EVERETT – Two years ago, when Our Lady of Perpetual Help and Immaculate Conception parishes merged, parishioners joined together to start a garden and a hot meal program to help the hungry.

“The biggest thing for us is it’s so visible to the whole neighborhood,” said Father Joseph Altenhofen, pastor of what is now Our Lady of Hope Parish.

Parishioner Rose Nicoletti, who started the garden with her husband Bruce, said about 50 volunteers helped grow and harvest some 1,500 pounds of fruit and vegetables in 2023. About 80 percent of the produce supports the parish’s hot meal program, which began in January 2023. The rest is donated to local food banks.

“What is really kind of cool is we’ve had some homeless people come in and say, ‘Can I help?’” Nicoletti said. 

Scenes from the produce garden at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Everett. (Photos: Courtesy Our Lady of Hope Parish)

Volunteers recently competed their third week of harvesting strawberries. One week they harvested 30 pounds, which was used to make strawberry shortcake, Rose Nicoletti said. Volunteers are also busy picking lettuces, radishes and snap peas. 

“We’re all working together,” Bruce Nicoletti said.

The garden, located in a field on the former Our Lady of Perpetual Help campus, has stock tanks that make it easier for older parishioners and children to participate. Bruce Nicoletti also designed an irrigation system so volunteers don’t have to water every day. (The Nicolettis aren’t new to agriculture — their orchard on Camano Island raises money for Discalced Carmelite Friars missions in Uganda.)

Volunteers participate in a garden work party at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Everett. Food harvested from the garden goes to the parish’s hot meal program, which is advertised on the sign at upper right. (Photo: Courtesy of Bruce Nicoletti)

The Our Lady of Hope garden is more than a place to grow food. It includes a statue of Mary with benches around it and a fire pit in the center. Rose Nicoletti said she also hopes to have Stations of the Cross placed in the garden.

“People can come in and just pray and meditate,” she said.

A statue of Mary graces the produce garden at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Everett. (Photo: Courtesy of Our Lady of Hope Parish)

A test for creation of parish families

Forming Our Lady of Hope from two parishes located about a mile apart was part of a trial before the archdiocese began its Partners in the Gospel strategic planning initiative, Father Altenhofen said. 

“It was rough for the first six or so months just because there was so much change,” Father Altenhofen said. “But since the archdiocese announced the whole diocese would be going through Partners in the Gospel, it’s gotten better,” he added.

On July 1, parishes around the archdiocese were grouped into families — most with two or more parishes — with the intent that each family will become a single canonical parish in about three years. Our Lady of Hope is now a family with St. Anne Mission, Tulalip.

Although Our Lady of Hope is a single parish, it uses both of its campuses. Sunday and daily Masses are celebrated at the main church (formerly called Immaculate Conception Church) on Hoyt Avenue, located across the street from the parish school. The Our Lady of Hope Chapel (formerly called Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church) on Cedar Street is used for adoration and the Saturday vigil Mass.

Since the parishes merged, Father Altenhofen said, he has seen greater participation at Masses, including a packed church for the Saturday vigil Mass. Besides increasing outreach to the community, combining the parishes has helped improve attendance at Rooted, the parish’s family catechesis program, and 100 new families have registered as of January 2024, Father Altenhofen said. 

Cara Hazelbrook, left, and Mary Ruth Rader coordinate Our Lady of Hope’s Monday evening meal program. (Photo: Courtesy of Mary Ruth Rader)

One of those is Mary Ruth Rader, who began attending Mass at Our Lady of Hope two years ago.

“I was looking for a parish where I could get involved with a hands-on outreach,” Rader said. 

She registered as a parishioner and soon was one of the coordinators of the hot meal program. 

The blessing of relationships

In 18 months, Our Lady of Hope’s Monday night hot meal program has grown from 30 guests to nearly 100 people each week currently, said Cara Hazelbrook, who coordinates the hot meals with Rader.

“A lot of our guests are not only unhoused, but also food insecure,” Hazelbrook said. 

Volunteers at Our Lady of Hope Parish in Everett await the arrival of guests for a free hot meal. The parish ministry serves about 100 people each Monday. (Photo: Courtesy of Mary Ruth Rader)

The parish is part of the Everett Hot Meals Coalition, a group of faith-based organizations that makes dinners throughout the week. The Volunteers of America food bank provides about 80 percent of the food used for meals, with the rest coming from the parish garden or purchased, Hazelbrook said.

A recent meal consisted of sloppy Joes, green salad, Tater Tots, corn and Rice Krispie treats. 

“We’ve discovered our guests like homestyle food,” Hazelbrook said. 

The meal ministry has a roster of about 45 volunteers, with about 20 volunteers needed for each meal, Hazelbrook said.

Rader has found the work rewarding.

“What I didn’t expect is the relationships I’ve formed with our guests,” Rader said. “That’s been a huge blessing of the program.”