Dear Parishioners:
Next Sunday at the 10:30am Mass we celebrate our Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA). The RCIA is a program of study for adults who are in need of the Sacraments. Candidates usually include baptized Catholics who need to make First Communion and/or Confirmation, baptized non-Catholics who are received into the Church and also unbaptized Adults who are baptized and confirmed. Since last fall the OLM RCIA Candidates have been preparing to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. Normally we celebrate this Rite with great joy and solemnity at the Easter Vigil Mass but due to the COVID-19 lockdown we had to postpone it.
This year seven adults candidates are prepared for the reception of First Communion, conferral of the Sacrament of Confirmation and Reception into the Catholic Church. One candidate is being fully received into the Catholic Church, four receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation and two others the Sacrament of Confirmation. I offer my sincere thanks to Fr. Barrow and his RCIA Team of dedicated parishioners who prepared these candidates for this solemn occasion. Each Sunday they gathered to study and learn more about the Catholic Faith. It is a joyous day to celebrate as we welcome these candidates into our parish family as fully initiated Catholics. Pray for them as they make their final preparation for this joyful occasion in their faith lives.
May God bless them and continue to lead them to deeper faith, greater hope and more profound love. We also ask your prayers for our OLM School Principal and Faculty. On Tuesday they gather for a retreat here at OLM. Normally the Faculty Retreat is held at the beautiful St. Edmund Retreat Center on Enders Island in Mystic, CT. However, because of COVID-19 restrictions that is not possible this year. The Faculty Retreat is a time of spiritual renewal and refocus for our faculty especially after a rather challenging year.
Father Jordon Zajac, OP
Our Retreat Master this year is Dominican Friar, Father Jordon Zajac, O.P, who teaches English at Providence College. Father Jordon was ordained this past spring and is a graduate of PC who went on to earn a Ph.D. in English specializing in Shakespearean Drama at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He is an intelligent, talented and dynamic young priest and we are grateful he is able to lead our faculty on this important spiritual retreat.
Our dedicated faculty are to be commended for the outstanding job they did with distance learning during the COVID lockdown. Such excellence required lots of hard work and true dedication and we are grateful for the many sacrifices they make to ensure the high standards of academic excellence and dynamic Catholic Faith at OLM School. Please pray for them as they gather for retreat. The faculty is also meeting this week for professional development days. This is a time to focus upon distance learning, teaching techniques and implementing the health and safety protocols for our school this year.
Our faculty remain committed to ensuring academic excellence and the strong Catholic identity in our outstanding school. Their sacrifice and dedication ensures OLM School is a safe, happy and virtuous place to learn. While some schools are opting not to reopen for in person education, OLM School remains fully committed to reopening our school for all-day in person learning. Thus far the RI Department of Health has indicated it is completely safe to do so.
Our Lady of Mercy School
The first week of school this year is a time of orientation for our OLM School families, students and faculty as they learn more about our safe environment practices and get accustomed to the many new health and safety policies and procedures. Our Principal, faculty and maintenance staff are working tirelessly at ensuring our school’s reopening and ensuring it is safe and our school ready. We want our little saints and scholars back happily and safely learning and praying!
You can add to this happy and safe reopening by buying a “See You in September” Raffle ticket. The proceeds go directly to funding the many needs of our parish school in response to the COVID crisis. I commend those who have been so generous in their support in our time of need and thank you for your support.
Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless.