May 3, 2026
The month of May has always been special in the life of the Church. In a simple and beautiful way, it is dedicated to Mary—our mother, our guide, and our example of faith.
Lately, I’ve been thinking in a particular way about one of her titles: Our Lady of Hope. That title comes from an apparition in a small village in Pontmain, France, at a time when war, fear, and uncertainty surrounded the people. Mary appeared to children with a simple message: pray… and trust. Nothing complicated. Just hope. And that message still speaks to us today.
If you’ve spent time at the Shrine, you may have noticed the statue of Our Lady of Hope in the back of the church. It’s easy to pass by without much thought. But maybe this month is an opportunity to pause there for a moment—to look, to pray, and to be reminded of what she offers us.
Because we all carry things. Worries about our families. Concerns about the future. Questions we don’t always have answers to. And into that, Mary gently speaks: Pray. Trust. Have hope.
Mary doesn’t take away our struggles—but she helps us face them with faith. She leads us to her Son, who reminds us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”
So during this month of May, I invite you to stay close to Mary. Maybe that means a simple prayer, a quiet moment in the Shrine, or even just a glance toward her statue as a reminder that you are not alone.
Hope is not about having everything figured out. It’s about trusting that God is with us. And that is enough.
I remember you at Mass.
