Dear Parishioners:

Dominican Friars of the Order of Preachers

We are kicking off a new Adult Faith Formation Summer Program at OLM this month. Three Dominican friars from the Godward Program will be preaching a series of weekly talks titled “Why Catholicism Still Matters” across the Diocese of Providence, including here at OLM. The series will include a short talk on various topics relevant to daily Catholic life, followed by a Q&A panel discussion. Our program begins on Monday, June 29, at 7:00 pm and continues on the first three Mondays in July.

The Dominican friars, formally known as the Order of Preachers, are a Catholic religious order founded by St. Dominic over 800 years ago for one sole purpose: giving every single person a chance for a real encounter with the Gospel. Locally, the Dominicans are known for their ministry and service at Providence College and St. Pius V Parish. We also have Friars from PC Priory help with Masses here on occasion.

The three Dominican Friars are Brother Anselm Kelly, O.P., who entered the Order of Preachers in 2021. He graduated from Hampden-Sydney College, where he studied history and government. Before entering the Order, he lived and worked in Richmond, Virginia. Brother Clement Greenspan, O.P., entered the Order of Preachers in 2021. He studied marine transportation at Massachusetts Maritime Academy and received a U.S.C.G. license. He lives in Washington, D.C., where he is continuing his formation for the priesthood.

Brother Roland Wakefield, O.P., is originally from Hanover, Massachusetts. After graduating from Providence College in 2021, he entered the Order of Preachers. He was attracted to the Dominican life of prayer, preaching, and fraternity. He currently lives in Washington, D.C., where he is continuing his formation for the priesthood. He hopes, along with Br. Anselm and Br. Clement, to be ordained a deacon next year.

This program is taking place across the Diocese of Providence at nine parishes: St. Jude in Lincoln, Saint Pius V in Providence, Saint Teresa in Pawtucket, Saint Bernard in North Kingstown, Holy Apostles in Cranston, Our Lady Star of the Sea in Narragansett, St. Patrick in Providence (in Spanish), Saint Christopher in Tiverton, and here at OLM.

The talks will take place at the parishes on different days and times, with some in the evening, afternoon, and morning. You can find the days and times of all the talks, along with more information, on the Godward website.

It is a unique opportunity for our Diocese and our parish to be formed in our Catholic Faith. I hope you can come on Monday to the cool of the Church to learn more about the faith and ask the Friars questions. Confessions on Mondays at 6:00 pm continue, with talks following at 7:00 pm. Hope to see you here!

As part of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage when it arrived in the nation’s capital on the evening of June 5, 2026, Father Charles Trullols, the director of the Catholic Information Center in Washington, holds the Eucharist aloft as he offers a special blessing for America near the Washington Monument, accompanied by nine young adult “Perpetual Pilgrims.” Those pilgrims are traveling with the Eucharist along the East Coast this summer as the National Eucharist Pilgrimage commemorates the nation’s 250th anniversary with the theme, “One Nation Under God.” (Catholic Standard photo by Mihoko Owada)

Another unique event taking place in the Diocese of Providence is the 2026 National Eucharistic Pilgrimage, which is coming this week. In honor of America’s 250th anniversary, this Pilgrimage has the theme "One Nation Under God."

The pilgrims have been making their way across the country with the Eucharist. They will do so here in Rhode Island, including a special Eucharistic Procession led by Bishop Lewandowski from the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul to the RI Statehouse. A complete schedule of the Pilgrimage Events is in the bulletin.

Everyone is welcome to attend the events. As the Catholic Charity Appeal for this year comes to a close on June 30, there is good news to report. Thanks to the generosity of Catholics across the Diocese of Providence, we have surpassed our $7.8 million goal, reaching 102% of our diocesan goal. This was thanks to the generosity of 17,108 donors across the diocese.

Here at OLM, our CCA goal was not only surpassed but also set a new record. As of this week, $311,000 has been pledged or donated by 478 generous parishioners. This is a incredible increase from the $276,756 raised last year, and the number of donors rose from 449. In the name of the poor and needy, I thank you for your generosity. If you have not yet made a pledge, please do so by June 30! I thank you for your support.

Be well. Do good. God bless. Have a Happy Fourth of July! Happy 250th Anniversary of the United States of America! God Bless America!

The Friars & Fourth of July Are Coming! One Nation Under God!