Some history: It was Bishop Leo Pursley who established Our Lady of Good Hope Parish on March 2, 1969. Albert and Mary Poinsatte donated the property for our parish church. William Hodde was appointed the first pastor, but since the church had not been built yet, parishioners met for worship at Bishop Dwenger High School until the new church was dedicated on August 13, 1972.
· The first
Parish Sunday Mass was celebrated October 5, 1969 by Father Hodde was held at Bishop Dwenger. (Until the Church was built, daily Masses were held in the rectory apartment, which was above the garage, or in parishioners’ homes.)
· The first child baptized for Our Lady of Good Hope Parish was on July 12, 1969 at St. The Name
How the parish was named “Our Lady of Good Hope”:
Albert and Mary Poinsatte donated the ground to the diocese for a new
parish, and their old farmhouse for a rectory. Bishop Pursley wanted to
name the parish ―St. Albert in honor of Al’s patron saint. But Albert was a
very humble and devout man; he didn’t want anyone to think the parish was
named after him! He and Mary both had a great vocation to the Blessed
Mother, so they suggested the parish be dedicated to her. There are many
parishes in the diocese dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, so they looked for a
new title, and decided on ―Our Lady of Good Hope. This is certainly very
fitting – a devotion to Mary, Jesus’ Mother, gives one the promise of her
intercession, and ―good hope for a happy death in the state of sanctifying
grace. There is one other―"Our Lady of Good Hope"
parish in the U.S., though there may be others. That is:
Our Lady of Good Hope Parish
6 South 3rd St. Miamisburg, OH
This parish was founded in 1852. The Rectory
The farmhouse rectory was once the home of the Albert and Mary
Poinsatte family. It was built around 1860, the year Lincoln was elected
President. It was first owned by a family named Martin – reportedly related
to St. Therese Martin, The Little Flower, a Carmelite nun who died in 1897
at the age of 23 from tuberculosis. St. Therese wrote her little way to
sanctity, the way of spiritual childhood doing God’s will, as perfectly as she
could, even in very small ways. The house served as a home for Father Hodde, and other priests as
the years went by. The parish office was there, too. Over the garage was a
small apartment. Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Fisher Sr. lived there for a time after
their home burned, this while the Poinsattes still lived there, before they
gave their home to the parish. Father Hodde used the apartment for a
weekday church. Mass was offered there and the Blessed Sacrament
received, until the church was completed in 1972. Early religious education
classes were held in the rectory, also. Many coffee and conversation
sessions were held in the rectory living room – as well as building committee
meetings, council and finance committee sessions, convert classes. The
house was truly a multi-purpose parish center. The Indian Connection
Our Lady’s church and rectory sit on ground once known as the
Richardville Reserve. This was a grant of land made by the U.S. Government to Indian Chief Richardville of the Miami Indians who once lived
in this part of Indiana. Jean Baptiste Richardville was the son of a French
father and an Indian mother. He persuaded his Indians to cede the East part
of their territory to the government. The reservation lands were sold and
Richardville was richly rewarded. The Miami’s were forced to move to Kansas
in 1846, except for a few families. His people felt Richardville had betrayed
them. He is buried on Cathedral Square. Just west of the woods north of the rectory, several Indians are or
were buried on the grounds of Riverbend Golf Course. They are evidently
Miami’s who died in the 1840’s and 1850’s. Bishop Dwenger High School Cafeteria
Sunday Masses were offered here for 3 years, until the church was
completed. The first parish Sunday Mass was celebrated October 5, 1969 by
Father Hodde. In the first homily, Father Hodde expressed the hope that Our Lady’s
parish would always be a loyal and faithful, concerned and caring community
of the Catholic Church. That is still his prayer! More on the Church
Statues – Beautifully carved from wood by French artists. I especially
wanted statues of Our Lady and St. John Vianney. Our Lady – because she
is our parish patron – and St. John Vianney because he is a patron saint for
diocesan priests. He was remarkable for his holiness and his insight in souls. He often spent 10-12 hours a day in the confessional. People came from all
over France to confess their sins. He is a model for all priests – and reminds
everyone of the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Holy Spirit Windows – made by Hector Garcia. The Holy Spirit appeared at the Baptism of Jesus in the form of a dove. We are reminded that He inspires those baptized at the nearby baptismal font. The seven rays represent the seven Sacraments. Altar, pulpit, tables for the Tabernacle and Baptistery - These were
beautifully crafted by Bob Feeley, at one time a parishioner, and chairman of
the Building Committee. Kneelers – These were made by Father Bob Yast, once at St. Peter’s in Fort
Wayne. He made them from old pews once used at Sacred Heart Basilica, Notre Dame.
