Seasons of Hope Grief Support Group
WESTERLY — Those searching for comfort, hope and peace after losing a loved one are invited to participate in a six-week support group, Seasons of Hope. Each meeting includes prayer, Scripture reading and reflection, a video and discussion. Meetings will be held on Saturdays, May 1 – June 5, from 8:30-10:30 a.m. at St. Pius X Church, 44 Elm St. To ensure everyone’s safety, group size is limited and face masks are required. To register, please contact Linda at 401-714-9824.
Rhode Island Music Education Association All-State Music Festival
VIRTUAL — The 2021 RIMEA All-State Music Festival will be held virtually on Sunday, May 2, at 6 p.m. The online concert will feature more than 600 Rhode Island student musicians in grades 7-12 performing in guitar ensembles, choirs, jazz bands, concert bands and orchestras. The performance will include students from Bishop Hendricken, LaSalle Academy, Mount St. Charles Academy, Portsmouth Abbey School, The Prout School and St. Mary Academy-Bay View. Details can be found on www.rimea.org/as.
Knights of Columbus to host ‘Stress-Free Retirement Planning’
EAST PROVIDENCE — The Knights of Columbus invite the community to take part in a free online presentation given by behavioral finance expert Joe Jordan, who will discuss “Stress-Free Retirement Planning.” The talk will include how to plan for your financial future and a secure retirement. His talk will give insight into your financial affairs without losing sight of your faith and values. The online presentation will begin at 7 p.m. on May 3. Register at https://tinyurl.com/KOCfinancial21.
Rhode Island premiere of ‘Roe v Wade’
PROVIDENCE — All are invited to the Rhode Island premiere of the film ‘Roe v Wade’ on Thursday, May 6 at McVinney Auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the movie begins at 7 p.m. There is no admission fee, but freewill contributions are accepted. Seating is limited and registration is required via this link https://forms.office.com/r/kq8rUe8uvd. For more information email lcooley@dioceseofprovidence.org or bebracy@rirtl.org. This event is sponsored by the Rhode Island State Right to Life Committee and the Diocese of Providence Office of Life and Family Ministry. This event will be COVID-19 compliant.
Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents to host virtual retreats
VIRTUAL — Emmaus Ministry will host virtual retreats for grieving parents whose children of any age have died by any cause, no matter how long ago. Losing a child under any circumstances is horrendous. Focusing on the spirituality of the grieving process can help tremendously. As a response to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions, the Emmaus Ministry for Grieving Parents is now offering virtual one-hour midweek reflections and discussions and five-hour virtual retreats. EMFGP of Rhode Island is hosting a one-hour virtual retreat on May 26, 2021, 8 – 9 p.m. Registration is required to receive the meeting ID and password. Space is limited and registration will close when the maximum number of parents is reached. For a complete listing of virtual reflections and retreats, and to register, visit www.emfgp.org.
Spring Plant Sale at St. Mark Church
JAMESTOWN — St. Mark Church, 60 Narragansett Ave., will host a spring plant sale on Saturday, May 8, from 10 a.m. until everything is sold out. Hanging baskets with an assortment of beautiful flowers for sun or shade as well as spring vegetable plant trays will be available. All proceeds will support parish and youth group activities. For more information, visit stmarkjtn.org.
PC theater alumni launch Wordplay podcast
PROVIDENCE — Father Matthew Powell, O.P., associate professor emeritus of theater at Providence College, and a group of Providence College theater alumni have recently launched a podcast, “Wordplay: Theater for the Ear and the Imagination.” Wordplay will produce short audio plays, scenes and monologues, both dramas and comedies, which reflect the spiritual nature of the human person. The first entry is “The Diaries of Adam and Eve,” Mark Twain’s comic twist on the creation story (24 minutes). The next, ‘The Atheists’ Mass,” based on a true story by Honore de Balzac, recounts the efforts of a young intern to discover why his mentor, a great surgeon and strident atheist, sometimes attends Mass (19 minutes). In the third, “At the Smithville Methodist Church,” an irreligious father sends his child to an arts and crafts program at a local church (4 minutes). Listeners can access the plays at: http:feeds.transistor.fm/wordplay-theater-for-the-ear-and-the-imagination. Or, one can simply Google wordplay: theater for the ear and imagination. Father Powell hopes to add new episodes approximately every four months.
