Wells of Hope offers invitation to faith renewal and healing In response to the overwhelming need and desire to reach out to those who are no longer active in the Catholic faith, with the enthusiastic approval of Bishop John M. D’Arcy, Ginny Kohrman and Sister Jolene Heiden, SSND, of the Office of Spiritual Development and Evangelization, along with Linda Furge of the Office of Campus and Young Adult Ministry, spiritual director Gervaise Bastian and Father Ed Erpelding, pastor consultant, have developed Wells of Hope. This process of evangelization assists active Catholics in reaching out to those who are no longer active in parish communities. The essence of the process is rooted in Scripture, inspired by the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well, found in the Gospel of John 4:5-42. Thirty-nine parishes throughout the diocese have committed to Wells of Hope and have participated in training provided by the Office of Spiritual Development in Fort Wayne and South Bend. These parishes are now in the process of forming and training Wells of Hope teams who will become active in the process. Parishioners selected for the Wells of Hope teams demonstrate those qualities exhibited by Jesus in the Scripture story, such as confidence in self and their faith in God, nonjudgmental listening skills, empathy, a desire to share their faith with others and the ability to maintain confidentiality with information shared. Gervaise Bastian says many Catholics may feel underqualified for this type of outreach ministry. We should remember, however, that “God calls us forward and then provides within us the transforming power to help others.” Following formal training, Wells of Hope team members, in cooperation with their pastor, contact those who are currently away from the parish community, reaching out by phone, notes and personal visits. “They’ll visit in twos, for moral support,” adds Father Erpelding. Each step of the process is modeled after Jesus’ work with the woman at the well, says Kohrman, “We approach those we are visiting with concern and love, gently guiding them to the living water of truth, reconciliation and possibly reunion with their Catholic faith tradition.” As relationship is built, team members provide a safe and loving ear for those to “tell their story, believing they become the wells of hope for those in search of the Living Water,” says Sister Jolene. She adds, “We won’t solve all their problems, but we can walk in truth and love along with them.” Father Erpelding notes that those visited will have left the church for a variety of reasons. “There’s a lot of misinformation and a lot of hurt out there. Some think they can’t be part of the church community and that is not true. We’ll work with people at their own pace in building relationships. There is no timeline for conversion and commitment,” says Father Erpelding. Bringing inactive Catholics back into relationship with Christ through relationship with church community members is a lofty goal that must be ongoing. The Wells of Hope mission will not only reach out to inactive Catholics but will empower active Catholics in realizing their potential to share the Gospel. As Father Erpelding says wisely, “The Gospel has the power to heal.” Click here for the Wells of Hope Brochure in PDF format. Click here for the Wells of Hope Brochure in WORD format. Wells of Hope is offered by the Office of Spiritual Development Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend 915 S. Clinton St., P.O. Box 390 Fort Wayne, IN 46801 For more information contact: Ginny Kohrman (260) 399-1437 Sr. Jolene Heiden, SSND (260) 399-1437 Sr. Mary Brooks, CSC (574) 234-0687