Dear Parishioners:

We welcome Deacon Hiep Nguyen back to OLM this weekend. In early May, he was ordained a Transitional Deacon by Bishop Evans. He has been assigned to St. Paul Church, my home parish in Cranston, for the year. Deacon Hiep is preaching the 10:30AM Mass this Sunday and we look forward to his words. Following the Mass, we are having a Reception for Deacon Hiep in Mercy Park. I hope you can stop by and wish him well. Pray for him as he continues to prepare for the priesthood. Deacon Hiep was a Summer Seminarian here at OLM two summers ago. It’s hard to believe his studies for the priesthood are moving so quickly. His time of study and formation at St. John’s Seminary in Boston ends next year and he is to be ordained a priest of Providence next June.

This June 8th, another of our Summer Seminarians, Deacon Eric Silva, is to be ordained a priest of Providence by Bishop Tobin. Deacon Silva served at OLM three summers ago and now has completed his theological studies and priestly formation at St. John’s Seminary. He has been serving as Deacon on the weekends at St. Philip Church in Greenville. Deacon Silva is be to ordained with Deacon Brendan Rowley on Saturday, June 8 at 10:00AM at the Cathedral in Providence. Everyone is welcome to come to the ordination and pray for our new priests. If you’ve never been to an Ordination Mass, it is truly a beautiful ceremony.

On Friday, June 7th at 7:00PM there is a Holy Hour for Vocations at St. Rocco Church in Johnston. This time of prayer for more vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Providence is traditionally held the night before the Priesthood Ordination Mass . I encourage you to attend this time of prayer and also to continue to pray for vocations to the priesthood for the Diocese of Providence. On Sunday, June 9th, Deacon Silva is to celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving at his home parish, St. Mark’s Church in Cranston. A priest’s First Mass is always a beautiful and profound time of joy and faith. The Mass is scheduled for 2:00PM at St. Mark’s in Garden City and you are invited to attend.

Also next Sunday, June 9th, we celebrate the Graduation Mass at 10:30AM for the OLM 8th Grade Class. These young men and women have completed their studies at our excellent parish school and now prepare to enter high school. We invite you to come to the Mass and pray for them as they leave our school. Following the Mass the OLM School 8th Grade Class and their families gather for a Graduation Luncheon and Academic Awards Ceremony. Keep them in your prayers.

On Monday, June 10th, the OLM 8th Grade officially graduate! The Graduation Ceremony begins at 6:00PM in OLM Church as the graduates, faculty and families gather to witness their official exit from the 8th Grade. All are welcome to join us for this beautiful ceremony.

It is graduation season as many of our OLM parishioners have already graduated from colleges and universities and now next week our OLM School 8th Grade. Many of our OLM parishioners also graduate from area high schools including Hendricken, Bay View, LaSalle and East Greenwich High School. We wish them all good luck as they mark this milestone in their young lives. May God guide and protect them.

I am offering the Invocation at this year’s Graduation Ceremony for Prout High School where I serve on the board. Praying for graduates is something we should all take up in this season of graduations. May we pray: “Blessed are You, Lord Our God, creator of the universe and fount of all knowledge. Look upon all graduates with Your love and grant them Your peace. Bless them as they move forward in life and keep them safe. May Your Holy Spirit enrich them with wisdom and fatih to proclaim Your glory and goodness to all people. We ask this through Christ Our Lord.”

Have you met our Summer Seminarian Dan Mahoney yet? If you haven’t yet said “Hello” be sure to offer him your usual warm welcome to OLM this weekend. He is a terrific young man and seminarian.

God Bless! Be well. Do Good. Go Sox and Bruins too!

Praying for the Class of 2019!