Dear Parishioners:
It’s May, the month in which the earth springs into bloom!! It’s also the Month of Mary as we honor the Blessed Virgin Mary. It means May Devotions every Monday at OLM this month. May means praying the Rosary.
For centuries, the Catholic Church has set aside the entire month of Mary to honor the Virgin Mary. Not just one day in May but the entire month. This venerable tradition goes back centuries in its foundations. In medieval times, it centered around the practice of expelling winter, as May 1st was considered the start of new growth. During this period, the tradition of Tricesimum, or “Thirty-Day Devotion to Mary,” came into being. The idea of a month dedicated specifically to Mary included thirty daily spiritual exercises honoring Mary, the Mother of God.
It was during this era that Mary’s Month and the Month of May were combined. This Month of Mary included special devotions organized on each day throughout the month both at Church and in homes. This custom became especially widespread during the nineteenth century and remains in practice until today.
Saint Pope Paul VI writing on this venerable tradition in an encyclical letter entitled Mense Maio, teaches: “The month of May is almost here, a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Our heart rejoices at the thought of the moving tribute of faith and love which will soon be paid to the Queen of Heaven in every corner of the earth. For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God's merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother's throne.”
So please take some time out of your busy spring schedules and join us in honoring the Mother of God at May Devotions on Mondays at 7:00pm. We gather together to pray the Rosary in adoration before our Eucharistic Lord and receive Benediction. It is truly a peaceful time of prayer and reflection away from the busy world around us.
Also in this Month of May we celebrate First Holy Communion at OLM. Next Saturday at Noon our First Communion Students from OLM School and the OLM Religious Education Program celebrate Holy Communion. It is always a truly beautiful celebration of faith and joy for our parish family as these young Children of God receive Christ in the Eucharist. Please keep them in your prayers. May they be nourished by the Lord truly present in the Eucharist throughout their lives!
Next Sunday is Mother’s Day as we mark this special day with our Annual May Crowning of the Blessed Mother. At the 10:30AM Mass, the entire First Communion Class joins us for prayer and song as we crown Mary, Queen of the May! The Masses on Mother’s Day are offered for all Mothers, living and deceased.
Also next Saturday Hiep Van Nguyen who was a Summer Seminarian at OLM two summers ago is to be ordained a Transitional Deacon by Bishop Evans. The Diaconate Ordination on Saturday, May 11th is at 10:00AM at St. Philip Church in Greenville. All are welcome to attend the beautiful Mass. Please keep Hiep in your prayers as he begins his Diaconal Ministry in preparation for his ordination as a priest next June.
We’ve had a great tradition of Summer Seminarians here at OLM. Last Summer’s Seminarian, Patrick Ryan, was recently assigned for priestly and theological studies to the Pontifical North American College beginning next fall. And this summer we are blessed to have Seminarian Dan Mahoney assigned to our parish. Dan is finishing his Second Year at St. John’s Seminary in Boston. He is from a Navy family that settled in Wakefield. He is a graduate of Providence College and South Kingstown High School. Dan worked for many years in Youth Ministry and Retreat Ministry. He even did a short stint as a chef, so Fr. Barrow is very excited! He is finishing up his semester studies at St. Johns and begins here at the end of the month. I know you’ll give him your usual warm welcome.
It’s Mary’s Month so pray the Rosary and come to Devotions! Be well. Do Good. Go Sox, Celtics and Bruins!