Our time with our Jordanian sisters ended with the greatest of all prayers the Mass.
HOPE members, the Jordanians, the Talents director, teachers who trained in Talents, former pilgrims, Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, and friends of HOPE gathered at All Saints Church to give glory and praise to God. Deacon Bob Leever, who went on mission and pilgrimage with HOPE in 2014, delivered a homily on hope.
Deacon Bob said, “In this world we need a lot of hope. Hope is an expectation and a desire that something will be fulfilled.”
HOPE Cincinnati has fulfilled its work with Jordan and now HOPE Chicago will collaborate with educators in Jordan. Amal and Marina left Cincinnati today to spend a few days in the Archdiocese of Chicago schools before they return home.
Deacon Bob prayed over Amal, Marina and HOPE Cincinnati asking the Lord to bless all of us in our attempt to make this a better world, a better place.
After Mass we gave thanks to Amal, Marina and all who had a part in making this week a great success.
Then we shared a meal together. Afterwards there were many tears as we said goodbye to Amal and Marina.
As we drove home, the moon shining ever so brightly was a beautiful sign of hope. No matter where we live in this world, we can look up at the moon and know our brothers and sisters on the other side of the world are looking at the same moon.
We belong to the same God. Deacon Bob summed that up in his homily saying, “We are all different branches, but we all come from the same Vine.”
AMEN!
Click below to hear Deacon Bob Leever’s homily: