Brothers and sisters,

In mid-October, I was blessed to join a few parishioners in cleaning out the large storage shed behind the Parish Center. Oh, what a treasure trove we uncovered! As we peeled back layer after layer, we found items that hadn’t seen daylight in a decade or more—handcrafted signs, sturdy decorations, and all sorts of relics from Fall Fests, Breakfasts with Santa, Bull Roasts, and countless parish gatherings.

Each piece told a story. They weren’t just tools for fundraising; they were symbols of connection—moments when our community came together to celebrate faith and friendship.

Standing in that shed, I couldn’t help but wonder: what will we leave behind?

The offerings of our ancestors often move me. During my studies in Rome, I visited countless towns across Europe—each with a church proudly standing in its heart. Its bell tower rose high above the rooftops, a visible sign that faith was central to the people’s lives. Those churches weren’t built with surplus; they were built through sacrifice. Our ancestors gave so that the beauty of faith would be unmistakable.

And I see that same sacrificial spirit alive and well right here at OLPH.
We are witnessing a cultural shift—a re-centering of our lives on the Church. Our energy may be less about bricks and mortar than in past generations, but it is every bit as vibrant.

By summer’s end, our Gospel book’s copper cover had worn thin—the image of Christ nearly invisible. Then, quietly, one of our parishioners stepped forward. A month later, it gleams again: Christ restored at the front, the evangelists brilliant at the back.

This is what generosity does. It doesn’t just maintain—it renews.
It makes the sacred visible. It builds what lasts.

Your giving has also:

• Renovated the nave and built our welcoming Narthex
• Created the Good Shepherd Room for ministry gatherings
• Sustained our 24/7 Adoration Chapel, visited by up to 600 adorers each week

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us—parishioners who mortgaged their homes in the late 1970s and early ’80s to build this church, who gave the land for our cemetery, who sacrificed so we could worship and grow in faith today.

Now it’s our turn to answer the call.

Would you join me in three specific ways?

1. Enroll in online giving through PushPay. A consistent gift helps us plan wisely and sustain our ministries year-round.
Give Now

2. Prayerfully consider increasing your offertory contribution. The offertory supports our staff, clergy, and the daily life of our liturgy.

3. Offer your time and talent. Whether it’s gardening, reading at Mass, visiting the homebound, or serving on a ministry team, your gifts bring life to our community. Discover your spiritual gifts through the myFIT tool on our website.
myFIT

Together, our offerings—spiritual and material—build a future full of hope. They renew what has faded. They make Christ visible in our midst. They build what lasts.

Thank you for being part of that story.

In the Lord,

Rev. Michael S. Triplett