Saint Brother André Bessette, founder of the Oratory Saint-Joseph in Montreal and known as the "Miracle Man of Montreal" was canonized a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church this year by Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican in Rome, Italy. Brother André has several relatives in Rhode Island, including Woonsocket and visited several times. When in the city, he would stay with an aunt on Front Street and pray in Precious Blood Church. He was also known to have visited "Little Rose" Ferron, a city stigmatic on his stays in Woonsocket. André was born Alfred Bessette on August 9th, 1845 in St. …
The evening of Thursday, Feb. 10 was an exciting night for the 18 winners and 18 runners up of the Woonsocket School Spelling Bees that had taken place over the previous month. These 36 children, with family and friends in tow, congregated together at Woonsocket Middle School at Hamlet Thursday night in order to once again compete, this time for the title of Champion in the Woonsocket District Spelling Bee. The excitement was palpable, and after each child received their number, they took their seats alongside parents and siblings, chattering, laughing and smiling. My daughter Sydney, a …
