Dear Parishioners:
While the nation was watching the NCAA Tournament last Sunday, Fr. Mahoney and I, and many parents and kids, watched the Catholic Athletic League Basketball Tournament at the Bishop Hendricken High School Gym. Three teams from OLM were in Championship games. The Boys 7th/8th Grade and 5th/6th Grade played their hearts out but were the runners-up in their final Championship Games. The OLM Girls 5th/6th Team beat out the Monsignor Clarke ladies squad to win the state title!
We congratulate all our CAL players on a great season of basketball. The kids played well, worked hard, and are all champions in my book! We thank the many coaches and parents who volunteer countless hours to make the OLM basketball program a great success. CAL Basketball is a great way to develop fundamental basketball skills, promote teamwork, and teach Catholic sportsmanship! Thank you to all who make it possible!!
This Saturday, we host All Day Confessions at OLM from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm. I thank the many volunteers and our good Franciscan Sisters who assist us with this event. Also, I am grateful to the many priests from across the Diocese who volunteered to hear Confessions in some cases for two hours or more.
If you didn't make it to All-Day Confessions on Saturday, don't worry, you've still got plenty of time to get to Confession. We continue to have Confession every Monday at 6:00 pm with two priests, including a guest Confessor. In addition, there is Confession every Saturday afternoon and every day Monday through Friday just before the 12:05 pm Lenten Mass. Also, two Dominican Friars from the PC Priory are scheduled to hear Confessions at OLM on Monday, April 11. Plenty of opportunities to get to Confession before Easter!!
George Weigel talks with the OLM School Middle School students about St. John Paul the Great.
I hope you were able to attend the 150th Anniversary Lecture on Wednesday night. Mr. George Weigel gave an outstanding talk on the Church in the United States. His lecture is just one of the many events taking place since September to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Providence. The celebration concludes on Sunday, June 26, with a Mass at the Cathedral.
There are other events planned to celebrate the Anniversary taking place this spring. These terrific events include a concert by the Hillbilly Thomists, a band of Dominican Friars who play bluegrass, a talk by Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York at the Cathedral, and a Catholic Schools Arts Festival featuring the OLM School Band. Details about these events are in this week's bulletin.
Amidst all these events, we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine. On this past Friday, March 25, the Solemnity of the Annunciation, Pope Francis, at St. Peter's Basilica, offered a prayer for peace and consecrated Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. On the same day, the same act was undertaken by all the bishops of the world. Cardinal Krajewski, the papal almoner, performed the act of consecration at Fatima as the envoy of the Holy Father.
Last Sunday after the Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis recalled that the faithful had just prayed to the Virgin Mary and noted that the city that bears her name, Mariupol, has "become a city of martyrs in the terrible war ravaging Ukraine." The Holy Father expressed his horror over the barbarity of killing children, innocents, and unarmed civilians. He called for an end to armed aggression before it reduced cities to cemeteries. He stated:
"In the name of God, let the cries of those who suffer be heard and let the bombings and attacks cease! Let there be a real and decisive focus on negotiation, and let the humanitarian corridors be effective and safe. In the name of God, I ask you: stop this massacre!"
As we take up more prayer in this Lenten Season, may we continue to pray for peace in Ukraine and an end to war and violence. Perhaps you might pray a Rosary for peace in Ukraine or come to Adoration this Friday, make the Stations of the Cross and spend more time in prayer for peace. Pope Francis reminds us: “Prayer, fasting and charity are weapons of the spirit.”
So pray, fast and give alms for Ukraine! Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless!