At the present time I’m living in Bangor, Maine. I moved here after spending 2 ½ years in Italy. Originally from New York City and Long Island, I thought the rural quality of Maine would be the perfect place to retire. As a new comer to New England I found camaraderie within an St. John’s Episcopal Church where Sunday religious services, coffee hours and Great Wednesdays offered an opportunity to be of service and to get to know other people. Through St. John’s website I found a way to be of service. Claudia and Jim for the past 20 years plus, have been cooking and serving meals to the poor at the Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen [Salvation Army]. The meal was American chop suey with ground beef, onions, green bell pepper and rotini pasta. We would arrive at the Salvation Army at 9:30 am and the women, Claudia, Pam and I would begin chopping the veggies and butter many loaves of bread. Jim would cook and Kevin, Pam’s husband was in charge of washing and drying pots and pans. I spent 3 years with them until January of 2026. This event took place on the fourth Tuesday of the month.
However, as a catholic, I decided to remain within the catholic church. I’m a member of St. Paul the Apostle Parish, in Bangor, I joined a The Daughters of Isabella, a women’s charitable organization devoted to Unity, Friendship and Charity. I am happy to serve my parish community and meeting other women who share these same values. We meet on the first Wednesday of the month at St. Mary’s church at 5:30. The meeting officially begins when Deacon Tim begins the rosary, in which we participate. There are approximately 30 members and a designated group of women, each month, who bring food and dessert for everyone. I’m scheduled for the month of November and have volunteered to bring dessert. Probably strawberry shortcake with whipped cream.
This image is a small section, that was added to a large poster, that was done for the Holy Family Catholic Church annual picnic. September 11, 2022.
I was hesitant to include a page on this website devoted to faith. As a family, attending church on Sundays was of paramount importance, specifically for my mother. An immigrant from Italy, at the age of 10, she set foot in a country where everything was foreign, including the language. English, her second language, became easier after she attended camp during one summer. Being an immigrant, her patron saint was Francesca Cabrini. I was always aware of Mother Cabrini in my house. There is a chapel devoted to her in Washington Heights, NY, which my mother would visit on occasion,
This new country, America, offered a different life experience compared to Europe. I remember when I was 14 years old when she looked at me, shrugged her shoulders and sarcastically said: “You take to much for granted. You don’t know what you have here.”
Prayer is most definitely helpful, Until recently I’ve believed faith should be private. You go to church, you pay your respects to God and pray in secret and alone. But now, with the immergence of Christian Nationalism with their plan for world dominance, I’ve decided to share how I feel. Hence, this faith page. America’s bedrock was built by immigrants. A diversity of customs, ideas and faiths.
Below I’ve listed the 64th Psalm. The first time I read it, it resonated deeply with me. It closely parallels how I feel at this time..
“Psalm 64 is a lament and prayer of David asking for God’s protection against secret conspiracies and malicious, "sharp-tongued" enemies. It moves from fear of hidden plots to confidence in God’s judgment, predicting that the wicked will be destroyed by their own words while the righteous find protection.”
Psalm 64
Hear me, my God, as I voice my complaint; protect my life from the threat of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the conspiracy of the wicked, from the plots of evildoers.
3 They sharpen their tongues like swords and aim cruel words like deadly arrows.
4 They shoot from ambush at the innocent; they shoot suddenly, without fear.
5 They encourage each other in evil plans, they talk about hiding their snares; they say, “Who will see it?”
6 They plot injustice and say, “We have devised a perfect plan!” Surely the human mind and heart are cunning.
7 But God will shoot them with his arrows; they will suddenly be struck down.
8 He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin; all who see them will shake their heads in scorn.
9 All people will fear; they will proclaim the works of God and ponder what he has done.
10 The righteous will rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; all the upright in heart will glory in him!
Wednesday, June 3rd, the Daughters of Isabella, Ave Maria Circle 422, in Bangor, ME contributed gifts for a baby shower for a young woman in need. Her baby named Asher is 3 months old. He is without a doubt such a beautiful, beautiful tiny little human.
There are 6 churches under the auspices of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Penobscot county Maine. This event was held at St. Mary’s in Bangor, and happens every year the beginning of June.
St. John’s Church, Bangor. St. Mary Church, Bangor. St. Joseph Church, Brewer. St. Matthew Church, Hampden. St. Gabriel Church, Winterport. St. Teresa Church, Brewer.
Coming up in July is our church picnic. In addition to the food that the Daughers of Isabella with cook, buy and set up — the Knights of Columbus will also assist with bringing food and grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. There are 2 basket raffles at this time. Basket 1 — beauty products and Basket 2 — food. I’m coordinating the food basket and am in the process of finding a basket that would be large enough to fill several items from approximately 15 people.
The day of the picnic arrived and I had hoped to take pictures to share. However, I was asked to serve food which took a lot of time because the turnout was enormous and then I was one of the participants in cleaning up.