Our Purpose and Mission
The Reason For Our Hope Foundation was founded by Fr. Larry Richards in answer to 1 Peter 3:15: “Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope.” The purpose of The Reason For Our Hope Foundation is to fulfill the command of Christ to “go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The mission of the Foundation is to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ and His Church through various resources and to make available Catholic speakers who are effective instruments of this evangelization. The Foundation also helps various charities that make real the Gospel of Jesus Christ. You can help us fulfill God’s will by contacting us.
How Does Your Donation Help?
When you donate to The Reason For Our Hope Foundation, your money will be used to help support the will of God. In fact, His will is reflected within our own mission statement: To evangelize the world to the truth of Jesus Christ and His Church, and to support ministries that make real the love of Him throughout the world.
Your kind donations will allow the Foundation to:
* Distribute materials that will be used to bring others to a life-changing knowledge and relationship with Jesus Christ. Our goal is to assist all persons in their walk in discipleship of Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
* Discover new speakers that will make alive the Good News of Jesus Christ in new and exciting ways.
* Pro-life groups – we have helped to close an abortion center in the city of Erie – PRAISE GOD!
* Maria House Projects – deals with men who have struggled with addictions and imprisonment and struggling to experience the Love and Freedom of a relationship with Jesus Christ.
* The DME Retreat Program – this is a retreat program that brings people into a living, loving relationship with Jesus Christ! Thousands of young people have come to know Jesus through this program.
* Purchase bibles for incoming freshman students at Cathedral Preparatory High School and Mercyhurst Preparatory High School in Erie, PA. (Father previously taught at this exceptional Catholic high school (Cathedral Preparatory School and seeks to continue his mission by reintroducing the Word of God to these young men and women.)
* Fr. Larry’s Parishes: St. Luke Catholic Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish:
Fr. Larry is a full-time pastor of both St. Luke Catholic Church and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Erie, Pennsylvania. He is often called away for extended periods of time in support of the Foundation. A portion of your donation may be used to assist his parish in his absence.
* The Foundation also supports St. Anthony’s Orphanage Mission in India. Fr. Larry’s parish and the Foundation help support the sisters who run the many orphanages and care for its orphans. Father Larry is pictured below with Sr. Amutha Theos, SSHJ, who visited us in Erie in the Fall of 2023. Sr. Amutha shared many photos of the children in the missions. A small portion of our donation also supports the work the sisters do to help people living with HIV and TB in the Thiruvallur district. Thank you for your support!
