Where Charity & Love Prevail! Supporting the Neediest in our State!

Dear Parishioners:                        

This weekend we launch the Catholic Charity Appeal (CCA) at OLM. Our parish goal this year is $190,000. Your sacrificial gift to the CCA multiplies God's love in our community. A gift to the Appeal immediately helps individuals and families struggling with food insecurity, homelessness, heating assistance, and more.

Your financial support also builds up key ministries and programs of the Church in the areas of Evangelization, Faith Formation, Youth Ministry, Seminarian Education, Catholic School Tuition Assistance, and Life and Family Ministry, to name a few.

The CCA supports numerous ministries and programs of the Diocese of Providence. Some examples are St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, Project Hope, St. Gabriel's Call for mothers in need, Emergency Services Network through Catholic Social Services, Campus Ministry at Brown, RISD and URI, Mother of Hope Youth Camp in Chepachet, Keep the Heat On, Vocations, Special Religious Education for those with disabilities (SPRED), St. Clare Nursing Home, Care Breaks (Respite Care), Emmanuel House Homeless Shelter, Cabrini Fund and much more.

This weekend we are having our in-pew solicitation for the CCA. We ask every parish family to consider a pledge of $350, made payable over ten months at $35 per month. There are several ways to contribute to the Annual Catholic Charity Appeal. You may make your gift quickly and securely by pledging your donation online at givecentral.org/2023CCA.   As a donor, you can make a one-time gift, recurring gift, or a pledge by using your MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover card online. The "pledge" option has a start and end date. In contrast, the "ongoing" giving option provides ongoing monthly support until you end payments.

There are three giving society levels for the CCA: Bishop's Partner in Faith: $1,000 - $4,999; Bishop's Partner in Hope: $5,000-$9,999; Bishop's Partner in Charity: $10,000 or more. We are blessed at OLM to have many parishioners who donate at these levels. Participation at this level is an inspiring example of Christian Stewardship for others to follow. We invite you to become a Partner this year. By doing so, you will join many other good stewards in our journey of faith together. Your charitable gift to the CCA qualifies for tax benefits as allowed by law. But please know that any gift or pledge to the CCA is greatly appreciated and helps us to reach our parish goal. 

Please note that both civil and Canonical laws dictate that all funds received by this charity can only be used for the designated programs and ministries. No gift or pledge can be diverted to fund lawsuits, settlements, or any other agencies of the Diocese.  The CCA is an annual fund, meaning monies must be raised, collected, and spent every year by the charity. It supports the day-to-day ministries and services essential to our sisters' and brothers' spiritual, pastoral, educational, and human needs throughout Rhode Island.   Donor-designated gifts to the CCA can be made by utilizing the United Way Philanthropy Fund and designating your gift to "Catholic Charities of Rhode Island."

We thank Mr. and Mrs. Jerry O'Connell, the General Chairs of the CCA at OLM, and Mr. and Mrs. Michael Mita for Chairing the Bishop's Partners in Charity portion of the CCA. I am grateful for their leadership in helping us reach and surpass our parish goal this year. Last year we exceeded our parish goal by nearly $70,000. It is a great witness to the generosity and charitable spirit of the parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy.

Bishop Tobin serving meals at Emmanuel House Homeless Shelter.

We can do the same again this year, but only if every parish family makes a donation or pledge. In a parish of over 2,000 families, just 440 supported the CCA last year. We can do better this year, and I ask you to prayerfully consider financially supporting this vital charity that funds the good works of our Church in aiding the poor, the needy, and the downtrodden.

As the Gospel of Luke reminds us: "Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more." Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless! Make your CCA pledge this weekend!

Celebrating Catholic Education, Praying for the Sick & Supporting Catholic Charities

Dear Parishioners:                        

OLM Class of 2022 celebrates Graduation Day!

Catholic Schools Week was a great celebration at Our Lady of Mercy. I hope you enjoyed our outstanding OLM School students who spoke at Masses last weekend. It is clear from listening to them that they are happy and enjoy going to their school.

We had many new and prospective families tour the school last Sunday during the Open House. It is a great sign of hope for the future but also a result of our principal and faculty's great work and dedication in making OLM School one of the best in the state. One parent told me after Mass that her decision to send her son to OLM School was the best decision she made about her children's education! This is why we have a waitlist for admission!

A few parishioners have asked about the installation of the new doors. Thus far, we have installed two doors. One is the exit door from the Choir loft on Mercy Park, and the other is the exit door from the Sacristy. Each door takes a while to install and adjust, and we are moving slowly but steadily with the project. We plan to install two doors to the Rectory basement and the front door to the Rectory in the next weeks. Once the weather is warmer, we will begin to put the new doors at each entrance of the Church. Two will be electric doors to help the handicapped gain entry easier. And we will also replace the interior door to the Candle Room.

Next Saturday, February 11, is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. Saint Pope John Paul II first introduced it as a way for believers to offer prayers for those suffering from illnesses. Our Lady of Lourdes is a powerful intercession for the sick, as the many miraculous cures in Lourdes have attested to throughout the years. In his message for the World Day of the Sick,

Pope Francis states: "On February 11, 2023, let us turn our thoughts to the Shrine of Lourdes, a prophetic lesson entrusted to the Church for our modern times. It is not only what functions well or those who are productive that matters. Sick people, in fact, are at the center of God's people, and the Church advances together with them as a sign of a humanity in which everyone is precious, and no one should be discarded or left behind." 

 I ask you to please pray for the sick, especially those OLM parishioners suffering from sickness. Fr. Mahoney and I are routinely called to local nursing homes or parishioners' homes to administer the Sacrament of the Sick. We also cover Kent Hospital for all emergencies twice a month, along with the other priests in the area. We are not always informed that parishioners are in the hospital or even sometimes that they have moved into a nursing home.

If you know of someone or you need to receive the Anointing of the Sick due to illness, surgery, or because someone is near death, please call the Rectory and let us know. We are happy to bring the Sacraments to those who need them. If someone you know is dying and in need of the Sacraments, please do not wait; call us immediately. May Our Lady of Lourdes intercede for the sick!

As we consider the sick in our prayers, I remind you of the good work done daily by our hospital chaplains. These dedicated priests and their hospital ministry are funded by the Catholic Charity Appeal (CCA). The Appeal also funds the many good works of our local Church in assisting the poor, the elderly, immigrants, refugees, Catholic school students in need, and women in crisis pregnancies. All these charitable works funded by the CCA serve thousands of disadvantaged and often marginalized people in our state.

Each year we are asked to prayerfully and financially support the CCA. I am grateful to Jerry and Kim O'Connell for serving as our General Chairpersons of the Appeal at OLM. Also, we thank Mike and Lee Mita, who are serving as the Chairs of the Bishop's Partnership in Charity for those who donate $1,000 or more to the CCA. Next weekend we begin the CCA here at OLM with the in-pew solicitation at all Masses. We ask every parish family to prayerfully consider pledging a gift of $350 made payable over ten months for $35 per month. Whatever the size of your gift, please know it is appreciated. Please pray for the success of the CCA! 

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

Celebrate Catholic Schools Week with OLM!!!

Dear Parishioners:                       

We begin Catholic School Week this weekend. It is an annual celebration of Catholic education in the United States. Students from our outstanding Parish School are speaking at all Masses this weekend. There are events planned throughout the week at the school.  

On Sunday, we begin with the OLM School Open House from 10:00 am until Noon. Everyone is invited to stop by the school and meet the students and faculty. Come and look around at all the great things happening in the school. On Friday, we end the celebration of Catholic Schools Week with Holy Mass at 9:00 am. 

  I recently read an article examining why parents choose Catholic schools for their children. Here are 5 common reasons parents choose a Catholic school education for their children. And why so many families choose OLM School and why we have a waitlist for admission. 

First, parents believe their child's teachers should serve as role models of Faith and morals. A study by the CARA Institute at Georgetown University confirmed that "strong moral values" are why parents send their children to a Catholic school. Many parents who choose a Catholic school education want their child's education at school to be an extension of what they are taught at home. They seek positive influences on their child that mirror their religious beliefs and moral choices.

Daily exposure to the Catholic Faith is also an important factor for parents. Developing a solid Catholic faith foundation is fundamental to a good Catholic School. Daily prayer and Catholic faith lessons build a strong foundation for children who hopefully will become saints! Graduates of Catholic high schools are statistically more likely to continue attending Mass and remain involved in Church life as an adult.

In fact, a recent study by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops states: "Catholic school students are more likely to pray daily, attend church more often, retain a Catholic identify as an adult, and donate more to the Church."

A parish and school create a community for the family. Families with children in a parish school have an easier time developing a sense of community with their fellow parishioners through the many opportunities for prayer, worship, study, charitable works, and fellowship. This can be especially important for those without family in the area as their church and school become an important hub.

  Catholic education is a relatively affordable private school education. Private school tuition can be expensive, but many Catholic schools and dioceses offer tuition-assistance programs for parish families needing help.  Catholic schools offer high-quality academics. In fact, a recent study suggests that ninety-nine percent (99%) of Catholic secondary school students graduate, and eighty-eight percent (88%) go on to college. In general, on national and standardized tests, Catholic schools consistently outperform public and other private schools by as much as 20 percentage points. This is a great testimony to the importance and achievements of our nation's many Catholic schools.

At OLM School, we offer a first-class quality education based on our Catholic Faith. The truth of Christ and his Church is taught and lived out daily. Our excellent faculty teach every subject very well but also teach the Catholic Faith with integrity. Our Principal, Patrick McNabb, is our school's outstanding leader, and we are blessed to have him. The 248 students at OLM School are happy to be part of a community that offers academic excellence and arts, music, extracurricular, and athletics opportunities.

Our students thrive and excel in a disciplined yet loving and nurturing environment based upon the Faith and moral teaching of the Catholic Church. They do indeed strive to be saints and scholars every day! As the late Pope Benedict XVI said: "A good school provides a rounded education for the whole person. And a good Catholic school, over and above this, should help all its students to become saints."  

Enjoy our student speakers this weekend, and please stop by the school for the Open House and join us for Catholic Schools Week! If you want more information, go to the school website at olmschool.org. Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless! 

Welcoming Bishop Henning to Providence!

Dear Parishioners:                        

Bishop Richard Henning

This is an important week for us as the Church of Providence.  On Thursday, the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning is being officially received as the Coadjutor Bishop of Providence at a Mass of Reception at 2:00 PM, Bishop Henning will be received in the presence of the official representative of Pope Francis to the United States,    Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States.
Bishop Tobin, the Bishop of Providence, will celebrate the Mass of Reception.   

The Mass will be live-streamed if you wish to watch it, and it is open to the public if you wish to attend. There will be over 30 Bishops from around the Northeast, a few hundred priests from the Diocese of Providence, and the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Bishop Henning's home diocese.    

Appointed by Pope Francis as our Coadjutor in December, Bishop Henning is to be an immediate collaborator with Bishop Tobin in the governance of our Diocese. Unlike an Auxiliary Bishop, a Coadjutor Bishop has the right to automatic succession to the diocesan see upon the death, resignation, or transfer of the incumbent diocesan bishop.    Bishops are required to submit a letter of resignation at the age of 75. So Bishop Tobin will submit his letter on April 1, 2023, his 75th Birthday. Until his resignation is accepted by the Pope, Bishop Tobin remains our Bishop. There are usually some months before the letter is accepted by the Pope. Once the letter has been accepted, Bishop Henning automatically and immediately becomes the Bishop of Providence.   

Bishop Henning greets parishioners at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. RI.

Bishop Henning comes from the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island where he grew up and was ordained a priest. He is the oldest of five children and was educated in Catholic Schools including the well-known Chaminade High School. His Father is a retired firefighter, and his mother is a retired nurse.   His parents and large family will be attending the Mass on Thursday.    He received a B.A. and M.A. in History from St. John's University, Queens, New York. And studied for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, New York. He was ordained a priest in 1992 and then earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and a Doctorate from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy. He is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish.

In his over thirty years of priestly ministry, he has served as an Associate Pastor of a large suburban parish with an elementary school, taught at the seminary, led priests' retreats, and served as Rector of the Seminary. He has also worked for many years in ministering to the large Hispanic Catholic population on Long Island.      
In June 2018, he was appointed as the Auxiliary Bishop of Rockville Centre, his native Diocese. Since that appointment, he has worked closely with the Bishop of Rockville Centre on projects related to parish evangelization serving as Vicar for Parish Evangelization and Pastoral Planning.   

Bishop Richard Henning’s Episcopal Coat of Arms.

We are truly blessed to have such a good and holy shepherd to lead our Church in Providence. As we anticipate this historic day for our Diocese on Thursday and welcome Bishop Henning, let us also pray for him. May he be a shepherd who cares for his flock,  possesses a kindly zeal, and continues the good work of his predecessors. May he lead us to imitate Christ's heart of mercy, proclaim his voice of hope, and be his hands of justice. Pray that Bishop Henning might boldly preach the truth of the Gospel, give us the power of the sacraments, and help us gain the desire to build up our holy Church.  I also ask for your prayers for Bishop Tobin and our entire Diocesan Family as we enter this new chapter in the history of our local Church.

Bishop Henning's  motto as a bishop is "Duc In Altum," which means "Put Out Into the Deep." These words are taken from the Gospel of  St. Luke, where St. Peter, the fisherman, had been out all night searching the sea for fish only to return empty-handed. He was tired and frustrated. The Lord then calls him to "put out into the deep." In obedience, St. Peter goes out into the deep sea and makes a miraculous, bountiful catch of fish. May we continue to put out into the deep and catch more souls for Christ

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

Opening the Doors to 2023!

On Monday morning, Fr. Mahoney and I were able to commiserate together. His  Green Bay Packers and our New England Patriots football seasons ended on Sunday! Now we look forward to pitchers and catchers reporting for Red Sox Spring Training in February. But the state of the Red Sox roster is uncertain! However, we continue to root for the PC Friars, the Boston Bruins, and OLM CAL Basketball!    

Also, on Monday, we heard from more parishioners that their monthly budget envelopes have not yet arrived. This is a problem for many area parishes as they report the same thing. Every year after Christmas, this postal delivery problem arises. The budget envelopes have been sent out and should have arrived. However, there is a delay in the delivery, and the U.S. Postal System is the culprit, not OLM or the budget envelope company!   So, if you still need to receive your budget envelopes, inform your mail carrier and notify the local postmaster. Since the U.S. Postal System is a federal agency, I urge you to call Congressman Magaziner to seek assistance.

The low total for the Building and Grounds Collection last week reflects the problem. There were few envelopes in the second collection. This is because many parishioners didn’t have the Building and Grounds envelope.   If you do not have a budget envelope, you can place a check or use a plain envelope and write your name, address, and budget number on both. Then place them in the collection baskets or in the safe in the vestibule.   

You might also consider giving online through Parish Giving. It is easy, safe, and secure and assures the fiscal stability of the weekly collection. We currently have 190 families using the Parish Giving and about 795 who use the regular budget envelopes. You can set it up by clicking the Parish Giving link on our parish webpage.   The Monthly Building and Grounds Collection defrays maintenance costs and funds many unforeseen projects that routinely arise. Last week a pump in our Church Boiler gave out, and the new part costs $2,500! Thankfully Paul Anderson, our Physical Plant Director, can install the part himself. We are always grateful for his great work at OLM.

Monday also brought some good news to OLM! Our long-awaited new church doors are scheduled to be installed this week. After long delays with the manufacturer and other supply chain issues, the doors are now here in Rhode Island and ready for installation.      There are a total of 18  doors to be replaced in both the Church and Rectory. The doors are made of mahogany wood and were made by Cleary Millwork of Troy, New York, a leading door manufacturer for New York and New England founded in 1939. The  Chirico Construction Company in Warwick is preparing the doors for installation and will install them. The architect for the entire project is Mark Saccoccio of Saccoccio & Associates. Also, two OLM Parishioners, John Rocchio of Rocchio Construction and Bob Manocchia, who retired from the Gilbane Construction, have volunteered to help oversee the project along with Paul Anderson.    

The project is funded by the Grateful for God’s Providence Capital Campaign. I  thank you for your generous support of the campaign. As you know, the doors are nearly sixty years old and do not work very well. The new doors will match and have a beautiful design, and the main church doors will have beautiful stained glass, as do the current doors.   This project is long in coming, and we await its completion with joyful anticipation.      

As we fix our church boiler, I am reminded of the Keep the Heat On Assistance Program. It is a great work of our Diocese initiated by Bishop Tobin. Over the years, it has given millions of dollars to help thousands of people afford their heat in the cold winter. I hope we can aid this great charity with our OLM Outreach. Any monies collected in January for OLM Outreach will go to the Keep the Heat On Program. If you want to help, make a check payable to OLM and write KTHO in the check memo or envelope. Thank you for being so supportive of this commendable charity.

 Mark your calendar for the OLM School Open House on Sunday, January 29th. Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless!

Giving Thanks and Paying Homage to Our Savior

Dear Parishioners:                        

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder," suggested the great Catholic writer G.K. Chesterton. And so, as we continue to bask in the wonder and joy of the Nativity of our Lord and Savior, let me offer thanks to the many people who made Christmas so beautiful at Our Lady of Mercy.  

We thank Paul Anderson and our outstanding OLM Maintenance Crew, who work hard cleaning and preparing for Christmas. They set up the creche both inside and outside, set up and decorate the trees, cleaned and polished the floor, and even directed the traffic on Christmas Eve. We are grateful for their dedication to OLM.     

We thank the OLM Decorating Committee, who do a tremendous job making the Church look beautiful for the celebration of our Lord's birthday. We also thank our good Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, who ensure everything for the Masses is prepared, pressed, and polished. All of their efforts help keep the beauty and dignity of the Sacred Liturgy.   

We are grateful to the many Altar Severs who served Christmas Masses with dedication and devotion. Their respectful, reverent, and dignified service ensures the solemnity of Holy Mass. Of course, we thank our OLM Chief Master of Ceremonies, Erik Carlson, who sees that the liturgies are celebrated smoothly!   

We thank our fine Lectors who proclaimed the Word of God with great joy and enthusiasm for Christmas. And we are grateful to our many Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion who helped us at Masses and those who brought Holy Communion to the shut-ins on Christmas Day. We are blessed to have a group of dedicated ushers who welcome our visitors with kindness and hospitality. They are always helpful in ensuring the good order of the Church during Holy Mass, and we thank them all for their service, especially at Christmas.   

The music at Christmas was truly inspirational. Our dedicated OLM Music Director, Henri St. Louis, did a magnificent job leading our wonderful OLM Adult Choir and directing the many guest musicians. We also thank Shirley Medici, our OLM Children's Choir Directress, for the beautiful music the children provided at the Christmas Vigil Mass.   

I wish to thank Father Mahoney for his priestly ministry and service. He is always a great help, and I thank him for his dedication and outstanding priestly ministry at OLM. And I am also grateful for his tremendous gift of cooking talent that gave us such a delicious Christmas meal. The beef was cooked perfectly!!   

Along with Fr. Mahoney and Fr. Connors, I wish to offer our sincere gratitude to the many parishioners who were so kind in remembering us at Christmas. We are truly grateful for all the baked goods, other assorted goodies, and the many generous and thoughtful Christmas gifts. Your support and generosity to the parish and to us personally are truly humbling.  

And certainly, we thank Almighty God for the great gift of his Son, Jesus Christ, born on Christmas Day. We give thanks for this gift on this Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord. The homage the Wise Men from afar gave the Christ-child in Bethlehem reinforces the Christian belief that Jesus was more than the promised fulfillment of the Messiah for the Jews. He was a Light for all the nations, a Savior for all peoples.    

The Magi came in homage before the King of Kings and knelt in adoration before the Lord. Pope Saint John Paul II said: “When they reached Bethlehem, the Magi adored the divine Child and offered him symbolic gifts, becoming forerunners of the peoples and nations which down the centuries never cease to seek and meet Christ.” May we never cease to seek and meet Christ.

As we celebrate this Solemnity of the Epiphany, let us continue to follow the Wise Men in seeking  Christ. Let us continue to come before the King of Kings, offering our homage.  Let us come to Christ and meet him truly present at Holy Mass. Let us kneel in worship and adoration before our Savior. With "happiness doubled by wonder," let us come to Christ in the Eucharist with grateful hearts for so great a gift given to us.

A Blessed Feast of the Epiphany! Be well. Stay safe. Do good. God Bless!