Praying for the Sick on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Dear Parishioners: The Blessing of Throats on the Feast of St. Blaise is always a popular devotion especially during these days of colds and flus.  It is a great tradition to ask for the intercession of the Fourth Century Bishop and Martyr, St. Blaise.  I pray and hope his intercession protects all from diseases of the throat and all other ailments.  In the meantime we continue to pray for all those who are sick especially those in our parish.  This Tuesday we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes which Blessed John Paul II declared as World Day of the Sick in 1993.  When he did so he suggested that it be “"a special time of prayer and sharing, of offering one's suffering for the good of the Church and of reminding everyone to see in his sick brother or sister the face of Christ who, by suffering, dying and rising, achieved the salvation of humanity."

The tradition of praying for the sick finds its foundation in the teachings and ministry of Jesus Christ who cured the sick and prayed for the ill and infirm.  It is a tradition continued throughout the history of the Church as described in the Letter of St. James: “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the priests of the church, and they should pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up. If they have committed any sins, they will be forgiven.   The Church continues to encourage her sick and infirm members to receive The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick so that their faith and hope is strengthened and they will not give in to discouragement. Fr. Connors and I routinely anoint the sick and often we do anoint parishioners who are going in for surgery.  We are most happy to do so and also to visit the sick at hospitals and at home.  We just need to know if you are in the hospital or going in for surgery.  Due to the privacy laws hospitals no longer notify us of parishioners who are hospitalized as they used to in the past. So if you are hospitalized or know of someone who is sick or hospitalized from OLM, please contact the Parish Office and let us know.  In the meantime, we can all pray for the sick in our daily prayers.   I ask you to please do so in a special way this Tuesday.

Tuesday also marks the first apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858 to fourteen-year-old Bernadette Soubirous. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, the Blessed  Virgin appeared eighteen times, and showed herself to Saint Bernadette in the hollow of the rock at Lourdes, France. On March 25 she said to the little shepherdess who was only fourteen years of age: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Since then Lourdes has become a place of pilgrimage and many cures and conversions have taken place. The message of Lourdes is a call to personal conversion, prayer, and charity.  May Our Lady of Lourdes intercede for all the sick, suffering and dying in our world.

The snow on Monday prevented Fr. James Ruggeri from coming to OLM.  However, we were able to reschedule his talk to Monday, February 24th at 7:00PM. Fr. James works with the poor in Providence and is known as the “Saint of Smith Hill.”  I think you will find his talk inspirational and challenging.  So mark your calendar. In fact, please join us on Mondays the rest of month for all of our Adult Ed Lecture Series.

Last week we sent out Annual Tax Statements to all OLM parishioners who donated last year.   If you have not received yours or if yours is inaccurate in any way please contact Mrs. Sandra Demers at the Parish Office.  I offer my sincere gratitude and thanks to the many parishioners who so generously support the parish financially.  We couldn’t pay our bills without your generosity and I am deeply appreciative.  Congratulations to Fr. Connors!  His homily for Catholic Schools Week was so good it has now been posted on the Diocesan Catholic Schools webpage.  Great work!!   I am away this weekend on holiday visiting with friends in Southern California.  See you next Sunday.  God Bless.

Catholic Faith in Action: Supporting Catholic Education, Promoting School Choice and Protecting Human Life

Dear Parishioners: What a terrific celebration of Catholic Schools Weeks we had at OLM.  Fr. Connors set a great tone for this annual event with his excellent homily about the importance of Catholic Education.  The Open House at our school was visited by many families considering Catholic Education. Also some alumni returned for a visit to their old school.   We ended the week with a joyful celebration of Mass on the Feast of St. John Bosco, the Patron of Catholic Youth.  I ask you to please continue to pray for the administration, faculty, students and families of Our Lady of Mercy School.

This past week was also National School Choice Week and was marked by a gathering at the RI Statehouse on Thursday.  Some may ask, what is school choice? School choice gives parents the freedom to choose their children’s education, while encouraging healthy competition among schools to better serve families' needs.  School choice lets parents use the public funds set aside for their children's education to choose the schools—public or private, near or far, religious or secular—that work best for them.

There are many types of school choice programs including vouchers, education savings accounts, tax-credit scholarships, and individual tax credits offered in many states.  All of these various programs have been declared constitutional and provide an opportunity for many low-income families to make a choice which school their child attends.  Every year many Rhode Island children are unable to pursue academic success through school choice because their families cannot afford to pay the full cost of tuition.  There is a program called the Rhode Island Scholarship Tax Credit that allows corporations and small businesses to help lower-income families afford private school education for their kids in return for a substantial tax credit.

These businesses are all allowed to receive up to a 90% tax credit amounting to $100,000 annually on contributions to a scholarship granting organization.  Last year the General Assembly increased the cap on the total tax credit to $1.5 million.  Many businesses take advantage of this opportunity to both help financially struggling students and gain a significant tax credit.  The Diocese of Providence established a scholarship granting organization called Financial Aid for Children’s Education of Rhode Island (FACE).  FACE provides financial aid for needy students wishing to attend a RI Catholic School of their choice. Every  dollar received through FACE is directed to low-income families in need of tuition assistance and children searching for the school of their choice. If you work for a corporation of any size or own a small business you might consider looking into this great program.  More information is available through the Catholic School Office and at providencediocese.org/face-of-ri.

Also at the RI Statehouse last week the Annual RI Right to Life “Rally for Life” was held.  This event saw a large crowd including many pro-life elected officials standing together in support of the defense of human life.  It was a great witness to the call to respect all human life.  There are some challenges facing the state and the defense of human life.  One is HealthSource RI, the local Obamacare Exchange created by Governor Chafee.  This program includes coverage for abortion-on-demand in every healthcare exchange plan.  Also there is a drive by some legislators to expand Medicaid coverage to include the public funding of abortion.

It is clear there is much work to be done in the RI General Assembly in defense of human life.  Please pray that our elected officials might be able to see the immeasurable dignity of all human beings most especially the innocent unborn and have the conviction and courage to protect human life in law.  I invite you to join us on Monday night as Fr. James Ruggeri from St. Patrick’s Church in Providence offers us a talk entitled “Blessed Are the Poor.”  He is an outstanding priest and preacher and I know you will enjoy his time with us.  Hope to see you on Monday. God Bless.

Celebrating Catholic Schools Week, Faith, Knowledge and Service!

Dear Parishioners: Let’s get it over right now. It was a lousy game last Sunday and the better team won.  Now we root for URI and PC Basketball and get ready for the Red Sox pitchers and catchers to report to Spring Training on February 15th!

This Sunday we kickoff Catholic Schools Week, a national event, at OLM.  Our own Fr. s School, Bishop  Hendricken High School and  Boston College, is preaching at all the Masses on the importance of our Catholic Schools. Also this Sunday our parish school is hosting an Open House from 11:30AM until 2:00PM.  The Open House is for everyone, parishioners and non-parishioners who are interested in sending their children to OLM School and even for those who don’t have school aged children but simply want to see and  support our wonderful school.  Stop by and take a look at all the good things going on across the street from Church! The theme for the Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.”

It encompasses several concepts that are at the heart of a Catholic Education. First, schools are communities—small families but also members of the larger community of home, church, city and nation. Faith, knowledge and service are three measures by which any Catholic school can and should be judged.  National studies indicate that parents choose Catholic  Education for their children for three important reasons: higher academic achievement of Catholic school students, a safe and  nurturing but disciplined learning environment and a truly  comprehensive education  including Catholic faith and strong moral values.

At  OLM School our  Principal, Sister Jeanne, along with the very committed faculty provide the leadership needed for such academic excellence and strong Catholic values to thrive.  In my short time here at OLM I have observed first hand the great things taking place at OLM School.  Fr. Connors and I work with Sister and the faculty to deepen the Catholicity of our school.   OLM School is not perfect but what school is?

However, OLM School is  a great place for our children to learn, pray, play and develop as future leaders of our world. OLM School has alumni in every walk of life and many who are making a great difference in the community and Church on a daily basis.  There are alumni studying at Harvard and others at Medical School, there are alumni leading successful careers in  business and law, and still others serving as Religious, Priests and some studying for the priesthood.  I am convinced that it was the  excellent academics and strong  Catholic  values at OLM School that provided the foundation of their success in life.

One of the great burdens of Catholic Education today is the cost.  OLM School has an annual budget of about $2.5 million.  Running a school is expensive and the costs of utilities, insurance,  and healthcare can be high.  In fact, we pay over $25,000 a month to cover the cost of healthcare.  Our tuition is affordable for some families but many  others make a tremendous  sacrifice to provide such a quality Catholic Education for their  children.  We have tried to move away from a direct subsidy of the school in an effort to provide  actual tuition assistance for those who need it most.  This year we provided $75,000 in tuition class education, strong Catholic values and a caring community.  Tuition assistance is available for those OLM Parishioners who need  support in making such a loving sacrifice for their children.  Celebrate Catholic Schools Week this week! Pray for the continued success of our school.  Pray for our administration,  faculty, students and families!  Pray for our alumni and  benefactors!  Join us for the Open House and for  Catholic Schools Week Mass on Friday at 9:00AM.  Celebrate faith, knowledgw and service! God Bless. Go OLM!!!

A Prayer for the Protection of Human Life

Prayer for Protection of Human Life at its Beginning

God our Father, you lovingly knit us in our mothers’ womb.  Grant that each human embryo will be respected as a human being, and not dismissed as a product to be manipulated or destroyed. Grant us the courage and conviction to be your voice for our sisters and brothers at the very earliest stages of their development, and for all defenseless unborn children.

Jesus, Divine Healer, foster in those conducting medical research a commitment to finding cures in ways that respect  these little ones and all your vulnerable children.

Holy Spirit, grant us the wisdom to develop morally sound treatments for conditions now thought to be incurable. Help us persevere in defending human life while alleviating suffering.

Show mercy to all who have cooperated in killing our tiniest brothers and sisters. Bring them and all who support destructive embryo research to true conversion. Grant them the ability to see the immeasurable dignity of all human beings even in the first days of life.

Father, we ask this in Jesus’ name, through the Holy Spirit. Amen.

All Are Called to Respect Human Life!!

Dear Parishioners:

Flu season has hit Rhode Island and most of the country.  What should we be doing to stop the spread of influenza?  Last week Bishop Tobin issued  guidelines for Pastors concerning influenza and Mass.   First, if you have the flu or flu symptoms please stay home and get proper treatment from a doctor.  I ask you please not come to Mass if you are seriously ill. Bishop Tobin has dispensed all Catholics suffering from the flu from the obligation to attend Mass..  If you are at Mass and are afraid of contracting the flu or spreading it then at the Sign of Peace simply offer a word or give a nod rather than a handshake.  If someone doesn't offer their hand please know it is not  an insult but a precaution.  Also please wash your hands before and after Mass.   All that is really needed during this flu epidemic is to use common sense both at home and at Mass.   In the meantime,  Bishop Tobin has asked us to pray for all those suffering from the flu that they may soon be restored to full health.

On Wednesday of this week we will mark the 41st  Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that  legalized abortion in our nation.   January 22nd is a sad anniversary that calls us to pray for the protection of all unborn children and offer penance for the evil of abortion.  We prayt that our nation and our world might recognize and truly value every human life from natural coneption until natural death.  This past Monday in the annual Papal "State of World" speech delivered to the Vatican diplomatic corps, Pope Francis said the denial of human dignity was a threat to world peace, and spoke of the problems of hunger among the have-nots and food waste among the haves.  The Holy Father went on to say:   “Unfortunately, what is thrown away is not only food and dispensable objects, but often human beings themselves, who are discarded as ‘unnecessary.’ For example, it is frightful even to think there are children, victims of abortion, who will never see the light of day."   

On Wednesday thousands are marching the streets of our nation's capitol in the annual March for Life.  Among them are some of our OLM parishioners including many from the Bishop Hendricken Pro-Life Club.  I've had the great privilege of making the march during my life and it is a powerful and joyful event in support of the dignity of human life.  At OLM we are celebrating a Mass for the Protection of Human Life on Wednesday at 7:00PM.  Bishop Evans is our  celebrant and I invite you to join us as we pray together for an increase of the respect for human dignity and human life.  We may not be able to make the March for Life but we can all join in praying for an end to abortion and for the protection of the innocent unborn.  The Holy Father is right, it is "frightful" to think that these innocents "never see the light of day."  Won' t you join us in praying for their  protection?

The Rhode Island General Assembly has gone back into  session and resumed their  legislative duties.  As the Director of the Rhode Island Catholic  Conference and Chief Lobbyist for the Diocese of Providence, I once again take up my duties during the week lobbying the elected officials.  The recent opening of the legislative session began with a  prayer.  One local atheist  blogger took issue with the prayer and the fact that the Catholic Church dare to speak on behalf of her beliefs at the statehouse.  It was typical of the rants of those who  try to remove God from the public square and  possess a  venomous animosity for the Catholic Church.  History has proven that faith and morality are essential for good public policy.  Churches play an important role in offering a  prophetic voice at the statehouse and actually have the right to speak out in this country!  As we celebrate the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his legacy of fighting for civil rights in our nation it is clear what an essential role religious faith played in the battle for equality for African-Americans.  May the voice of the voiceless offered by the Church never be muffled but continue to be boldly proclaimed at our statehouse and at every seat of government! God Bless.   Go Pats!!!!!

Living Our Baptismal Call Everyday!

Dear Parishioners: Take a good look around the Church this weekend at all the Christmas decorations.  Make sure you make a stop by the beautiful crèche and offer a s baptism in the Jordan River by  John the Baptist, the Precursor, proposes the s birth at Christmas and the Epiphany that we have just  celebrated. At Christmas we s manifestation to all s Baptism in the Jordan Baptism is in fact His definitive manifestation as the Messiah, the Christ to  Israel, and as the Son of the  Father to the entire world. This Feast of the Baptism serves as powerful reminder of our own calling as a Christian  Church. The Baptism of the Lord calls each of us to renew our s family and to ask ourselves how we are living out our baptismal promises to love God and neighbor.  Christmas is all about peace and good will and so many people do wonderful and  generous things for the poor  and needy.  At Christmas we give gifts as signs of love and  gratitude, we sing songs with  joyful hearts, and our Church is full as so many gather to praise and worship the newborn King.

As we end this “most wonderful time of the year” we must ask ourselves a few questions about our faith lives.  Does it take Christmas to make us live like Christians?  Can we be  witnesses of Christ in the ordinary times? Can we help the poor year round? Can we promote peace and good will even in the bleak and cold days of  February? Can we be grateful for those who help us even beyond Christmas? Do we faithfully worship and praise God each week?

t a call to be a Christian once a year   Rather it is a call to be truly Christian in each and every day of our lives, even on the ordinary and hum drum times of our lives.  We do this by loving our God and our neighbor with all our heart, our mind and  our strength. In a recent homily Pope Francis talks of the Sacrament of Baptism. He asks: "Is Baptism, for me, a fact of the past,  relegated to a date, that date which you are going to go look for today, or is it a living reality, that pertains to my present, to every moment? Do you feel strong, with the strength that Christ gave you by his death and his Resurrection? Or do you feel low, without strength? Baptism gives strength and it gives light. Do you feel ”

I offer my thanks and gratitude to the 28 new Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who so willingly volunteered to serve God and their parish in these most important parish ministries.  They are to be officially commissioned for service this weekend and are to begin their ministry in the coming weeks.   I ask you to please keep them in your prayers as they take up their ministry here at Our Lady of Mercy.  Have a great week. God Bless.  Go Pats!!!!