Citizenship and Duty, Virtue and Voting

Dear Parishioners:

In their statement on Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship, the U.S. Catholic bishops remind us about the call to participate in political life. "In the Catholic tradition," they teach, "responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation."                                      

 Often when facing a tough decision, it is tempting to look for the comfort of having someone else tell us what to do.  Some people have suggested that I should be endorsing certain candidates and telling Catholics for whom to vote.     However, it is clear that no Catholic bishops, priests, deacons, or religious can endorse individual candidates or political parties, nor should they. Instead, the primary responsibility of pastors is to hand on the Church's clear and authentic moral and social teaching and teach the fundamental ethical principles that help Catholics form their own consciences correctly. In other words, proclaiming the truth of Church teaching not personal or partisan opinions. Fundamental moral principles, not politics is what is to be preached.

Indeed, every Catholic, clergy or laity, have a right and responsibility to vote with a well-formed conscience. It must be formed under the Holy Spirit's guidance through prayer, scripture, and reflecting and informing oneself about the Catholic Church's moral teachings.    Pope Francis states that the call to holiness requires a "firm and passionate defense of the innocent unborn." At the same time, he also describes as "equally sacred" "the lives of the poor, those already born, the destitute, the abandoned and the underprivileged, the vulnerable infirm and elderly exposed to covert euthanasia, the victims of human trafficking, new forms of slavery, and every form of rejection."

The first temptation of many Catholics is to miss the ethical distinctions between different issues. As the bishops teach: "The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception to natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed."  But there is also a second temptation, namely to misuse this distinction as an excuse for ignoring other threats to human life and dignity, like poverty, injustice, and racism. These, and several other crucially important issues, "are not optional concerns which can be dismissed."

“In the Catholic tradition, responsible citizenship is a virtue, and participation in political life is a moral obligation.”

As Catholics, we must develop the virtue of prudence, "the charioteer of the virtues." For it helps us to discern how clear moral principles apply in particular circumstances, as well as how to evaluate "a candidate's commitments, character, integrity, and ability to influence a given issue."  However, in any political consideration, the priority must always be given to protect the sanctity of human life from natural conception until natural death. Life is the most fundamental good. Therefore, our opposition to abortion and euthanasia are preeminent issues in our political considerations.  

Human life that faces grave and direct threats, as do the unborn and the terminally ill, is the preeminent concern in our political considerations. This preeminence does not mean we dismiss or ignore other threats to human life and dignity or caring for the vulnerable among us. As Catholics with well-formed consciences, we must stand firm on issues that directly attack life itself, the most fundamental good. Abortion and euthanasia are preeminent issues in the moral order and our political decisions.   

We mustn't sit on the sidelines and fail to participate in the political process. Political decisions are very challenging, especially today. However, if  Catholics fail to get involved, as challenging as it is, we forsake our sacred duty as both citizens and Catholic disciples. Pray. Form a  correct conscience. Learn candidate positions on issues. Pray again. Then vote as a Catholic.      

Sincere congratulations to our Conformandi! Pray for these 70 young men and women confirmed in their Catholic Faith this weekend.  May they grow in faith, hope, and love of Christ and His Church. 

Also prayers and best wishes to OLM parishioner and newly ordained Permanent Deacon Steven Valliere. Ad multos annos!  

 Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless. Go Pats!!!!

Politics and Prayer

Dear Parishioners:

          A parishioner recently told me he was tuning out all the politics that dominate the news, the mail, and even our phones. He is frustrated with the television and radio ads, the campaign pamphlets, literature in the mail and on the front porch, and the seemingly endless news coverage of all things political. In many ways, I share his frustration with the political process with its infinite advertising. However, we should not grow too cynical, or worse, apathetic about politics. Pope Francis reminds us that "a good Christian actively participates in politics and prays that politicians may love their people and serve them with humility." 

The fundamental key to our participation in the political process is prayer. We must pray for our nation, state, and town as we approach the upcoming election. We should also pray for all candidates, regardless of their party or even if we do not support them. Consider praying the following prayer over the next weeks as we approach Election Day on November 3, 2020:       

"Lord God, as the election approaches, we seek to understand better the issues and concerns that confront our city/state/country, and how the Gospel compels us to respond as faithful citizens in our community.        

We ask for eyes that are free from blindness so that we might see each other as brothers and sisters, one and equal in dignity, especially those who are victims of abuse and violence, deceit, and poverty.         

  We ask for ears that will hear the cries of children unborn and those abandoned, Men and women oppressed because of race or creed, religion or gender.    

We ask for minds and hearts that are open to hearing the voice of leaders who will bring us closer to your Kingdom. 

We pray for discernment so that we may choose leaders who hear your Word, live your love, and keep in the ways of your truth as they follow in the steps of Jesus and his Apostles guide us to your Kingdom of justice and peace. Amen."             

If we begin with prayer, we can then start to form a conscience. It takes time to develop our consciences to make well-reasoned judgments about particular, real-life situations. The Church teaches that it is crucial to work continually on conscience formation to be prepared to make decisions whenever the opportunity arises. This is especially true as we face decisions about which candidates we cast our vote Election Day. The bishops teach in the USCCB document, Faithful Citizenship:

"Conscience is not something that allows us to justify doing whatever we want, nor is it a mere 'feeling' about what we should or should not do. Rather, conscience is the voice of God resounding in the human heart, revealing the truth to us and calling us to do what is good while shunning what is evil."         

As you consider your vote on election day, please pray and form your conscience with the teachings of Christ and His Church on the crucial issues of our day: the sanctity of all human life especially the unborn, the dignity of the human person, the common good and solidarity, matters of peace and justice, the care of the poor, the immigrant, the sick, the dying and the elderly, religious freedom and liberty, children and education, healthcare and the environment. Next, seek to learn the position of each candidate on the fundamental issues of life, dignity, and liberty. Then pray to vote as a Catholic Citizen, not a partisan party member. Pray. Inform. Educate. Vote. The Catholic Way to the voting booth!                                       

With joy, we announce that  Parishioner Steven Valliere, who serves as a Lector and Adult Altar Server at OLM, is being ordained a Permanent Deacon next Saturday. Pray for him and the other men who are to be ordained by Bishop Tobin for service in our Diocese. The Ordination Mass will be live-streamed from the Cathedral as the seating is limited.  We congratulate Steven and offer him our prayerful support. May God grant him a faithful and fruitful diaconal ministry.      

Bishop Matano of Rochester.

Next Sunday at 5 pm, we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation as 70 young adults from OLM receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We welcome Bishop Matano of Rochester, NY, to OLM, for the Confirmation Mass. Bishop Matano is a priest of Providence and I worked with him at St. Augustine Church in Providence over 20 years ago. Many of you may remember him as the late Msgr. Lolio’s dear friend and the homilist at Monsignor’s Funeral Mass.  It’s always great to have him home in Rhode Island and back to OLM!  The Mass is being live-streamed for family and friends as only the candidates, their sponsors and parents are able to attend.  Please pray for these candidates, may they grow in faith, hope, and charity!

Join us at  Devotions on Monday with guest preacher,  Dominican  Fr. Jordan Zajac, OP!  Fr. Jordan will lead our devotions and offer a reflection entitled, "The Only Bad Rosary."  Fr. Jordan and fellow Friar, Fr. Edmund McCullough, OP, the Chaplain at Brown University, will also be hearing Confessions on Monday, October 19th beginning at 6:00 PM.  

Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless. Go Pats!!!!

Father Healey

Finances and Faith

Dear Parishioners:

In the bulletin today, you will find an abbreviated copy of the Annual Parish Financial Report for the Fiscal Year of July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. In September, our parish auditors and parish finance council reviewed the report. The parish trustees approved it, and it's been duly sent to Bishop Tobin.

  It reports that our parish budget revenue declined $86,500, which is about 11% of our annual budget revenue. From March 15 through June 30, the weekly collection fell over $50,000. This decline is directly related to the COVID-19 Pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. It also reports that we've reduced our expenses by $98,000.

  Our parish school report shows a loss of $60,000 due partly from the lost revenue from the extended day program due to the closing of school during the lockdown. As a result of the COVID-19 Crisis, we had to cancel the school's chief fundraiser, the Annual OLM School Spring Fling. This fundraiser annually raises nearly $100.000 for the school.

Thankfully, we could participate in the Paycheck Protection Program when the Trump Administration allowed non-profits and church organizations to seek this assistance. We received a $120,000 loan for the Church and a $281,000 loan for the school. These PPP loans are only to cover the expense of payroll, pension, medical and utility costs. They are listed on the balance sheet as liabilities as of June 30. We intend to seek forgiveness for these loans, and we are currently in the process of completing the required application.   

Our weekly budget is decreasing, but I am optimistic that the more people returning to weekly Mass will help stem this loss. We are thankful for those parishioners who continue to support the parish. Also, we thank the additional fifty parish families who signed up for online giving. In a parish of some 2,000 registered families, only about 500 regularly contribute to the parish. 

The good news is that our faithful parishioners continue to support OLM generously. Over $50,000 was raised for the school by the recent raffle. These funds help tremendously with our increased expenses and health and safety upgrades for the school.

  I am grateful to the many families who have so generously responded to the Annual Parish Collection. As of this week, we have raised just over $50,000. Annually we raise over $100,000 for this vital collection. I am confident that we will reach that amount with your generosity and support once again this year.   

Please take the report home and review it. If you have questions or concerns, please contact either myself or our OLM Business Manager, David Cote. I offer my thanks to David for his expert assistance in preparing these reports and managing the parish and school. I also wish to thank our parish auditors, finance council, and trustees for their support and invaluable input and advice on fiscal matters. 

The report highlights that fewer people practice the Faith, and thus fewer people financially support the parish. Meanwhile, our maintenance costs, along with insurance, utilities, and other fixed expenses, continue to rise. Therefore I am deeply grateful for your commitment to the Faith and your continued weekly support of the parish.

Moving forward amid the Pandemic, I remain confident that more people will return to the regular practice of their Catholic Faith. We've added another Mass to our weekend schedule, and I encourage those who can safely attend to please join us for weekly Mass.

Monday, we celebrate Columbus Day. It is a day that has become controversial for some people. Many suggest he is not worthy of such an honor, and his statues have been attacked and removed. There is great disagreement about the truth about Columbus. I encourage you to read a new book, Columbus and the Crisis of the West by Robert Royal. It reveals the scholarly truth about Christopher Columbus. Royal, director of the Faith and Reason Institute, also wrote the excellent book 1492 and All That. It, too, is worth a read to learn more about Columbus. Happy Columbus Day! 

Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless. Go Pats!!!! See you at Monday Devotions!

"The Weapon of Our Times"

Dear Parishioners:

OLM Student Adam Hayes picks a See You In September Raffle Winner!

We thank the many OLM parishioners and friends of OLM School. They were so generous in supporting the See You in September Raffle. We sold all 600 tickets and raised $50,000 to help our school continue its vital mission.  The winners of the raffle appear in this week's bulletin. We congratulate them.  But the real winners are the young saints and scholars of our outstanding parish school who benefit from your generosity.

Of course, the raffle wasn't the only way we marked our parish feast last week. On Monday, we had Mercy Devotions with an outstanding homily on Mercy from Dominican Friar, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP from the PC Priory.  We also had a solemn and joyful Feast Day Mass celebrated by Bishop Evans on Thursday. It was a great week honoring our parish patroness and seeking her powerful intercession.  

We continue seeking the powerful intercession of our Mother Mary throughout October.  Each Monday night this month at 7:00 pm, we gather for Eucharistic Adoration and the Rosary.  A great way to seek the Mother of Mercy's help and guidance as we meditate on the mysteries of our Lord. "The Rosary is the 'weapon' for these times," said St. Padre Pio. 

These many years later, his words remain true.  The Rosary is the weapon of our times, for we live in a time of turbulent conflict, confusion, and crisis in our world. We are still suffering from the COVID 19 Pandemic. It has sadly taken two hundred thousand of our brothers and sisters. Many people still suffer from sickness and isolation, poverty, and unemployment.   Almost nightly, we witness the streets of our nation's cities full of protests, at times turning violent. Political debate in this election season has become bitter and nasty, divisive and contentious.  

““The Rosary is the ‘weapon’ for these times,” said St. Padre Pio.”

Now is the time for us as Catholics to take up more prayer, not less. It is time to seek Our Lady's help by praying the Holy Rosary.  For indeed, it is the best weapon of our times.  A weapon of harmony and peace, unity and charity, faith and hope.  A weapon sorely needed in a time of conflict and division.     Make the time this October to pray for our world and nation, our Church, and parish at Monday Devotions.  Kneel before the Eucharistic Lord asking Our Lady of Mercy, Queen of Peace, to lead us ever closer to the Sacred Heart of her son.

If you cannot make Monday Devotions, please be sure to pick up your Rosary and pray at home, in the car, or even at work. Make time in your busy day to pray with the beads resting on your night table, tucked away in a drawer, hanging on your car mirror, or hidden in your pocket. Turn to our Blessed Mother and ask her help and seek her intercession. 

St. Padre Pio explains: "Some people are so foolish that they think they can go through life without the help of the Blessed Mother. Love the Madonna and pray the Rosary, for her Rosary is the weapon against the evils of the world today. All graces given by God pass through the Blessed Mother."   

This weekend we happily resume the 9:00 am Sunday Mass and Saturday Confessions at 4:00 pm. Thank you for your patience and understanding.  Also, I ask that you continue your kind cooperation with the COVID 19 guidelines:  Please wear a mask, keep a social distance, and wash your hands frequently.  We ask that you depart Church promptly after Mass for its sanitizing before the next Mass. 

I offer my gratitude and thanks to our dedicated maintenance staff.  They work hard to keep the school and church buildings safe and sanitized. They continue their regular maintenance duties of caring for the parish plant.   So stop and say thanks when you see them!           

Confirmation Mass is  Sunday, October 25th, at 5:00 pm with Bishop Matano of Rochester, NY.  Please pray for the Confirmation candidates as they make their final preparation for the Sacrament. May they grow in faith and love, grace, and holiness. As St. Therese of Lisieux teaches: "Holiness consists simply in doing God's will, and being just what God wants us to be."                  

It's October so pray the Holy Rosary! Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless.  Go Pats!!!! See you on Monday at Devotions!

"The Shortest and Safest Way to Heaven."

Dear Parishioners:                                          

The First Communion Classes are taking the "Fifty-Three Week Challenge." The challenge is to faithfully attend Mass every Sunday successively for fifty-two weeks following the 1st Communion Mass. On the fifty-third week, they receive a special gift to recognize their fidelity to Christ and Holy Mass. This challenge is a fun way to be faithful and develop the good habit of attending Mass every week.    

Recently Cardinal Robert Sarah, the Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments at the Vatican, issued a letter to the bishops of the world. The letter entitled "We Must Return to the Eucharist," addresses the COVID Global Pandemic and the celebration of Public Masses.

The Cardinal suggests that "as soon as circumstances permit, it is necessary and urgent to return to the normality of Christian life, which has the church building as its home and the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, as 'the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; and at the same time is the font from which all her power flows.'" 

In other words, it's time to return in person to Sunday Mass. Of course, those parishioners who are at risk due to age, health conditions, or infirmity should stay safe and remain home. We remain in spiritual communion with them during the live-stream Mass as we pray with and for them.

However, you don’t have to go too far to see restaurants, grocery and department stores, liquor stores, beaches, and golf courses with a lot of people there. It is certainly safe, if not safer, to attend Mass on Sunday as go to Target, Thorpe's, La Masseria, or Dave's Market.

In fact, a recent article in Real Clear Science, entitled "Evidence-Based Guidelines to Celebrate Mass Safely Are Working", examined safe Mass attendance. It states: "Catholic churches across the country have been open for up to four months since shelter-in-place orders were lifted. With approximately 17,000 parishes in America typically holding three or more weekend masses - and a greater number of daily Masses - for the last 14 or more weeks - over one million public masses have been celebrated following guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus: in sum, follow the three W's - watch your distance, wear your mask, and wash your hands. 

The Good News: for Catholic churches following these guidelines, no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance, even though we have examples some described below of asymptomatic, unknowingly infected individuals attending Mass and other parish functions. Their attendance could have led to an outbreak if appropriate precautions were not followed, yet in each case, we found no evidence of viral transmission." 

We follow the "Three Ws" at Mass. We watch our distance. We wear a mask. We wash our hands. We also sanitize the church building after every Mass and public event. OLM is indeed a safe place to pray and praise and worship God! While the number of parishioners attending Sunday Mass is steadily increasing, many parishioners not at risk are not coming regularly. Without a doubt we learned some good habits during this pandemic about staying safe and healthy but bad habits were also learned!  

Among these bad habits is not faithfully attending Mass in person if not at risk and freely able to do so. The live-stream Mass on Sunday is for those parishioners who because of age, health or infirmity, should not attend but remain safe at home. It’s not meant to watch at the kitchen table while eating pancakes with the kids and then running off to the soccer game or golf course.  We should begin again the good habit of attending Mass in person each Sunday. 

Come and receive Christ truly present in Holy Communion. It's safe. It's easy. It is as St. Pius X said: "the shortest and safest way to heaven." 

Why not take up the "Fifty-Three Week Challenge" with our First Communion Class! The benefit you receive just might be heavenly!

Saturday Confessions at 4:00 pm and the Sunday 9:00 am Mass resume again next weekend.  So there is plenty of chance to get to  Confession and Mass at OLM!!!! Come back to Christ truly present at Mass!!

Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless.  Go Pats!!!!

Celebrate Our Lady of Mercy, A Feast of Faith and Joy

Dear Parishioners:                                          

OLM School First Communion Class, September 12, 2020

It was a beautiful and joyful day last Saturday as the children from Our Lady of Mercy School celebrated First Holy Communion. Initially scheduled for early May, the First Communion Masses are now in September. This weekend and next weekend, the OLM Religious Education program children are celebrating their First Holy Communion. Pray for them.      

Our Lady of Mercy. Sometimes called Our Lady of Ransom.

On Thursday, September 24, we celebrate the Patronal Feast of our parish.  The Origin of the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy dates back to 1214 when St. Peter Nolasco, at the age of 25, donated his vast estates to the Church. After making a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Montserrat, he went on to Barcelona and began to practice various acts of charity and mercy.   It was in Barcelona that St Peter Nolasco conceived the idea of establishing a religious community to aid the many captives seized by the Moors on the seas and in Spain.   These enslaved Christian captives were cruelly tormented in the Moorish prisons to make them deny their faith.
  All of Christian Europe was praying intensely to obtain the remedy for the great evil that had befallen them. On August 1, 1218, the Blessed Virgin appeared to St. Peter Nolasco, to his confessor, St. Raymond of Penafort, and King James I of Aragon and Catalonia.  Through these three servants of God, a work of perfect mercy, the captives' redemption, was established.     While the Church was celebrating the feast of St. Peter in Chains, the Virgin Mary appeared first to St. Peter Nolasco, saying that she indeed desired to establish a new religious order. It would become the Mercedarians, bearing the name of the Mother of Mercy. Its members undertook their mission to rescue Christian captives and offer themselves, if necessary, as a ransom to the captors.
  The Order was established in Spain and approved by the Pope under the name of Our Lady of Mercy. By God's grace and under the protection of His Virgin Mother, the Order spread rapidly as the works of charity and mercy of its members became known. They followed Our Lady's directive to give themselves up to voluntary slavery when necessary.
  It was to praise God and the Blessed Virgin that a feast day was instituted and observed on September 24. First in the Order, then everywhere in Spain and France. Pope Innocent XII, in the 17th Century, extended it to the entire Church. In the 19th Century, Pope Leo XIII sought devotion to Our Lady of Mercy with a focus on how Our Lady ransoms us from the slavery of our sins and brings us the grace of conversion. As the Mother of Jesus, our Merciful Redeemer, Our Lady is rightly named Mother of Mercy.   

This year, we have had to change our usual Mercy Week events due to the pandemic.  The Saints and Scholars Golf Tournament, the communal Work of Mercy night, and the Octoberfest are postponed until next year when we hope the COVID restrictions are lifted.    However, to mark our Feast Week of Mercy, there are three events this week.  On Monday at 7:00 pm, we celebrate Devotions to Our Lady of Mercy with Eucharistic Adoration, recitation of the Holy Rosary, and a talk on Mercy by Dominican Friar, Fr. Patrick Mary Briscoe, OP, the Associate Chaplain at Providence College.   Before the Devotions on Monday, Fr. Briscoe and another Friar from the PC Priory, Fr. Jordan Zajac, OP, are available for  Confessions beginning at 6:00 pm.   

On Thursday, September 24, we mark the actual Parish Feast with a solemn Mass at 9:00 am celebrated by Bishop Evans.  The Mass is open to the public, so please join us in person to celebrate this feast of faith in honor of Our Lady.     On Thursday at 1:30 pm, the "See You in September" Raffle Drawing takes place at OLM School.  Our OLM School saints and scholars are pulling the winning tickets for the raffle via live-stream! Get your ticket today if you have not yet done so and mark your calendar to celebrate our feast as a parish family!!  

See you at Mercy Devotions and the Feast  Mass! Happy Patronal Feast Day! May Our Lady of Mercy guide and protect you, your family, and our parish! Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good! God Bless.  Go Pats!!!!