Dear Parishioners: We continue to rejoice in this Easter Season! Alleluia, the Lord has Risen! He has Risen Indeed! Now if only the weather would cooperate with the season! It seems just as it gets warmer it gets cooler! During this Easter Season there is always much to rejoice about in our parish.
One such occasion for rejoicing was on April 1st. Our oldest living parishioner, Mrs. Claire Sharpe, celebrated her 106th Birthday! Fr. Connors and I were privileged enough to celebrate Mass with Claire and her daughters at their home. We were joined by our soloist, Deirdre Donovan, and members of our Children’s Choir. It was a truly joyous occasion. Claire also received a very special visitor after the Mass. Bishop Tobin stopped in for a visit to celebrate
Claire’s birthday and also his own. They share April 1st as the date of their birthdays. We had beautiful and delicious cakes for them both. We listened as Claire shared her wisdom and faith with us. Happy Birthday to Claire, may God continue to grant His abundant blessings upon her.
Later that night the OLM School Community gathered to celebrate the Annual Spring Fling at Quidnessett Country Club. We had a full house with over 150 guests 
celebrating our school and its mission of developing saints and scholars for the Church and world. Of course, the night included good food, good conversation and a lively auction. We are grateful to OLM”s own Gene Valicenti for serving as our Master of Ceremonies for the evening. There were lots of great auction items including Patriot’s box seats, golf outings at exclusive country clubs, sailing and fishing trips in Narragansett Bay, VIP tickets to Good Morning America complete with hotel and lunch, Gym Teacher for a day and Principal for a day. They all raised much needed funds for our school. Some of the other auction items included dinner the OLM Priests in the Rectory.
This year we once again had three generous bidders each purchase dinner for eight in the Rectory with Fr. Connors and I. We also added a new item this year, Supper with the Sisters. This is an evening
with Sister Jeanne, our former OLM School Principal, and our Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, Sister Emma and Sister Lourdes, in the Franciscan Convent. We look forward to some great evenings with our generous donors. We are grateful to our Spring Fling Committee for the hard work they did ensuring a truly great night and grand celebration. We thank our many generous donors who gave us such great auction items. Also we thank the many school parents who bid so generously on the auction items. We give thanks for our school, its excellent administration, faculty and staff and our biggest asset, the wonderful children who make up our school.
I received word from Bishop Tobin that we are to receive a Summer Seminarian again this year. Our Seminarian for the summer is Billy Burdier who is finishing his second year of theology at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He arrives to OLM in early June after completing his exams. I know you will give him your usual warm welcome when he arrives. Also I ask you to please mark your calendars for a very special event for our Diocese and our Parish.
Our OLM Parish Seminarian, Brian Morris is to be ordained a Transitional Deacon on Saturday, May 28 at the Cathedral in 
Providence. Brian joins us the next day for 10:30AM Sunday Mass to preach for the first time as a newly ordained Deacon. It is a great day for his parents, John and Marybeth, and his family as well as for our OLM Parish Family. Keep Brian in your prayers as he continues to prepare for diaconate ordination.
First Communion is right around the corner too! On Saturday, May 7th, our First Communion Class celebrate their big day. The next day on Mother’s Day is the annual May Crowning by the First Communion Class. Please keep them in your prayers in these weeks ahead. A Blessed Easter Season! Be well. Do Good. God Bless. Go Sox! Baseball is back!!