The Rev. Edward G. St-Godard, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Woonsocket, studies a column in the church decorated with symbols representing various world religions.

By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

WOONSOCKET — If you look closely at the lower half of one of the marble columns inside the cavernous Holy Family Parish church on South Main Street, you’ll find a painted stencil of the Christian cross alongside the Sanskrit symbol for the Hindu syllable Om, as well as other symbols representing the world’s faith traditions.

ev. Edward G. St-Godard, pastor of Holy Family Parish, says the symbols he had painted on the pillar are a visual reminder to anyone who enters the church of the need for people to be tolerant and respectful of each others’ religious and moral traditions, which, if you study them closely enough, he points out, share more similarities than differences.
“You can be prejudiced against an idea, but if you know someone who believes in that idea, it’s a lot harder to be prejudiced,” he says. “What we (world religions) have in common outweighs our differences.”
St-Godard says it is that message of tolerance and mutual respect that he hopes to get across to people who attend Holy Family Parish’s fourth annual interfaith Thanksgiving service, which will be held this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the church, 414 South Main St.
The annual interfaith service, the only Thanksgiving service of its kind in the Blackstone Valley, attracts upwards of 500 people each year. Every year, St-Godard brings together under one roof representatives of the various religions to share in a day of thanksgiving and praise.
This year, 13 different groups will come together, including members of the Jewish, Islamic and Buddhist communities and 11 Christian communities, including Roman Catholic, Baptist, Episcopal, Quaker, Lutheran, Congregational, Universalist, Orthodox, Eastern Rite Catholic and Polish National Catholic, as well as the Eckankar society.
“Thanksgiving is a natural time for all people who believe in God to put aside their differences and join together in thanking God for all His blessings,” says St-Godard.
Participants in Sunday’s service will include the Most Reverend Louis E. Gelineau D.D.; Jeremy Brenner, president of Temple B’nai Israel; Imam Ikram of Masjid Al Islam; Rev. Eletha Buote-Greig and Robert Bennett of St. James Episcopal Church; pastor Marnie Miller-Gutzell of Friends Meeting House; the Rev. Gerald F. Finnegan S.J. of St. Charles Church; Pastor Daniel Carlson of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church; the Rev. Dorian Parker and the Rev. Lynda Parker of the First Baptist Church; and Sister Alma Dufault of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.
Also participating will be the Rev. Eileen Morris of the Slatersville Congregational Church; the Rev. Mark Sauriol of All Saints Church; Msgr. Roman Golemba of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church; the Rev. Anthony Perkins of St. Michael Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the Rev. W. Scott Axford of First Universalist Church, Providence; Tom Towhill of the Eckankar Society; the Rev. Jack Orzechowski of Our Savior Polish National Catholic Church; monks from the Laotian Buddhist community; and Deacon James T. Walsh of Holy Family Church.
The service will begin with an organ prelude by Henri St. Louis, followed by the gathering hymn and lighting of candles in which representatives of the various churches each light a candles on a floor-standing candelabra.
The program will feature several readings, a concert of religious music by Holy Name of Jesus Gospel Choir of Providence, and readings from the various traditions on the topic of peace.
St- Godard will sing “Israeli Alleluia,” which will be followed by the offering and organ interlude.
The free-will offering this year will benefit the Interfaith Dire Emergency Heating Fund. The service will conclude with a Litany of Thanksgiving and the passing of the peace by Bishop Gelineau.
A reception of coffee and donuts courtesy of Tim Hortons will follow in the church hall.
St-Godard says his hope is that people attending the services walk away with a deeper awareness, appreciation and understanding of the various faith traditions.
“Putting this service together every year is a lot of work, and I couldn’t do it without all the support of the Holy Family Parish community who always work hard to make this happen,” he said. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s gratifying to see the turnout every year and to see these diverse faith communities come together in thanksgiving.”