A Year of Radiant Hope

Dear Fellow Members of Our Lady of Divine Providence Family of Parishes,

Firstly, thank you all for your prayers, especially for the Assumption campus. I have great news! The Archdiocesan legal and facilities team really went to bat for Assumption. They helped us secure bids that were incredibly low, so the cost of repairs will be much less than it would have been without their help. Thank you all for your prayers and thank God for the Archdiocese assistance.

At this point, I would like to take stock of what we have accomplished in the past several months since I was appointed pastor, especially with reference to this year’s theme of Radiant Hope. Firstly, the office consolidation is nearly complete. The process hasn’t been without its bumps, for sure, but I am very grateful for the hard work that everyone has put in. That’s the first plank of Radiant Hope. There’s still a lot of work to be done: updating and aligning databases, improving communication systems, etc. We are identifying and working out the kinks as we go. The work of creating a Divine Providence communication system is well underway. We are working on the website, logo, bulletin, email blast process, etc. We have created a family calendar that allows us to synchronize schedules across the five campuses. Danielle Meineke, the Director of Communications, has been doing wonderful work in this regard. One subject I am committed to is responsible stewardship, and so, it is an important goal of mine to improve transparency of finances. Broadly, we need to focus on covering the costs of deferred maintenance and increasing Sunday collections across the family of parishes.

The office consolidation is what will allow the staff to work together more effectively, improving communication and focus on the primary mission of evangelization.

Speaking of evangelization, the second plank of Radiant Hope lifts off with our newly revitalized faith formation programs on September 28. Our evangelization team, led by Randi Hom, with Katelyn Cottingham and Sandy Hornbach, has designed top-notch programs that have exciting potential for the future. They are doing great work, so be sure to reach out and commend them when you see them. Adult faith formation will begin next week, and we will address the topic of devotion to Mary, especially our Lady of Divine Providence. Check the bulletin for details on these programs for kids, teens, and adults.

Where do we go next? The third plank of Radiant Hope is to renew our Mass schedule. If all goes according to plan, we can implement a renewed schedule at the beginning of 2026. We will prioritize the vibrancy of the Sunday experience. Fewer Masses mean more people at each Mass: a full complement of ministers, enough servers, more fellowship and community, and better relationships.

While change is challenging, Beacons of Light is our opportunity to reimagine what the Church can look like in the present day. For many years, we as a Church have remained attached to old ways of doing things, whether it’s office operations, faith formation, or ministry schedules. But the Holy Spirit is now at work, breathing new life via Beacons of Light. New life comes through vigorous pruning and careful discernment, but the dream of a vibrant and thriving Church will always guide the process. If we adopt a growth mindset and live in a new way as faithful missionary disciples in the 21st Century, we will radiate the hope of eternal life and the glory of the Cross.

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Henry Hoffmann