Hope’s on the Way 2008 Christmas Party

In between two wintry blasts, the volunteers of Hope’s on the Way came together for the third annual Christmas party held at the National Shrine of St. Therese in Darien, Illinois. More than thirty came together to see old friends, reminisce about their hard work and learn about how those they helped are doing in New Orleans as we past the three year point in the rebuilding process.

We began the evening around the Nativity scene. The life size Fontanini statutes and the overall beauty of this Nativity scene take your breath away. A perfect setting to pray and sing that as our Christ child comes to us this year we pray to Him asking for a better world for everyone especially our dear friends in New Orleans who are still trying to recover from a hurricane and flood over three years ago.

Led in prayer and song by Fr. John Knoernschild, O.Carm., we gathered around the Nativity where the blessing service started the evening. From there it was into the banquet where a feast prepared by our own traveling cooks along with a pot luck affair from our guests made for a very tasty dinner celebration.

One of the highlights was the pinning ceremony as each member received a Hope’s on the Way lapel pin. Now each volunteer can not only work and support our efforts to help those in need but proudly wear our emblem for all to see.

As the years trickle by we hope and pray that a year will come where there will not be a need for us. But until that time, we continue to answer Gods call to serve his community in need wherever and whenever that call takes us.

Where there is despair…hope. Hope’s on the Way.