Volume 18 Number 3

WORDS OF HOPE

DECEMBER 2014

 

Advancing Dawn Dear Friend of Sanctuary of Hope, 

Welcome to the Advent‐Christmas time; how quickly it comes!  We will be remembering all of you, our sup‐porters and readers  in our Christmas Masses, and  in our daily prayers at ole SOH.   Thanks for your prayers for all of us  living here as well as all our Board of Trustees members and our staff  .   You the volunteers and donors, and many others, make  it possible for the mission of prayer and retreat to go forward.   In a note or card, or phone call, I see and hear: “Father, we are keeping you in prayer and offering our day for you as well.”   

It has taken a couple of months, but we have complet‐ed the major renovation of the East stairwell into SOH.  Thanks to memorial monies we received; we dedicated it  to  Benjamin  Richard  Lake,  the  3  1/2 months  old child of Doug and Maleia Lake, a relative of mine thru marriage.  Benjamin had a bad heart, and now is home with Jesus and Mary in the Kingdom of Heaven.  I want to also thank Delbert Selectman and his crew (“Dello Eco  Industrial”)  for doing  the major work on  this pro‐ject.  Do come and see it, we are so proud of it.  In addi‐tion  to  this,  thanks  to  the  on‐going  efforts  of  Jeff Stock and an Eagle Project of Nathan McGinus, a sen‐ior  from St.  James Academy High School, we were  able  to get an electrical  line out  to  the  statue of  the        Sacred Heart of Jesus, and light it up with LED lights.  You will have to drive by at night time, and see how it looks.  When Jeff and I first saw it from a distance, it looked like the light was coming out of Jesus, really beau‐tiful to see! 

Speaking of another light is our newest live‐in member, Mary M. Brown. Mary is a mother and grandmother.   She  is devoted  to her  family and  friends.   She loves to cook, and we are so blest to have her. Presently she is a custodian at T. A. Edison School  in Kansas City, KS.   Mary has a sweet spirit and  is very crea‐tive, not afraid to tackle new things. You just have to taste her sweet potatoes or cheesecake recipes from her mother .  Please keep Mary in your prayers and do come over to meet her. 

Again  thanks  to Jeff Stock and a generous donor, we are making progress on our labyrinth.  We now have the dimensions down, and have lined up its center parallel to the center of the butterfly garden.         The weather may now impede its development, but the materials we hope to use are being decided upon now, materials that are low in maintenance and easy to work with and durable.   

Please keep this in your prayers too. 

 

I also want to thank Julie Elwell, my secretary and our retreat coordinator.   Julie, working with Mary  Ann  Rangel,  Bernadette  Horvat,  Colleen  Cook,  Gary  and  Jane Walton,  Sr.  Antonella Bayer, CSJ, Sue Ryan, our Board of Trustees, Jonni Sherrow, and the staff at the Hilton Garden Inn, really did a grand effort in The Hope Benefit success this year of 2014.   We took in, so far, $25,745.00, Wow and Praise  the Lord!   Even  though some could not make  it, your donations were such a help to add to our success! 

I would conclude with this quote: “What we have seen with our eyes, what we looked upon, and touched with our hands  concerns  the Word of  life—for  this Life was made  visible…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you.”  (1 John 1: 1‐3) 

Love, prayers and gratitude, Merry Christmas and a most Blessed New Year of 2015, 

Fr. Dennis Wait, your brother always, and our Sanctuary of Hope Family 

  

 

THE PRAYER TREE by Sister Antonella Bayer, CSJ

In recent months, a mysterious movie made its appearance on the big screen. Entitled “The Giver,” the story told of an elderly man sharing his knowledge of the true pain and pleasure of the "real" world. Some people thought the title should be “The Receiver” because the young man chosen to learn these things seemed to be in the forefront more so than the giver.

 

When you visit Sanctuary of Hope this Advent, you are invited to be a “giver” by stopping by our Prayer Tree in the chapel. Psalm 92:1-2 says that if you are a righteous person, you are like a tree planted in the courts of God’s house. We are all connected and will be praying as a community for persons in the Sanctuary of Hope family. Because of the season, our tree will have bare branches on which you can place the name of someone you will pray for or offer sacrifices for during Advent. Several types of stars will be provided on which to write a person’s name and to hang on the tree. Our Prayer Tree is a form of quiet outreach and support for bene-factors and those persons living, working, and/or donating time/talent/treasure for the mission of Sanctuary of Hope Retreat Cen-ter. Some of these people may be ill or homebound and in need of spiritual support; others have desires and struggles known or unknown to us. Our prayers in private can be simple ones we know or however the Spirit moves us to ask blessings or healing from God, or in-tercession of the saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary. We, too, can offer sacrifices and our sufferings for others. When given to God in union with the suffering of Jesus, they are sanc-tified and put to use for the salvation of souls.

Easy way to donate stocks to Sanctuary of Hope

SOH has established a brokerage account with US Bank to receive stock donations easily. The account number is 13531546 and DTC #is 0280. Any questions- call SOH at 913-321-4673 and ask for Lou Finocchario or Julie Elwell. SOH is very grateful for the generous stock donations made by caring supporters. 

  

  

ANNUAL GUARDIANS OF HOPE APPEAL—2014

On behalf of Fr. Dennis, Thank you for your support, you are a Guardian of Hope.

Like last year, we are inviting donations to cover one day ($65) or two days ($130) of Fr. Dennis’s annual sala-ry of $24,000. Fr. Dennis was overwhelmed by the gen-erosity of all that was contributed last year.

Any amount contributed is graciously appreciated.

Gratefully,

Reverend Steven Barnes, President of the Board of Trustees and Louis Finocchario--Business Manager

If you have already donated to Fr. Dennis’ salary this year,    

thank you so much for your generosity. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FORM:

Would you consider making a one time or pledge contribution and return this form in the enclosed envelope?

Please accept my support in the amount of $__________.

This is a ______ One time gift or _______ monthly or quarterly Pledge during 2015.

Name ________________________________Address________________________________________________________

e-mail_____________________________________ ( to receive notice of special programs offered by SOH)

____ I (We) commit to regular prayer (i.e. Weekly) for Sanctuary of Hope’s ministry. The SOH Board invites supporters to say a prayer at 7:00 PM daily for the well-being of SOH. Thank you.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------—————————————————–PRAYER REQUEST

Feel free to share a prayer request and place it in the enclosed envelope. Thank you

My (our) request is:

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

    Fr. Dennis and his relatives from Italy 

 As I write this, we’re just beginning the Advent season, the roughly four weeks prior to Christ-mas. In the Church, it’s a season that invites us to slow down and reflect on our own need for a Savior and the wonder of the coming of the Christ Child.

Unfortunately, our society often ignores the reason for the season, and turns Christmas into a frenzied quest to get and give the “best” gifts to everyone. Someone once said that Christmas “makes us buy things we can’t afford to impress people we don’t like”. I just know that I looked at my own calendar today and it’s already very busy until after Christmas. Yikes!

I’m going to need a retreat when it’s all said and done. When the shopping and mailing are finally complete,( because Christmas was yesterday), and the parties, plays, school concerts, etc., are all over the season, and the house is back to ‘normal’, whatever that is, it will be a great time to schedule a retreat and regain the sense of God’s peace that He intends for us.

I love retreats—private or group retreats. A retreat helps me re-prioritize in an intentional way. It gives me a chance to unplug and unwind and breathe deeply again. A retreat gives me a chance to reconnect with God in places that may have gotten disconnected in the frantic pace of 21st century life in America. It gives me a chance to simply ‘be’ with Him, or to spend some time in concentrated worship and adoration, or to just take a walk and pray for a while. It gives me time and space to read and reflect, to listen and journal or nap. A retreat gives me time to let someone else take the lead sometimes. A retreat means I don’t have to cook and clean for a day or two. It’s a gift to myself!

Even Jesus pulled back and ‘headed to the hills’ around the Sea of Galilee for time with His Fa-ther when things got hectic for Him. If Jesus needed to do that, how much more do I need to get away for a time? Sometimes, He took a few others with Him. One of my favorite retreats was when a couple of girlfriends joined me. We all came away rested and refreshed by our friendship and our laughter, not to mention the prayer and pace. Other times I’ve been with a larger group and more structure, but still came away in much better shape than when I ar-rived. SOH has lots of flexibility for any size retreat you’d like to do—personal or large groups. You can call Julie at 913-321-HOPE or e-mail her at Julie@sanctuaryofhope.org for more information or to schedule your retreat.

Who knows, I might see out there!

WHAT ARE YOU DOING NEXT YEAR? By Sharri Orndorff

  

Upcoming Events

Work Day is the second Saturday of each month from 8 a.m.-1 p.m.—lunch provided

Associates meet on the fourth Friday of each month from 6-8:30 p.m.—potluck dinner

Prayer Group meets at SOH each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

December 25 Christmas Mass 8 a.m. followed by breakfast

February 8 Meditation in Movement & Music concert 3-5 p.m.

February 21 Prayer—Being Present with God 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

March 7 Fr. Dennis’ Lenten Retreat 8 a.m.-1 p.m.

April 26 Peace Walk from Sanctuary of Hope to Shalom House 1-3 p.m.

 

18th Annual Music, Movement & Meditation Concert featuring:

Saxophonia & The Motet Singers

    

Sunday February 8th, 2015

3:00 – 4:15 p.m. Chapel

Freewill donation

NON PROFIT ORG 

U.S. POSTAGE PD 

PERMIT 598 

SHAWNEE MISSION  KS 

Sanctuary of Hope  

P. O. Box 172018 

              Kansas City, KS  66117 

        www.sanctuaryofhope.org 

 

 

Merry Christmas

from the staff of

Sanctuary of Hope

Prayer & Retreat Center