When Sr. Joyce asked me to talk about what St. Michael's means to me it reminded me of the assignment we were all given when we returned to school in September to write an essay on what I did on my summer vacation ... there were always so many things that would come to mind that were so special and memorable it was hard to describe only one thing and that is how I feel when I reflect about our experiences at St. Michael's.

When my husband Michael and I moved to Rhode Island and began our family, we thought we would join a church in our neighborhood ... there is one right up the street that we could easily walk to each Sunday and see many of our neighbors and make some new friends.

We attended this church but never found ourselves engaged in any of the church's offerings. Atending church became a chore for us on Sunday ... and we left mass feeling anxious and confused instead of uplifted and inspired for the week to come ... We could no longer truthfully answer our children when they asked why do we have to go to church when we were not sure ourselves.

When we first came to St. Michael's as a family it felt like coming home .. we immediately felt a part of the community and knew that this is where we wanted to worship and where we wanted our children to grow in their faith.

When I talk to others about St. Michael's it is never about the actual building, but the people of St. Michael's. Each Sunday we are reminded of how much larger our world is than the street where we live. We are able to see the face of God reflected in this incredible ethnically and culturally diverse parish community.

By attending St. Michael's our children have learned first-hand that actions speak louder than words, here parishoners and the parish team members are actually doing God's work not just reading His words. We leave each Sunday after hearing sermons by religious and lay members of the parish that leave us inspired. We receive information on how we can go out into the community and make a difference. I have always been inspired by Ghandi to "be the change you wish to see in the world". St. Michael's to me is that vehicle for change ... it follows a path of peace - in fighting-violence, injustice and prejudice. At St. Michael's we can reinforce what we always tell our children is the most important Christian value ... do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The Kiss of Peace has come to be the very symbol of what St. Michael's means to me ... it is at this point in the mass where parishoners reach out to each other and come together in a very genuine way. At St. Michael's the Kiss of Peace is not a polite nod or handshake to whomever is on your left and right but a time to step out of our pews, walk up and down the aisle to embrace and greet each other with a sincere wish for peace. This ritual is one that could easily extend beyond the few minutes we take during mass and one that begins again at the end of mass when we stay for our social gathering downstairs.

To sum up -- what St. Michael's means to me ... I would say ... our original intent was to find a church to attend in our neighborhood but luckily for us we have found neighborhood in a church.

Celeste