CENTRAL FALLS "Wow, it's cold! It's not this cold in North Kingston!" said Gerry Grabowski of Saint Bernard Parish as she entered Saint John the Baptist Church Hall in Pawtucket.
Saint Bernard has been a long-time attendee and supporter of Project Hope/Proyecto Esperanza & Hospitality House's annual Good Friday Walk. "Goes back to the days when Father Dennis Reardon, now pastor at Saint Bernard's in North Kingston, was pastor of Holy Trinity in Central Falls," said Richard Andrade, program supervisor at Project Hope/Proyecto Esperanza. They come in a bus, a big blue bus! It's great!
"Most of the folks are from the Blackstone Valley Area." continued Andrade. "That's our area of concern."
More than 200 walkers braved the wind to show their support for people who are helped. The proceeds will go to help with rental assistance through Project Hope/Proyecto Esperanza and with the free lunch program operated by Hospitality House.
Among them was Bishop Thomas J. Tobin. Before the walk began the bishop moved among the crowd offering his own personal words of thanks and encouragement. He then gathered them together in prayer and offered a blessing for them, their sponsors and especially for the needy who will benefit from their act of charity.
The final total is not in yet, so if anyone would like to make a donation, a check can be made out to Project Hope, at 400 Dexter Street, Central Falls, 02863.
(This article originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)
