-
May 15, 2022Dear Parishioners,
I have exciting news for our parish. This summer we will host a summer seminarian, Mr. Joseph Brodeur. Bishop Tobin and Fr. Christopher Murphy, rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary assigned him here for eight weeks. He is currently finishing his second year at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This will be his first summer assignment after living, learning, and praying in Rome for two consecutive years. My first assignment after my two years in Rome was to St. Pius X parish in Westerly, Rhode Island. There I first met Joseph who was an altar server and a member of the parish youth group (among the many other activities and groups to which he belonged). In God’s providence we have ended up back together; this time with me as a priest and he as a seminarian.
This is a wonderful opportunity for us to help inspire, encourage, and guide a future priest. While here, I hope to involve him in every aspect of parish ministry. Whether serving at Mass or devotions; walking the halls of the school or meeting the many groups of our parish, he will experience the life of a parish priest. I may even have him do some painting, but we will see. He will also serve at St. John Paul II parish. Please pray for him and for more vocations to the priesthood and the religious life.
Mrs. Sue Levesque our Director of Religious Education retires this summer. She has served here at St. Teresa parish since 2013. In that time, she has helped teach generations of younger people love of God and neighbor. It has been a privilege to work with her. Mr. Claude Morin, our parish custodian is also retiring. He has worked at this parish since 2013 and has been a committed member and volunteer his whole life. He has worked tirelessly to keep the parish going, whether in the regular cleaning and maintenance of buildings and grounds, in various repairs, or in setting up the church for liturgies. Like Sue, it has been a privilege to work with him this past year. They will both be missed!
In light of Mr. Morin’s retirement, the parish is looking for a new parish custodian. This position includes cleaning the church, opening and closing for weekday Masses, disposing trash, buying supplies, coordinating with contractors who work at the parish, and performing basic repairs. I am looking for someone devoted to the parish; who is committed to helping St. Teresa Church thrive. You can email me at [email protected] if interested.
This past Tuesday we had our Knights of Columbus Exemplification Ceremony. At this ceremony new men are welcomed into the Knights, admonished to live the Catholic faith (particularly in regard to faith, hope and charity), and made Third Degree members. We welcome these new Knights to the council. This weekend we host our annual Knights of Columbus Baby Shower Breakfast in our Church Hall. This important event helps support young families and the newly born. This work is all the more important given the recent news from the Supreme Court. While we still wait to hear about the final ruling on Roe v. Wade (and Casey v. Planned Parenthood) the work of supporting mothers, fathers, and children remains paramount.
In the Risen Christ!
Fr. Barrow
