Honoring Mary with Faith and Charity!

Dear Parishioners: Is the image at the Church of the Presentation in North Providence truly an image of  the Virgin Mary?  Is it a miracle as some people have suggested? Or is it simply a stain on a cross? All week crowds have gathered at the North Providence Church to look at the image on the cross that appears to resemble the Blessed Mother.  The media have flocked to the site and run news stories all week.  The Diocese of Providence this week issued the following statement:

“The Catholic Church is always very cautious in evaluating alleged miracles. It is highly unlikely that the image of the Virgin Mary that individuals are seeing on the cross of the Church of the Presentation in North Providence is the result of divine intervention.  Nonetheless, God often works through ordinary means, and if the image on the cross, even if it is the result of natural causes, inspires individuals to a renewed faith in God and greater charity for their neighbor, that’s a positive message to be welcomed and embraced.  Catholics are also reminded that the best way to express their love and devotion for our Blessed Mother, is to attend Holy Mass this Thursday, August 15^th, the Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, a holy day of obligation.”

Miracle or stain, the remarkable thing is that people stopped to look and pray.  However, as the above statement suggests the best way to pray is to come to Mass.   The Eucharist is the best prayer we have and it should always be the “source and summit” of our Catholic Faith.  How sad it would be if someone went to North Providence to see the image  of the Blessed Mother but skipped Mass this week on her Feast of the Assumption.

The other Diocesan news this week is that the Catholic Charity Appeal thanks to the generosity of the faithful has surpassed this year’s $7.8 million goal despite the state’s continued economic challenges.  I offer my thanks to the 632 OLM parishioners who so generously responded to the call to support the many good and charitable works of our Diocesan Church.  Our parish goal was surpassed as we raised  at OLM a total of $227,860, the third highest total in the state.  We finished behind St. Luke Church in Barrington and Christ the King Church in South Kingstown.   Thankfully for the Appeal many parishes reached or surpassed their goal.

We also surpassed our goal of 600 parish households participating in the Charity Appeal.  However, we are a parish of over 2,000 registered parishioners and  only about 25% helped to reach this goal.  Again I thank our Catholic Charity Appeal Chairs, Steven and Antonia Zubiago and Kevin and Nancy McDevitt for their leadership in helping surpass our parish goal.  Their leadership and your great generosity are also deeply appreciated by Bishop Tobin who recently sent a note of thanks for the great effort made by our parish.

Of course, your generosity to the poor and needy extends well beyond the Catholic Charity Appeal and includes your great support of our OLM Outreach.  Your generous support in the monthly Outreach envelope continues to support the work  of our Outreach Office.  It also allows us to financially support the good work of McAuley House and Emmanuel House in Providence and House of Hope in Warwick which serve the homeless and destitute.  Also we’ve been able to help  Whitmarsh Home for Boys where OLP Brother John McHale does such great work.

We’ve also been able to help pro-life groups support women in crisis pregnancies  along with helping mothers of newborns  getting the supplies they need for their children. In the name of the poor and needy, I offer my gratitude for your continued generosity and support of the OLM Outreach charitable works.   Your deep love and respect of the poor is a great witness of your Catholic Faith. Your charity helps many people in need and I know they too are grateful. It’s the last week of summer for many of our OLM students so be sure to enjoy it! God Bless. Go Sox!!

Fond Farewells as Summer Moves Along...

Dear Parishioner: We said “Farewell” to Sister Lucy and Sister Rose this past week.  They have retired from full-time ministry and relocated to larger convents.  There is a letter from the good sisters in this week’s bulletin and also there new addresses if you wish to contact them and wish them well.  In your name, we thank Sister Rose and Sister Lucy for their many years of service to our parish and for their continued witness to the faith.  May God continue to bless them both with good health and happiness in the years to come. We know that  they continue to follow the mission of the foundress of their religious community, St. Lucy Filippini, who reminds us: "The Church of God is not a restful garden, but a working vineyard."

The work continues  getting our school ship shape for the coming year.  The first day of school is scheduled for Wednesday, August 28th! It’s hard to believe but it is just two weeks away!  We are working with a security company to install some security measures to further strengthen the safety and security of our students and faculty.  There are still  some openings in a few of our grades and tuition assistance is available for active OLM parishioners.  If your child or grandchild is interested in a great education in a strong Catholic environment then stop by  or call the OLM School to see if there is a place for them.

It’s hard to believe school starts soon.  When I was a kid, school never began until after Labor Day.  The summer didn’t officially end until the last cookouts and beach outings on Labor Day had concluded.  In some states the school year begins the first week of August.  It seems that “See you in September” has now become “See you in August”!!  Things change and now summer for our OLM students ends on August 28th! In the meantime, please continue to pray for all of our students and faculty as they enjoy the remainder of their summer break.  May they all return tan, rested and ready for another great year!

I recently came across this prayer called “On A Day of Driving” and it is wonderful prayer for this time of year as people vacation, drive to the beach, or make day trips. Perhaps we might offer it for those we know who are away for awhile.  It reads: “God who watches over us, watch over this journey.  Keep us free from affliction and strife, safe from danger and wrong doing, protected in Your loving sight. May we know strength and good fortune on the way, rest and peace upon our return. May this travel be blessed with the shelter of Your gentle arms, the guidance of Your mighty hand, the gift of Your countless blessings. Bless our moments apart, bless our moments together. Grace upon departure, joy upon return. Remembering to praise and bless Your Holy Name wherever You lead us. Amen.”

Monday marks “Victory Day” in Rhode Island, more commonly known as VJ Day.  This day marks the surrender of Japan and the end of the Second World War.  It is only a legal holiday in Rhode Island.  It is a day to remember  the fallen and to  pray for all those who died during the Second World War and for peace in our world.

This week we also celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary on August 15th.  This great feast is a Holy Day of Obligation for all Catholics.  We have a full schedule of Masses: a Vigil Mass at 5:00PM on Wednesday and two Masses at 7:30AM and 7:00PM on the Holy Day itself.  On November 1, 1950 Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary to be a dogma of faith. This feast celebrates her assumption body and soul to Heaven.  The words of the Solemn Declaration state:  “it was fitting that the Mother of our Lord, when the course of her earthly life was finished, should be taken up body and soul into the glory of heaven.”  I hope you make every effort to come and celebrate this great feast of our Blessed Mother. See you on the Holy Day. God Bless. Go Sox!!

From Rio into the World! The Call to Evangelize...

Dear Parishioners: What a site in Rio as an estimated crowd of 3 million people gathered on the Copacabana Beach  for a World Youth Day Mass with Pope Francis.  The Holy Father told the young people jamming the beach that the Church needs their enthusiasm and creativity. He urged them to go out and spread their faith "to the fringes of  society," even to those who seem the most indifferent.

Pope Francis continued to challenge the young people and the entire Church in his homily.  Here are some highlights from his powerful sermon: “Where does Jesus send us? There are no borders, no limits: he sends us to everyone. The Gospel is for everyone, not just for some. It is not only for those who seem closer to us, more receptive, more welcoming. It is for everyone. Do not be afraid to go and to bring Christ into every area of life, to the fringes of society, even to those who seem farthest away, most indifferent. The Lord seeks all; he wants everyone to feel the warmth of his mercy and his love. 

And then, Jesus did not say: “One of you go,” but “All of you go”: we are sent together. Dear young friends, be aware of the companionship of the whole Church and also the communion of the saints on this mission. When we face challenges together, then we are strong, we discover resources we did not know we had. Jesus did not call the Apostles to live in isolation; he called them to form a group, a community. 

Evangelizing means bearing personal witness to the love of God, it is overcoming our selfishness; it is serving by bending down to wash the feet of our brethren, as Jesus did. Go, do not be afraid, and serve. If you follow these three ideas, you will experience that the one who evangelizes is evangelized; the one who transmits the joy of faith receives joy. Bringing the Gospel is bringing God’s power to pluck up and break down evil and violence, to destroy and overthrow the barriers of  selfishness, intolerance and hatred, so as to build a new world. Jesus Christ is counting on you! The Church is counting on you! The Pope is counting on you!”                                                            

The Holy Father’s message was delivered to the young Catholics attending World Youth Day but it really is a message for each one of us, young and old, priest and laity.  Do we bring Christ with us wherever we go or is He only for Church on Sundays?  How well are we bearing witness to the Lord’s love and mercy with our own actions and words?  Is there someone at work, at home, at school or even at the local breakfast joint we frequent everyday who needs Christ in their lives?

Perhaps  we who  faithfully come to be with Jesus at Mass each week need to reach out  more to our neighbors, friends and even some members of our own families who have drifted away from the Lord and His Church and invite them back to be with the Lord.   Maybe we need to simply invite them to join us at Mass to share the experience of joy and hope we celebrate and proclaim each week at Eucharist.  If everyone who regularly attends Mass  invited just one person whose been away from the Church back to Mass imagine what could happen!  Is there someone in your life who needs to receive that invitation?

Let us pray: “Heavenly Father, stir in my soul the desire to renew my faith and deepen my relationship with your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ so that I might truly believe in and live the Good News.   Open my heart to hear the Gospel and grant me the confidence to proclaim the Good News to others. Pour out your Spirit, so that I might be strengthened to go forth and witness to the Gospel in my everyday life through my words and actions.   In moments of hesitation, remind me: If not me, then who will proclaim the Gospel? If not now, then when will the Gospel be proclaimed?  If not the truth of the Gospel, then what shall I proclaim? I pray that through the Holy Spirit I might hear the call  to deepen my faith, grow in confidence to proclaim the Gospel and boldly witness to the saving grace of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.” God Bless.

Pope Francis and WYD, Becoming a Pilgrim of Charity

Dear Parishioners:I hope you’ve been able to see some of the news coverage of the Holy Father’s visit to Brazil for World Youth Day.   Huge crowds greeted him upon his arrival.  Pope Francis said he had come to Brazil, the country with most Catholics in the world, to "give an account of the reasons for the hope" that comes from faith in Jesus and inspire them to "offer everyone the inexhaustible riches of his love."

World Youth Day began in 1984 at the close of the Holy Year of Redemption, when over 300,000 young people from around the world responded to the invitation of Blessed Pope John Paul II for an International Jubilee of youth on Palm Sunday in St. Peter’s square. Looking out to the crowds who answered his invitation he said, “What a fantastic spectacle is presented on this stage by your gathering here today! Who claimed that today’s youth has lost their sense of values? Is it really true that they cannot be counted on?”

There have been 11 World Youth Day gatherings since 1984.  In 1993 World Youth Day was celebrated in Denver, Colorado and it has been held in Spain, Australia,  Canada, Italy, Germany, The Philippines, Argentina and Poland. Some might think that such a large gathering of young people that is World Youth Day might bring thoughts of delinquency as the massive crowds of youth flood streets.  However,   anyone who was to witness this gathering would end those fears. The World Youth Day gatherings are full of smiles and joy, singing and dancing young people, culture upon culture and nation upon nation, proudly holding their flags high, greeting one another in peace, trading their national tokens, humbly realizing how small they are in a world of people, and strengthened to witness so many who share their convictions.  Acknowledging the hundreds of thousands of young Catholic pligrims gathered in Rio for World Youth Day, Pope Francis said they need space, which they find in Christ, since "there is no more powerful force than the one released from the hearts of young people when they have been conquered by the experience of friendship with Him."

The coverage of the events of World Youth Day in Rio have centered upon Pope Francis and his unique style.  He arrived carrying his own luggage and drove through the streets of Rio in a small Fiat car. The Holy Father seems to have a great sense of humor as well.  When the journalists asked for a chance to interview him, Pope Francis responded: “It's true I don't give interviews. I don't know why. I just can't. It's tiresome, but I enjoy your company."

World Youth Day is a great event of joy, hope and faith for our Church.  Let us pray for all those hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered together in Rio to celebrate their faith in Jesus Christ and His Church. Also let us pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, that his pilgrimage might inspire the young people of our Church to be faithful witnesses of Christ.  One young pilgrim from the Ivory Coast in Africa when asked what he wanted to happen at the celebration said:  “What I want is for our pope to tell all people to have faith and tell people to be friends. The pope cannot resolve the problems of society, but he can illuminate the right path.”

Next week we have a chance to practically aid the good works of Pope Francis by supporting the Peter’s Pence Collection.  The 2013 theme is “Be a Pilgrim of Charity” and emphasizes the role of Catholics in allowing Christ’s love to reach others. This worldwide collection supports church needs and humanitarian activities, through support for victims of war, oppression, religious persecution, natural disasters and other human promotion projects around the world. It also assists seminaries and institutes of Christian formation in developing countries.

Pope Francis has encouraged Catholics to serve others in need and the Peter’s Pence Collection is a great way to help the Holy Father help those most in need around the world. Have a great week! Pray for World Youth Day and for Pope Francis! God Bless.  Go Sox!!

Supporting the Missions...

Dear Parishioners: I was informed this week by Father Dore that he is not coming but that  Fr. Susai Pascal Raj who just arrived from India will now be preaching the Mission Co-Op this weekend at OLM.     The Mission Co-Op annually calls us to see beyond the borders of our own parish and diocese and help support the work of the Church in  the Missions.  As American Catholics we are blessed with a Church that has many financial resources and many generous benefactors.  This is not true for the Church in the Missions especially in India where the Catholic population is small.  Fr. Raj  is here to preach about  the great needs in India for building up and sustaining the Church and helping the neediest.  I ask you to please be generous in responding to the call for help and to continue to pray for the Missions. Also please give Father Raj your usual warm welcome to OLM!

Father Connors and I have been meeting and planning for the upcoming year.  We hope to offer a series of Adult Education Lectures, offer Adoration on a regular basis, and we looking  forward to being very involved in the school and the newly restructured Religious Education Program.

Recently at a meeting with the priests of the Diocese, Bishop Tobin told us that there are over 500 Masses offered across the Diocese of Providence every weekend!  We have a Catholic  population of about 600,000 people of which about a third go to Mass on Sundays.  In this tiny state that is a whole lot  of Masses, many of which are not well attended. So our Bishop is asking  Pastors to look at their Mass schedules to see if Masses need to be reduced.  This is especially true for parishes where there is only one priest but have a Mass schedule that was originally designed for two or three priests. We are truly blessed at OLM with a large Church that holds over 800 people and two priests. It is because of this that we are able to offer  four Masses on weekends. But  beginning on the first Sunday in September we are to offer a fifth Weekend Mass at 5:00PM  on Sunday nights.  This Mass is to be offered only from September through June.  Many parishioners have told me that they often have commitments on Saturday nights and Sunday mornings and therefore go to Mass on Sunday night at St. Francis de Sales or Saints Rose and Clement.  Both those parishes have just one priest and with two priests here at OLM we felt we should offer a similar option.  Plus we’d like to keep our parishioners  coming to OLM!  Also this Mass is to be followed by Religious Education Classes for Grades 6, 7 & 8 on Sundays from 6:00PM until 7:00PM. So please spread the word to your family, friends and neighbors that beginning on September 1st they can go to Mass on Sunday nights at 5:00PM! In addition our Religious Education Program for Grades 1 through 5 is to meet on Sundays from 10:00AM until 11:00AM following the 9:00AM Family Mass.  Moving RE Classes to Sundays connects Religious Education closer to the Eucharist and also provides a  better opportunity for the priests to be more involved.  So get ready for “Mass and Class” this upcoming year.

Last Saturday I visited with Sister Edna Lynch, RSM at Mt. St. Rita in Cumberland.  Sister Edna has had some serious setbacks in her health that require greater care.  She has decided that she is to remain at Mt. St. Rita and leave the Our Lady of Mercy Convent. She has lived on her own but now she feels she needs greater access to health care givers.  She has written a short note published in the bulletin this week.  Also her address is listed in this week’s bulletin if you would like to send her  best wishes.    Mt. St. Rita is certainly a beautiful place and she is getting  the great care and attention she so justly deserves. Please keep her in your prayers and drop her a note or go stop by for visit if you can.

In your name, I welcome to OLM Father Raj!   I am  in upstate  New York this weekend to perform the baptism of my grand-niece and leave you in the capable hands of Fr. Connors  See you next week.  God Bless.  Go Sox!!

Of Music, Missions and Saints in the Making...

Dear Parishioners: Last week was the debut for our new Music Ministers, Jeff Allard and Deirdre Donovan. They are two very talented musicians as you can tell from listening.  Jeff serves as our Music Director and Organist and Deirdre as our Assistant Music Director and Soloist.  Jeff is a native of North Providence and currently teaches Music at his alma mater, LaSalle Academy. He has served as the Music Director and Organist at various Catholic and Protestant Churches most recently at Our Lady of Grace Church in Johnston. When you see him please give him your usual warm welcome. The voice you heard from the Choir Loft is Deirdre Donovan who comes to us after many years as the soloist at St. Joseph Church in Providence.  She also serves as the Music Teacher at St. Paul School in Cranston.  Also, please be sure to give her a warm welcome when you see her. So as our new musicians begin their ministry at Our Lady of Mercy, let us  pick up our hymnals and sing loudly together in praise and worship of God.  As St. Augustine so wisely reminds us: “He who sings, prays twice!” 

Next weekend we host the Annual Mission Co-Op Collection and Father Bernard Dore, the Pastor of St. Paul Church in Foster, RI, is to preach at all Masses on behalf of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore in India.  The Mission Co-op is an annual event at every parish in the Diocese in which we are called to help support the work of the Missions with our prayers and financial resources.  Each summer Missionaries come to parishes across Rhode Island to tell about the good works of the Missions across the globe. Father Dore is a native of India and has been asked to speak to us on the great needs of his home Archdiocese.  It is in need of support for its  seminarians studying for the priesthood, support of the good works of parish priests, serving the needs of the poor and marginalized, and providing social services to the poorest of the poor through housing projects, education and healthcare initiatives.

There is truly great need in the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore.  So I ask you to please be prepared for the Second Collection next week which goes directly to support the good works of the Church.  There is no envelope for this collection but all checks  should be made payable to Our Lady of Mercy Church.  The proceeds of next week’s Second Collection are forwarded to the Diocese and then sent directly to the Missions in India.   I ask that you please pray for Father Dore, the priests and people of the Archdiocese of Pondicherry and Cuddalore, the Church in India, all missionaries and for the spread of the Gospel in the Missions.   In their name, I thank you in advance for your generous response to their needs and your prayerful support of the Mission Co-Op next weekend.

Father Connors is settling in very nicely and was very appreciative of the warm welcome he received last week.  If you have not yet met him, please introduce yourself after Mass or when you see him next.  Some parishioners remarked to me that Father Connors “seems so young.”  Well he was born the year I graduated from high school so I guess that means I’m old!   Young or old it is great to have Father Connors on board here at OLM!!

You have probably heard the news that Pope Francis has cleared the way for Blessed Pope John Paul II and Blessed Pope John XXIII to become saints later this year.  These two exemplary holy men of the Church are certainly worthy candidates for sainthood.   Let us pray for their powerful intercession for our parish and Church.  “O Holy Trinity, we thank you for having given to the Church, Blessed Pope John Paul II, and Blessed Pope John XXIII  and for having made them shine with your fatherly tenderness and lead in the likeness of Jesus the Good Shepherd. Grant us, through their intercession, according to your will, the grace that we implore, in the hope that they will soon be numbered among your saints.” I am away next weekend in New York at the baptism of my third grand-niece, Elizabeth Ann. Have a great week and enjoy the All-Star break! God Bless.