Lead, Kindly LIght

Dear Parishioners:                          

I am happy to announce that my time as Administrator pro tem at Our Lady of Czestochowa Church and St. Vincent De Paul Church in Coventry ended on October 5th.  Their pastor is back and I’m now back at OLM!  I thank Fr. Barrow, the OLM Staff and you for your patience and understanding during the eight weeks I served in Coventry.  It’s good to be back full-time at OLM!!

Last Sunday at Mass our talented  musicians sang a hymn, entitled Lead, Kindly Light.  The words  were written in 1833 by Saint John Henry Newman as a poem titled "the Pillar and the Cloud".  Newman was canonized a saint last Sunday by Pope Francis. As a young priest, Newman became sick while in Italy and was unable to travel for almost three weeks. In his own words: “I was aching to get home, yet for want of a vessel I was kept at Palermo for three weeks. I began to visit the churches, and they calmed my impatience, though I did not attend any services. At last I got off in an orange boat, bound for Marseilles. We were becalmed for whole week in the Straits of Bonifacio, and it was there that I wrote the lines, Lead, Kindly Light, which have since become so well known.”

The lyrics  of Newman’s poetic hymn read: “Lead, kindly light, amidst th’encircling gloom, lead Thou me on! The night is dark, and I am far from home, lead Thou me on! Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see the distant scene; one step enough for me.  I was not ever thus, nor prayed that Thou shouldst lead me on; I loved to choose and see my path; but now lead Thou me on!  I loved the garish day, and, spite of fears, pride ruled my will. Remember not past years!  So long Thy power hath blest me, sure it still will lead me on.  O’er moor and fen, o’er crag and torrent, till the night is gone, and with the morn those angel faces smile, which I have loved long since, and lost awhile! Meantime, along the narrow rugged path, Thyself hast trod, lead, Savior, lead me home in childlike faith, home to my God. To rest forever after earthly strife in the calm light of everlasting life.”

Nearly two centuries ago, John Henry Newman was England’s most well-known Anglican priest, until he risked everything to become a Catholic. Newman was a 19th-century theologian, poet, Catholic priest and cardinal. Born in 1801, well before his conversion he was a well-known and highly-respected Oxford academic, Anglican preacher, and public intellectual.

 In 1845  his conversion to the Catholic faith resulted in the loss of many friends, including his own sister who never spoke to him again. He became a Catholic  priest in 1847 and founded the Oratory of St. Philip Neri in England.  In 1879, Pope Leo XII named him a Cardinal. Newman  was  dedicated to education and founded schools as well as the Catholic University of Ireland. His “Idea of a University” became a foundational text on Catholic higher education. He was a prolific author, poet and letter writer. Newman died in Birmingham in 1890 at age 89.

Pope Francis named Cardinal John Henry Newman a saint last Sunday and told Catholics that the goal of life is a transforming encounter with Jesus. He said: “The ultimate goal is not health or wellness, but the encounter with Jesus. He alone frees us from evil and heals our hearts. Only an encounter with him can save, can make life full and beautiful,”

The canonization was attended by Prince Charles, heir to the British throne, along with delegates from the Church of England. At the Canonization Mass, Pope Francis read a quote from one of Newman’s sermons describing the holiness of daily life . Newman wrote:  “The Christian has a deep, silent, hidden peace, which the world sees not. The Christian is cheerful, easy, kind, gentle, courteous, candid, unassuming; has no pretense  with so little that is unusual or striking in his bearing, that he may easily be taken at first sight for an ordinary man.”

On Monday night, Dominican Father Alan Piper, OP, Theology Professor at PC, leads our  Devotions and offers a reflection on the rosary. He also hears Confessions beginning at 6;00PM.  I hope you can join us as we pray the rosary.

Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Saint John Henry Newman, pray for us! Oremus pro invicem! 

Confirmed in Faith

Dear Parishioners:                          
We had a glorious celebration of Confirmation last Sunday night.  Ninety-nine of our OLM young adults received the gifts of the Holy Spirit and confirmed their Catholic Faith. Their names are listed in this week’s bulletin, please be sure to pray for them.   In the coming weeks we will be reaching out to them and inviting them to put their faith and their talent to work for our parish and for their Church. 

At a Confirmation Mass a number of years ago, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI reminded the candidates  of their call to serve. He stated:  “Each and every Christian has received a gift meant for building up the Body of Christ. The Church especially needs the gifts of young people, all young people. She needs to grow in the power of the Spirit who even now gives joy to your youth and inspires you to serve the Lord with gladness. Open your hearts to that power! Do not be afraid to say ‘yes’ to Jesus, to find your joy in doing his will, giving yourself completely to the pursuit of holiness, and using all your talents in the service of others!” 

I thank Bishop John Noonan of Orlando who traveled up from Florida to celebrate the Confirmation Mass. He is an old friend I first met when he was serving as Rector of the Seminary in Miami.  It was good to have him here and he truly enjoyed his time with us at OLM. We  must also thank the parents and families of these newly confirmed young adults.  They first made the promise to raise them in the faith many years ago at their child’s baptism.  We are grateful they continue to bring their children to Christ and live their Catholic Faith.  The fruits of their commitment to the faith were on display at the Confirmation Mass last week.

We are very grateful to the Confirmation teachers and all those who helped make the Mass and reception such a joyful event.  In particular, we thank Doug Green, the Director of the Confirmation Program, who works so hard in ensuring a wonderful celebration. We must also thank our OLM Music Director, Henri St. Louis, and the OLM Choir for the beautiful music at the Confirmation Mass. It was solemn and joyful and truly helped to raise up our worship and praise to God.

We continue to mark the month of October by taking up the Holy Rosary.  Each Monday we gather as a parish family before the Eucharistic Lord to pray the Rosary.  Last Monday Dominican Friar, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, offered a profound reflection on the Rosary.  As we continue to turn to our Blessed Mother praying the Rosary, I invite you to consider joining us.  IF you’ve never been to October Devotions,, you will find it  a prayerful  and peaceful time away from the noise and distractions of the world.  I encourage you turn off the TV, the phone, the computer and take up your beads!  Come to October Devotions and pray and gain   renewal and peace in your life as we turn to Jesus Christ through his Mother Mary!

St. Padre Pio, reminds us of the importance of praying the Rosary in our daily lives: “Go to the Madonna. Love her! Always say the Rosary. Say it well. Say it as often as you can! Be souls of prayer. Never tire of praying, it is what is essential. Prayer shakes the Heart of God, it obtains necessary graces!” The Holy Rosary can  slow us down, calm our hearts, and enable us to rest in God’s presence. It draws out the deepest desires of our souls, desires for God and God alone.  The repeated prayers in the Rosary help us meditate on Christ’s centrality in our lives. Such a prayerful time leads us to gain a new perspective and some peace amidst the hectic pace of our  daily lives.

This Monday at 7:00PM, Dominican Friar, Father Albert Duggan, OP, the Brown University Chaplain, will lead our October Devotions.  He will give a reflection on the Rosary entitled, “Telling the Beads.” I’m sure it will be a peaceful and perfect ending to the Columbus Day Holiday.  So join us this Monday for October Devotions at 7:00PM.

The Our Future, Our Faith Capital Campaign Receptions are underway.  I hope every parish family is able to attend one and learn about this critical campaign for the future of our parish family.  Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Oremus pro invicem!  See you at Devotions on Monday!!

O Come Holy Spirit

Dear Parishioners:                          

This weekend we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at OLM for 100 of our young adults.  We welcome Bishop John Noonan of Orlando who has traveled to be with us and celebrate the Confirmation Mass on Sunday at 5:00PM. We also offer our prayers and congratulations to our Confirmation Candidates, their chosen Sponsors and their families.   It is a great occasion of joy, faith and hope for the newly confirmed, our parish and our Church as we celebrate Confirmation.  These young adults from our parish receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit as they confirm their Catholic Faith first given to them at Baptism. 

At the Confirmation Mass,  Bishop  Noonan will lead them in a re-affirmation of their baptismal promises. These promises were made when they were infants, but  now they will have the responsibility of making them in their own name while they stand on their own two feet. Just as Baptism gives new life, Eucharist nourishes life, and Reconciliation restores life when it is broken, Confirmation strengthens that life by the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It is about strengthening what God has given, and continues to give, to his sons and daughters.

The Sacrament of Confirmation is not the Catholic equivalent to the Jewish bar mitzvah. Confirmation is not a “coming of age” celebration. True, most young people are just beginning to pass into early adulthood when they receive the sacrament. But Confirmation is not about coming of age. Reception of the Sacrament of Confirmation does not mark the end of seeking faith and understanding. We never outgrow a need for a deeper knowledge and appreciation of our faith. The Sacrament of Confirmation is not a rite of passage, nor a graduation from religion class, nor a ratification of a personal faith choice. Rather, it’s all about what God is doing for his beloved daughters and sons.

In Confirmation, God is strengthening the divine life which he gave at Baptism, nourishing us in the Eucharist, and reconciling with us in Penance. God does this so that we might better defend and witness to the faith through the gifts and workings of the Holy Spirit. And there are—and will be—many situations where we  and these newly Confirmed are called upon to defend and witness to our faith. The Sacrament of Confirmation helps us remain faithful to our baptismal commitment to  bear witness to Christ and to serve others in love and with charity. The gifts of the Holy Spirit received at Confirmation are  virtuous strengths  required to live as a Christian.   They help a Catholic disciple lead a life of faith that is both fruitful and complete. Thus wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord, are the divine aids to  living a  joyful and faithful Catholic life.  So please pray for our newly Confirmed that they might continue to bear witness to Christ, remain faithful to Sunday Mass, and continue to grow in the love and knowledge God and His Church. 

I wish to thank all the many parishioners who made our Annual OLM Feast Week a successful week of faith and fun for our parish family.  We began with a great day of golf at the Annual Saints and Scholars Golf Tournament.  Neither Fr. Barrow or myself came close to winning it!  It was a beautiful day for the 128 golfers who came out in support of our parish. Our Feast Day Mass was solemn and joyful and Fr. Eric Silva gave an inspiring homily on mercy.  The Holy Hour of Mercy with our OLM Adult and Children’s Choirs singing sacred music in honor of Mary was truly beautiful. We thank Fr. Brendan Rowley for his outstanding reflection on living a life a mercy.  The Act of Mercy saw a great group of parishioners both young and old make hundreds of sandwiches and provide new socks for the homeless.  It was a great work of mercy and many benefited from it.  And our Octoberfest saw a couple hundred parishioners enjoying a night of fun as a parish family. Truly a great evening of fun and food as we welcome the month dedicated to our patroness, Mother Mary! 

Join us for October Devotions on Monday at 7:00PM. Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Oremus pro invicem!

Our Faith, Our Future

Dear Parishioners:                          

After much prayerful discernment, reflection and discussion among the staff, Parish Finance Council, and numerous parishioners of our parish, we have decided to undertake a parish-wide capital campaign,  “Our Faith, Our Future; Grateful for God’s Providence” to raise the funds necessary to repair and make capital improvements to our Church and facilities. I am grateful to Joe and Carol Cavanagh and Mike and Brooke O’Connell who serve as the Chairs of our committee.

Over the next several  months, we will be reaching out to every parishioner to explain the project.  We are planning to hold a number of campaign receptions in October.  Every family will be invited to attend.  Receptions will be social and educational and are an opportunity to come together to hear about the campaign, ask questions and get involved!  Please watch for your invitation in the mail and RSVP promptly.

In addition, I ask all parishioners to consider volunteering during the next few months to assist in the campaign. In order for the campaign to be successful for our parish, we need numerous volunteers to assist in the campaign.  During the next few months the campaign will need help in a variety of activities including phone calls, mailings and follow-up contact/visits to fellow parishioners. Please give your most sincere consideration to this important request for help.  In the pews this weekend, you will find a Volunteer Card.  If you are willing to volunteer, please fill out the card and drop in the  collection basket or return it to the parish office.  Additional information will be sent to all those who sign-up to volunteer.

It is with great enthusiasm that we officially kick-off our “Our Faith, Our Future; Grateful for God’s Providence” Capital Campaign this weekend. Now is the time to repair and make capital improvements to our Church and facilities. Our efforts for the next few months will be directed at raising a minimum of $2,000,000 to accomplish this goal.  We know that this will be a call to sacrifice. However, we are confident that we will succeed because of the drive, commitment and generosity of our parish family. While we live out faith today, we need to truly prepare for the future as did the faithful who founded this wonderful parish in 1853.

It was in 1853 that Bishop O’Reilly appointed the newly ordained Father Patrick J. Lenihan as the founding Pastor of the Church of the Holy Name in East Greenwich, later to be re-named the Church of Our Lady of Mercy. For over 160 years the Catholic faithful of Our Lady of Mercy Church have been generous in supporting their church and living their faith. We  know this is indeed a very challenging endeavor. However, I am confident that we will succeed for these reasons: (1) the spirit, vitality and enthusiasm of you, the Our Lady of Mercy Parish Family, (2) the generosity of our parishioners over the many years as you have worked together on many different projects.

Some parishioners may ask why are we doing this? I’m sure you have noticed that some of our parish facilities have become tired, outdated and limited.  As we live our faith here at Our Lady of Mercy, we also must ensure a future for the faith here in East Greenwich.  We can do this by making a sacrifice today as did our founders in faith at Our Lady of Mercy and so many faithful have done over the years. I urge you to participate in the campaign and also most importantly pray for its success. Our future at Our Lady of Mercy is bright and we can make it brighter by preparing for tomorrow. 

This future includes the 100 young people of OLM who are to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation next Sunday at 5:00PM.  We pray for them and their sponsors as they come forward in faith to receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  In your name and the name of the Confirmation Class, we welcome Bishop John Noonan of Orlando, Florida to OLM for our Confirmation Mass.  I have known Bishop Noonan since his days as the  Rector of the seminary in Miami.  With great joy and gratitude we welcome him  to OLM for this important day in the life of our parish and the young adults to be confirmed, 

Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Oremus pro invicem!

Online Reception Registration

A Parish Feast of Faith, Families and Fun!!!!

Dear Parishioners:

On Tuesday we celebrate the Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Mercy. The title for Mary, Our Lady of Mercy, dates from the early thirteenth century and is marked on September 24th. At that time, Christians had fallen into the hands of the Saracens and were enslaved and so were in need of ransom. The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, Mercedarian Friars, were founded in 1218 by Saint Peter Nolasco for the redemption of captive Christians The purpose of the Order's founding was to ransom those Christians who were held captive because of their faith in Christ. Often in prisons, these Christians suffered greatly until they publicly renounced their faith in Christ, thus committing apostasy. Saint Peter Nolasco, inspired by our Blessed Mother, with his followers, saw an urgent need to put into practice the mercy inspired by the divine mercy of Jesus Christ.

Christians still suffer enslavement and persecution in parts of the world. We can no longer physically ransom ourselves for those who are persecuted today as was done in the thirteenth century. But we know that Mary’s mercy still ransoms her children from a form of enslavement, namely from sin. Mary’s maternal mediation encourages us to entrust ourselves to her care. As our spiritual mother, Mary assures us that God’s mercy applies to each one of us. So in prayer and supplication, we always turn to Our Lady of Mercy.

We mark our Parish Feast with a Solemn Mass on Tuesday at 9:00AM. Father Eric Silva is our homilist this year. He serves as the Associate Pastor at St. Luke’s in Barrington and was just ordained this past June. You may remember Father from the summer he served at OLM as a seminarian. I hope you join us for the Patronal Feast Day Mass.

On Monday we start the OLM Feast Week with our 3rd Annual OLM Saints and Scholars Golf Tournament. This year we are hosting the tournament at Quidnessett Country Club. Please pray for good weather as we tee it up for OLM on Monday! Wednesday night please join us for Eucharistic Adoration and sacred music in honor of Our Lady of Mercy. A time of prayer, music and reflection before the Eucharistic Lord as we prayerfully bring our needs, and offer our thanksgiving, to our parish patroness. Thursday night join us in the OLM School Cafeteria as we perform an Act of Mercy. Once again we invite all parishioners and all parish families to join us at 6:00pm as we make sandwiches for the hungry and homeless. We ask you to please bring a pair of new adult socks with you and join us in living Mercy!

Friday we gather as a parish family for Octoberfest! Once again we have German food, beer and music. It’s a fun event for the whole family with good times for all! So stop and join us from 6pm until 9pm. Oktoberfest began in the 19th Century with the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria who later became King Ludwig I. His marriage to Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen was celebrated in Bavaria. In anticipation of the wedding, a great festival was held. Today, Oktoberfest in Munich is celebrated in September in anticipation of October. In Munich, the fest lasts for 16 days, beginning on a Saturday in September and always ending on the first Sunday in October.

We gather together this OLM Feast Week with golf, Mass, prayer, music, mercy, charity and fun! So please join us for one, or all, of the many events planned this week. We celebrate what it means to be a parish family this week, spending time together in prayer and worship, but also sharing some social time together and helping the less fortunate. We pray that Our Lady of Mercy, our patroness, continues to lay her mantle of love and protection upon our parish.

I offer my profound thanks the many parishioners who have been so generous in supporting our Annual Parish Collection this year. This important collection helps us maintain our large physical plant with its two convents, school, rectory, church, outreach office and cemetery. I am truly grateful for the many parishioners who are always so generous in supporting the parish. Be well.

Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Oremus pro invicem!

Celebrating & Praying for OLM Religious Educators

Dear Parishioners:                          

This weekend we celebrate Catechetical Sunday. On Catechetical Sunday, we not only pray for our parish catechists who teach in the OLM Religious Education Program but we also commend parents and families and encourage them to take seriously their role of making their Catholic households a place where faith is passed on to the next generation. At the 9:00AM Mass on Sunday we are to commission the men and women who volunteer to teach the some 400 children of our parish about the Catholic Faith. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity for every parishioner to reflect on the role they play, by virtue of Baptism, in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel. Catechetical Sunday is an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. Many Catholics have used the word "catechism" for years, and they know it has something to do with the compendium of the Church's teachings. The root word, "catechesis," is from a Greek word meaning "to echo, or resound." Catechesis is the act of resounding or bringing the Church's teachings to the world. A catechist is one who teaches in the name of the Church.

Catechesis is a distinct and special ministry in the Church. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church makes clear, “Catechesis is intimately bound up with the whole of the Church’s life . . . her inner growth and correspondence with God’s plan depend essentially on catechesis.” This ministry of teaching in the name of the Church has a profound dignity, which is why catechists are formally commissioned by the Church. It is only fitting that we set aside a day to highlight this ministry and invite the entire church community to think about our responsibility to share our faith with others. In a very special way, we pray for our catechists and all those families enrolled in our Religious Education Program. On Catechetical Sunday, we are also reminded that parents are truly the primary catechists of their children. It is  Catholic Parents who must prepare the soil and plant the first seeds of faith.  So please pray for the parents of the children in our Religious Education Program, that they may strive to fulfill the promise they made on the day of their child’s baptism to “teach them in the ways of the faith.”

I wish to thank Mickey St. Jean and Doug Green who direct our OLM Religious Education Program. They do exemplary work in ensuring the teachings of Christ and His Church are taught to our parish children with zeal, integrity and joy.  We must also thank the men and women who volunteer to serve as teachers in our RE Program for their service and sacrifice. We thank the many families in our RE Program.  They have chosen to prepare  the future of our parish and Church by educating their children in the faith.  We thank them for their willingness to ensure the faith is an importnat part of their family life and bringing their children to Christ in this way.  Ours is a large program and it requires the work and dedication of many people along with the cooperation of the students and their families. We are grateful for their cooperation with our teachers and RE Directors.  Working together to educate the children of OLM in the ways of the faith is critical to our parish life and future.

Pope Francis reminds parents: “We need simplicity to pray as a family! Praying the Our Father together, around the table, is not something extraordinary: it’s easy. And praying the Rosary together, as a family, is very beautiful and a source of great strength!  And also praying for one another! The husband for his wife, the wife for her husband, both together for their children, the children for their grandparents praying for each other.  This is what it means to pray in the family and it is what makes the family strong: prayer!” May we pray for all OLM families and may all OLM families pray!

Finally, a word of thanks to the many parishioners who were so kind in offering sympathy, prayers and Masses for my late brother Kevin whose Funeral Mass I celebrated last week. My family is truly grateful for your support and prayers at this time of grief and sadness.  May he rest in peace.

Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Pats! Oremus pro invicem!