Pastor's Column 10-1-2023
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October 1, 2023Dear Parishioners,
I am happy to announce that we are having a Fall Bazaar. On Friday October 20th from 5pm to 9pm and on Saturday, October 21st from 8:00AM to 6:00PM we will host our first bazaar in many years. There will be raffles, numerous vendors, crafts, pumpkin decorating, baked goods, food and much more. In addition to outside vendors, we have several parishioners donating their efforts to the bazaar. Lowes and Home Depot generously donated the pumpkins for decorating. I want to thank Nicole and Al Hervieux for their work organizing and planning the event. Nicole, along with many other volunteers have done an excellent job preparing for this event. If you would like to help, we are looking for more items for the Penny Social. We are looking for items or baskets of a value of $25.00 to raffle off at the bazaar. Thank you for your consideration.
This weekend our parish cheerleaders host a bake sale to help raise funds to cover the cost of their activities. You have a chance to enjoy a home baked food and support a good cause. Our cheerleaders are often on the sidelines cheering out parish basketball teams to victory.
October is the month dedicated to Mary and praying the rosary. So, every Monday during the Month of October we will pray the rosary at 6:00pm in the Church with the Blessed Sacrament exposed. I encourage everyone to come and partake of this quintessential devotion in the spiritual life. If you have never prayed the rosary before or if you have never attended Eucharistic Adoration, this is the time to start. The saints and all those who have joined in this devotion have grown in their relationship with Christ. The rosary changes lives, families, and the world. I hope to see you there on Mondays in October at 6:00pm.
This past week I was in Rome, Italy attending the ordination of Mr. Joseph Brodeur and Mr. Noah Silva. Joe was our summer seminarian in 2022 and is originally from St. Pius X parish in Westerly. Noah comes from St. Philip parish in Greenville. Along with their classmates, they were ordained transitional deacons in St. Peter’s Basilica at the altar beneath the alabaster window of the Holy Spirit. The ceremony was magnificent. Nine years ago, I was ordained a transitional deacon in the same spot. It brought back many wonderful memories of my time studying in Rome. It was good to visit some of the churches, shrines, and of course restaurants that I remembered fondly from my time there. Joe sends his prayerful best wishes back to the parish. He has not forgotten us, and I know that many have not forgotten him. He will stay in Rome for the next two years to complete his studies.
As I mentioned during the homily this weekend, for the entire month of October I will preach about the Mass; its parts, the vestments, everything. The Church has dedicated this year to Eucharistic revival. You cannot love what you do not know. Perhaps over the course of the next few weeks, I will explain parts of the Mass that are so familiar to us, but their full breadth and depth has gone unknown.
God bless,
Fr. Barrow
