Dear Parishioners:
In the name of Fr. Rocco Puopolo and the Xaverian Missionaries, I extend their heartfelt gratitude for your warm welcome and generous support during last weekend's Mission Appeal. Your contributions directly fuel the Xaverian Missionaries' noble efforts in charity and evangelization, making a significant impact on their work.
We are fortunate to have Fr. Connors, a few retired priests, and the Dominican Friars from Providence College occasionally assisting with Masses this summer. Your continued support and understanding are crucial now that we are a parish with only one priest.
We may have to adjust the schedule. It might require moving the start time of Saturday Confessions back a half hour so I can properly prepare before the Mass on Saturday evening. Monday Confessions will remain in place at 6:00 pm.
I do not anticipate eliminating Masses from the schedule, as Masses at OLM are always well-attended. The Sunday 5:00 pm Mass should continue as the Dominican Friars are generous in helping cover that Mass. In the fall, I hope to announce any time changes to our schedule.
Canon 905 in the Code of Canon Law provides that a priest is permitted to celebrate Mass only once a day in normal circumstances. However, that same canon also says, "If there is a shortage of priests, the local ordinary can allow priests to celebrate twice a day for a just cause, or if pastoral necessity requires it, even three times on Sundays or holy days of obligation."
The schedule at OLM occasionally requires that I celebrate three or more Masses on a Saturday due to the daily Mass, funerals, weddings, and the Evening Mass. There are some Sundays when no priest is available to help cover, and I will celebrate all three Sunday Masses.
Celebrating three Masses or more is not ideal for any priest but is a reality in the Church today. With the shortage of priests, one-priest parishes are now the norm. In fact, many priests have combined parishes with two or three churches they serve alone.
Only three parishes in the Diocese of Providence currently have an Associate Pastor: St. Philip in Greenville, St. Charles and St Michael in Providence, and Saints John and Paul in Coventry. Please pray earnestly for increased vocations to the priesthood in the Diocese of Providence.
Pope Francis commented on the decline of priestly vocations: "The problem of vocations is a serious problem. There is also another problem. The problem of the birthrate. If there are no young men, there can be no priests. Without priestly vocations, the Church is weakened."
“The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest
to send out laborers for his harvest.”
OLM is responsible for four nursing and assisted living facilities in town. In addition, the priests of the area, including myself, provide emergency coverage at Kent Hospital regularly. Our coverage at Kent is usually twice a month, but it may increase as three priests from the area retired and one transferred out of the area.
I intend to work my hardest to be readily available for emergencies and all other matters, but there may be occasions when I am unavailable, such as during my day off and vacations. On those occasions, I appreciate your patience and understanding. All will be fine working together in faith, hope, and charity, relying on prayer and patience. For in God, we trust!
It is the first time in many years that I have lived alone and without priestly fraternity in a Rectory. As a newly ordained priest, I lived with four priests at St. Augustine. At St. Ambrose, a resident priest lived with me for a few years. In my twelve years here at OLM, I have always lived with a brother priest. The rectory is rather empty and quiet, and I now understand how empty nesters feel!
Sister Lourdes, Sister Emma, and Sister Jane, our good Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, depart this week for their Annual Retreat and Chapter Meeting of their religious community. This year, they will drive to Peoria, Illinois, for their Retreat, which will be led by a Bishop from the Philippines. Please pray for them and all the sisters of their community that the Retreat is fruitful. Pray for their safe travel and happy return to OLM in early August.
Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox!!!