FARMINGTON — FAEM [Farmington Area Ecumenical Ministry] is once again hosting a Martin Luther King Jr. Day service with a new time and different location.

The service celebrating the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has traditionally been held at noon. It will be held on Monday, Jan. 20 at 10 a.m. this year because the inauguration of the President would be in conflict, FAEM member Arline Amos of Wilton said Jan. 6.

Anne Smith of Strong, FAEM worship chair later said the guest speaker will be Bishop James Ruggieri, the 13th Bishop of the Portland Diocese so it was decided to hold the service at St. Joseph Parish [Catholic Church], 133 Middle St. “He will speak on some appropriate theme for the day,” she noted. Andrea Keirstead will be playing the keyboard and Father Paul [Dumais, the reverend for St. Joseph] is finalizing the program, she stated.

According to the St. Rose of Lima/St. Joseph website, last February it was announced “Pope Francis has named Most Rev. James T. Ruggieri, pastor of both Saint Michael the Archangel Parish and Saint Patrick Parish in Providence, RI, as the 13th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland. Most Rev. Ruggieri will be ordained and installed as bishop on May 7, 2024, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland.”

It also noted Ruggieri, who received a Bachelor of Arts in religious studies from Providence College and a Master of Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD, is a native of Rhode Island.

The collection taken at the service will go to Mission at the Eastward [MATE in Farmington], Smith said. According to its website, MATE’s vision statement is, “Building lives and strengthening communities through collaborative housing initiatives that deliver help, hope, and connection to our neighbors.” Its mission statement is “To love our neighbors through volunteer home repairs and transitional housing to foster lives of hope, security and dignity in Central Western Maine.”

On Tuesday, Dumais wrote in an email, “Bishop Ruggieri has been busy visiting priests, parishioners and churches throughout Maine. He is attentive to real social needs within the community.”

Ruggieri was honored last year with a MLK Jr. Vision Award from Providence College, Dumais noted. During the presentation, Ruggieri was described as “a kind and merciful priest who walks among and beside those of your flock, many of them carrying burdens, including poverty and isolation,” according to Rhode Island Catholic.

Copy the Story Link