Dear Parishioners:
I hope you made it to the Parish Mission this past week. Dominican Friar Father Justin Brophy, our Mission Preacher, did an outstanding job preaching. In your name, I thank him for taking time from his busy schedule and giving up his Spring Break to be here at OLM. His words provided much food for thought as we continue to renew our relationship with Jesus in this Lenten Season.
We celebrate the Feast of Saint Patrick the Apostle of Ireland this Friday. Bishop John Noonan, the Bishop of Orlando, Florida, will celebrate the St. Patrick's Day Mass at 12:05 pm. The Mass features Irish hymns and readings in Irish. A reception will follow the Mass with Irish Coffee and Irish Soda Bread.
Bishop John Noonan of Orlando
Bishop Noonan is a native of Limerick, Ireland. He immigrated to New York at the age of 18. He later relocated to Miami, where his calling to the priesthood led him to St. John Vianney College. He was ordained a priest in 1983 and Auxiliary Bishop of Miami in 2005. In 2010 he was named Bishop of Orlando.
As a priest of Miami, he served as the Rector of St. John Vianney College Seminary, where I first met him over twenty years ago. He's been to OLM to celebrate Confirmation in years past, and I know you will warmly welcome him back.
St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated since around the ninth century. The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland but in America. Records show that a St. Patrick's Day parade was held on March 17, 1601, in a Spanish colony in St. Augustine, Florida. The Spanish Colony's Irish vicar Ricardo Artur organized the St. Patrick's Day parade.
More than a century later, homesick Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched into New York City on March 17, 1772, to honor the Irish patron saint. Enthusiasm for the St. Patrick's Day parades in New York City, Boston, Newport, and other early American cities grew. Sadly for some people, the celebration of St. Patrick's Day is nothing more than a secular occasion for silly Irish hats, green beer, and drunken debauchery.
Yet St. Patrick's Day is traditionally a spiritual and religious occasion in Ireland. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. While on St. Patrick's Day, we celebrate the Irish heritage of many Americans and their contribution to the Church and Country over the centuries. It is a day to celebrate our Catholic Faith. Glorious St. Patrick brought the Catholic Faith to Ireland, so we celebrate by attending Mass. See you on Friday! Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Saint Joseph
March 19 falls on the Fourth Sunday of Lent, so the Solemnity of St. Joseph is moved to Monday, March 20. We will celebrate St Joseph's Day with a Mass with prayers, readings, and hymns in Italian. A reception of Italian Coffee and Zeppoles will follow the Mass. We are honored to welcome our new Coadjutor Bishop, Richard Henning, to OLM as the celebrant and homilist of the Mass. St. Joseph is the Patron of the Universal Church.
Still, in Rhode Island, he is the unofficial Patron of Italo-Americans. Therefore, we celebrate the heritage of Italian Americans and their many contributions to the Church and Country. Please attend the St. Joseph Day Mass on Monday, March 20, at 12:05 pm. Buona Festa di San Giuseppe!
As we continue to celebrate this Sacred Season of Lent, if you still need to go to the Sacrament of Confession, I encourage you to do so. There is Confession every Saturday at 3:00 pm. On Mondays, two priests are available for Confessions at 6:00 pm. All Day Confessions are on Saturday, March 25, from 9:00am until 3:00pm, with four priests available all day. Also, on the Wednesday of Holy Week, there will be two hours of Confessions with four priests. Make a good Confession before Easter. You won't regret it!
St. Thomas Aquinas said: "In the life of the body, a man is sometimes sick, and unless he takes medicine, he will die. Even so, in the spiritual life, a man is sick because of sin. For that reason, he needs medicine so that he may be restored to health; and this grace is bestowed in the Sacrament of Penance. "
I thank those who have pledged to the Catholic Charity Appeal. We are getting closer to our goal of $190,000. Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless! Happy St. Patrick’s Day!