Church of St. Mary
on Broadway
Parish Registration Religious Education Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) Adult Faith Formation Church of St. Mary Ministries Korean Community
Ministries at the Church of St. Mary
on Broadway
Liturgical Ministries
Fr. Charles welcomes and trains those who attend Church of St. Mary and St. Francis Chapel who wish to serve as Liturgical Ministers. The Ministry includes lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, crossbearers, altar servers, greeters and ushers. If interested, please contact Fr. Charles.
Contact: Fr. Charles O'Connor, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 143; coconnor@stfrancischapel.com.
Music Ministry
Music During Mass
Saturday 5:00 PM Music Ensemble Mass
Sunday 8:00 AM Congregational Music Mass
Sunday 10:00 AM Choral Music Mass (with Church & Men's Choir from September to June)
Church of St. Mary on Broadway Choir "Sing on Broadway!"
NEW MEMBERS WELCOME!
If you think you have a pretty good singing voice, have always wanted to “Sing on Broadway,” and have Thursday nights free this year for singing, camaraderie and refreshment contact Kathryn Chester at (401) 274-3434 ext. 110 or by e-mail at kchester@stfrancischapel.com and leave your name and number.
We would love to have you join us!
Schedule
September to June
Commitment
Weekly Rehearsals
Thursdays 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM in the choir rehearsal room; rear entrance of church Sundays 9:00 AM in the choir loft.
Weekly Mass
Sundays 10:00 AM
Optional Masses
(Notify director immediately if unavailable)
Christmas Eve
Holy Week
Other
Admission Requirement
Permission of director of music.
Contact: Kathryn Chester at (401) 274-3434 ext. 110; kchester@stfrancischapel.com
Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC)
Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation is a directorate established by a Provincial Chapter of the Holy Name Province of Franciscans. The goal of JPIC is to bring Gospel values to bear in all aspects of life, that is, culture, education, business, government, environment, and spirituality.
At the Church of St. Mary, this directorate trained staff members in Franciscan Non-Violent Peacemaking, emphasizing how it applies first to our personal life and then to our public life. Two applications have specifically been made at Church of St. Mary: using “fair trade” coffee at our monthly coffee hours and implementing a recycling program developed by our Confirmation students.
The JPIC ministry conducts two regular programs. A Peace Book Circle, scheduled throughout the year, provides an opportunity for people to share and discuss books on peace and justice with a special focus on applying these issues in everyday life. At 11:30 AM on Mondays, a Peace Centering Prayer Group meets before the Blessed Sacrament in the chapel of the Church of St. Mary.
Upcoming events in 2009/2010 will include a six-week study of “Immigration, the Church and the Bible.” Programs to explore health care reform in the US are also in the planning stage.
The JPIC Directorate is part or the international Franciscan Action Network (FNA).
Contact: Rene Perreault at (401) 274-3434 ext. 100; info@stfrancischapel.com
Coffee Ministry
The Church of St. Mary holds a coffee hour on the first Sunday of each month following the 10:00 AM Mass. This time together provides the opportunity for parishioners to gather, get to know each other, and socialize in a casual setting.
A wonderful group of people do a great job running this coffee hour each month, and we certainly appreciate all they do. Sharing the responsibilities, however, is important, especially since people may need to take a particular weekend off due to illness or other commitments. People can serve in several capacities:
- Making coffee and setting up the serving tables between 9:00 AM and 10:00 AM
- Serving and restocking supplies during the coffee hour
- Cleaning up at the end of the event (about 11:30 AM to 12:15 PM)
- Baking or contributing food, juice, milk/cream, coffee, etc.
- Co-chairing this event to ensure the above tasks are accomplished
At each coffee hour, a free will offering box sits on the table. Donations are appreciated to offset the cost of coffee, cream, and paper supplies. We serve organic, free trade coffee.
This is a call to stewardship. This ministry is important to our building community at the Church of St. Mary. Anyone wishing to volunteer for this ministry may contact Diane DiSanto.
Contact: Diane DiSanto at (401) 274-3434 ext. 144; ddisanto@stfrancischapel.com.
Bazaar Committee
Contact: Diane DiSanto at (401) 274-3434 ext. 144; ddisanto@stfrancischapel.com
St. Francis Knitters
The Knitting Ministry (or Crochet Ministry, if you prefer) is exceptionally active and vibrant. Our knitters produce a wide variety of goods for a number of different purposes, each one unique in its goal and meaning to the parish.
Our Weekly Knitters for Poverello
A committed group of knitters meet weekly on Tuesday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM (except for Tuesdays that follow a Monday holiday). They work diligently, socialize, and enjoy light morning refreshments as they knit hats, scarves, mittens, blankets, or sweaters for those in need of warm clothing during the winter. These handmade items are distributed basically to two groups: Families who shop at the Poverello Center and homeless individuals who frequent our Bread & Blessings Sandwich Program.
Our Bazaar on Broadway Knitters
All types of clothing, decorative items, afghans, baby clothes, handbags, or unique specialties are created by talented crafters and sold at the parish Bazaar on Broadway, held on the third weekend in November. Many of our knitters also have friends who knit or crochet and donate high quality items which we sell at reasonable prices. Anyone wishing to contribute his/her talent for a good cause is welcome. We often ask, “Can you make ONE item for our bazaar?”
Our Prayer Shawl Knitters
Prayer shawls provide comfort, consolation and warmth to those who are grieving the loss of a loved one or are suffering from major illness. Knitters in this ministry pray for the recipient while they knit soft, comforting shawls. Our Ministers of Care and/or the friars distribute these shawls as a tangible symbol of caring on the part of the Church of St. Mary community. Shawls received before Sunday, October 4, 2009, which is the Feast of St. Francis will be blessed at the Church of St. Mary at the 10:00 AM Mass. Two women from Hartford, CT initiated the Prayer Shawl Ministry, which has grown into a national movement. You can read more about the origin of the shawl ministry at www.shawlministry.com.
Our Home Knitters
Many people cannot meet with us in to knit but enjoy the craft and want to do something to benefit those in need. They knit at home. One faithful home knitter, for example, is a ninety-one year old lady whose knitting helps her arthritis in her fingers. One winter she singly produced about two hundred pairs of colorful children’s mittens. Another young woman amazingly finds time to knit at home while caring for her three children.
Our Corporate and Business Knitters
On occasion, employees from various businesses call wishing to knit for our ministries. They meet weekly during their lunch or as often as they wish. Our knitters are willing to meet occasionally with any such group to discuss needs, to provide yarn, or to pick up knit goods.
FAQ about Our Knitting /Crocheting Ministry
1. What if I do not know how to knit?
Our knitters are happy to teach new people. In addition to contributing to our ministry, you will acquire the skills to create homemade fashions for yourself, friends, and family.
2. If I knit or crochet, but do not have yarn, how can I participate?
Some people knit with yarn they have since they craft for their own pleasure and accumulate it.
We provide yarn, knitting needles, and crochet hooks to anyone who wants to knit or crochet but does not have supplies.
3. Do you accept donations of yarn?
Yes. Donations of yarn are appreciated. Avid knitters donate excess supplies on occasion. All kinds of yarn are put to good use.
Monetary donations are also appreciated so that we can purchase yarn for special projects.
Contact: Diane DiSanto at (401) 274-3434 ext. 144; ddisanto@stfrancischapel.com.
Men of St. Francis Spiritual Direction
Contact: Rene Perreault at (401) 274-3434 ext. 100; info@stfrancischapel.com.
Women of Service and Spirit
The Women of Service & Spirit is a faith in action ministry, which aptly takes its name from the story of Martha and Mary who both work and pray in the company of Jesus.
The women take on a variety of projects, such as “Pack-a-Backpack,” conducted every summer to provide backpacks and school supplies for children who attend Sophia Academy or are members of the families who shop at the Poverello Center. In its origin, the group primarily assisted Sophia Academy. “Sophia,” which means “wisdom” in Greek became, and continues to be, the focal point of the group’s prayer and meditation.
The Women of Service & Spirit meet on the first Saturday of the month (subject to change) at 9:30 AM and assist in a Parish Ministry Office project such as the backpacks or our annual bazaar. They take time, however, to read and reflect on a Scripture passage, a poem, or brief piece of writing. The women share faith experience, pray, reflect, and engage in activities that further our parish goals. All women are welcome to join this group at any time.
Wisdom is bright and does not grow dim.
By those who love her she is readily seen.
And found by those who look for her.
Wisdom 6:12
Contact: Diane DiSanto at (401) 274-3434 ext. 144; ddisanto@stfrancischapel.com.
Secular Order of Franciscans
At the Church of St. Mary, a group of approximately 20 women and men have publicly chosen to live lives according to the gospel in the spirit and charism of St. Francis of Assisi and the rules of the Secular Franciscan Order.
The Secular Franciscan Order, formerly known as the Third Order of St. Francis, is an official Order within the Catholic Church, and was established by St. Francis of Assisi early in the thirteenth century.
Members do not live in community, but live their everyday lives in the world. However, members gather together in fraternity on a regular basis. By profession, they promise to follow a Rule of Life approved and confirmed by Pope Paul VI in June of 1978.
We are people from all walks of life who support each other in prayer and ministry. We have many ministries at St. Mary's and several others throughout Rhode Island. We invite you to come and join us on our journey. If you are interested, please contact Phyllis Cicchetti at p_cicchetti@yahoo.com.
Gay & Lesbian friends of st. Francis
Contact: Fr. Scott Brookbank, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 176; sbrookbank@stfrancischapel.com
Ministry of care
The Ministry of Care at the Church of St. Mary's provides a number of different services. "The Ministers of Care are committed to visit the sick to offer them hope and bring them communion and to re-ensure them of the parish's family prayers and to commit to attended scheduled meetings with the Director of Spiritual Life."
Serving the Sick and Homebound
If you have a family member, who is homebound or hospitalize and needing of a spiritual friend, who will bring the holy Eucharist and will pray with the person, or if you are interested in being trained as a Minister of Care who visits the homebound or hospitalize please contact Fr. Scott Brookbank, OFM.
Contact: Fr. Scott Brookbank, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 176; sbrookbank@stfrancischapel.com
bereavement team
Another service offered by Ministry of Care is The Bereavement Team. Ministers of the Bereavement Team are designated as the liturgical ministers for funerals. They will work with the presider to prepare the Church for the Funeral Mass and greet the bereaved and at times function as a lector.
If you are interested in being trained as a Minster of Care for the Bereavement Team contact Fr. Scott Brookbank, OFM.
Contact: Fr. Scott Brookbank, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 176; sbrookbank@stfrancischapel.com
Friars
Contact: Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 130; fsevola@stfrancischapel.com
St. Mary's Board
Contact: Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 130; fsevola@stfrancischapel.com
Pastoral Council
Contact: Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 130; fsevola@stfrancischapel.com
Financial Council
Contact: Fr. Frank Sevola, OFM at (401) 274-3434 ext. 130; fsevola@stfrancischapel.com