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Church receives television so parishioners can experience the Pope’s visit

HARRISBURG, Pa. -Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is the poorest parish in the Harrisburg Diocese. Father Orlando Reyes had been praying for an unusual d...

HARRISBURG, Pa. -Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church is the poorest parish in the Harrisburg Diocese. Father Orlando Reyes had been praying for an unusual donation.  He wanted a television so parishioners, who could not make the trip to see Pope Francis, would be able to at least watch his visit.

Fr. Reyes saw the Pope speak when he was in Brazil. It was a magical experience. He calls Pope Francis powerful, but humble. Over half of Saint Francis' church members are Spanish speaking. Since Pope Francis is the first Latin American pontiff, many feel a special connection to him. Reyes wanted people to be able to hear his message.

Tuesday, Fr. Reyes prayers were answered. The owners of ServiceMaster Restoration, in Harrisburg, donated and installed a 55' television for them.

"We all take for granted that we can turn a TV on at any time and watch Fox43 or whatever show we want to watch," said Mickey Rapp from ServiceMaster Restoration Services.
"The smallest things we take for granite are things people don’t have," said Jess Bock, from  ServiceMaster Restoration Services.

Reyes is grateful for the donation. He says many people, at his church, do not have television or cable and this can create a new kind of congregation.
"We can come together and be together so that way we are not going to miss anything," said Father Orlando Reyes of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.

Another person has offered to donate cable. Bock says he wants the donations to create a pay it forward ripple effect and hopes more people help others and the parish.

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