From First Communion to Confirmation, Happy Pentecost!!!!

Dear Parishioners: It was a joyful and wonderful celebration of First Holy Communion last weekend at Our Lady of Mercy.  Over 100 of our parish children received the Eucharistic Lord in Holy Communion for the very first time Saturday.  Congratulations to them all!

On Sunday they returned to Church for the May Crowing at the 10:30AM Mass and celebrated our patroness, Our Lady of Mercy, in fine fashion.  Of course, the May Crowning is so special on Mother’s Day and this year was no exception.  In your name, I offer our thanks to all who made the celebration possible for these children. Their parents and families who first planted the seed of faith and ensured it is nourished and strengthened with the Sacraments are to be thanked.  We are also grateful to the many teachers and helpers who instructed and prepared the children for this joyous time in their lives.  We thank the musicians, ushers, readers, ministers and all those who worked so hard in making this celebration such a great occasion of faith, hope and love for our parish and for these children.

We also must thank Sister Rose who has dedicated herself to forming the young children of our parish in the Catholic Faith. For twenty years, she has committed her time and talent to ensuring that Jesus and His Church are central in the lives of the children of our parish and we are grateful for her tireless and selfless service. Just a few weeks ago after meeting with the Provincial of the Filipini Sisters, Sister Rose informed me of her intention to retire from her role as the Directress of Religious Education. We are certainly most grateful for her many years of service to Our Lady of Mercy Parish.  Also, Sister Lucy who has served here for many years will be retiring as the Pastoral Minister to the Sick, Elderly and Homebound. Mother Provincial has indicated that both Sister Rose and Sister Lucy will be moving from the Filipini Convent at OLM in the coming months to live with larger Filipini Communities.  Sister Lucy is to move to the Filipini Convent at Mt. Carmel Parish in Bristol while Sister Rose is to return to her native New Jersey.  We are planning a Special Mass of Thanksgiving and Celebration for the good sisters in the coming weeks.

This weekend we welcome  the Most Reverend Thomas Tobin, the Bishop of Providence, to Our Lady of Mercy.  He is coming to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for over 100 of our OLM young adults at 1:00PM on Sunday.  We look forward to officially welcoming our Bishop and celebrating with our Confirmation Class and their families. How appropriate that we celebrate Confirmation on the great feast of Pentecost when we celebrate the Holy Spirit.   Pentecost recalls the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles and Mary and then, through them came upon all who would choose Jesus Christ. The apostles began the mission of evangelization, of bringing the world to the  Good News of the Gospel by invoking the Holy Spirit, the Power of God. In a very special way we pray for these young adults of our parish as they are confirmed by Bishop Tobin and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  It is a great day for them and their families but also for our parish congratulations as they are confirmed in their Catholic Faith.

In April, Pope Francis celebrated Confirmation in Rome for 44 young adults from around the world including several from the United States.  In a  profound reflection, Pope Francis reminded the young people about the importance of Confirmation. He invited these young people to live their faith fully and courageously. He  stated: “It is an invitation which I make to you, young confirmandi, and to all present. Remain steadfast in the journey of faith, with firm hope in the Lord. This is the secret of our journey! He gives us the courage to swim against the tide. Pay attention, my young friends: to go against the current; this is good for the heart, but we need courage to swim against the tide. Jesus gives us this courage!” Congrats to our OLM newly confirmed in the faith! God Bless.

Happy First Communion and Happy Mothers' Day at OLM!!!!

Dear Parishioners: We are grateful to Bishop Evans for celebrating the Special First Anniversary Mass for Monsignor Lolio this past Monday.  Along with our school children there was a large crowd of parishioners and Monsignor’s sister, Sheila.  It was a wonderful way to remember Monsignor and pray for the repose of his soul.  May he rest in eternal peace.  Bishop also blessed a new statue of St. Joseph that was donated in memory of Monsignor Lolio.  In his homily, Bishop Evans reminded the school children that St. Joseph is the Father of Jesus and the Patron of the Universal Church.  How  appropriate that Monsignor Lolio who was the spiritual father of Our Lady of Mercy for two decades be honored in such a way.   Until we locate a fitting place for St. Joseph he will reside in the candle room where we can call upon his intercession for our parish.

Congratulations to the children of our parish who make their First Holy Communion this weekend.  What a great day for our parish and for their families to celebrate with faith, hope and love the reception of the Eucharistic Lord into their lives for the very first time.  These children have been preparing all year for this big day and practicing all week for this weekend.  It is always such an uplifting experience to see these little ones  come forward to receive Jesus Christ in Holy Communion so prayerfully and reverently.  As we rejoice with them and offer our prayers for them, perhaps we might also reflect on our own reception of Holy Communion.

We might ask ourselves a few questions: are we prepared properly to receive Holy Communion?  Do we keep the Communion Fast of not eating or drinking one hour prior to receiving?  Do we go to Confession regularly or when in a  state of serious sin?  How reverently and prayerfully do we receive Communion? Whether we are receiving Holy Communion for the first time or the one thousandth time, we all need to pause and pray about what we are doing.

This weekend we pause to pray for all Mothers as we celebrate Mothers’ Day.  The celebration of Mother’s Day dates back all the way to ancient times, but the idea of the celebration was first kicked around in 1872. Julia Ward Howe, author of the words to the “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” proposed Mother’s Day as a day dedicated to peace. But it was Ann Jarvis of West Virginia, however, who really pushed for a national day to honor mothers. On the second anniversary of her mother’s death, Jarvis asked her mother’s church in Grafton, West Virginia, to celebrate a day to honor  mothers. Thanks to a campaign by Jarvis and her supporters, by 1911 almost every state celebrated Mother’s Day. In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson made it a national holiday.

The late Joseph Cardinal Mindszenty, the Primate of Hungary in the mid-20th Century and a staunch defender of the faith against the Fascists and Communists, once wrote on Motherhood.  His words are a beautiful reflection for our celebration of Mothers’ Day.  He wrote:  “The most important person on earth is a mother. She cannot claim the honor of having built Notre Dame Cathedral. She need not. She has built something more magnificent than any cathedral------a dwelling for an immortal soul, the tiny perfection of her baby's body. The Angels have not been blessed with such a grace. They cannot share in God's Creative miracle to bring new Saints to Heaven. Only a human mother can. Mothers are closer to God the Creator than any other creatures. God joins forces with mothers in performing this act of creation. What on God's good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?"

May God Bless all  Mothers. May we always be mindful of their love and dedication.  May we always remember them in our prayers while they are with us and when they’ve gone before us in faith.  Cardinal Mindszenty is correct:  “What on God’s good earth is more glorious than this: to be a mother?”  Happy Mothers’ Day! Remember to join us for May Devotions.

Preparing for First Communion and Mothers' Day with Faith, Hope and Love!

Dear Parishioners: I wish to thank OLM Parishioner Colin Tierney, a Junior at Bishop Hendricken High School for including the parish in his efforts to help the victims of the Boston Terrorist Attacks. He was at the Boston Marathon and inspired to react.  So he created and designed  wristbands with the Holy Father's words to the City of Boston, “Combat evil with good.”  What a great way to react to the tragedy with faith and hope!  I’m happy to report that he raised $750 selling these wristbands  after Mass at OLM  for the One Boston Fund.  The horrific tragedy in Boston continues to play out in the news media and seems to gain more connections to little Rhode Island everyday.  We can only respond with faith, hope and love.  In a world too full of fear, hate, violence and war, perhaps we might pray for the many victims of violence and hatred as well as their families who suffer with them.  Let us not only pray but let us truly work to “combat evil with good!”

We are looking forward to the celebration of First Communion next weekend.  What a happy day for our parish children as they receive the Lord Jesus in the Eucharist for the very first time.  Let us pray for them as they continue to prepare for this great day in their young lives. Several years ago  Benedict, Pope Emeritus, meet with a group of children who recently made their First Holy Communion.  He reflected about his own First Communion and said: “So on that day I was  really filled with great joy, because Jesus came to me and I realized that a new stage in my life was beginning, I was 9 years old, and that it was henceforth important to stay faithful to that encounter, to that communion. I promised the Lord as best I could: ‘I always want to stay with you’, and I prayed to him, ‘but above all, stay with me’. So I went on living my life like that; thanks be to God, the Lord has always taken me by the hand and guided me, even in difficult situations.”

I too remember my First Communion Day at St. Paul’s in Cranston.  My older brothers served the Mass and I received the Eucharist from Father Raymond Rafferty, then the Assistant Pastor.  Afterwards the whole Healey Family went to IHOP!  It was a great day and I hope and pray that our OLM First Communion Class will also always remember their special day when they receive the Eucharistic Lord for the first time.

Of course, next Sunday is Mothers’ Day, so we will be praying for all mothers, living and deceased.  The First Communion Class will celebrate Mothers’ Day in fine fashion with the May Crowning at next Sunday’s 10:30AM Mass.  What a great way to celebrate Mothers’ Day by crowning Mary ,the Mother of the Church and Queen of the May! Father Shemek and I will remember all  Mothers at the Masses on Mothers’ Day as we call upon the intercession of our Mother, Our Lady of Mercy.

During his reflection at  a recent Wednesday Audience Pope Francis departed from his official text to say, “Mothers, go forth with this witness to the living Christ.” He was referring to the fact that women were the first messengers of the risen Christ when Mary Magdalene took the good news of the resurrection to the disciples.   Pope Francis is urging mothers everywhere to be the messengers of the risen Christ to their families most especially their children.  Let us pray that Mothers continue to bear witness to the living Christ especially to their children!

It’s hard to believe that  year has gone by since  we learned of Monsignor Lolio’s tragic death. Without a doubt  his family, friends and many parishioners continue to grieve the loss of such a fine priest and pastor.   I invite all parishioners to join us for a special First Anniversary Mass in memory of Monsignor Lolio on Monday morning at 9:00AM.  Bishop Evans is to celebrate and preach the Mass that will include the children from our parish school.  As a former Catholic high school teacher Monsignor Lolio was always very dedicated to Catholic Education.  Thanks to his generosity we now have a OLM School Scholarship Fund dedicated to his memory.  Let us continue to pray for the repose of his noble soul.  God Bless.

OLM Wins 6th State Title at Science Olympiad, Congratulations!!!

OLM SCHOOL SCIENCE OLYMPIAD TEAM CAPTURES SIXTH STATE TITLE

WILL REPRESENT R.I. AT NATIONAL COMPETITION IN DAYTON, OHIO ON MAY 18

East Greenwich, RI -- Our Lady of Mercy School’s Science Olympiad Team, made up of twenty 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, won its sixth RI State Science Olympiad Competition at Rhode Island College on Saturday, April 20.  With 8 gold, 3 silver, and 4 bronze medals on the state level, OLM placed fourth or higher in 21 out of 23 events. The team will represent RI in the middle school division at the National competition for the second straight year and the sixth time in eight years, winning four consecutive titles from 2006-2009.  OLM head coach and middle school science teacher Michelle Lewandowski, along with several parent and teacher volunteer coaches, helped prepare the students with weekly meetings and study sessions, beginning in October.  Out of 23 events, which range from building events such as Boomilever and Mission Possible (A Rube Goldberg Device), study events such as Anatomy and Heredity, and Lab events such as Crime Busters and Experimental Design, OLM earned medals in a total of 15 events.

The Gold Medals were earned in Anatomy, Boomilever, Crime Busters,  Helicopters, Mousetrap Vehicle, Road Scholar, Rocks and Minerals and Sounds of Music.   Silver medals were for Forestry, Mission Possible and Invasive Species. OLM’s four bronze medals were earned in Experimental Design, Heredity, Meteorology and Metric Mastery.  Members of the team include the following students: 8th graders: Jake Mueller, Matt Paliotta, Makenna Dacey, Hunter Corbett, Peter Faherty, Michael Cottam, Patrick Petteruti, Daniel Legare, Zach Magiera, Isabelle Lucente, Tim O'Brien.  7th graders: Sean Meehan, Bella Lanna, Alex Lanna, Teddy Hackett, Christina Liberto; 6th grader: Caitlyn Murphy. Support team: Bianca Micolis (8th), Sophia Micolis (7th), Eric Paliotta (6th).  The OLM team will travel to Dayton, Ohio for the National Science Olympiad competition, being held on May 18, at Wright State University.

Cardinal O'Malley's Homily on Boston Tragedy

Sunday April 21, 2013 – Good Shepherd Sunday

Cardinal Seán O’Malley – Cathedral of the Holy Cross

Jesus said “they will strike the shepherd and the sheep will scatter”; that is what happened to His disciples after the Crucifixion, as they scattered in fear, doubt and panic.

On Easter the Good Shepherd returns to gather the scattered;  Mary Magdalene in grief, Thomas in doubt, Peter in betrayal.  We too are scattered and need the assurance of the Good Shepherd, who lays down his life for us, who comes to gather us in our scattered in our brokenness and pain, scattered by failed marriages, lost employment, estranged children, illness, the death of a loved one, soured relationships, disappointments and frustrations.

This week we are all scattered by the pain and horror of the senseless violence perpetrated on Patriots Day.  Last Sunday at the 11:30 Mass here at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross, Fr. O’Leary led a special blessing for the many runners who participated in the Mass.  Some people here were among those injured and those who witnessed the terrible events that unfolded at the finish lineof the Marathon, but everyone was profoundly affected by the wanton violence and destruction inflicted upon our community by two young men unknown to all of us.

It is very difficult to understand what was going on in the young men’s minds, what demons were operative, what ideologies or politics or the perversion of their religion.  It was amazing to witness, however, how much goodness and generosity were evidenced in our community as a result of the tragic events they perpetrated.

It reminds me of a passage in Dorothy Day’s autobiography where she speaks about experiencing a serious earthquake in California when she was a young girl.  Suddenly neighbors that never spoke were helping each other, sharing their food and water, caring for children and the elderly.  She was amazed and delighted, but a few weeks later people retreated to their former individualism and indifference.

Dorothy Day spent the rest of her life looking to recapture the spirit of community.  That led her to the Communist Party and eventually it led her into the Catholic Church and to found the Catholic Worker Movement, dedicating herself to the care of the homeless, the drug addict

This past week we have experienced a surge in civic awareness and sense of community.   It has been inspiring to see the generous and at times heroic responses to the Patriots Day violence.  Our challenge is to keep this spirit of community alive going forward.  As people of faith, we must commit ourselves to the task of community building.

Jesus teaches us in the Gospel that we must care for each other, especially the most vulnerable; the hungry, the sick, the homeless, the foreigner; all have a special claim on our love.  We must be a people of reconciliation, not revenge.  The crimes of the two young men must not be the justification for prejudice against Muslims and against immigrants.

The Gospel is the antidote to the “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth” mentality.  The parable of the Good Samaritan is the story about helping one’s neighbor when that neighbor was from an enemy tribe, a foreign religion, a hostile group.  The Samaritan cuts through centuries of antipathy by seeing in the Jewish man who had been beaten and left for dead not a stranger or an enemy, but a fellow human being who has a claim of his humanity and compassion.

We know so little about the two young men who perpetrated these heinous acts of violence.  One said he had no friends in this country, the other said his chief interests were money and his career.  People need to be part of a community to lead a fully human life.  As believers one of our tasks is to build community, to value people more than money or things, to recognize in each person a child of God, made in the image and likeness of our Creator.

The individualism and alienation of our age has spawned a culture of death.  Over a million abortions a year is one indication of how human life has been devalued.  Violent entertainment, films and video games have coarsened us and made us more insensitive to the pain and suffering of others.  The inability of the Congress to enact laws that control access to automatic weapons is emblematic of the pathology of our violent culture.

When Pope John Paul II visited Madrid in 2003, addressing one million young people, he told them; “Respond to the blind violence and inhuman hatred with the fascinating power of love.”  We all know that evil has its fascination and attraction but too often we lose sight of the fact that love and goodness also have the power to attract and that virtue is winsome.  Passing on the faith means helping people to lead a good life, a moral life, a just life.  Thus part of our task as believers is to help our people become virtuous.

Plato thought that virtue was knowledge.  As Chain Ginott, the concentration camp survivor, reminds us, doctors, nurses, scientists and soldiers were part of the Holocaust machinery, showing that knowledge is not virtue, and often science and technology have been put at the service of evil.  It is only a culture of life and an ethic of love that can rescue us from the senseless violence that inflicts so much suffering on our society.

Like Christ our Good Shepherd, we who aspire to be Jesus’ disciples and to follow His way of life, we too must work to gather the scattered, to draw people into Christ’s community.  It is in His Gospel that we find the answers to the questions of life and the challenging ideals that are part of discipleship; mercy, forgiveness, self sacrifice, service, justice and truth.

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John Lennon once said, ‘Everything will be OK in the end.  If it’s not OK, it’s not the end.’  Our faith goes beyond that optimism.  Love is stronger than death.  We are going to live forever in the Resurrection Christ won for us on the Cross.   The innocent victims who perished this week; Martin Richard, Krystle Campbell, Lu Lingzi, Officer Sean Collier, will live in eternity.  Life is not ended, merely changed – that is the message of Easter.  As Martin Luther King expressed, ‘Death is a comma, not a period at the end of a sentence.’

Although the culture of death looms large, our Good Shepherd rose from the grave on Easter and His light can expel the darkness and illuminate for us a path that leads to life, to a civilization of solidarity and love.  I hope that the events of this past week have taught us how high the stakes are.  We must build a civilization of love, or there will be no civilization at all

Prayers for Boston

We offer our prayers in solidarity of the people of Boston and for all the victims, the injured and their families.  May God be with them all! "In the midst of the darkness of this tragedy we turn to the light of Jesus Christ, the light that was evident in the lives of people who immediately turned to help those in need today. We stand in solidarity with our ecumenical and interfaith colleagues in the commitment to witness the greater power of good in our society and to work together for healing." Sean Cardinal O'Malley, Interfaith Service for Boston