We Three Kings Bear Gifts for the Newborn King!!!

Dear Parishioners:                                     

We continue to bask in the light of Christmas as we celebrate the great feast of the Epiphany this weekend.  The arrival of the Magi to adore and worship the Newborn King, Jesus Christ is a great solemnity in the Church. They brought expensive gifts to give the baby Jesus.   And so Epiphany is an occasion of gift giving and gift receiving. It is called “Little Christmas” in many cultures where it is on Epiphany Day not Christmas Day that the gifts are exchanged.  Epiphany is an occasion for us to reflect upon the many gifts we have been given in life and how well we share those gifts with others.                  

In a book entitled Forty– Two Gifts I’d Like To Give To You the author mentions many gifts we might give each other in life. They include:  the gift of good advice, the gift of being optimistic, the gift of being patient with the problems of life; the gift of doing what’s right and knowing what’s wrong; the gift of believing in your abilities and the gift of spreading joy around.

On Epiphany we might consider joyfully offering the Christian version of  such gifts including offering a kind word to someone who is feeling down;  a helping hand to someone in need; the assurance of prayers for someone who is ill or unemployed; the constancy of companionship for someone who is lonely or isolated; the gift of our time to both our family and our God; the gift of listening with undivided attention to those we love; the gift of our silence in the face of gossip; the gift of forgiveness for someone who has hurt us and even the gift of forgetfulness of others past faults and transgressions.  These gifts along with the gift of our Catholic faith are lived out through our loving service and support for one another both the neighbor and the stranger.  They flow from the ultimate gift of God’s saving grace. 

Today we celebrate not only the Epiphany of the Three Kings but also the gift and grace made manifest among us and within us in God made Man, Jesus Christ.  Like the Three Kings I too have been travelling around searching for the star.  Well, not really the star but rather the crèche below it.  One night during this Christmas Season I spent a bit of time driving around the streets and neighborhoods of our parish.  I was admiring the beautiful Christmas lights and decorations on houses both big and small.  Some displays are quite spectacular!  However, in searching for the star over the stable like the Three Kings I soon discovered that noticeably absent from many houses was a crèche on the front lawn.  I did see Santa and his reindeer including several versions of Rudolph but not too many Holy Families!                                  

I know that in most homes the crèche has a place of honor near the tree or in a prominent place in the house but not so outside the home.  Why is that?  Shouldn’t it be front and center when we decorate our homes both inside and outside?  While pondering all this it occurred to me that we don’t have a crèche outside at Our Lady of Mercy!!  So I quickly ordered an outdoor nativity set from Tally’s the day after Christmas!  Next year it will adorn our Church property as a focal point of the season we celebrate.  Perhaps you might consider the same for your own front lawn.  Wouldn’t it be a beautiful sight to behold on lawns all over East Greenwich the Holy Family!  Instead of Santa and reindeer we would see the sheep and shepherds, the Three Kings and even perhaps the star shining brightly above the crèche!                      

I am away in Rochester this weekend for the Installation of Bishop Matano as the new diocesan bishop.  The bishop is a native of Providence and I had the great pleasure of living and working with him at St. Augustine Parish as a newly ordained priest.  Bishop Matano had been serving as Bishop of Burlington, Vermont until this transfer.  I along with many priests from Providence including Bishop Evans are making the trek to northern New York for this great celebration for Bishop Matano.  I ask that you please pray for him as he begins his new episcopal ministry in the Diocese of Rochester, NY.  Happy Epiphany Day!  God Bless!

In Praise of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

Mary, Virgin and Mother,you who, moved by the Holy Spirit, welcomed the word of life in the depths of your humble faith: as you gave yourself completely to the Eternal One, help us to say our own “yes” to the urgent call, as pressing as ever, to proclaim the good news of Jesus.

Filled with Christ’s presence, you brought joy to John the Baptist, making him exult in the womb of his mother. Brimming over with joy, you sang of the great things done by God.

Standing at the foot of the cross with unyielding faith, you received the joyful comfort of the resurrection, and joined the disciples in awaiting the Spirit  so that the evangelizing Church might be born.

Obtain for us now a new ardour born of the resurrection, that we may bring to all the Gospel of life which triumphs over death. Give us a holy courage to seek new paths, that the gift of unfading beauty may reach every man and woman.

Virgin of listening and contemplation, Mother of love, Bride of the eternal wedding feast, pray for the Church, whose pure icon you are, that she may never be closed in on herself or lose her passion for establishing God’s kingdom.

Star of the new evangelization, help us to bear radiant witness to communion, service, ardent and generous faith, justice and love of the poor, that the joy of the Gospel may reach to the ends of the earth, illuminating even the fringes of our world.

Mother of the living Gospel, wellspring of happiness for God’s little ones, pray for us. Amen. Alleluia!

–Pope Francis Evangelii Gaudium, 288

Pope Francis Calls Us to Pray for Families

 

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FAMILY

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in you we contemplate the splendor of true love, to you we turn with trust.

Holy Family of Nazareth, grant that our families too may be places of communion and prayer, authentic schools of the Gospel and small domestic Churches. Holy Family of Nazareth, may families never again experience violence, rejection and division: may all who have been hurt or scandalized find ready comfort and healing.

Holy Family of Nazareth, may the approaching Synod of Bishops make us once more mindful of the sacredness and inviolability of the family, and its beauty in God’s plan. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, graciously hear our prayer.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Dear Parishioners:Merry Christmas!   Yes the Christmas Season is just beginning!  Christmas  is a  season full of joy, hope  and faith not just a day.  The Eternal Word has become Man and dwells among us. The longings of the  patriarchs and prophets are  fulfilled. With the shepherds we hurry to the manger and adore the Incarnate Son of God, who for us and for our salvation  descended upon earth. The purpose of Christmas  is beautifully expressed in the Preface of the Nativity: "For in the mystery of the Word made Flesh a new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind, so that, as we recognize in him God made visible, we may be caught up through him in love of all things invisible."

Christmas at Our Lady of Mercy is always a joyful, faithful and hopeful celebration.  We give thanks for the gift of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ born on Christmas day.  We also give thanks to the many people who made Christmas so beautiful and solemn at OLM.  Let’s give thanks and praise where it is due!  The OLM Decorating Committee under the direction of Cecelia Franzone did a tremendous job of making our Church truly beautiful.  Jeffery Allard and Deirdre Donovan along with our musicians, Adult and Children’s Choirs gave us the great gift of wonderful music.  Our fine Altar Servers ensured the great feast was celebrated with solemnity and reverence.  Our fine ushers did a great job of welcoming and ushering our many visitors!  Our lectors proclaimed the readings with great joy and faith.  Our  Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion helped  many people receive the Body of Christ with reverence and respect.  We thank them all!

In “The Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis writes about a “practical relativism” in which we act, in our day to day life, like God doesn’t really exist.  He said that this can  result in a heart that No to selfishness and transforming us Disillusioned with reality, with the Church and with themselves, they experience a constant  temptation to cling to a faint disillusioned and Christmas is the May we continue these Christmas days and throughout the New Year to  celebrate the wonder and beauty of this holy season and may we continue to adore Him in all we say and do.

The Holy Father calls us to say “No to selfishness and spiritual sloth.”  He talks about the dangers of “acedia,” which is an emptiness or listlessness that results in not really caring about anything.  He warns of a “gray pragmatism,” transforming us  into “mummies.” He says: “Disillusioned with reality, with the Church and with themselves, they experience a constant  temptation to cling to a faint melancholy, lacking in hope which seizes the heart.”  Pope Francis asks us to say “no to a sterile pessimism.”  He says, “Our faith is challenged to discern how wine can come from water and how wheat can grow in the midst of weeds.”   He writes about a “defeatism” which can turn us into “disillusioned  pessimists, ‘sourpusses’” and  urges us to say “yes to a new relationship with Jesus.”

Christmas is the  opportunity to open our hearts to Jesus’ coming today, in the midst of our darkness and restore the light of peace, joy and hope.   On the threshold of the New Year, “come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!”  May we continue these Christmas days and throughout the New Year to  celebrate the wonder and beauty of this holy season and may we continue to adore Him in all we say and do.

I offer my thanks to the Hill Funeral Home for donating the beautiful 2014 OLM Calendars to our parish.  These calendars are a gift to each of you so please take one as you leave Church.  If you know of a neighbor or family member who needs one, take one for them too!  The calendars  highlight all the important dates of our Church Year and provide easy contact information for the parish. We are grateful to the Carparco Family of Hill Funeral Home for their generous  donation.

Fr. Connors and I wish to thank the many parishioners who were so kind to us at Christmas.  The cards, best wishes and  generous personal gifts are  appreciated and we are grateful for your thoughtfulness.  Your support and encouragement of our priestly ministry is truly  appreciated .  We wish you and your families a continued Merry Christmas and many blessings for the New Year in 2014!  God Bless

Anticipating the Nativity of the Lord, Christmas is coming!!!

Dear Parishioners: We mark the last Sunday of Advent this weekend.  Now we begin the final preparations for Christmas.  No doubt for many that includes some decorating, last minute shopping, baking goodies, sending out cards, and cleaning the house.  At OLM the coming of Christmas means cleaning the Church and getting the beautiful decorations ready for the great feast of God made Man!  It also means an additional hour of Confessions on this Monday night from 6:00PM until 8:00PM.  Fr. Connors and I will be joined by two guest priests and  we encourage you to give  the best gift you can give this Christmas, namely God's mercy and   forgiveness!  What a great way to truly celebrate the coming of our Savior by cleaning our hearts and souls from all that keeps us from drawing ever closer to Him!

It also means a full schedule of Christmas Masses at OLM.   On Christmas Eve we celebrate the Vigil Mass at 4:00PM and our wonderful Choir is singing the carols of Christmas with us.  If you plan on coming to the Vigil Mass, I suggest you come early as it fills up quickly and we usually have what you might describe as an above average sized crowd!  I urge you to please be welcoming to all those good folks visiting OLM for the Vigil Mass! Perhaps even invite them to join us again next Sunday!!

The Nativity of the Lord couldn’t be a celebration without Midnight Mass!  Many other parishes have moved away from the tradition of a Midnight Mass, even Pope Francis  moved it to 9:30PM!  At OLM we celebrate Midnight Mass at Midnight (that’s 12:00AM)!  At 11:30PM a concert of orchestral and choral music with our OLM Choir begins the Midnight celebration.  On the day of Christmas itself we  celebrate the Lord’s Nativity with Masses at 7:30AM, 9:00AM and 10:30AM.  Christ is coming and we plan on celebrating with great solemnity, joy and faith!!

Christmas is always a great opportunity to invite that friend, family member or neighbor to join you at Mass.  I cannot image celebrating Christmas without going to Holy Mass.  But sadly many do not celebrate the great feast of our Savior by coming to adore Him at Mass.  Perhaps if you offer a kind invitation or even provide a ride to that individual or family who have been away from the Lord it might make a  difference for them this Christmas! There's plenty of room in the stable at OLM for everyone!

This last week before Christmas has seen a flurry of  activity around OLM.  Our  Religious Education and OLM School children made good  Confessions this past week.  Our OLM Decorating Committee led by Cecilia Franzone have been working tirelessly to ensure Christmas is celebrated with great beauty.  Our OLM Musicians, Jeff Allard and Deirdre Donovan, and the Choirs have been rehearsing with gusto the great sounds of the season.  All this to prepare the way for Christ’s coming at Christmas here at OLM. Perhaps we all need to take a short break or time out  before Christmas this week .  A little time to pray and reflect on the true meaning of Christmas for  ourselves, our families and our parish.  Let’s not let the flurry of activities and the last minute to do lists take over the authentic reason for the season.

The Irish have a wonderful Christmas tradition of placing a candle in the window of their homes on Christmas Eve.  It is offered as a symbol of welcome to Mary and Joseph as they  travel looking for shelter.  The candle is lit by the youngest in the family and extinguished after Christmas preferably by a young girl named Mary (there are lots of girls named Mary in Ireland!).  We might light such a candle in our own homes this Christmas Eve as we  proclaim with the Prophet Isaiah that “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light! Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone!”

Christmas is coming! Light the candles! See the star over the manger! Acclaim the Son of God as the light of the world! Let Him banish the gloom and darkness from our world and our lives!  Fr. Connors and I offer you our  prayers and best wishes for a Happy and Blessed Christmas!

Rejoicing at OLM School and Serving the Poor!

Dear Parishioners: On Monday I had the great privilege of handing out report cards at our parish school.  The students at OLM School seem to be doing very well  academically but as always there is room for improvement.  The excellent teachers do a fine job educating the children in all areas including Religion on a daily basis. Our parish school is a tremendous asset to our parish community and in fact to the entire community!  Many of our Catholic Schools struggle to keep open and operating but OLM School is blessed with a great  administration, terrific faculty, wonderful students and families.  This doesn’t mean we are free from struggles or problems.   This year we saw a drop in the number of students enrolled from a high of over 400 to just 375 students this year.  This drop in enrollment has taken place at nearly every Catholic School across the Diocese.

One reason for it is the decreasing population of children in our state.  Families are getting smaller not larger and even the public schools are facing declining enrollments as a result the lower number of children.  Also the cost of a Catholic Education can keep Catholic  families away from  our great schools.   At OLM School I am happy to report that we provide tuition assistance to those families that need a helping hand in affording a Catholic Education.  We also have some scholarships available for those families that have multiple children in the school and are struggling to afford tuition.  So spread the word, OLM School is a great place to get a great Catholic education!

While passing out the report cards to the students this week, I also learned of their great efforts in helping the less  fortunate.  They have raised over $1,000 for the Philippine Typhoon Effort.  This week they are   bringing dozens of delicious cookies to McAuley House as they  participate in the Annual  Christmas Gathering there.  This generous spirit of helping those in need is not just limited to the children of our  parish school but most certainly evident across the board at OLM.

Last week we raised over $5,000 for the Philippine Typhoon Effort in the special second collection.  Also thanks to your generosity to the Outreach Collection we have been able to send $1,000 to McAuley House, $500 to Whitmarsh House and $500 to the Diocesan Immigration Office to help with their good works at Christmas.  Additionally through our Outreach Office we have helped many local families with paying their rent, utilities and affording costly prescriptions.  We were asked to adopt 14 refugee  families for Christmas and  thankfully 5 were adopted by  parishioners and another 5 by the children of our Religious  Education Program.  We are still in need of people to adopt 4 families.  If you are interested, please contact Doug Green at our Outreach Office.

The children of the RE   Program are also  assembling Christmas Gift Bags for Emmanuel House.  These bags are filled with items purchased by our Outreach Office.  They include warm sweatshirts, thermal tops, hand and foot warmers, thermal socks, along with some candy and a religious gift.  Over 50 homeless are to receive them at Emmanuel House this Christmas.  This too was made possible by your  support of the Outreach  Collection. With Christmas around the corner, there is still time to help the poor and needy.  If you are interested in helping please contact the Outreach Office.  If you are interested in supporting these good works simply drop a donation in the collection basket and mark it “Outreach.”

Christ is coming at Christmas  so take lets a moment and reflect upon Pope Francis  words for Advent. “Life is an encounter with Jesus: in prayer, when we go to Mass, when we do good works, when we visit the sick, when we help the poor, when we think of others, when we're not self-centred, when we are amiable.  We always encounter Christ in these things and the journey of life is exactly this: walking to  encounter Jesus."  Let us continue to walk together to encounter Jesus in prayer, at Mass, while visiting the sick and in serving the poor! God Bless.