By Cole DeSantis, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent
BURRILLVILLE — On Monday, Sept. 29, local faithful and parishioners gathered at the Shrine of the Little Flower to take part in a candlelight Rosary procession in honor of the 100th anniversary of the canonization of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. The event was particularly meaningful for the members of Our Lady of Good Help Parish in Mapleville. The Shrine of the Little Flower (originally St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Parish) has served the Nasonville section of Burrillville since 1923. It is the oldest parish in the United States dedicated to St. Thérèse, as well as the second oldest worldwide.
The night’s observance was also significant for other reasons. The procession was held on the Feast of SS. Michael, Raphael and Gabriel (Michaelmas). Thus, in addition to the Shrine’s patron saint, the procession also honored these three great angelic protectors.
Led by Louise Barba and organized by the Shrine’s women’s prayer group, the coordinators hoped the prayerful evening would inspire similar events aimed at deepening the local faithful’s devotion to the Blessed Mother.
“We thought it’d be a beautiful thing to do for our Blessed Mother to have a candlelight procession,” Barba said.
Barba noted that she was inspired to propose the idea before the parish’s woman’s group as a result of a visit to Medjugjore.
“I’ve been to Medjugjore five times,” Barba recalls. “In Medjugjore, they have processions going up the mountains there, and I would always feel our Blessed Mother’s presence climbing Mount Podbrdo or Križevac. And the last time we had a procession here for the Rosary at the last anniversary in August, that forceful memory came through me, and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could honor Our Lady with a candlelight procession as well.’”
“It was a chance to really be close to Mary and pray the Rosary,” said Cam Aujer, a visitor to the Shrine of the Little Flower.
His wife Lucille was pleased that the anniversary inspired many to come out to honor St. Thérèse.
“[It’s great] that there are still people who believe in God and the Catholic Church and Holy Mother Mary and are willing to get out of their comfort zone of their home to come to an event like this,” she said.
In addition to honoring the Blessed Mother, St. Thérèse of Lisieux and the Archangels, the candlelight procession was also offered for the sake of the Holy Father’s intentions for the month of October, which centered on the need for world peace.
