Dear Parishioners:
On the Feast of the Ascension, Bishop Tobin issued a letter stating his intention to restore the obligation for Catholics to attend Sunday Mass. He began the letter by saying: “Dear Brothers and sisters, it’s time. It’s time to come home. It’s time to return to Sunday Mass.” The Bishop went on to state: “It is important to emphasize that, since the pandemic is still lingering in our midst, some individuals are not obliged to attend Sunday Mass, and perhaps should not attend Mass to protect their health and safety, and that of others. And as always, Catholics are dispensed from the Sunday obligation for other grave reasons such as illness, caring for the ill, the unavoidable obligations of their employment, and travel that disrupts their schedules.”
The obligation for Catholics to attend Sunday Mass resumes on Sunday, June 6, 2021. On this Sunday, we also celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. It is a beautiful time for us as Catholics and a parish family to renew our love and devotion to the Eucharist. A time for us to properly place Sunday Mass at the top of our schedules and return to worship our God at Mass with joyful thanksgiving!
While the numbers attending weekend Masses continue to rise at OLM, there are still some parishioners who have not returned to the regular practice of Sunday Mass. I don’t mean those who are sick, caring for the ill, or those who have to work on Sundays. Many Catholics have fallen into bad habits during the pandemic—keeping busy on Sundays with chores and shopping, ball games and golfing, and not putting Mass on the schedule. To them, I echo Bishop Tobin’s words: “It’s time. It’s time to come home to OLM. It’s time to return to Sunday Mass!!”
The CDC has issued new guidelines concerning face masks. These guidelines suggest that fully vaccinated people no longer have to wear a mask either outdoors or indoors. Governor McKee announced Rhode Island would follow this new directive beginning last Tuesday. The Governor also moved up the complete opening of many places of business to May 21. This opening includes houses of worship. Churches are now allowed to have 100% capacity for seating. Also, all those who are vaccinated no longer need to wear a face mask indoors or outdoors while at Church. However, those not yet fully vaccinated must continue to wear a face mask. If you are not yet vaccinated, I encourage you to get the vaccine. Do it for your own well-being but also for the common good of our parish and community.
This Sunday we celebrate Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and marks the beginning of the Church. Pentecost is the celebration of the person of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Blessed Mother Mary, and the first followers of Jesus. They were gathered together in the Upper Room and a “strong, driving” wind filled the room, and tongues of fire came to rest on their heads, allowing them to speak in different languages so that they could understand each other. The Holy Spirit also gave the apostles the other gifts and fruits necessary to fulfill the great commission - to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations. It fulfills the New Testament promise from Christ (Luke 24:46-49) that the Apostles would be “clothed with power” before spreading the Gospel.
For this reason, Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church - Peter, the first Pope, preaches for the first time and converts thousands of new believers. For the first time, the apostles and believers were united by a common language and a common purpose of going and preaching the Gospel. As we mark this important Feast, let us call upon the Holy Spirit to guide and direct our individual lives and the life of our parish. “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit, and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.”
We thank the many school families, parishioners, and friends who were so generous in supporting the OLM School Fling Online Auction! Last week’s auction was a great success for our school.
Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless. See you on Monday night at Devotions!