Hope in God’s Plan
Our Lenten theme, “Jeremiah 29:11 – Hope in God’s Plan,” focuses on trusting God’s purposeful plan for our lives, even in difficult times. As we reflect on this verse, we join with the universal Church in the Jubilee Year theme “Pilgrims of hope”, reminding ourselves that God’s plans bring a future filled with promise, guiding us through our Lenten journey with faith and expectation.
LENT 2025 Hope in God’s Plan
Jeremiah 29:11-12 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. 12 Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.
The liturgical season of Lent begins today. We start our journey with the whole Church as day by day we move toward the Triduum, the three days of praying through Christ’s passion to His resurrection. In this jubilee year, Pope Francis has called us to be “pilgrims of hope” who walk together in prayer, steadfast in our commitment to become more aware of the need to encounter one another in Christ’s beloved community. Ash Wednesday begins that journey each year, reaching into God’s loving patience and mercy as we make our way through these next 40 days. At Holy Cross College, we have turned to the words of the prophet Jeremiah 29:11-12 to reflect on God’s desire to gift us with future filled with hope. When I read Jeremiah’s passage above, I linger over the last sentence. What a hopeful image to see our loving God waiting for us to call upon him with our prayers anchored in the promise that we will be heard echoed here, “Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.”
Lent, with its reference to the spring season, has traditionally been the time to attend to what we are going to do…fast from foods or things we enjoy, pray more, and offer alms to provide for the needs of others. The perennial question of “what am I going to do?” might be missing the point of this penitential season. I wonder, as we move out of the darkness and silence of winter and into the warmth of an emerging spring that the intentions of our Lenten promises are best understood as being open to what God is doing in our lives when we pray more, fast and give alms. How do my efforts of fasting open my heart to encounter God’s desire to listen to me and hear me. In what ways do my prayers rest in the confidence that God is patient and waits for me to turn toward him? How does the offering of alms reflect the love of neighbor in my heart, which God is continuously filling with compassion and justice? I wonder what is possible if this Lent we center our lives on the promise of the forgiveness our sins that opens us to the true transformation to become more like the Christ who journeys toward the Cross, confident in the hope that it brings for humanity and creation.
This is a call to pray together as “Christ’s beloved community” at Holy Cross College and be embraced by a loving God whose promise is filled with hope for the future we share with all of humanity. As in the tradition of the Congregation of Holy Cross, with a God who is ever listening and hearing, we can proclaim, “Ave Crux, Spes Unica; Hail Cross, Our only hope.”
The first few days of Lent, between Ash Wednesday and the first Sunday of Lent are what I jokingly refer to as the “free trial period”. Perhaps you had great ambitious plans for your prayer, fasting, and almsgiving well before Ash Wednesday and now you are living into what that will look like in your day-to-day life, considering if you can manage this for all 40 days.Maybe you woke up on Wednesday morning and still didn’t exactly know what the plan for Lent was. You knew you wanted to do something or that you should do something because you have given up chocolate every year that you can imagine but are still kind of figuring that out.
Regardless of your plan for Lent, I encourage you to take the few days of this “free trial period” to ask the Lord what his plan for you this Lent might be – the areas of prayer, fasting and giving that He would like to invite you to grow in.
Sometimes I find these are different than what I would choose, like being called to do less than I see my friends doing for their Lenten observances or focusing on a habit I don’t really want to work on. Lent is not about how much we can give up or do, or even how well we can stick to our plan, but how what we do helps us grow in relationship with the Lord because that is always a part of his plan and that certainly gives me hope no matter what I commit to after the Lenten trial period ends.
– Trisha McCarthy
Women’s Hall Director
In this week’s Gospel for the first Sunday of Lent, we hear about Jesus’ temptation in the desert. “Filled with the Holy Spirit”, He perseveres against the devil’s lies and tempting bodily desires. What can we learn from Jesus? While earthly goods may be satisfying, they are worthless if you forget there is more to God’s plan for you. Not letting temptation replace following God first and foremost is a great challenge. But so long as we are likewise “filled with the Holy Spirit”, we will be perfectly full.During the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, I didn’t receive the sacraments of Reconciliation or Holy Communion for over a year. I didn’t attend Mass physically, but I participated from home via livestreams. I thought that I was doing enough for the time being, and that my relationship with God was stable and acceptable. I was attending one of the best Catholic universities in the world, studying a major I decided in the 9th grade would lead to professional, financial, and creative success, had supportive family and friends, and overall thought I had a good life on paper. However, at my core, I was debating switching majors or schools altogether, I was anxious over the fact that I couldn’t comfortably visualize my 20-year life plan as well as I could in high school, I slowly grew bitter against my friends and family because I didn’t trust they knew me since I didn’t know who I was myself, and I was scared that my relationship with God was not as strong as it ought to be. In the midst of chasing worldly accomplishments, I distracted myself well enough to not leave any room in my plate for God besides my weekly Sunday commitment. I was growing out of the safe box of my own creation that I rooted myself in, and I struggled to accept to be replanted somewhere bigger with better opportunities.
Who am I and what am I supposed to do if I am not a college student, I don’t have a good job, and I don’t have friends or family? I was terrified to find out because I was grasping onto what I deemed was “success” and I didn’t want to be wrong. What is the point of going to Confession if I think I’ve done nothing wrong? I was struggling to find my purpose in life, what job I should commit to doing for the rest of my life, and overall questioning who I was as a person without the embellishments of networking and worldly accomplishments.
I thought I wasn’t expecting much, yet I was constantly disappointing myself and desired more. I let go of God to make room to hold on to things and titles, but He didn’t let go of me. In the summer of 2021, I went back to confess and finally receive the body and blood of Jesus Christ after a long time. Over the past 4 years, I noticed that life somehow seemed more colorful, but I couldn’t pinpoint that moment of bloom until a few weeks ago during an hour of Adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, in the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
During this season of Lent, I hope you may join me in prayer and practice of putting our attention and trust outwardly towards God’s plan, rather than curling inwardly in a vain search of “success.”
Maria Gorecki
Assistant Director of Campus Ministry
I don’t know how my mom and dad did it. Growing up, my parents and I wanted me to have siblings and yet it wasn’t in the plans as we would have envisioned it.
My mom’s first pregnancy with my older brother ended in a miscarriage. After my birth, my mom went through six more pregnancies. I had another brother, my sister Angelica who died the day she was born, another sister, two more brothers, and then finally my youngest brother, Jacinto, who was born when I was finishing eighth grade. One of the most striking memories I have is holding my brother Jacinto the day after he was born, only to realize that he was already dead.
When I was in college, I visited Angelica’s and Jacinto’s gravesites alone and spent time with them. When I got back in the car and turned it on, I heard a song on the radio that I hadn’t heard before. It was George Strait’s “You’ll Be There.” The lyrics included, “I’ll see you on the other side/If I make it” and, “So if you’re up there watchin’ me/Would you talk to God and say/Tell him, I might need a hand/To see you both someday.” I teared up when I heard the lyrics as I knew Angelica and Jacinto were reaching out to connect with me with God’s grace.
I think about my siblings frequently and as I’m preparing for my own marriage, I’m hoping that the same thing that happened to my parents doesn’t happen to my fiancée and me. As a friend once told me though, “God doesn’t write the same story twice.”
And regardless of what happens in our lives, we hear from Jeremiah 29:11 that God is ultimately in charge. So regardless of the pain, the sorrow, or the cross that we’re given to bear, we can hope. As God says through Jeremiah, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you…plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”
I look forward to meeting my siblings in the next life and for all the graces to come in my upcoming marriage.
Juan A. Maldonado, II, MTS
Director of Academic Advising
Office of Student Success
Near the end of last semester, I unexpectedly discovered I would need a new living situation. Trying to find an affordable place within walking distance of campus was a source of some stress, and seeking out options added to my already very busy schedule.After pursuing several leads, I thought I would have to settle for a smaller place further from campus with a higher rent and multiple new roommates. It was not horrible by any means; but I knew it would be challenging. Yet, I figured I just had to accept it and make the best.
Throughout the process, I had honestly struggled with asking the Lord for anything beyond what was necessary. To do so felt like too much to ask (i.e. felt pampered); too much to hope for.
Then, when praying with my prayer group, simply seeking the Lord’s words for each other, a couple friends began to speak words from the Lord for me that invited me to hope for more.
“Perhaps there are little things in your life that could be better,” one said. “Like, ‘I wish it was this way and not that way, Lord.’ Voice those things and see if He wants to love you and make those things happen for you.”
“I hear the Lord saying, ‘Paula, whatever you need, I’m willing to do, because I want you to be calm or at rest. Don’t think anything’s too silly, too inconvenient or a burden to me. I’m so ready to see you soothed and see you restored,’” another friend said.
I felt the Lord gently challenge me: “Do you really believe I’m a God of abundance, who wants to take care of you generously?” I realized that by not asking or hoping for more, I had in some way been ignoring or denying part of God’s identity.
Then, the Holy Spirit prompted me to reach out to a friend closeby who I knew wasn’t interested in having a roommate. I was hesitant. But, she responded right away. She had had an encounter with the Lord the night before which had led her to suddenly be very open to the idea of a roommate, and she wanted to help me. I was stunned.
When moving day came, I was generously blessed by having considerably more than enough friends than were needed show up to help me move my boxes on a cold and rainy day, making the work quick and fun.
After returning to my old place to do a final cleaning of the space, I entered my new home and was immediately struck by the view of the flowing water in a beautiful pond right in the backyard. And I suddenly recalled that years ago I had told the Lord I would like to live very close to water someday. I had forgotten that; but He had remembered.
This home has indeed been a soothing place of restoration. I didn’t know to dream of it. Yet the Lord had dreams of it for me, and I needed to better acknowledge who He is and act in hope in his loving plans for good in order for those dreams to be realized.
Paula Lent
Holy Cross College Student
As a Mom of two little boys—one a toddler and the other a seven months old—sleep deprivation is a constant companion. The long, restless nights and the endless demands of tiny humans can make the days feel heavy and the future uncertain. Yet, in this Lenten season, I find comfort and strength in the words of Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”This verse reminds me that even in the exhaustion and chaos of motherhood, God’s plan is unfolding with purpose and forming me for Heaven. It’s not always easy to see the sunrise of the resurrection in my life when, in the middle of the night, I’m rocking my baby back to sleep for the third time or trying to get a toddler to sleep after three hours. Even still, I am learning to trust that these moments are part of a greater journey.
Motherhood is a pilgrimage—a path that requires patience, sacrifice, and faith. With each sleepless night, I am being refined and drawn closer to Christ, who carried the ultimate burden on the Cross. When the world sleeps and I’m with my kids, I think of the Cross. I think of the hope and redemption it brings and how, through this Lenten season, I’m being invited to unite my own small sufferings with Christ’s. The sleepless nights, the selflessness, and the love poured out for my children are, in their own way, a participation in the great mystery of the Resurrection.
So, I will press on, finding strength in the Cross and hope in the Resurrection. And I will trust that in these small, weary acts of love, God’s purposeful plan is being fulfilled—one sleepless night at a time.
Claire McNamara, M.Ed.
Academic Advisor
St. Joseph never planned to become the foster father of the Son of God. Betrothed to Mary, he likely anticipated a normal, respectable life with her. Yet when he discovered that Mary was pregnant, his initial impulse was to do what he thought honorable—quietly divorce her to spare her public disgrace. Then, in a dream, an angel of the Lord appeared, revealing that God was calling him to a destiny far greater than he had ever imagined. With humble obedience and unwavering faith, Joseph welcomed Mary into his home and raised Jesus as his own.
Later, when Herod threatened Jesus’ life, Joseph again trusted in God’s guidance by fleeing with Mary and the newborn Jesus into Egypt. I can only imagine how overwhelmed he must have felt. He never signed up for this extraordinary calling, yet he remained steadfast, obedient, and faithful — trusting that God’s plan was far greater than his own.
As bold and even intimidating as God’s plan for Joseph may seem, I believe our own experiences are not so dissimilar. God’s plan for each of us is no less radical. Ultimately, we are called to holiness—to be saints. Being a saint means safeguarding the presence of Christ in our lives—standing firm against modern forces that would diminish His love and sacrifice. We may never have to flee our homes, but we may be called to make our own courageous choices in the face of life’s challenges. We will all be called to make courageous decisions about our future, and how we remain steadfast in faith, hope, and love.
Today, on this Solemnity of St. Joseph, may we ask for his intercession to grant us the strength to live as he did, faithful to the Son of God. St. Joseph, pray for us!
Ethan F. Kelley, C.S.C.
Campus Ministry
I don’t know how my mom and dad did it. Growing up, my parents and I wanted me to have siblings and yet it wasn’t in the plans as we would have envisioned it.
My mom’s first pregnancy with my older brother ended in a miscarriage. After my birth, my mom went through six more pregnancies. I had another brother, my sister Angelica who died the day she was born, another sister, two more brothers, and then finally my youngest brother, Jacinto, who was born when I was finishing eighth grade. One of the most striking memories I have is holding my brother Jacinto the day after he was born, only to realize that he was already dead.
When I was in college, I visited Angelica’s and Jacinto’s gravesites alone and spent time with them. When I got back in the car and turned it on, I heard a song on the radio that I hadn’t heard before. It was George Strait’s “You’ll Be There.” The lyrics included, “I’ll see you on the other side/If I make it” and, “So if you’re up there watchin’ me/Would you talk to God and say/Tell him, I might need a hand/To see you both someday.” I teared up when I heard the lyrics as I knew Angelica and Jacinto were reaching out to connect with me with God’s grace.
I think about my siblings frequently and as I’m preparing for my own marriage, I’m hoping that the same thing that happened to my parents doesn’t happen to my fiancée and me. As a friend once told me though, “God doesn’t write the same story twice.” And regardless of what happens in our lives, we hear from Jeremiah 29:11 that God is ultimately in charge. So regardless of the pain, the sorrow, or the cross that we’re given to bear, we can hope. As God says through Jeremiah, “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you…plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope.”
I look forward to meeting my siblings in the next life and for all the graces to come in my upcoming marriage.
Juan A. Maldonado, II, MTS
Director of Academic Advising
Office of Student Success
The later stages of my life have truly deepened my belief that God has always had a plan for me. It’s fascinating how, often without realizing it, we find ourselves wrapping our lives around decisions and people that we didn’t know we needed.For me, this feeling is especially strong when I’m with my husband, Patrick. Our playful banter and love for each other confirms that God intended for him to be my biggest supporter. This realization has been a source of comfort and joy, particularly reflecting on my younger years after the loss of my mother. I remember praying every night for a spouse who would also be my best friend—something I had witnessed in my parents. A spouse that would help me grow as a wife, friend, disciple, or one day a mother.
At that time, my vision was understandably focused on surface qualities. However, looking back, I can see that God had a much deeper and more fulfilling plan in mind than I could have imagined. I truly believe that in the midst of our desires, God leads us to what we truly need.
Of course, it’s not always rainbows and sunshine; there are moments when we feel frustrated or hurt. But I hold close to the promise in Jeremiah 29:11, which assures us of God’s plans to prosper us and give us hope and a future. It’s like seeing the sun peek through the storm clouds.
There will be trials, and following God’s plan can sometimes lead us to dark days. Yet, as my husband sings every morning, whether we’re in a storm or in a field with a rainbow, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us REJOICE and BE GLAD.”
Samantha Derksen
Director of Admisions
Hope in God’s Plan for Today Those who know me know that Réne Girard is my intellectual hero. Girard spent much of his career attempting to convert people to the unique truth of Christianity. Yet in his final work, Battling to the End, he seems to lose hope. In this book Girard expresses doubt that humanity would embrace the Gospel, as evidenced by Jesus’ question, “when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on Earth?” (Luke 18:8). After all, if Jesus believed his mission would successfully convert the world, he would not need to pose this question or predict an apocalyptic second coming. This convinced Girard that humanity would fall victim to an apocalypse of its own making. Essentially, Girard concluded that there is no hope for humanity in the present; the only hope for humanity was in the world to come.
Despite my admiration for Girard, I believe him to be mistaken on this account. His error is that he overlooked the Eucharist as the source of hope in the present. Sure, it is possible that humanity will fall into an apocalypse of its own making, and yes, it is unlikely that the world en masse will adopt Christianity. Yet, as the constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross remind us, we must be people “with hope to bring” (Constitutions, 118). The hope we bring is not a promise that things will be better tomorrow. For the Gospel of of Christ is not one that points to something distant. Rather it points to Christ himself. Consequently, the hope we bring is not a message of the future, but of the present.
This hope is actualized in the Eucharist. It is the reality that God is with us, and desires an intimate union with us in the present moment. Since the purpose of our lives is to enter into union with God, the reception of the Eucharist is the culmination of every human hope. And this hope is actualized in the present. God is with us – in our sufferings, in our victories and in everything in between.
We must never lose sight of the reality that God has a plan for us in the present. It is not one that will be later actualized (such as after graduation), but is intended for this very moment. We actualize God’s plan for us whenever we receive the Eucharist, and whenever we unite ourselves to God and to one another.
Fr. Brian Carpenter
Chaplain
Several years ago, a friend gave me a sweet housewarming gift – a framed quote: “For I know the plans I have for you…” (Jer. 29:11). In my world, I was turning a hard page, embarking on the next chapter of life – so this message was very comforting as I settled into my new home.
As time went on, I faced some challenges that made me wonder if I was being conscientious, acting with integrity on this journey. My conversations with God were peppered with questions and, admittedly, some frustrations and despair. I remember thinking, “Oh, YOU know the plans for me…. Why aren’t you TELLING me??!” I felt a little lost.
In a timely podcast about the sacrament of reconciliation, Father Mike Schmitz referenced Venerable Bruno Lanteri’s words:
“If I should fall even a thousand times a day, a thousand times, with peaceful repentance, I will say immediately, Nunc Coepi [Now I begin].”
Nunc Coepi. Begin again.
I was hoping to heal old wounds by going through the rituals, trying to move forward. But I was not allowing God’s mercy to seep into the depths of my heart and soul, where it could truly transform my relationship with Him. I sure knew how to fall; I had to figure out how I could get up, begin again. And again. Reconciliation.
Last Sunday, our wonderful pastor, Fr. Brian Carpenter, reflected on the Gospel parable of the fig tree that bore no fruit (Luke 13:1-9) : “When we don’t take our faith seriously… when we think that our faith is something we do on the side …we exhaust the soil.” In this parable, the gardener committed to rehabilitating the soil for the sake of the tree. Reconciliation.
NUNC COEPI!
The Lord calls us to Himself, through reconciliation, to full communion. God continuously invites us to the most hopeful life through Him, with Him, and in Him. So, when we doubt, question, or despair, can we do a ‘NUNC COEPI’ and begin again? I’m hopeful.
Dr. Phyllis Florian, Psy.D., LP
Director of Mental Health and Wellness