Editor’s Note: During the Jubilee Year of Mercy, Rhode Island Catholic will feature news stories and profiles on individuals and groups who are dedicated to performing spiritual and corporal works of mercy to serve those in the greatest of need. To suggest a person or group to be featured in our special Year of Mercy coverage, write Editor Rick Snizek at rsnizek@thericatholic.com.
PROVIDENCE — Faith leaders from several communities across Rhode Island called upon elected officials to address poverty in the state at an interfaith prayer vigil held at the State House last Wednesday afternoon.
The annual event, organized by the Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty, included members of the Catholic, Orthodox, Protestant, Islamic, Jewish and Hindu faiths. Speakers representing the various religions called for a series of legislative reforms, highlighting the need for affordable housing, nutritious food, accessible healthcare, equitable education and work with decent wages in the fight against poverty in Rhode Island.
Father John Kiley, representing the Catholic faith as ecumenical officer for the Diocese of Providence, led the congregation in a responsive reading asking God to bless civic leaders and help them govern with justice, wisdom and compassion. Prior to the start of the vigil, he told Rhode Island Catholic that the many faiths were able to join together on the issue of poverty because of their shared commitment to help those in need.
“Fraternal charity is at the root of Christian charity,” Father Kiley said. “This is one thing we can all agree on – looking out for the less fortunate.”
The Rhode Island interfaith community has often come together to advocate for policies and public actions that reflect an attitude of compassion toward those in need. Most recently, faith leaders united to call for the welcome of Syrian refugees fleeing war and held prayer vigils calling for an end to violence in the community.
For Catholics, the renewal of commitment to fighting poverty comes as the Church begins to celebrate the Year of Mercy, a year of special reflection on the mercy of God. Pope Francis has called for the extension of God’s mercy to all those suffering in the local community through participation in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, including the feeding the hungry, welcoming the stranger, clothing the naked and healing the sick.
As Maxine Richman, board member of the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, pointed out in her welcoming address, Rhode Island is no stranger to suffering. Rhode Island has the highest poverty rate among the New England states, with 14.3 percent of its residents living in poverty. Among Rhode Island children, 19.8 percent are raised below the poverty line.
“A 14.3 percent poverty rate is the story for this year, but it need not be the story for next,” said Richman.
Bishop Herson Gonzalez of Calvary Worship Center, a Pentecostal Episcopal community located in Woonsocket, offered the keynote address. In a poignant moment, he led those assembled in singing “Take My Hand, Precious Lord,” a hymn known as a favorite of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., before recalling those impoverished Rhode Islanders he encounters during his ministry.
“In my world, the face of poverty is the hungry kid who goes to school so he can have at least one meal,” said Bishop Gonzalez. “It’s difficult to be a proud American when all you know is poverty.”
Bishop Gonzalez directly addressed state officials, calling on them to prioritize the interests of those living in poverty over their own political gain.
“There will be times when doing the right thing doesn’t match up with what’s best for your career,” he said as elected officials looked on. “I’m going to ask you to follow your convictions and not your survival instincts.”
Among those in attendance was Sister Joan Rokicki, a Sister of Mercy with many years of experience serving the poor at McAuley Ministries, a Sisters of Mercy-sponsored hospitality site and transitional housing program located in South Providence. Sister Rokicki attended the vigil with other representatives of McAuley Ministries and spoke with Rhode Island Catholic about her experiences working with those in need.
“It’s hard to go home at night and know that their hearts are broken and their lives are broken,” she said, citing suffering and a lack of sense of belonging as some of the difficulties faced by those living in poverty.
Sister Rokicki participated in the announcement of names and invocation of blessings upon elected officials along with other faith representatives, including fellow Sisters of Mercy Sister Joyce Flowers and Sister Mary Reilly and senior priests Father Gene McKenna and Father Ray Tetreault.
Other speakers for the day included Mufti Ikram ul Haq of Masjid Al-Islam, North Smithfield; Reverend Betsy Aldrich Garland of Moosup Valley United Church of Christ, Foster; and Rabbi Howard Voss-Altman of Temple Beth-El, Providence. Governor Gina Raimondo, Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed, House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and Senator Harold Metts also offered remarks.
