UIA- UNITED INTERFAITH ACTION is a coalition of Protestant and Catholic Churches in Fall River and New Bedford that look for ways to improve our two cities.

St. James Church has been with UIA since the beginning. Many projects have been completed by UIA over the years.

Much time was spent in targeting the areas in both cities that were considered places of violence. The two Chiefs of Police worked with UIA in getting more police coverage for these areas.

After school programs were also studied and implemented with the cooperation of both mayors and school boards. With the work of UIA, funding from the state and city governments were able to extend the programs to all junior high schools and a good number of elementary schools. Because of the funding, these after school programs are free of charge.

Now UIA is working with the cities to increase ESL programs so that more people will participate. Presently there are over 700 people on waiting lists to enter this program.

It is understood that learning English will help more people to find better employment.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR FIRST COMMUNION CLASS WHO MAKE THEIR FIRST COMMUNION THIS WEEKEND.

SACRAMENT OF THE ANOINTING OF THE SICK will be celebrated on Saturday, May 18, at 4 p.m. Those who are elderly and are suffering poor health; those who will be going through a serious operation; those who are sick; and those who are suffering other health conditions are invited to receive this sacrament. Please call the rectory and give your name and phone number.

RENEW is a nationally used program to renew parishes. Bishop O’Malley has asked all parishes to participate in this program as a preparation for the Diocese’s Centennial celebration.

This program was presented to our Parish Pastoral Council who approved it.

We are inviting parishioners who would like to participate in a leadership role to attend a workshop that will be held on Monday, April 8 @ 7 p.m. at St. Julie’s Church on Slocum Road, North Dartmouth. The purpose of the workshop is to give an overview of the entire program, to speak about how to lead faith sharing groups, and how to belong to a team that will oversee the program in each parish.

One of the important components of Renew is to belong to a faith sharing group.

The group only meets two times a year. There is a six week discussion group in the fall. There is another group during the six weeks of Lent. Each period has a theme that is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church.

Reading materials are available for those who do not choose to be in a faith sharing group but would still like to read about the themes that are presented.

Prayer cards are available for the elderly and shutins to pray for the success of this program.

The program is three years. In that time there are various liturgical celebrations that can be used in the fall and in Lent to underline the themes of the sharing groups.

The hope is that each parish will move closer to Christ and to one another after Renew ends.

The national leaders of Renew have shone that each parish changes in very deep ways.

We at St. James are committing ourselves to Renew and hope that very good results will be experienced by our parish.

You will be hearing more about Renew.

Manuel P. Sylvia

Mary L. Gurney

Mary N. Sylvia