Diocese to be featured in USCCB video reflections
PROVIDENCE — The Diocese of Providence will participate in weekly video reflections for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops throughout the month of January. Links to the reflections will be available on www.dioceseofprovidence.org and diocesan social media pages on the following dates: January 4, 2017 offered by Father Christopher J. Murphy; January 11, 2017 offered by Father Joseph R. Upton; January 18, 2017 offered by Sister Elizabeth Castro, HMSP; and January 25, 2017 offered by Msgr. John C. Halloran. Recordings are funded in part by donations to the Catholic Communication Campaign.
Vocations Drawing Contest
PROVIDENCE — The Office of Vocations for the Diocese of Providence is pleased to announce the 2016 Vocations Drawing Contest. This has been a fun and popular event to begin conversations with young people about vocations. Last year the Office of Vocations received almost 1,000 drawings. The Office of Vocations invites all students in grades 1-8 to submit drawings for the Vocations Drawing Contest. Gift cards of $50 will be awarded for outstanding entry in each grade. The drawing should reflect a priest or religious sister or brother serving others. All entries should be submitted to a Catholic school teacher, catechist or youth group leader by December 21, 2016. Winners will be announced and prizes will be awarded in January 2017.
Christmas Festival at St. Mark Church
JAMESTOWN — St. Mark Church of Jamestown will hold its annual Christmas Festival on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. For the hungry shopper, visit the St. Mark Café featuring coffee, tea, pastries and luncheon items including a homemade soup bar. There will also be a raffle that will include cash prizes and a Sony Play Station 4 as well as homemade baked goods with pies, cakes and breads. Fresh greenery arrangements, hand-crafted knitted and crocheted items, and religious gifts will be available. There will also be a children’s corner with games, toys, and puzzles, crafts, and a kid’s raffle.
St. Joseph’s Church Christmas Bazaar
NORTH SCITUATE — St. Joseph’s Church, 144 Danielson Pike, will host a Christmas Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 4, from 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The bazaar will feature a giant raffle, a large penny social, sweet shop, baskets, jams and jellies, books, children’s face painting, as well as vendors selling Pampered Chef and Knit to Find a Cure. The kitchen will be open throughout the day.
Msgr. Clarke School Christmas Festival
WAKEFIELD — Msgr. Clarke School, 5074 Tower Hill Road, will hold their annual Christmas Festival on Sunday, Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. The bazaar will feature more than 90 vendors and local artisans, generous gift baskets, hourly raffles, bake sale, kid’s activities and more. Meals and snacks will be available in the cafeteria all day.
Woodlawn Catholic Regional School Family Fun-Fest and Bazaar
PAWTUCKET — Woodlawn Catholic Regional School Family Fun-Fest and Bazaar will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4, in St. Edward’s Church Hall, 396 Weeden St., beginning at 9 a.m. The bazaar will feature games for adults and children, baked goods, a yard sale room, food and fun. Don’t miss the pancake breakfast with Santa on Saturday morning. Children under 6 years are free. Santa will visit from 10 a.m. – noon.
St. Joseph Parish Christmas Bazaar
CENTRAL FALLS — St. Joseph Church, 391 High St., will host a Christmas Bazaar on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in the parish center. The bazaar will feature Polish food and pastry, a flea market and entertainment for children.
An Evening of Sacred Music St. William
WARWICK — St. William Parish, 200 Pettaconsett Ave., will host “An Evening of Sacred Music for Advent and Christmas” with the St. William Choir and the Rhode Island College Chamber Singers on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 6:30 p.m. in the church. A reception in the parish center will follow. There will be a free will offering. For more information, call 781-7226.
Comfort and Joy: A Christmas Celebration
WEST WARWICK — The Chorus of Kent County, directed by Nicholas Laroche, presents Comfort and Joy: A Christmas Celebration, featuring the Bell Choir from Immaculate Conception Parish, Cranston. Performances will take place December 3 at 7:30 p.m. and December 4, 2:30 p.m. at West Warwick High School Auditorium. For tickets call 401-862-3105. Bring an unwrapped toy for The Crazy Christmas Wagon to benefit local families. Doors open 30 minutes prior to start of concert.
St. Benedict Holiday Meatloaf Dinner
WARWICK — St. Benedict Church, 70 Transit St., will host a holiday meatloaf dinner in the parish hall, on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. Dinner will consist of salad, Father Roland’s famous meatloaf, gravy, potato, vegetables, coffee, tea and dessert. Beer and wine will be available for a donation. Music will be provided by Joe Vono for dancing and singing. There will also be a raffle and door prize. Call the rectory at 737-9492 to purchase tickets. Please bring a non-perishable food item for the food pantry.
Prayer Shawl Ministry to sponsor Mass of Anointing
JOHNSTON — St. Brigid’s Church, 1231 Plainfield St., Prayer Shawl Ministry will sponsor their quarterly Mass of Anointing on Saturday, December 3 at 11 a.m. Anyone that is ill in Body, Mind, or Spirit may receive the sacrament. Prayer Shawls will be available for anyone that may need one or for a family member or friend. All are welcome to participate. Future Masses of Anointing will take place on Saturdays, March 4, June 3 and September 9, 2017.
Holy Hour at Sacred Heart Church
WOONSOCKET — A holy hour will take place at Sacred Heart Church, on December 12 at 6:30 p.m. at Sacred Heart Church 415 Olo St., to pray in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. The holy hour will include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a short reflection, recitation of the rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, concluding with benediction. Confessions will also be available.
Christmas tree and wreath sale to benefit Cluny School
NEWPORT — A 2-day sale of Christmas trees and wreaths to benefit Cluny School will be held Saturday, Dec. 3 and Sunday, Dec. 4 in the International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS) parking lot, 449 Lower Thames St. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, or while supplies last. Fresh, 24-inch, double-faced Canadian balsam wreaths, hand-decorated by Cluny School parents, will be sold along with 6-foot to 9-foot Balsam and Fraser Fir trees, while supplies last. Three wreath styles will be available: “Traditional,” “Coastal,” and undecorated, for crafters. Free loading and delivery will be provided to anywhere in Newport with a tree purchase. Tree buyers desiring assistance should bring their tree stands to the sale and they will be attached at no extra charge. For prices and more information please visit www.ClunySchool.org (click “Annual Events”), or phone Brian at 525-1980.
Women’s League Christmas Party
JOHNSTON — The Catholic Women’s League of Holy Ghost Church, 1 Knight Street, Providence, will hold their Christmas Party on Sunday, December 4, at the Atwood Grill, 1413 Atwood Ave., at noon. All are welcome to attend. For more information, call 421 - 3551.
Warwick Symphony Orchestra and URI choir to perform at St. Kevin Church
WARWICK — The Warwick Symphony Orchestra with the URI Concert Choir will perform at St. Kevin Church, 333 Sandy Lane, on Sunday, Dec. 4 at 3 p.m., presenting a holiday program called "The Kingdom of This World.” The concert will feature a 40-piece orchestra and accompanying choir in a very enjoyable event. Children 12 and under are free. Tickets will be available at the door on the afternoon of the event or online at wsori.org.
Women’s Guild to host Holiday Bake Sale
TIVERTON — The Women's Guild of St. Madeleine Sophie Church, 35 Lake Road, 1.5 miles east of Tiverton Four Corners, will hold a holiday bake sale December 10 and 11 following the Saturday 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. Masses in the church hall. The guild is seeking donations of all kinds of goodies, particularly pies, cakes and cookies. Malassadas (Portuguese sugar-dusted raised doughnuts) will also be for sale.
SS. Peter and Paul Parish to host Marian Holy Hour
WEST WARWICK — SS. Peter and Paul parish, 48 Highland St., will host the Deanery IV Holy Hour for Life on the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Monday, Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. and will include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, rosary, homily, litany, and benediction. All are welcome. Bring a friend. For more information, call Ray at 644-3699.
Advent Parish Mission at St. Joseph Church
WOONSOCKET — St. Joseph Church, 1200 Mendon Road, Woonsocket, will host an Advent Parish Mission on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, Dec. 12, 14, and 15 at 6:30 p.m. There will be Mass and mission talk each evening. Father Christopher Murphy, assistant vocation director for the Diocese of Providence, will preach the mission, entitled “The Christmas Mysteries.” For more information, call 401-766-0626.
Around the Diocese Submissions
Press releases announcing a diocesan, parish or Catholic school-sponsored event must be received by Friday at 10:30 a.m. at the latest for publication in the following Thursday’s edition. To ensure an announcement runs in a timely fashion, please send information at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event. Because of limited space, items may only appear in one issue of the newspaper. Announcements may be e-mailed to the editor at: around@thericatholic.com or sent to: Around the Diocese, The Rhode Island Catholic, One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI 02903.
