The Diocese of Gary, Holy Martyrs, Our Lady of Consolation, St. John the Evangelist, St. Joseph,
St. Matthias, St. Mary, and St. Michael the Archangel Parishes Invite You to:
Hope for the Holidays
Finding Light and Peace Amid the Stress of the Season
Sunday, November 19
Our Lady of Consolation Vamos Hall
8303 Taft St., Merrillville
4:30 p.m. Doors Open
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Catered Dinner
6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Presentation
Babysitting will be available for the first 40 children to sign-up. Babysitters are all in compliance with the Diocesan safe environment policies. Click the registration link to sign up for babysitting.
Paul’s books will be on sale while supplies last for $14 each.
The deadline to RSVP for the dinner portion of the night is Wednesday, November 15.
Registration for the presentation will stay open until 1:00 pm on November 19.
Paul Jarzembowski is the author of Hope for the Holidays: Finding Light at the Darkest Time of the Year (Paulist Press, 2023) as well as Hope from the Ashes: Insights and Resources for Welcoming Lenten Visitors (Paulist Press, 2022). He also serves as the Associate Director for the Laity at the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, DC. In this role, he has overseen the United States’ engagement with World Youth Day over the past decade. Originally from the Diocese of Gary (a Dyer native and alumni of Andrean High School), Paul has degrees in theology and marketing from Valparaiso University in Indiana and an advanced degree in pastoral studies from Loyola University Chicago. He has spoken to and consulted with Catholic parishes, dioceses, religious communities, ministry conferences, and organizations around the world, including the Vatican, and has written extensively on the evangelization and pastoral care of youth and young adults and the intersection of faith and culture. He and his wife Sarah now live in the Maryland suburbs between Washington DC and Baltimore.
Hope for the Holidays: Finding Light and Peace Amid the Stress of the Season
The holidays can be inundated with anxiety, polarization, and frustration, eclipsing our appreciation of the reason behind the season: the presence of God in our very midst. On the eve of Thanksgiving, come and take a holiday pilgrimage to discover some practical ways to navigate the stressors that can keep us from truly experiencing a Christ-infused Advent and Christmas. Renew hope through the prism of your own story and holiday experiences, while also being mindful of the world (and the people) around us. As the ghostly Jacob Marley told Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol (and as the Lord tells each of us today): no matter the darkness and no matter our sins, “you have yet a chance and a hope” for a conversion of heart to walk anew along a path filled with peace, light, and holiday joy.
Questions about the event can be directed to Melissa Novak, Director of Discipleship and Evangelization at Holy Martyrs & Our Lady of Consolation. She can be reached at 219-769-1755, ext. 308 or at [email protected].
Promotional Materials
8.5 x 11 Flyer
Postcard
Quarter Page
