Dear Parishioners:
What a joyous occasion the Ordination to the Priesthood was for our Church. On Saturday morning, Bishop Tobin ordained three young men, Father Stephen Battey, Father Joseph Briceand OLM Native Son, Father Brian Morris, as priests for service in the Diocese of Providence. Their priestly vocations were nurtured by their parents, family, friends and at their Parish Churches.
In the case of Father Morris, his vocation was first discovered here at OLM where he worshiped and servedGod at Mass. Also as a graduate of our parish school, his priestly vocation was nurtured in the classroom by our OLM School Faculty. So we rejoice at the gift of Father Brian Morris’ priestly vocation. He celebrates this joyous occasion with his parish family at his First Mass of Thanksgiving on Sunday at 1:00pm. Please join us in celebrating with Father Morris, his family and friends on Sunday. A Reception and First Priestly Blessings follow the Mass of Thanksgiving in Mercy Park.
In speaking about the priesthood, our Holy Father, Pope Francis has said: “Dear lay faithful, be close to your priests with affection and with your prayers, that they may be always be shepherds according to God’s heart. And pray for those whom God is calling to be priests that they may respond to this call with humility and joy. Dear priests, may God the Father renew in us the Spirit of holiness with whom we have been anointed. May he renew his spirit in our hearts so that this anointing may spread to everyone, especially to those “outskirts” where our lay faithful people most look for it and most appreciate it. May our people sense that we are the Lord’s disciples; and may they receive through our words and deeds the oil of gladness which Jesus, the Anointed One, came to bring us.”
Fr. Morris is a proud alumnus of OLM School and will celebrate the Final School Mass on this Friday, June 9th at 9:00am. The OLM School community is delighted to have him back and welcome him with great joy and pride. Please join us at the Mass as we pray for the health and well-being of our OLM faculty and students during the upcoming Summer Break. Next Sunday at the 10:30am Mass we celebrate with our graduating OLM School Eighth Grade. At the Mass, they are to receive their OLM School Medals. The Mass is followed by a Graduation Luncheon and Awards Ceremony with the graduates and their families
We offer our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mercy Sister Edna Lynch and to theCommunity of the Sisters of Mercy. Sister Edna was a part of our OLM Family for many years. She taught in our school and lived in Mercy Convent during her time at OLM. Sister Edna had been in ill health for a few years and was living at the Mt. St. Rita Home in Cumberland. She died on Ascension Thursday and her Funeral Mass was celebrated this past week. May this faithful bride of Christ and loving daughter of Mother McAuley, rest in peace.
This week Fr. Connors arrived home for Rome. He is to be at OLM throughout the summer and you will see him around the parish. While home from the Eternal City, Father is doing research and study on his doctoral dissertation here and in Boston at St. John Seminary. Welcome home Fr. Connors!
We celebrate Pentecost this Sunday, it is fifty days since Easter. On the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended with power upon the Apostles; thus began the mission of the Church in the world. On this Pentecost Sunday, recall the words of Pope Emeritus Benedict: “The Church must always become anew what She already is; She must open the borders between peoples and break down the barriers between class and race. In Her, there cannot be those who are forgotten or looked down upon. The wind and fire of the Holy Spirit must continually break down those barriers that we men and women continue to build between us; we must continually pass from Babel - being closed in on ourselves - to Pentecost.”
On Pentecost let us pray: "Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love!" Happy Pentecost!! Prayerful congratulations to Father Morris! Be well. Do good. God Bless.