


Join Us to Watch The Letter
Join Us to Watch The Letter
On Thursday, April 27th at 7 pm, we’ll gather in the Parish Hall to watch The Letter. After, we’ll enjoy refreshments and talk it over.
Laudato Si’ is Pope Francis’ letter to us all calling for human care and intervention in the environmental crisis we are experiencing now.
The Letter is a documentary film – a reflection and story about frontline leaders traveling to Rome to talk with the Pope about his encyclical on the environment – and the environmental crisis we are in. In May of 2015 – six years ago – Pope Francis issued his encyclical letter, Laudato Si’. He opens his letter about caring for our common home by citing St. Francis of Assisi, whose name he took when he became pope.
“I believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically. He is the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology, and he is also much loved by non-Christians. He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace,” Pope Francis writes.
You can read Laudato Si’ through this link.
See you on April 27th, we hope!

Tickets for Sale for St. Patrick’s Day Dinner – March 18th
Tickets for Sale for St. Patrick’s Day Dinner – March 18th
It’s the Luck of the Irish bringing back our famous Corned Beef Dinners, thanks to the Knights of Columbus, IN PERSON this year. Tickets are available for $25 per person and include dinner and dessert. The fun evening with long-time and new friends comes at no additional charge! We hope you can join in the fun and frivolity. Saturday, March 18th at the Parish Hall beginning at 6 pm. Proceeds benefit the Knights’ important work for our parish and in our community. Slainté.
Tickets are available by contacting the Knights directly or through the Parish Office.

Children’s Christmas Stories and Cocoa
Children’s Christmas Stories and Cocoa
This Saturday, December 10th. all are welcome to gather for children’s Christmas stories, take a close-up look at the unique nativity creche in the church, and learn the reason we celebrate the season at St. Joseph Church, located on 673 Stevens Avenue in Portland, on Saturday, December 10, at 3 p.m. The event will include hot chocolate and a visit from Santa! We promise to add a bit of fun to your December Saturday afternoon!

Toward the Common Good – An Evening with Kevin Concannon
Toward the Common Good – An Evening with Kevin Concannon
Kevin Concannon will share selected highlights of Maine public policy history over a fifty year period. He will focus on public program changes that were influenced and directed by individual Catholic persons, and several particular Catholic institutions, during a time of major changes brought about by The Great Society and the Second Vatican Council.
And, beyond Maine geographically, he will discuss significant social policy and law changes, often aligned with Catholic Social Teaching – and much more, all directed at addressing issues and the Common Good.
With Kevin as our tour guide, one who travelled this journey as a participant at levels of influence, whose values and professional competencies reflect his Catholic religion, parental influences, and largely Catholic Education, we’re sure to hear themes of Catholic Social Teaching in context of our own history here in Maine and around the nation. And, we’re sure to hear numerous humorous anecdotes along the way – no tour of history is complete without those!
Want to learn more? Join us on Tuesday, November 15th at 7 pm at the parish hall, 492 Ocean Avenue.
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About Kevin Concannon:
Kevin Served as Associate Diocesan Director of Maine’s Catholic Charities agency in the ’60s and early ’70s. He served in various roles in Maine state government over a twenty year period including as Maine Commissioner of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Maine Commissioner of Human Services, Oregon State Director of Human Services, Iowa Director of Human Services and Under Secretary of US Department of Agriculture, responsible for US domestic food and nutrition programs.
Trained as a professional social worker, he is a native of Portland and is a graduate of Cheverus High Scholl, St. Francis Xavier University (BA and MSW) with further postgraduate courses at the University of Connecticut.
More about Our Lady of Hope Parish – A Jesuit Ministry:
Comprised of a wide range of members, representing 25 area towns, we’re an intergenerational community inspired by Christ’s love for all people and the Ignatian vision that calls and empowers us to live the Gospel message and find God in all things.

Silent Auction and Festival of Trees Event
Silent Auction and Festival of Trees Event
When we think about our upcoming fund raising event, we’re reminded of what Saint Mother Teresa is known to have said, “...We can all do small things, with great love, and together we can do something wonderful.”
A group of parishioners are working together to put on the Thanks4Giving Silent Auction and Festival of Christmas Trees event, having set a goal of contributing $20,000 to the bottom line for Our Lady of Hope’s mission. Held on Saturday, November 5th, this day-long festival and silent auction event features a dozen decorated Christmas trees, including gifts, and items selected and donated by parishioners for the silent auction in the evening.
Always popular, the Christmas trees are raffled off (you’d put your purchased raffle tickets in the containers of the ones that you’d like to take home). Tickets are $1 each or 25 for $20! The Festival of Trees is open for viewing and raffle ticket purchases from 10 – 4 that day; reopening at 7 during the auction. Winners will be drawn at 9 pm.
Admission to the evening portion of the event, from 7-9, is $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Tickets include two complimentary beverage tickets, thanks to Maria’s Ristorante. During the silent auction portion of the event, there will be delicious hors d’oeuvres passed, beverages, jazz music, 50/50 raffle and even some fun with Lucky 7s. There’ll be interesting conversation, plenty of laughter, and reconnecting with each other – or welcoming and connecting for the first time.
So many parishioners have made sure there’s a lot planned for a nice Saturday night out. Together.
If you’d like to take a sneak peek, visit our Bidding Owl online auction. Online Auction Opens for pre-bidding at noon on October 28th and closes at Noon on November 4th. Highest bids online will be opening bids in-person at the event!
Together – that may be the most fun – being together as a parish community, working together to create a fun evening, and pitching in together to raise funds critical to our mission of living out the Gospel message.
Want an quick link to make your reservations? Here it is, just click here.