By Gia Myers • Posted September 28, 2023

“Encounter Christ, Encounter True Love!” is the theme of the four-night Parish Mission at Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Doylestown, Oct.9-12 from 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Each evening, Father Larry Richards, author, inspirational speaker, and pastor of Saint Joseph Church/Bread of Life located in Erie will serve as the guest speaker.

The purpose of the Mission is to help people grow in their love for God and give them hope and direction in their daily lives.

“This is an opportunity for us to gather together as a parish family, and anyone else in the area who would like to join us, just to get a powerful reminder of how much God loves them,” says Father Matthew Guckin, Pastor of the Bucks County parish.

He says “it’s been decades” since the parish held a Parish Mission. “The first parish mission held here was by Saint John Neumann” who founded the parish in 1850, “so Father Richards is in great company here,” says Father Guckin.

The event will take place in the church, and each evening of the Parish Mission has a different theme.

Monday evening is about knowing God’s love and practical information on how to pray.

On Tuesday evening, Mass will be celebrated, and the talk will focus on the importance of family and the love of others.

The central theme of Wednesday evening is the forgiveness of sins through the Passion of Jesus Christ. The Sacrament of Reconciliation will be available after the talk by Father Richards on sin and the enormous cost to Our Savior to redeem us from sin. Father Richards will help all prepare for an Examination of Conscience, and 10-12 additional priests will be on hand to hear confessions.

Thursday evening, there will be Adoration and a Healing Service, and the focus will be on beginning a new life of discipleship.

“So many people are wounded. All of us are,” says Father Guckin. “And God sees that. God himself was wounded.  He wants to heal us of that.”

Father Guckin says he expects each evening to “be very interactive.” He says Father Richards “will get people to participate” in the talks each evening.

Of the event, Father Guckin says, “It’s designed to reach the young, the middle age, the elderly.  It’s time for families; it’s a time for healing broken hearts. It’s a time of challenge for people who’ve become complacent in our faith. It’s a time for homecoming for all who have left the Church, especially those who have left the Church during the lockdowns. It’s time to come home.”

There is no cost for attending the event. A freewill offering will be taken on the Mission’s last night Oct. 12.

Speaker Father Richards has conducted hundreds of parish missions, conferences, and retreats. He’s the founder and president of “The Reason For Our Hope Foundation,” a non- profit organization dedicated to evangelization and educating others about Jesus Christ. He’s written books published by Ignatius Press and Our Sunday Visitor, and he can be seen on the EWTN televised programs “Living Right with Dr. Ray” and “Crossing the Goal.”

Our Lady of Mount Carmel is located at 235 E. State St., Doylestown. See the parish website for more information.