Dear Parishioners: It was a beautiful day on Corpus Christi last Sunday. On the great feast of the Eucharist two of our OLM young parishioners received First Holy Communion at the 10:30AM Mass. The Mass ended with a solemn Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to Mercy Park. At Mercy Park there was a beautiful altar and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament was offered. A good number of parishioners joined the solemn procession and gathered at Mercy Park to pray before the Blessed Sacrament. In your name, I offer congratulations to Ryan and Catherine Caffery who received their Frist Holy Communion.
Last week Bishop Evans called to inform me that Bishop Tobin has assigned Father Ryan Connors as the new Assistant Pastor at Our Lady of Mercy Parish. Father Connors is presently studying in Rome and returns in late June to begin his ministry here at OLM on July 1, 2013. We should be most grateful to the Bishop for sending another priest to replace Father Shemek who is leaving us to become a Pastor. Many parishes are not as blessed and have been reduced to just one priest. I offer my personal thanks to Bishop Tobin for assigning Father Connors to serve at our parish.
Father Connors is a native of the Riverside section of East Providence where he attended St. Brendan’s Parish. He is the only child of Joseph and Lisa. Father is a graduate of Bishop Hendricken High School and also graduated from Boston College in 2005. He worked in Washington, DC for a couple of years before taking up studies for the priesthood at Our Lady of Providence Seminary. Father Connors attended the North American College in Rome for his priestly formation and theological studies before being ordained last June by Bishop Tobin at the Cathedral in Providence. He spent last summer after his ordination serving at St. Elizabeth’s Parish in Bristol before returning to Rome for further theological studies. Over this last year he has been studying at the Angelicum University in Rome where he recently completed an S.T.L. Degree in Moral Theology. He writes a column in the Rhode Island Catholic and is also known to be a very good juggler!
We look forward to welcoming Father Connors to Our Lady of Mercy in July. I’ve known him for a few years having first met him when he was a young seminarian. I know him to be an outstanding young man and a very talented priest and I know he will serve our parish well. I truly look forward to working with him in building up the Kingdom of God at Our Lady of Mercy. Please keep Father Connors in your prayers and thoughts as he prepares to leave Rome to take up his priestly ministry at Our Lady of Mercy. I know he is excited about sharing the joy of friendship with Jesus Christ found in the Church with all of you. Welcome to OLM Father Connors!
You may have notice some work being done on the sidewalks on the Fourth Street side of the Church. 
The Town is putting in a handicap accessible curb close to the side door and plan on adding some handicap parking spots on that side of the Church. This is being done for those parishioners who need better access to the Church door. I ask you to please be mindful those parishioners who need to park closer to the doors because of sickness or frail health. Thank you for your consideration and kindness.
This week our 8th Graders at OLM School graduate to go on to high school. Graduation Mass is to be celebrated on Thursday, June 13th at 6:00PM and you are most welcome to join the celebration. Please pray for these graduates that they may continue to grow in wisdom, faith and love We congratulate these young men and women and their families. OLM School will end the school year on Friday, June 14th. We wish administration, faculty, staff and students a healthy and happy summer. We look forward to their return in the fall.
I am away this weekend attending the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Spring Meeting where I serve as a consultant to a committee. God Bless.