What's in a Name?

Written by Sarah Seckt, with insight from Fr. Brian Phelps and Debbie Field

When it was determined a parish family name was needed to describe our new Beacons of Light family more, we all wondered... Can we? How will we? Who will dream the name we will all learn to love as a parish family?
 
Well, “yes, we can”, “together we will”, and “our dreamer gave us a name”.

The Process

When it was opened to parishioners to submit names for our family of parishes, our review team received an influx of possibilities, and tallies were made of the many suggestions. The review team recalls the name “Our Lady of Light” speaking profoundly to their hearts, although just one person submitted it. The parishioner, Christine Winters, supplied a lovely description of how and why Our Lady of Light spoke to her. She wrote, “As we seek to become beacons of light in our community, it seems fitting to call on Our Lady of Light to unite and guide us. She formed Our Lord, the Son of God, in her human image. Now let us pray to her to form us in His image. Devotion to her leads us to Jesus, the Light of the World.”

Even though she was singular in providing this submission for “Our Lady of Light,” God spoke to the review team, and the name became one of three finalists for the parish family to be voted upon. The team’s rationalization was that if Our Blessed Mother was calling and the name was to be God’s plan, then the hearts of the parish family would vote, and it shall be God’s Will. And so it was!!

Confirmations & Connections

Confirmation #1 | Sarah Seckt, Director of Finance
The list of proposed parish family names was finalized just before the Thanksgiving holiday. During the holiday period, my family & I traveled to visit with other family members in Sandusky. Standing at the counter in my parents’ kitchen, I noticed a prayer card on the top of the pile of prayer cards my parents saved from funerals. The card was “Our Lady of Light”, specifically from Our Lady of Light Ministries in Cincinnati. I asked my mom where the prayer card came from.  She was unclear but supposed that maybe I had given it to her, which I had not. At that time I had not heard of the purported apparitions. Coincidence or providence?

Confirmation #2 | Fr. Brian, Pastor
Monday following holiday weekend. Sarah spoke with Fr. Brian about the “coincidental” prayer card story. Fr. Brian added that his grandmother attended the apparitions of Our Lady of Light in Cincinnati back in the 90’s.

“My grandmother went to Falmouth, KY multiple times. On the night of the purported apparition, she came back with a picture that she took. I still remember those pictures. They had struck me because I still remember seeing what seemed to look like a form of the Blessed Mother. She would also go to the Holy Spirit Center every year for the annual Mass with those who also went to the purported apparitions.  The last one I remember that she went to was during the first weekend I was in seminary in 2007.  I went with her that time as well.” 

Since the announcement of the parish family name, several parishioners & staff have come forward with their own personal story of previously observing, reading, or hearing of Our Lady of Light. 

Confirmation #3 | The Logo
After the parish family name was voted on and chosen, a small team formed within the parish staff to work on a potential branding/logo design. Their preliminary design was revealed to staff at the beginning of March 2023.

Let’s now fast-forward to March 26, 2023. A donation of new office guest chairs was received. Tall blue chairs were replaced in the pastoral office reception area with the new chairs. As several staff members were standing in the reception area, Sarah looked over at the wall and noticed the picture below hanging on the wall. With the high back chair gone, the picture was now visible. Look familiar? Logo…BINGO! Our Lady of Light was with us the whole time! 

Messenger from God

Private revelation is not required to be believed.  Pope Francis said, “A prophet, brothers and sisters, is each one of us.  A prophet is he who, by virtue of baptism, helps others read the present under the action of the Holy Spirit," which helps people "understand God's plans and align yourselves" with them.  And clearly the Holy Spirit visited the review team when choosing the name submitted by only one person.  The Holy Spirit’s guidance, through each one of us, pointed us to the most perfect messenger from God…Our Blessed Mother, resulting in a most wonderful parish family name…Our Lady of Light Family of Parishes.

Come, Holy Spirit, and continue to fill the hearts of our family of parishes as we look to Our Mother to guide us and pray for us as the “Our Lady of Light” family of parishes, to forever rejoice in the love of Jesus, our Everlasting Light.  Amen.

And that is ‘what’s in a name’!