Dear Parishioners:
With nearly two million people attending in Rome and millions more watching on TV, Pope Francis made history last Sunday when he canonized two of his predecessors, Saint John XXIII and Saint 
John Paul II. Pope Francis was joined by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, for the beautiful Mass of Canonization. I hope you were able to see it on TV as it was truly an inspirational and historic event.In his homily at the Mass, Pope Francis stated: “May these two new saints and shepherds of God’s people intercede for the Church... May both of them teach us not to be scandalized by the wounds of Christ and to enter ever more deeply into the mystery of divine mercy, which always hopes and always forgives, because it always loves.” Saint John XXIII and Saint John Paul II, pray for us!
We are fully immersed into the Easter Season and now look forward to the parish celebration of First Communion. Next Saturday the Second Grade Students of the OLM Religious Education Program and OLM School celebrate their First Communion. I ask you to please keep them in your prayers as they continue to prepare for this joyous and faith-filled occasion in their lives. First 
Communion is a great celebration in the life of our parish and a sign of the future for our Church. Next Sunday, we also celebrate Mother’s Day and our First Communion Class is to celebrate the May Crowning of the Blessed Mother at the 10:30AM Mass. It’s a wonderful way to celebrate Motherhood as we honor the Mother of God and of the Church. Also Fr. Connors and I offer Masses on Mother’s Day for all Mothers. We hope spring weather arrives soon for First Communion and Mother’s Day!
Let’s not forget that May is for Mary! I invite you to join us on Monday evenings at 7:00PM during the Month of May for Marian Devotions. Each Monday in May we expose the Blessed Sacrament, pray the Rosary and receive Benediction. I can’t think of a better way to spend a half hour on Mondays, can you? See you at May Devotions!
While we continue to bask in the glory and joy of the Easter Season, let’s remember how we got here. We spent forty days during Lent praying, fasting and giving alms. I am happy to report that your generous alms giving to the OLM Outreach Office helped us provide financial support and material aid to many people and agencies in need.Over the winter months, the OLM Outreach Office has provided rental assistance and assistance with utilities to several local families. Also during Lent we collected $3,000 for Bishop Tobin’s Keep the Heat On Fund which helps those struggling to keep their heat in the winter. We also donated $500 each to McAuley House, Emmanuel House, 
Whitmarsh House and the RI Coalition for the Homeless. We also provided hundreds of bags of healthcare and hygiene products to the residents of Emmanuel House for the Homeless, New Hope Shelter for Women, and Breadlines, the weekly food distribution program for the homeless at Cathedral Square. For Easter we provided nearly 50 Easter Baskets with food cards to area families in need. The Confirmation Class baked over 300 cupcakes for McAuley House’s Easter Dinner and the Outreach Office provided 200 candy filled eggs for the McAuley House Easter Egg Hunt. Almsgiving is alive and well at OLM! I’ve published in the bulletin this week some of the thank you letters we’ve received for our assistance.
All of these good works and financial assistance efforts are a direct result of your generous support of the Monthly OLM Outreach Collection. Please know that all of the funds collected go directly to our OLM Outreach efforts locally and across the state. In the name of the poor, the needy and the homeless who benefit from your almsgiving, I offer thanks and gratitude for your generous charity and bountiful support.Fr. Connors is back and this weekend we welcome him home from his well deserved vacation. Have a great week and pray the spring weather comes soon. Happy Easter! God Bless. Go Sox! Go Bruins!!