Dear Parishioners:
Is it spring yet? Snowstorms on Easter Monday and frigid temperatures in April, it must be springtime in New England. Opening Day at Fenway Park look like a Patriot’s game in December! I’m ready for the sun, the flowers and the warm temperatures to reappear soon! Hopefully this week coming week the sun will shine for all those enjoying the Spring Vacation Week. While many head south for the sun, let’s pray it warms up around here so the school kids on break can get outside and enjoy it!
Last Friday the OLM School Community celebrated the Annual Spring Soiree at Quidnessett Country Club. Nearly two hundred parents, teachers and friends of OLM School came together not only to celebrate our wonderful parish school but to support it too! With both a live and silent auction, the event raised in excess of $80,000 in one night!
There were some truly terrific auction items like tickets to Hamilton on Broadway, Patriots box seats, golf foursomes at area private courses including the elite Shelter Harbor Country Club, a stay on Block Island, beach houses in Matunuck and the Jersey Shore, Dinner with the Priests of OLM (always a big seller!) and even a Hi-Lo Jack Night with Fr. Healey at the Regency Cigar Emporium!
We are grateful to the many donors of these great items and especially grateful to the folks who made such generous bids at the auction. Our own Gene Valicenti served as our MC for the night and did an outstanding job. I also thank Lisa Cooper, the OLM School PTG President, and her hardworking committee for providing a fun and fruitful night for our school!
The proceeds from this important fundraiser for our school go directly to fund the needs of our school. As you can imagine the cost of operating a parish school continues to grow as does the need for continued improvement in the area of technology and maintenance of a school built in 1950. We are truly blessed with a school and parish community that understand the importance of Catholic Education. The generous spirit and tremendous financial support by our school parents, parishioners and friends of OLM School help to ensure that our parish school can continue to succeed in helping to form the next generation of saints and scholars.
Speaking of saints and scholars, we could use some at the RI Statehouse these days. In the last two weeks the so-called “progressive” agenda has gained momentum with hearings on bills that would attack the sanctity of life. Once again the sick, suffering and terminally ill are being threatened with legislation that would lead to euthanasia.
Also a bill that would expand abortion on demand up until the ninth month payed for by taxpayers was also considered by our elected officials. Thankfully a good number of people turned out for these hearings and spoke in defense of human life.
These bills are a sign of our times as some elected officials desire to create a “progressive paradise” in RI where the innocent unborn and the sick aren’t welcomed but rather put to death. Sadly those supporting such extreme legislation include our local RI State Representatives, Evan Shanley from Warwick and Julie Casimiro from North Kingstown. Pray that they and other elected officials heed the words of Pope Francis: “All human life has inestimable value even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”
Sadly the voice of the voiceless at the statehouse is diminishing as agents of the culture of death continue to advance their agenda with the support of many of our elected officials. However, I wish to commend RI State Representative from East Greenwich, Anthony Giaurusso, for his consistent support of the sanctity of life. He is an elected official who has the courage of his convictions and is not afraid to protect the unborn and vulnerable.
It’s Easter and the Risen Christ is truly alive! Never lose hope but rejoice and be glad! Pope Francis reminds us in his new exhortation Gaudete et Exsultate: “Do not be afraid of holiness!”
Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!!