Dear Parishioners:

Bishop Tobin serving meals at Emmanuel House Homeless Shelter in Providence. A Catholic Charity Appeal funded work of the Diocese of Providence.

I thank those parishioners who have so generously supported the Catholic Charity Appeal. With the support of every parish family, we can make our parish goal of $190,000. So far, just 220 parish families in a parish of over 2,000 families have pledged, and we have raised just over $116,000.         We ask every parish family to pledge a gift of $300 over ten months. Your monthly pledge of $30 helps fund the many ministries and charitable services of the Diocese of Providence. Each day thousands of our brothers and sisters in need are served thanks to the good works funded by the CCA. With the support of all our parish, we can achieve our goal. May God bless your generosity to the poor and needy!   

  We had two grand celebrations of faith and heritage this past week. The annual celebrations of St. Patrick, the Apostle of Ireland, and St. Joseph, the Patron of the Universal Church. It was wonderful to have our festive receptions following the joyful Masses after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. My thanks to all those who made these days so special.

George Weigel to speak at OLM.

We have a special event this week as the noted Catholic writer, George Weigel, speaks at OLM. He is the Distinguished Senior Fellow of the Ethics and Public Policy Center and the author of the much-acclaimed two-volume biography of Pope St. John Paul II, Witness to Hope. Mr. Weigel's essays,      op-ed columns, and reviews appear regularly in major opinion journals and newspapers across the United States. He is also Senior Vatican Analyst for NBC News. His weekly column, "The Catholic Difference," appears in the Rhode Island Catholic. 

Mr. Weigel is speaking as part of a series of events marking the Diocese of Providence's 150th Anniversary. He has titled his talk for Wednesday "The Catholic Moment: The Church in the United States and the Redemption of American Democracy." There are no tickets or reservations necessary to attend the event, so please join us.

Lent is the time of year when God obligates us to prepare our hearts and purify our souls so that we are ready to receive Our Lord in His glorious coming at Easter. There's no time to delay. Scripture says, "Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation." 

Pope Francis goes to Confession at St. Peter’s Basilica.

  Yet, for many Catholics going to Confession is a daunting thought. However, Confession is the Sacrament in which God's Mercy manifests itself most dramatically. It reminds us that no matter how great our sins, God's Mercy abounds; no sin is too great for God.    In approaching the Confessional, no matter how uncomfortable, ashamed, or afraid we might feel, we place our trust in God, and our joy is complete at the end of the experience. Jesus demonstrates the depth of His mercy in the parable of the prodigal son. There is much rejoicing in heaven when just one sinner repents. So although we may be ashamed or afraid, we are called to have courage and humbly approach this great Sacrament of Mercy. God's mercy knows no limits and understands our human limitations. 

In this Sacrament, Christ transforms our lives. If we are open to his mercy, have true sorrow for our sins, and the desire to turn from sin into a life of grace, then the Sacrament is a rich source of grace. It calms the conscience and consoles the spirit. Next Saturday is a great opportunity to come to OLM, make a good confession, and truly prepare for Easter. All-Day Confessions at OLM with four confessors are from 9:00am until 3:00pm. I am grateful to the many priests from across the Diocese of Providence coming to OLM to hear Confessions.   

  St. Augustine says: "In failing to confess, Lord, I would only hide You from myself, not myself from You." So don't hide from God but come to him in humility and with repentance in the Sacrament of Confession. He is waiting patiently to forgive your sins and impart the grace needed to follow him with faith, hope, and love. Indeed there will be much rejoicing in heaven next Saturday for just one repenting sinner! 

Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless! Prepare for Easter, humbly seek God’s mercy and make a good Confession next Saturday!