The Unordinary Times of Ordinary Time

Dear Parishioners:

The  Feast of the Lord's Baptism we celebrate this weekend has been celebrated as a separate feast for many centuries. Initially, it was the primary mystery celebrated on January 6 (Feast of Epiphany), but it was separated and assigned a different day over time. Thus it has always been a "Christmas" feast, celebrated within the Christmas cycle. However, it may seem a little strange to have the baby Jesus in the manger still and commemorate a moment during his adult life.

Yet, it is entirely fitting when reflecting on the central mystery of Christ to commemorate his baptism. For both, the feast of the Nativity and Baptism of the Lord highlights the humility of Jesus Christ. In both instances, he displayed his desire to become one with us to raise us up with him.   Jesus not only assumed our flesh at the Nativity but became like us in all things except sin. He was baptized by his cousin, St. John the Baptist, even though he did not need baptism.

  Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI explains this  in his sermon on the Baptism of the Lord:

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI baptizes a child on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Italy.

  "Jesus shows his solidarity with us, with our efforts to convert and to be rid of our selfishness, to break away from our sins in order to tell us that if we accept him in our life, he can uplift us and lead us to the heights of God the Father.  And Jesus' solidarity is not, as it were, a mere exercise of mind and will. Jesus truly immersed himself in our human condition, lived it to the end, in all things save sin, and was able to understand our weakness and frailty.     For this reason he was moved to compassion; he chose to 'suffer with' men and women, to become a penitent with us. This is God's work which Jesus wanted to carry out: the divine mission to heal those who are wounded and give medicine to the sick, to take upon himself the sin of the world."

With the celebration of the Baptism of the Lord, the Christmas Season officially ends.  And with it the Christmas trees, wreaths, flowers, lights, and the crèche are all taken down.  They are put away until next year and we return to the Season of Ordinary Time with its green vestments and simpler decorations.      

Many have asked about the annual parish calendar normally distributed during Christmas. Due to the COVID  Pandemic, the calendars were not available this year.  We thank the Caparco Family of Hill Funeral Home, who always sponsor our beautiful parish calendar.  We hope that they return once again next Christmas to hang in our homes and offices.  Important dates to note on the Church Calendar in 2021 are Ash Wednesday on February 17, Palm Sunday on March 28, Easter Sunday on April 4, Ascension Thursday on May 13, and Pentecost on May 23. Be sure to put them on your calendar.    

The OLM School students were back at in-person classes this past week. They return after a long Christmas break that began with the big snowstorm in December.  We welcome them back along with our dedicated faculty and staff, who work hard to make our parish school outstanding.

Boiler room in the Rectory after removal of boiler.

Before Christmas, the Rectory boiler died.  After over fifty years it finally gave out.  We had hoped it would last until the spring, but alas, it didn't. So we began the process of replacing the boiler the week after Christmas.    Thankfully we had a plan in the works, and we could start right away. AA Wrecking and Asbestos Abatement removed all the asbestos from the boiler room. Once done with asbestos, the old boiler and hot water tank, originally installed in the 1960s, had to be demolished and removed.     

New England  Boiler Works, who did such a superb job installing the new boilers in the convents this past fall, is installing the new rectory boiler.  We hope to complete the entire project very soon.  In the meantime, we keep warm with electric heaters in the Rectory.  Thankfully we have hot water, so we're a bit chilly but very clean! The project is costly and funded by your generous support of the capital campaign.  We thank you for this support and we are most grateful as it truly warms us and our hearts!

Stay safe. Be well. Do good. Welcome back and New Year Blessings for the  OLM School students and faculty! God Bless.

Hope and Holiness in 2021!

Dear Parishioners:

A very Happy New Year! The 19th Century English Poet Alfred Lord Tennyson wrote: "Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, 'It will be happier.'" Tennyson's words express our hope that 2021 might be a happier and better year than in 2020.    We say so long to 2020, the Annus Horribilis, and we hope and pray that 2021 might be a year that brings more health, less sickness, more stability, less insecurity, more community, less isolation, more joy, less sorrow.

We begin the new year with the celebration of the great Solemnity of the Epiphany. The word epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning "manifestation." An epiphany is a time when something is shown, displayed, or manifested to an audience. It has come to refer to the feast celebrating the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (Magi) from the East. In the Magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation.

  The Feast of Epiphany calls us to contemplate our creation and orientation to our new creation in Christ Jesus. While at first, we are drawn to thoughts of the three gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, Epiphany's true gift is Christ's gift of Himself for our salvation. Therefore, the three gifts offered by the Magi should only be representations of our gift of self to the Lord. The mystery that the Epiphany of God — his manifestation — is hidden behind the tiny body of a newborn infant. 

Saints and scholars have considered the richness of this mystery. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, reflecting on this great mystery, in a sermon on the Epiphany, states: "What are you doing, O Magi? Do you adore a little Babe, in a wretched hovel, wrapped in miserable rags? Can this Child be truly God? Are you foolish, O Wise Men? Yes, these Wise Men have become fools that they may be wise." 

The universal call to holiness means that the mystery of Christ must become the center of our existence. Our attitude must first and foremost be that of openness to the gift of Christ, an attitude that recognizes the transcendent reality beyond us and sees the world with the eyes of faith. Let us pray for this disposition so that Jesus Christ might become an Epiphany in our own lives.

Perhaps in our prayer and reflection, we might consider what gifts we bring to Christ this coming year? Is it the gift of our time, our devotion, our talent, our treasure? Is it a renewal of faith, a more profound conversion to Christ in daily life, a steadfast commitment to our family, marriage, church, or perhaps merely more acts of charity and mercy? May the Magi inspire us to give our gifts without counting the cost as we worship and adore Christ in word and deed. 

In his annual Message for the 54th World Day of Peace on January 1, 2020, His Holiness Pope Francis reminds us: "At a time like this, when the barque of humanity, tossed by the storm of the current crisis, struggles to advance towards a calmer and more serene horizon, the 'rudder' of human dignity and the 'compass' of fundamental social principles can enable us together to steer a sure course. As Christians, we should always look to Our Lady, Star of the Sea, and Mother of Hope. May we work together to advance towards a new horizon of love and peace, fraternity and solidarity, of mutual support and acceptance. May we never yield to the temptation to disregard others, especially those in greatest need, and to look the other way; instead, may we strive daily, in concrete and practical ways, 'to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another.'"

As we begin another new year, let us pray and reflect upon the Holy Father's message. May it inspire us to be people and a parish of love and peace, solidarity and fraternity, charity and mercy. May our patroness, Our Lady of Mercy, guide and protect us in 2021! In the name of Fr. Barrow and Fr. Connors, I assure you of our prayers for a Healthy, Happy, and Holy New Year in 2021 for you and your family. We hope and pray for the end of the pandemic and the peace, health, well-being, security, and prosperity of the world.

Stay safe. Be well. Do good. God Bless 2021!  

Giving Thanks for God is With Us!!!

Dear Parishioners:                                  

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light," the words of Isaiah proclaimed on Christmas Night. We live in the joy of the Christmas season, and it has very little to do with secular festivities. We rejoice because Jesus Christ is Emmanuel – "God with us."      

Christians celebrate December 25th not as just another secular holiday but much more deeply as the Messiah's day of birth.  This birthday, in the words of St. Leo the Great, is the birth of life itself. God loved us so much that He sent us His only Son to save us. He loved us enough to take on our poverty, doubts, fears, hopes, joys, sufferings, and failures. He became man to show men and women how much God loves them. He was born for that purpose, lived for that purpose, and died and rose again for that purpose. It's never too late to invite the Christ Child, the Messiah, into our hearts, and our homes. Surely this weary world living in the darkness of pandemic needs "the great light" born on Christmas.

Every household living in isolation needs the presence of the Divine Messiah. May God grant each of us, and those we love, the gift of welcoming Jesus Christ into our hearts and homes this Christmas Season and throughout the coming new year. As the great English Catholic author, G. K. Chesterton wrote: "Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home."
We give thanks to the people who make our celebration of Christmas so very joyous at OLM. The Church is beautiful with its decorations, the Christmas music superb, and our altar servers are outstanding.  Although it was a different Christmas than we've experienced before due to the pandemic, it was indeed a joyful and faithful Christmas as always at OLM.

We thank our good Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, Sister Emma and Sister Lourdes, for their hard work in making OLM so beautiful at Christmas with their decorating, cleaning, polishing, and setting up for the Masses. Their hard work is done with humility, gentleness, and great joy! We thank Paul Anderson and our OLM maintenance crew for ensuring the Church is clean and safe by hanging wreaths, stringing lights on trees and so many other things they do. During this pandemic, especially at Christmas, they work doubly hard, and we are grateful. We thank our dedicated Altar Servers for their reverent service at Christmas Masses. We are thankful to our Lectors for boldly proclaiming the good news of Christmas. We truly thank our OLM Music Director,  Henri St. Louis, for the beautiful music of the Feast of Christmas! It is a blessing to have such good people dedicate themselves to our parish!  In your name, I offer deep gratitude and continued appreciation for all they do for OLM!

On behalf of Fr. Barrow, Fr. Connors, Sister Lourdes, and Sister Emma, I offer our thanks to the parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy Parish for your faithful witness and joyful spirit in celebrating Christmas. We thank the many kind parishioners who support our priestly and parish ministry here at OLM. Your many well wishes, greeting cards with warm sentiments and kind words, and generous and thoughtful gifts at Christmas are deeply appreciated, and we are so very grateful. May God bless you and your families, and our parish, with the continued joy and happiness of this season.

The New Year of 2021 is coming soon, so join us on New Year's Day for the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. Attending Holy Mass on New Year's is the absolute best way to start the New Year.  As the great Churchman of the 20th Century, Antonio Cardinal Bacci said: “Since we are at the beginning of a new year, it is especially important for us to ask God more fervently and insistently, to bless the resolutions which are making for ourselves and the good wishes, which we are showering on our friends. These wishes have no meaning and these resolutions have no force, if they are not accompanied by fervent and persevering prayer!”

On this Feast of the Holy Family, may God bless all families with faith, hope, and love. Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good. God Bless. A Happy Christmas Season and Blessings for a Happy New Year!

The Cause of Our Joy!

Dear Parishioners:

Saint Augustine, the great Doctor of the Church, asked: "What greater cause is there of the Lord's coming than to show God's love for us?" Upon the threshold of the coming of Christ at Christmas, we must ponder and reflect upon God's love for us.  For on Christmas, the great feast of the Incarnation, we celebrate God's love for us.

With joy, we celebrate the coming of our Messiah, who dispelled the darkness of the world. With faith, we welcome the Light of Christ that pierces the darkness of our world's sin and sadness and the darkness in our lives. Yes, there are dark things in our world, but the celebration of the Lord's Nativity is even more extraordinary, for the Divine Light has come from Heaven, and we rejoice that "the darkness has never overcome it." 

The Incarnation, the doctrine that God became flesh, and assumed a human nature becoming a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity, is a central mystery of our Catholic faith. As the Advent Season quickly ends and the Feast of the Incarnation arrives this Friday, let us prayerfully meditate upon our God who humbled Himself to become one of us.

Only then are we indeed blessed to see how the humble and tender Christ Child born in a simple manger pulls us away from darkness and draws us into the light of His goodness, peace, and love. For on Christmas, we celebrate the reality that Jesus Christ, God made Man, is genuinely present and good!   

God desires to share the love and communion of his life with us. He makes himself accessible in the incarnate humanity of his only-begotten Son born on Christmas. He does so "that we might share in the divinity of Christ who humbled himself to share in our humanity." At the heart of the Christmas story is not merely a warm sentiment for a tiny child or a sense of nostalgia for a Christmas past. Rather it is the reality that because of Christmas, we rejoice with faith in the person of Jesus Christ and the salvation and new life he makes possible for us.    

An English Catholic ecclesiastical artist, mystic, famous religious writer, and poet of the 20th Century Caryll Houselander reflects on this reality.   Her prayerful poem, entitled, Be Born in Us, offers a powerful meditation as we celebrate and contemplate the Birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. The poem reads:

"Be born in us, Incarnate Love. Take our flesh and blood, and give us Your humanity. Take our eyes, and give us Your vision. Take our minds, and give us Your pure thought. Take our feet, and set them in Your path. Take our hands, and fold them in Your prayer. Take our hearts,  and give them Your will to love. Amen."

I offer thanks to the many parishioners who support  OLM Outreach, especially over these last few weeks. Your generous donations of financial support, gift cards, food, and paper goods are much appreciated. It enables us to help those in need in our community at the holidays but also the many poor, hungry, homeless, and destitute who seek our assistance daily. In their name, I offer my sincere thanks for your mercy and charity this Christmas. 

There are three priests on Monday night, including outside confessors, hearing Confessions from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. Seize the opportunity to make a good Confession before Christmas. God's mercy and forgiveness of sins is a great gift for Christmas. It's free and readily available. All you need to do is deliver yourself to the Confessional Box on Monday. If you do, you can genuinely rejoice with Christ the Savior on Christmas this Friday! 

Along with Fr. Barrow, Fr. Connors, Sister Lourdes, Sister Emma, I offer prayers and best wishes for a Holy and Happy Christmas Season. Be assured of our remembrance for you and your families as we offer Mass on Christmas.

As we approach Christmas, I extend St. John Henry Newman's Christmas Blessing upon you, your families and all: "May each Christmas, as it comes, find us more and more like Him who at this time became a little child, for our sake; more simple-minded, more humble, more affectionate, more resigned, more happy, more full of God. Amen"

A Happy and Holy Christmas! God’s Blessings! 

Rejoice in the Lord Always!

Dear Parishioners: 

This Third Sunday of Advent is known as "Gaudete Sunday." Its name is from the entrance antiphon of the Mass, which is: "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I say, rejoice. Indeed, the Lord is near." This antiphon is from Philippians, and in Latin, the first word of the antiphon is "Gaudete."

For much of the Church's history, this Sunday has been called "Gaudete" Sunday. The traditions surrounding this Sunday go back as far as the fourth or fifth century, as does the season of Advent itself.  Advent is the season of preparing for the arrival of the Lord Jesus (both his first coming and his second coming), and by the third Sunday of Advent, we are most of the way through the season. Thus it is appropriate to rejoice as we see the goal of the season approaching: "The Lord is near."

On Gaudete Sunday, the season of Advent shifts its focus. For the first two weeks of Advent, the focus is, "The Lord is coming." But beginning with Gaudete Sunday, it focuses upon, "The Lord is near." A heightened sense of joyous anticipation marks this shift.   Liturgically, the colors lighten, and the priest wears rose-colored vestments, a hue seen only on Gaudete Sunday and Laetare Sunday during Lent. On this day, we light the third candle of the Advent wreath, which is also rose-colored. 

  The word "Gaudete" is Latin for "Rejoice." When the focus of our anticipation is often on the negative and fearful, this celebration is a reminder that God who loves us is still in charge and that we await his coming not with fear and dread but with tremendous faith and joy. As St. Paul reminds us: "Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus."

  So, why do we need a reminder to rejoice on the Third Sunday of Advent? Because the happiness that comes from holiday festivities, fun gatherings with friends, and a full belly is not the same thing as Christian joy.   Pope Francis explains the difference between happiness and joy:   "To be happy is good, yet joy is something more. It's another thing, something which does not depend on external motivations, or on passing things: it is more profound. It is a gift. 'To be 'happy at all moments, at all cost,' can at the end turn into superficiality and shallowness. This leaves us without Christian wisdom, which makes us dumb, naïve, right? All is joy. No, joy is something else; it is a gift from the Lord."

If joy is a gift from the Lord, then the Lord Himself is our first and greatest gift and the only one that will never tarnish or break or fade. Gaudete Sunday reminds us that the gift has not yet arrived, but it's very near.   "Rejoice in the Lord always. I shall say it again, Rejoice!" Gaudete Sunday is a moment to stop and reflect on the source of real joy. And if the Advent season has brought causes for stress and sorrow into our life, then lighting the rose candle is an opportunity to take heart and refocus with joy upon Christ.

As you've seen in the media, a COVID vaccine seems to be coming soon. This past week we received a letter from Bishop Tobin and guidance from the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops about the vaccine. There were some questions and confusion if the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna were morally permissible to use.  

  However, the USCCB states: "Neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccine involved the use of cell lines that originated in fetal tissue taken from the body of an aborted baby at any level of design, development, or production." And while we welcome the vaccine, questions remain about the priority in determining who receives the vaccine.  Also, questions remain about how it is to be distributed justly and equitably around the world, especially in poorer nations. I have posted the statement on the parish website if you wish to read it.

As we enter this Third Week of Advent and rejoice the "Lord is near," let’s strive to pray with greater devotion, give more generously to the poor and needy, and truly prepare the way with a good Sacramental Confession before Christmas! If we do, then we can genuinely "Rejoice in the Lord!"

  Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good. God Bless. Oremus pro invicem.

No Pause in Living Our Faith

Dear Parishioners:  

Grocery stores are now limited to number of people who may enter at one time.

We have begun to live in what the Governor calls a "Pause" for the next two weeks. Many businesses are closed or have had limits and restrictions placed upon them. Thankfully Churches are open, and our parish school continues on with in-school classes.                                      

Field hospitals in RI are now open due to increase of COVID 19 infections.

The rate of COVID cases is rising, as are hospitalizations. The "Pause" is to stem the rising rate of infection and curtail the need for hospitalizations. The state has opened two field hospitals to help ease the stress on our hospitals. The week before Thanksgiving, I spent three days in Kent Hospital with bacterial pneumonia. Thankfully I twice tested negative for COVID-19! I can attest that the hospitals are full. I spent my entire time on a gurney in the Emergency Room as no rooms or beds were available. There were over 40 patients in the Emergency Room, waiting for rooms, and none were available.

It was terrific to return home to my own bed and be back at OLM! I am on the mend and feeling much better. My doctor tells me it will take several weeks to recover fully. I am genuinely grateful to Fr. Barrow, who has provided invaluable assistance during my illness. 

It's hard to believe we are already preparing for Christmas, but prior planning is essential in these uncertain times. In this week's bulletin, we have published the Christmas Mass Schedule. It will be slightly different than past years and includes an extra Vigil Mass. Usually, the 4:00 PM Christmas Eve Vigil Mass garners the biggest crowd, and the church is full.

With the uncertainty of these times, it is hard to know how to plan for Christmas Masses properly. After discussion and reflection and with the Bishop's permission, we are scheduling two Vigil Masses on Christmas Eve. One is at 3:00 PM (allowed only for this year due to COVID), and the second at 5:00 PM.

Also, we will celebrate the Christmas Night Mass at Midnight, and it will be live-streamed. So those who cannot stay up will be able to view it on Christmas morning.   On Christmas Day, Masses will be at 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM, and 10:30 AM. Not knowing how many will show up for Mass, this schedule affords us some flexibility.  You too might be more flexible in choosing what Mass you attend on Christmas as we are limited to 125 people per Mass.

In your own planning for Christmas Mass, understand that seating is limited to first-come, first seated.   Please ensure you arrive 15 minutes before Mass, wear a face mask, wash your hands and keep a social distance. With your patient cooperation, Christmas should be just as faith-filled and joyous as it always is.  

  Of course, planning and preparing for Christmas means that we should also cleanse our souls of sin. We continue to have Confessions on Saturdays at 3:00 PM and Mondays at 6:00 PM. Our OLM School students continue to come to Advent Confessions on Monday afternoons, and our RE Students will be coming on Monday, December 7th at 6:00 PM.

On the Monday before Christmas, December 21st, we have scheduled two hours of Confessions from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM. There will be three priests available to hear Confessions for each hour. It is an excellent opportunity to give yourself the best Christmas gift possible, God's forgiveness of sins and the grace of the Sacrament!

This Tuesday, December 8th, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Under this title, Our Lady serves as the patroness of the United States of America.

Blessed Pope Pius IX in 1854 declared Our Lady immaculately conceived stating that the Blessed Virgin Mary "in the first instant of her conception, by a singular privilege and grace granted by God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved exempt from all stain of original sin."

We celebrate this great feast with a Vigil Mass on Monday at 5:00 PM and Masses on the Holyday at 7:30 AM and 7:00 PM. There is a 9:00 AM Holyday Mass for  OLM School, but only the students may attend. The 9:00 AM Mass will be live-streamed for those who cannot participate in Mass.

Stay safe. Be Well. Do Good. God Bless. May the Immaculate Blessed Virgin Mary intercede for our nation and us!