Dear Parishioners:
I thank Monsignor Kieran Harrington for leading last week's Lenten Mission. His peaching provided much food for thought as we take up the cross of Lent. We are grateful for his time at our parish and promise our prayers for his important ministry on behalf of the Pontifical Mission Societies.
Lent is a time of prayer and sacrifice. We strive to unite ourselves with the suffering of Jesus, walking with him in the desert, agonizing with him in the garden, dying with him on the cross. We do so with more prayer, greater fasting, and sacrificial almsgiving.
As one of the three pillars of Lent, almsgiving is as the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "a witness to fraternal charity" and "a work of justice pleasing to God." The foundational call of Christians to charity is a frequent theme of the Gospels. During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on almsgiving by donating to the poor and performing acts of charity.
To live out almsgiving in the spirit of Lenten sacrifice and following the clear teaching of Jesus, we do not give simply from our surplus or just what we can spare. Rather, we should give sacrificially. Giving alms to those in need is not just a good idea or a pious practice. It is truly a moral obligation.
Almsgiving also has spiritual benefits as it strengthens our love for others, increases our detachment from material things, and contributes to greater social justice. In the purest sense of charity, almsgiving does not expect repayment but is an act of mercy and justice.
St. John Chrysostom wrote, "Not to share our riches with the poor is a robbery of the poor, and a depriving them of their livelihood. It is for this that God has permitted you to possess much that you should distribute it to the needy."
This weekend we have a great opportunity to assist the poor and needy in Rhode Island through the Catholic Charity Appeal. Our support of this Appeal funds the numerous ministries and programs of the Diocese of Providence. Your generous donations enable the Church to provide social, educational, and spiritual support to thousands of Rhode Islanders.
The good works supported by the Catholic Charity Appeal include direct assistance to the poor, the hungry, and the homeless. Also, it funds places like the Emmanuel House Homeless Shelter, the St. Martin Porres Center, which serves the elderly and poor, St. Clare and St. Antoine Nursing Homes for the aged and infirm, Catholic School scholarships for economically poor students, and refugee and migrant services.
Our Church does all of these good works and many more daily. The Catholic Church is the second largest provider of social services for the poor and needy after the government. Thousands of people are assisted by our Church because you support the Catholic Charity Appeal.
Our Catholic Charity Appeal Parish Goal this year is $190,000. OLM has not reached its goal since 2019 due to the pandemic. With the pandemic subsiding, now is the time for every parishioner to support the Appeal.
I thank our CCA Chairs, Ron and Kate Jelinek, for leading the Appeal at OLM. This weekend is our in-pew pledge solicitation for the Appeal. Historically OLM has always exceeded our parish goal and led the Diocese in supporting the charitable works of the Church.
So if you've never pledged before, please do so today. If you've donated in the past, please do so again and consider increasing your pledge. We ask every parish family to prayerfully consider a pledge of $300 payable over 10 months. That's just $30 a month to help thousands of our poor and needy brothers and sisters in RI!
We celebrate St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day this week. So please join us this Thursday as we welcome Bishop Tobin to OLM for St. Patrick's Day. Bishop Tobin is celebrating our 12:05 pm Mass which includes readings and music in Irish. A reception with Irish Soda Bread and coffee follows the Mass! And then, on Saturday, we welcome Monsignor Raymond Bastia, who is celebrating our St. Joseph's Day Mass in Italian at Noon. A reception of Italian zeppoles and coffee follows the Mass! Let's celebrate our faith with St. Patrick and St. Joseph!
Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless!