Dear Parishioners:
Let’s hope all those April showers bring May flowers! The month of May is dedicated to our Blessed Mother. As our parish patroness, we honor her with May Devotions on Mondays at 7:00 pm. We come before the Eucharistic Lord, pray the Rosary, and receive Benediction. It’s a great way to honor our Blessed Mother, so please join us.
Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics across the globe to dedicate the Marian month of May to pray for an end to the pandemic. The Rosary is to be recited daily at the 30 Marian Shrines from various parts of the world. It takes place under the theme “The whole Church was fervently praying to God,” which recalls a verse in the Book of Acts (12:5). After more than a year, and with the world still in the grips of the pandemic, the Pope and the Church are imploring God for an end to the suffering which so many people bear. Join us every Monday in May as we fervently pray the Rosary for an end to the pandemic.
May is also the month of First Communion as next Saturday, the children of OLM make their First Holy Communion at a Noon Mass. The Mass concludes with the May Crowning of our Blessed Mother. Please pray for these children as they make their final preparation for this glorious day in their lives!
This week I received a communication from the Diocesan Office of Worship about the changing guidelines and restrictions for churches during the pandemic. Following the Governor’s Office and the RI Department of Health guidelines, certain practices at Mass may now resume effective on May 7, 2021. The communication calls for removing all tape, markings, ropes, and signs related to Covid restrictions. Since indoor seating capacity increases from 75% to 80%, the roping off of pews is no longer necessary. Also, the sanitizing of the church with harsh chemicals after each Mass is no longer required, and routine cleaning is to resume.
Processions at Mass may continue, including bringing up the gifts at Sunday Mass. The hymnals are allowed back in the pews and singing resumes. Also, Holy Water fonts filled once again. Our ushers can take up the collection once again, as has been our practice. These changes are undoubtedly good news for churches and congregations across the state. The cleaning chemicals are taking a toll on the pews. Blessing ourselves with Holy Water is a most welcome restoration! Processions and singing add much to our solemn celebration of Holy Mass.
The communication makes it clear that parishioners must continue to wear facemasks while indoors during Mass. It also directs us to provide ventilation whenever possible. So the church windows are to be left open during Mass if the weather cooperates. As for seating in the church, the social distance of three feet is in effect. Every pew is now to be available for seating and the ropes removed! We must continue to be vigilant by washing hands, wearing masks, and keeping a minimum distance of three feet.
We are working on a plan to gradually reinstate many of these practices over the next several weeks. We ask for your continued patience and understanding as we try our best to follow guidelines and resume some of our formerly restricted practices. Your cooperation is essential in achieving this, so please cooperate by sanitizing your hands, wearing a mask, and keeping social distance as far as possible.
With more and more people getting vaccinated, it seems we can gradually return to some everyday living and worshiping at OLM again! Unfortunately, these new changes affect only the church and not our parish school. The restrictions in schools continue much as they have been over the year. We look forward to the day when the school day is more typical again!! It has been a very long year of pandemic and pain, sickness, and suffering, but signs of hope are here! Let’s keep the faith, come back to Mass, and worship God with greater devotion and enthusiasm.
Join us on Mondays during May in praying for an end to the pandemic! Saint Padre Pio said: “The Rosary is the weapon for these times.” It remains as accurate today as when he said it decades ago! Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless.