On Thanksgiving, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin visited the diocesan Emmanuel House shelter to say a blessing over the meal and to spend time with the guests and volunteers.
During his visit, the bishop thanked all those who share their time, talents and generosity there. He also asked all gathered to take time to reflect on the blessings in their lives, sharing that Emmanuel House is one of the many blessings in the Diocese of Providence.
“Thanksgiving is an important day for us for the point of view of our faith,” said Bishop Tobin. “It is a time for us to pause, regardless of our situations and circumstance, and think about all the gifts and blessings God has given us. If we have a gift that is important to us, we try to the best of our ability to share our gifts with others. Sometimes it’s material things, sometimes it’s a spiritual thing — a prayer or a sign of friendship. We all have something we can give and share with other people.”
In 2010, the Diocese of Providence opened Emmanuel House three days before Christmas after renovating a shuttered day care center on the city’s South Side. Since then, there has been rarely a night when the 50-bed shelter has not been at or above capacity.
