WARREN—It would have been difficult to miss the large, invitation from St. Jean Baptiste and St. Mary of the Bay to return home to the Catholic Church.
The large billboard, sponsored by the St. Vincent de Paul Society, was in place during the month of February with the goal of reaching out to those who might be longing for a way to return the Catholic Church, but might not have known where to start.
Father Peter J. Gower, pastor of St. Jean Baptiste and St. Mary of the Bay in Warren, said that many parishioners had mentioned to him that they were pleased and proud to see the ad up in such a prominent place in town.
“The parishioners, staff and lay leadership of St. Jean Baptiste Church and St. Mary of the Bay Church have embraced the Year of Evangelization with great enthusiasm and are making every effort to welcome home all those who come to our doors,” said Father Gower. “I thank them for assisting me in this great work.”
The pastor explained that he is confident that the ad has had an effect on more people than he will ever know, but there is one story that he shared which came about as a direct result of the billboard ad.
“I was in church one Saturday afternoon before the weekly Vigil Mass, when I was approached by a young woman who asked to speak to me,” he explained. “She and her boyfriend came to our church for the first time that day. She said, ‘I am here because I saw the billboard.’”
The young couple planned to get married and had the desire to return to the church. After being away for so long, Father Gower explained, they did not know where to start.
“When she saw the billboard, she insisted that her boyfriend join her in coming straight over to St. Mary of the Bay Church,” he said. “After years of being away from the sacraments, they went to confession that very afternoon. The healing process began.”
Father Gower said that this was the start of their regular attendance at Mass and in rectifying their situation so that they may participate fully in the sacramental life of the church.
“I look forward to continuing to assist them as they make their plans for the future,” said Father Gower. “What a blessing to be part of such a grace-filled moment in their lives.”
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