Of Cardinals, Bishops and Confirmation!!

Dear Parishioners: Last Sunday morning shortly after 6:00am I received a text message from our erstwhile Associate Pastor, Fr. Connors.  It simply said: “Tobin named Cardinal!”    I admit that I was perplexed but soon enough Father clarified it by adding “from Indy!”     So our own Bishop Tobin was not named Cardinal after all!

I guess while Fr. Connors was eating his lunch on some scenic Roman Piazza he heard the news about Pope Francis naming new Cardinals and calling a Papal Consistory in November. The Holy Father has named three new Cardinals from the Untied States:  Archbishop Blasé Cupich of Chicago, Archbishop Kevin Farrell from Dallas, the Prefect of  the Vatican’s Dicastery of Laity, Family and Life, and Archbishop Joseph Tobin of Indianapolis.  These three bishops along with fourteen other bishops from across the globe make up the new members of the College of Cardinals.

Pope Francis commenting  on the diversity of the new Cardinals  said they represent “the universality of the church” and “the mercy of God in every corner of the world.”  These seventeen bishops are to be elevated to the College of Cardinals in Rome on November 19th. The College of Cardinals is a group of bishops who advise the Holy Father on Church matters.  All Cardinals under the age of 80 also participate in the election of a new Pope.  They play an important role in the life and mission of the Church.  Please keep them and our Holy Father in your prayers.

We are to have our own celebration next weekend. We  have a visiting Bishop coming to OLM for the celebration of the Sacrament of Confirmation.  Eighty-eight of our young adults from OLM are to be confirmed by Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of Rochester, NY next Sunday at the 5:00pm Mass.  Please keep them in your prayers as they continue to prepare for the reception of the Sacrament. Bishop Matano is no stranger to OLM as he has visited many times and celebrated Confirmation here on numerous occasions.

Bishop Matano is a native priest of Providence and grew up at St. Ann Church in Providence with our late OLM Pastor, Monsignor Lolio.   The Bishop served as the Vicar-General of our Diocese  and the Pastor of St. Sebastian Church in Providence for many years before being named the Bishop of Burlington, VT.  A few years ago he was named the new Bishop of Rochester, NY. Over twenty years ago when I was a newly ordained priest, I was privileged enough to live with Bishop Matano when he was the resident priest at St. Augustine Church in Providence. I am truly grateful that he accepted the invitation to be with us at OLM and celebrate this special day for our young adults.

But please take heed that next week at the Sunday night 5:00PM Mass the Sacrament of Confirmation is to be celebrated.  This means that the eighty-eight Confirmation Candidates, their sponsors, families and friends are to be in Church!  You are most welcome to attend and celebrate this great occasion with them but if you’d like a guaranteed seat in Church I’d advise you to go to another Sunday Mass next week.

In continuing the preparation for the reception of the Sacrament, our OLM Confirmation Class are attending Monday Devotions this week.  It is a great opportunity for us as a parish family to gather together and pray the Rosary for these young adults.  They are the future of  our Church and deserve our prayers and support.  So please come to October Devotions on this Monday and pray with and for the Confirmation candidates. After October Devotions on Monday, the Confirmation candidates, their  sponsors, parents and family member are invited to continue the preparation by receiving the grace of  a good Confession.  Several area priests along with Fr. Barrow and myself will be available to hear these Confessions. All are welcome to come to Confession  on Monday and experience God’s love, forgiveness and mercy.

Be well. Do good. Join us at Devotions and pray for our Confirmation Class! Go Pats!!!! God Bless.  See you at Devotions!

Moved By Mercy to Respect Life

Dear Parishioners: October is Respect Life Month and the theme this year is "Moved by Mercy.” When we let our hearts be moved by God's mercy, it shapes everything. As Pope Francis said, "We are called to show mercy because mercy has first been shown to us.”  God offers his gift of mercy to each and every one of us, no matter what. But we have to decide to receive that gift—whether or not to turn away from sin and turn, instead, toward him. We have to decide whether we want God.

God made each of us in his own image and likeness.  He desires to be united with us forever in a loving relationship.  God loves us, treats us with respect, and asks us to do the same with others.  Every person is sacred and must be treated with the dignity they deserve.  No one should ever be treated callously or carelessly—everyone should be cherished and protected! From each tiny child waiting to be born, to individuals nearing death, all are precious and deserve our care and protection. Women and men suffering after abortion, individuals tempted to end their lives, couples longing to conceive a child, people pushed to the margins of society by a "throwaway culture," expectant mothers facing challenging pregnancies, and every other person—each "has a place in God's heart from all eternity.”

We live in an increasingly secularized culture that  does not respect human life and dignity. We need to pray this month foran increase in the protection for all human life and respect the human dignity of all.  One of the best ways to take up this call to prayer is to pick up your Rosary and use it!  We had a good crowd for October Devotions last Monday but there was plenty of room for more.  I urge you to take some time out of your busy schedule and join us  in praying the Rosary for life as we adore Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist.  It will be a better half-hour than The Wheel of Fortune! Hope to see you there!

OLM is looking for new Altar Servers to join our 63 current Servers.  Any child of OLM Parish who is currently in the 4th Grade or higher is eligible.  Training is provide and it if offers great spiritual benefits.  We are blessed to have such a committed cadre of Altar Servers.  Many of them serve our parish through high school and beyond.  We are grateful to these young men and women for their commitment to serving God and our Parish. I ask you to encourage your child or grandchild to join the few, the proud the OLM Altar Servers! They will learn discipline and duty, commitment and reverence and truly serve God and Parish.

Last week the Rock musician Bruce Springsteen was interviewed by Stephen Colbert on his late night program.  They were discussing Springsteen’s new biography and their Catholic Faith. Springsteen revealed that he was “the world’s worst Altar Server.” Colbert said he too  had been an Altar Server at his childhood parish and served for  11 years!  Did you know Tom Brady was as an Altar Server too!

Now consider this other story about two boys,  Annibale della Genga, and Francesco Castiglioni. Growing up in Italy during the end of the 18th Century, they too were Altar Servers at their parish.  One Sunday before Mass they had a fight in the Sacristy.  One of the boys cracked a brass candlestick on the other boy's head causing him to bleed. Their  parish priest was quite naturally upset, but kept calm, reprimanded them but gave them another chance to serve Mass. Thankfully they were given another chance to serve! It turns out this was a good thing as later on in their lives, della Genga would become Pope Leo XII who reigned as Pope between 1823 and 1829.  And his friend,  Castiglioni would follow him as Pope Pius VIII.  Discipline and duty, commitment and reverence are great skills for life! Yes, Altar Serving can lead to great things!

Pray the Rosary! Join us for October Devotions! Be well. Do good. Go Sox! !!! Welcome back Tom Brady!  Go Pats!!!! God Bless. A  Happy Columbus Day!

October Means Rosary and Respect Life

Dear Parishioners: It’s good to be home! As you know I was hospitalized over a week ago due to a serious infection and fever.  I received intravenous antibiotics to treat the infection and spent a few days at Roger Williams General Hospital.  Thankfully I am home and on the mend now.   I am grateful for the terrific treatment I received at the hospital.  The nursing and medical staff were caring, compassionate and professional.  The infection is still being treated by antibiotics but I am happy to be home heading to a full recovery.

Fr. Barrow deserves a great deal of thanks for his hard work in my absence.  With little notice, he managed to run the parish, cover the Masses and continue his normal schedule.  I thank him for his help and concern during my hospitalization.  He is terrific asset to our Parish and to the Pastor too!

Unfortunately I was recuperating and had to miss the great events surrounding our Patronal Feast.  Reliable sources tell me that the Holy Hour of Mercy was wonderful and Fr. Adam Young’s homily terrific.  Also, as expected, the Concert of Mercy, featuring our talented OLM organist, soloist and  choirs was beautiful. A large crowd of all ages showed up to make lunches for the homeless and pack them with socks.  This Socks and Sandwiches is a true Work of Mercy and provides much needed support to the homeless at Emmanuel House in Providence.  I offer thanks to all who participated in this Work of Mercy.

I wish to thank Bishop Robert J. McManus of Worcester who celebrated the OLM Feast Day Mass last Saturday.  Bishop McManus is no stranger to OLM having lived and ministered here as a Transitional Deacon.  He also was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Providence right here at OLM.

Finally our  Parish Picnic saw a beautiful day of sunshine and fun.  My thanks to the many who set-up, cooked, cleaned and helped make the afternoon a great time for our parish family.  Unfortunately I couldn't attend and had to miss the Annual Tug-A-War.  Sadly Team Healey lost to Team Barrow!  Deacon Dowd graciously took my place as the anchor of Team Healey but he is no Jimmy Gararpolo or Jacoby Bressette!

Our Annual Parish Collection looks to be off to a good start.  My thanks to the many parishioners who have contributed thus far.  However, we are a parish of over 2,000 families and to truly make the collection a success we need  all parishioners to support the Annual Collection. We are asking each parish family to consider a contribution of $300.  If you have not yet made a contribution to the Annual Collection, please do so today.  My thanks for your continued generosity and support of this wonderful parish.

October has arrived and with it our annual commitment to pray and work for an increase in respect for all human life. Pope Francis has reminded us: “All life has inestimable value even the weakest and most vulnerable, the sick, the old, the unborn and the poor, are masterpieces of God’s creation, made in his own image, destined to live forever, and deserving of the utmost reverence and respect.”

October is also a month dedicated to the Holy Rosary.  According to an account by fifteenth-century Dominican Friar, Alan de la Roch, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Dominic in 1206 after he had been praying and doing severe penances because of his lack of success in combating the Albigensian heresy. The Blessed Virgin Mary praised him for his valiant fight against the heretics and then gave him the Rosary as a mighty weapon, explained its uses and efficacy, and told him to preach it to others.

So during this month we honor the Rosary and the Blessed Virgin Mary with October Devotions. Join us at 7:00pm every Monday this month as we pray the Rosary and adore the Eucharist.  Take twenty minutes from your busy schedule and come to pray, meditate and reflect.  Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox! !!! Go Pats!!!!

Remembering the Somber Anniversary of September 11th

Dear Parishioners: We recall this weekend and remember in prayer the tragic events of September 11, 2001.  It is a day we all know precisely where we were as we watched in horror and disbelief  the senseless attacks upon our nation.  This Sunday on the Fifteenth Anniversary we remember the thousands of  innocent who died that day and  those who grieve the loss of loved ones. We pray for them especially at  Mass.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan, the Archbishop of New York,  delivered a homily on the Tenth Anniversary of September 11th. His profound words are worth recalling today on this Fifteenth Anniversary of that tragic day.

Cardinal Dolan said:

“They say there are no atheists in foxholes. I’ve heard it said as well that there were no atheists on 9/11 here in New York. That’s why we decided to gather for this greatest of all prayers, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, at these very moments when bells are ringing throughout the United States, when people are united in their parishes, their churches, their synagogues, and their mosques, their heads bowed in reverent silence, recalling  –recalling with somberness,recalling with gratitude and recalling with prayers — the events of 10 years ago today at these very moments when the second of the Twin Towers was attacked.

Mercy, forgiveness, pardon, healing, compassion, redemption, kindness, patience…Those are all words from God’s Holy Word in the Liturgy of the Word this morning. You all realize, of course, and it’s basic to anybody who considers himself or herself a person of faith, that there is an intense battle that is being waged in the human heart. It’s that battle, that war, that is going on in the human soul that gives rise to all the violence, and battles and wars that we see outside.

You and I are aware of that tension deep within. It’s a battle between sin and grace, between darkness and light. It’s a war where evil is against good, where death is versus life, lies versus truth, pride against humility, selfishness against selflessness, revenge versus mercy, hate versus love, Satan versus Almighty God.

Now a decade ago, at about this very moment, throughout the United States, throughout the world, and especially in this our beloved community, it seemed that the side of darkness had conquered, as innocent people perished, as valiant rescuers rushed to their aid, as families were fractured, and as a nation seemed on the ground.

And yet what I propose at our Mass this Sunday morning, on this tenth anniversary of that day, is that as a matter of fact the side of light actually triumphed, as temptations to despair, fearful panic, revenge, and dread gave way to such things as rescue, recovery, rebuilding, outreach, and resilience. The side of the angels, not of the demons, conquered. Good Friday became Easter Sunday. And once again God has the last word.”

God  does have the last word, and that word is that good does triumph over evil.  Let us pray for the fallen of September 11th and let also us pray for our nation, first responders, our firefighters, police officers and our armed forces. We must never despair  but rather prayerfully remember in faith and  hope.

Next Sunday, Bishop Tobin is to celebrate the  Blue Mass for Police Officers.   I serve as the Chaplain to the East Greenwich Police Department and R.I. Capitol Police Department and plan on attending the Mass at the Cathedral. All are welcomed to come to the Mass.  Please pray for the men and women who serve and protect our community and state. May these “finest” who bravely serve us receive our  pledge  of prayers!

Next weekend’s Second Collection is for the  Senior Priests’ Retirement Fund.  I hope you can be generous in aiding the Senior Priests who serve so faithfully even after retirement. By the way, Fr. Barrow retires in 48 years and I hope to retire in the year 2040.  So we won’t benefit from this collection  for some time!!  Thanks for your  support.

Be well. Do good. God Bless America!  Go Sox!  And now we can say, Go Pats!!!!

Celebrating School, Marriage, Mother Teresa and Work! Happy Labor Day Weekend!!!!

Dear Parishioners: Happy Labor Day! The first week of school is now complete!  It’s Labor Day Weekend so it’s hard to believe we’ve finished one week  of school already. However, the students are back in the swing of things as they are studying for tests, completing their homework and reading up on their subjects.

Fr. Barrow and I have homework too!  This week we picked up copies of the revised Order of Celebrating Matrimony.  It has been long in the making.  Following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65), the Church published a revised Order of Celebrating Matrimony in Latin in 1969 and the official English translation was published in 1970.  In 1991, a revised version of this Order of Matrimony was published in Latin, but the English translation was delayed for various reasons until now.

In the summer of 2015, the Vatican gave its required approval to the work voted on by the U.S. Bishops. We can  begin to use the revised version on  September 8, 2016, the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, but  it  is obligatory as of December 30, 2016, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Thankfully the Diocese is hosting a workshop for priests and deacons later this month on the revised ritual.

As it did previously the Order of Celebrating Marriage stresses the importance of the sacramental covenant between a man and a woman.  The introduction of the revised Order reminds us: “The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish a life-long partnership between themselves, derives its force and strength from creation, but for the Christian faithful it is also raised up to a higher dignity, since it is numbered among the Sacraments of the new covenant.”

For those getting married in the Catholic Church, the high-point of the wedding day is the wedding liturgy, where bride and groom become husband and wife in the lifelong covenant of marriage.  It is a day of great joy for the bride and groom and their families but also very importantly it is a day of great faith.  I am reminded of some advice Pope Francis' offered to engaged couples about weddings: "Make your wedding  a real celebration – because marriage is a celebration – a Christian celebration, not a worldly feast!” Please pray for newly married couples and for those engaged to be  married.

Of course this weekend Blessed Mother of Teresa of Calcutta is being canonized a saint.  She knew well what poverty and lack of work could do to people and families.  Serving the poorest of the poor and the unwanted of the world, Mother Teresa offers a sterling example of what it means to truly love and serve God and neighbor.  May she intercede for  us and our needs as she is officially declared part of the communion of saints. Her Feast is September 5 and we will celebrate it Monday morning at 8:30am Mass. Monday is  also Labor Day, a day in which we give thanks to God for our work and the prosperity, security and dignity it provides us and our families.  In the Annual Labor Day Statement of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops,   Archbishop Thomas G. Wenski of Miami writes the following on behalf of his brother bishops: “Dignified work is at the heart of our efforts because we draw insight into who we are as human beings from it.  Saint John Paul II reminded us that human labor is an essential key to understanding our social relationships, vital to family formation and the building up of community according to our God-given dignity, to a just wage and to the personal security of the worker and his or her family."

On Monday we  offer our prayers in solidarity with all working men and women across our nation.  Labor Day celebrates human labor and human dignity.  In between the cookouts, the golfing and the beach trips on Monday,  please take a moment to stop and give thanks to God for the gift of a good job, offer a prayer for the unemployed who seek the dignity that a good job and work provide.  May God Bless all working men and women!

Happy Labor Day! Be well. Do good. God Bless.  Go Sox!

Celebrating the New School Year, Praying for Flood Victims, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, Pray for US!

Dear Parishioners: School is back!  The students at OLM School arrived back  to begin the new school year on Friday.  Smiling faces and happy parents filled the parking lot for the Frist Day of School!  Welcome Back OLM School!   We officially welcome our New OLM School Families this Sunday at the 9:00AM.  We are grateful these families have chosen OLM School and overjoyed that their children begin living  the schools’ mission as the future saints and scholars of our Church.  Welcome to OLM!

On Friday we officially open the new school year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit.  We gather as a school and parish community invoking the Holy Spirit to come down upon us and guide us to continue to grow in wisdom, faith, hope and love.  Everyone is invited to join us for this special mass on Friday at 9:00AM.  Let us pray that this new school year may be fruitful and faithful for all:  “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth. Amen.”

I wish to thank Deacon Brian Morris for preaching at last Sunday’s Masses.  He did a great job and we can be proud of this native son of OLM.   Keep Deacon Morris in your prayers as he returns to his priestly studies at St. John’s Seminary in Boston.  We look forward to his ordination to the priesthood next June.

Next Sunday Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta is to be canonized by Pope Francis a Saint of our Church.  Saint Teresa of Calcutta, as she is to be known, is most remembered for her selfless charity and her selfless work with the poorest of the poor especially in Calcutta, India.  She joyfully served lepers, the dying, the poor and others who would otherwise suffer without care. Her services were given freely, and her example was followed by the good Sisters in the order she founded, the Missionaries of Charity.

Millions of pilgrims from across the globe are expected to attend the Mass of Canonization next Sunday in Rome.   Mother Teresa inspired many as she truly was a humble person with an unlimited capacity to offer unconditional love to people.  Blessed Mother Teresa once said: “There are two kinds of poverty. There is the poverty of material where people are hungry for bread, real hunger. But there is much deeper hunger and that is hunger for love.”

Loving all and giving comfort to the suffering, offering shelter to the homeless, helping the poorest of the poor and giving hope to the hopeless was Blessed Mother Teresa's life work.  Her work lives on in the  good works and faithful dedication of her good Sisters, the Missionaries of Charity. They continue to serve all over the world as she did.  May the soon to be Saint Teresa of Calcutta intercede for us!

This  week I received an email from a colleague from Baton Rouge, Louisiana.  Thankfully he and his family were not adversely affected by the recent flooding.  However, he did tell me about the devastation and destruction that thousands of people suffered.  Sadly some people lost their lives. Homes and businesses were completely destroyed with a large part of the State of Louisiana declared a total disaster zone. The Diocese of Baton Rouge and Catholic Charities are helping the many victims.  They also suffered losses as three  Catholic schools and seven Catholic parishes  are considered to be  at a complete loss.  Priests have been sent to the many shelters to offer Mass and provide support for the many victims.

My friend asks for your prayers, writing: “ I would simply ask for your prayers at this time.  Baton Rouge has had one  heck of a summer!  It began in the heat of the summer with the shooting of Alton Sterling, leading to protests.  This tragically lead to a gunman killing three police officers and our community in need of  deep healing.  As we began to catch our breath from these sad events, we then took on flood waters.  Please pray for us.”  I have assured him we are praying for our brothers and sisters in Louisiana!

Be well. Do good. God Bless.  Go Sox!