BUSINESSSpotlight

BY JENNIFER COATES

From the time we are young, we are taught a universal principle known as the “Golden Rule” which, simply stated, is “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” The Bible teaches another enduring principle, it is: “As I loved you, love one another.”

At the core of each of these messages is love ~ and sharing that love with one another, just as God loves us. This “call to love” is one that resonates within the sacred halls of West Warwick’s very own Chapel of St. Therese of Lisieux. It is seen in the church’s philosophy of inclusion and acceptance. It has always been a part of the teachings and actions of this closeknit community.

Congregants who attend services at “Saint T’s” (as it is affectionately known) will see some things; they see families of all shapes & sizes, they see women in the clergy, they see divorcees participating in all the rituals and blessings their married and single friends enjoy, they hear contemporary music, they see those who extend kindness and love to them, What they won’t see is discrimination, exclusion, judgment, and intolerance.

The Chapel of St. Therese of Lisieux is a Catholic Community that functions outside the jurisdiction of Rome. As Father Charles Vohs, the congregation’s Priest explains, this is a faith community whose mission it is to reclaim those whose experiences have left them feeling marginalized by the traditional Catholic Church.

The church is a haven for those whose abiding faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ have not always been in alignment with the expectations of the church of their childhoods, leaving them feeling estranged, conflicted, and often unwanted. Father Chuck would say to those who feel left on the fringes of their faith ~ come, you are a Child of God and you are welcome here. Come to be replenished, edified, supported, and uplifted.

A quick peruse of the chapel’s website best sums up the church’s mission: “The Chapel of St. Therese of Lisieux welcomes all individuals seeking God’s love; we keep our doors open to every soul seeking to welcome Jesus into their hearts. We invite you to open your heart and allow His grace to penetrate your soul.

Our church stands as a beacon of hope in West Warwick. We are a place of acceptance, peace, and joy to all who are moved to join us. Our church family is richly diverse, with people of different ages and backgrounds coming together to worship and serve together.”

For more details, check the church website at www.go1500.org.

Please come to “Saint T’s”, located at 1500 Main Street in West Warwick. Services are every Sunday at 10:30, either in person or via Zoom. Sunday rosaries begin at 9:45am. Feel free to call 401-680-9076 or email stocc1500@gmail.com for more information.