Saint Gabriel’s Episcopal Church is pleased to welcome Fr. Eric Fialho as its new rector. Fr. Eric comes to Saint Gabriel’s with experience preaching and teaching the Bible and theology. He described his theological leanings as “old school Anglican” with the recognition that the modern church must be relevant and revelatory to all.
“I hold that the Church is more relevant than ever before in this very divided and hurting world. Often people within the Church wonder why it is that the Church seems irrelevant in the lives of people in the 21st century. People ask, ‘Why aren’t people coming to church anymore? Where are all of the young families? Where are all of the youth?’” Fr. Eric said.
He continued that people “inevitably know that something is missing in their lives—something which gives life meaning and that is outside themselves, something which points to the Truth behind the mystery of existence. This is where the Church comes in. This is where the Church is ever-relevant.”
The old system of cathedrals in England met people where they were and were in the middle of community and daily life. Fr. Eric said, “I am always excited about reclaiming the old model of Church which, ironically, is more relevant than ever in a world searching for meaning and God. I am passionate about reclaiming this model and creatively making Church the center of the Southcoast community where families and singles, the young and the old, can meet.” Fr. Eric looks forward to tapping into the fullness of the Church calendar to create fairs, festivals, pageants, and processions to help bring the Tri-Town community to the Church and the Church to the community.
“I cannot wait to bring a bit of merry olde England to Marion,” Fr. Eric said. “It is so very important to remind ourselves and our communities that Church is a place where we can interact with Christ through creativity, through light-hearted fun and through food and drink.” Fr. Eric recognizes that we live in fast-moving times, that families are far more booked than ever before, and that the Church needs to step in to support the spiritual needs of those who are just far more “on the go” than ever before. He said, “We and the wider Church need to be willing to better meet the people where they are. Doing this is not really difficult work, but it is work.” After living most of his life on the North Shore of Boston, Fr. Eric, his wife Emily, and their family are happy to have relocated to the Southcoast community.
Fr. Eric and Saint Gabriel’s welcomes Tri-Town and beyond to join them for in-person and virtual Sunday morning services. In-person services are held in the Chapel at 8:00 a.m. and in the Main Church at 10:00 a.m. Please visit stgabrielsmarion.org/worship/ for information on current COVID-19 restrictions for in-person services. Virtual services are live-streamed at 10:00 am on Vimeo and FaceBook, as well as on ORCTV (Comcast channels 9, 97 and 95 or Verizon channels 36, 37, 38 and 40) in the towns of Marion, Mattapoisett, and Rochester.