  annual NW CT Dress for Success Back to School Supply Drive to help NW CT children be prepared to succeed in school. This is an event held every year in August. This year it will be a contactless drive through pick up at Torrington High School on August 22. Donations can be placed the weekends August 1 and 2, August 8/9 and August 15/16 in the crib at the baptismal font near the altar at IHOM or in the Bell Tower at ICC. If anyone would like to volunteer for setup, please call 860-489-2327 ext: 1630 (Donna Labbe) or email: dlabbe@torrington.org .

PLEASE NOTE — They are not accepting gently used clothes.  That is the revision from the previous announcement. 

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Religious Education Update

• Religious Education Registration forms for the school year 2020-2021 are now available for registered parishioners.  Thank you to those of you who registered for religious education classes before July 1st!   It was very helpful to us in beginning to get the rosters organized. If you have not already done so, please return your child’s completed Religious Education Registration form for the 2020 – 2021 school year, whether or not you are able to send in payment at this time.  Late fees will not be assessed until August 15, but it is very helpful to have a list of registered students for planning purposes. 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. If you would like to receive a registration form via postal mail instead of email, please contact Teresa Lovejoy, and I will be glad to send you one!

  If you have a child who will be entering First Grade and have not received a registration form, 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: Thank you to families who returned your Grade 1 – 5 text books (Faith and Life series)! It is much appreciated and helps in our planning for the new school year. If you still need to return books, the book-return bins are located in both churches and on the parish office front porch. Thank you!

• Confirmation Class (10th 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 pictures of your family gardening, fishing, swimming, and other ways of enjoying God's creation.  

  Send photos to Religious.ed@ourladyofhopeparish.com.

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

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