Celebrating God & Country on Pentecost & Memorial Day!

Pentecost by Fray Juan Bautista Maíno (1620-1625)

Dear Parishioners:                                     
This weekend, the Church celebrates Pentecost, one of the most important feast days of the year that concludes the Easter season and celebrates the beginning of the Church. In a certain sense, it is the birthday of the Church.   Its name is derived from the Greek word "pentecoste," meaning 50th. Pentecost always occurs 50 days after the death and resurrection of Jesus and ten days after his Ascension into heaven.

Pentecost is the celebration of the person of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, Mary, and the first followers of Jesus, who were gathered together in the Upper Room. A "strong, driving" wind filled the room where they were gathered, and tongues of fire rested on their heads, allowing them to speak different languages and understand each other. The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the gifts and fruits necessary to fulfill the great commission - to go out and preach the Gospel to all nations.

St. Peter Preaching at Pentecost

It was right after Pentecost that Saint Peter, inspired by the Holy Spirit, preached his first sermon to Jews and other non-believers, in which he opened the scriptures of the Old Testament, showing how the prophet Joel prophesied events and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. He also told the people that the Jesus they crucified was the Lord and was raised from the dead, which "cut them to the heart." When they asked what they should do, Saint Peter exhorted them to repent of their sins and to be baptized. According to the account in the Acts of the Apostles, about 3,000 people were baptized following Peter's sermon.

For this reason, Pentecost is considered the birthday of the Church - Saint Peter, the first Pope, preaches for the first time and converts thousands of new believers. For the first time, the apostles and believers were united by a common language and a common zeal and purpose to go and preach the Gospel.

Saint Pope John Paul II said: "The Church of Christ is always, so to speak, in a situation of Pentecost: she is always gathered in the Upper Room in prayer, and at the same time, driven by the powerful wind of the Spirit, she is always on the streets preaching." The mission began on that first Pentecost and continues for us today as we take up prayer and preach the Gospel to the world.

This weekend we also celebrate Memorial Day, the traditional beginning of the summer season. It is marked by parades and picnics across the country. However, it is a day to acknowledge those who nobly gave of themselves, even unto death, for a purpose they believed was greater than themselves. Since the days just following the end of the Civil War, Americans have gathered in late May to honor those who died in military service to their country. In the spirit of the day, we can also recall, honor, and pray for all we know who have lived lives of service and sacrifice for the good of others.

President Abraham Lincoln said: "Honor to the Soldier, and Sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honor also to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field, and serves, as best he can, the same cause—honor to him, less only than to him, who braves, for the common good, the storms of heaven and the storms of battle."

On Memorial Day, join us for Mass at 8:30 am as we remember in prayer those who died serving our country. Also, after your cookout, come to May Devotions at 7:00 pm, our final night of devotions this month. Fr. James Mary Sullivan, OP, an outstanding Dominican Friar and preacher, is leading devotions. Fr. Sullivan will also hear Confessions before Devotions beginning at 6:00 pm.

Fr. Sullivan will reflect on "Remember, O Most Gracious Virgin Mary: The Memorare on Memorial Day." A fitting topic as Monday is the Feast Day of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, a feast established in 2018 by Pope Francis to be celebrated every year on the Monday following Pentecost.

This week the OLM 8th Grade makes their Graduation Retreat. They also celebrate their final OLM School First Friday Mass, Graduation Mass next Sunday, and will graduate next Monday! Pray for the Class of 2023! Father Mahoney is away this week on a well-deserved vacation! Be well. Do good. God Bless. Happy Pentecost! Happy Memorial Day! Go Sox! Go Celtics!

Living Faith, Hope & Charity

Dear Parishioners:                       

Last weekend, our First Communion and  May Crowning celebrations were joyful and faith-filled. Sixty-two of our young parishioners received Jesus in the Eucharist for the first time. It was a wonderful day for the children, their families, and our parish family.     Pray that they and their families remain faithful to the Eucharistic Lord, grow in their love of Holy Mass, and deepen their friendship with Jesus truly present in the Eucharist. As the Angelic Doctor, St Thomas Aquinas teaches: "The Eucharist is the sacrament of love: it signifies love and produces love. The Eucharist is the consummation of the whole spiritual life."

The First Communion Class returned on Sunday at the 10:30 am Mass for the May Crowning. It was a beautiful way to celebrate Mother's Day and Motherhood as we crowned our Blessed Mother Mary, the Queen of the May! May Mother Mary, our parish patroness, intercede for us and our parish family! Saint Francis de Sales said: "Let us run to Mary and, as her little children, cast ourselves into her arms with a perfect confidence."  On Monday nights at 7:00 pm, we have May Devotions. If you haven't yet made it to May Devotions, grab your Rosary and run to join us on Monday. Skip "The Wheel of Fortune" and pray with Mary, our Mother and Patroness!       

With the celebration of First Communion, our Religious Education Program has ended for the year. We thank the many families who participated in the program, the teachers and volunteers who so willingly helped us, and the students who benefited from our program.   Of course, our program serves only to support parents in their primary role of teaching the faith to their children. The Rite of Baptism states that parents are "the first teachers of their child in the ways of faith." This is echoed in the words of the Catechism: "Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children." Please pray that our parents may be the best teachers of the faith in what they say and do!  

We thank Mickey St. Jean and Doug Green, who coordinate our Religious Education Program, particularly for their exemplary work preparing students for First Communion and Confirmation. We are grateful for all they do for our parish family, especially in teaching the children the faith! So it is with some sadness that I announce that Mickey St. Jean is retiring as the Director of RE at the end of June. Also, Doug Green is stepping down from his role in Religious Education. However, he will continue to direct our OLM Outreach Program part-time.

After many years of loyal service and faithful dedication to our OLM parish family, they begin a new chapter in their lives. We thank them for all they've done for our parish family, especially for our students. Please pray for them both; may their years ahead be healthy and happy!        

Of course, with this change in our Religious Education Program, we begin a search for a new Director. This is an extremely important role in the life and mission of our parish family, so please pray that we find the best candidate possible!

I thank the over 400 parish families who have made pledges to the Catholic Charity Appeal. Your support this year is truly outstanding. We are well over our parish goal of $190,000, with over $250,000 pledged to date. However, we have not reached last year's total of over $260,000. Please make a pledge if you have not yet done so. We need every parish family to participate in this important charity. The funds raised by the Charity Appeal support the many good works of our Church in helping the poor, the sick, the homeless, the unborn, and so many others in need.        

Our state is now poised to legalize the state funding of unlimited abortion with our tax dollars. We must redouble our efforts with St. Gabriel's Call, which helps expectant mothers in crisis choose life for their unborn babies and assists mothers and infants in need with baby supplies. Also, as the homeless problem grows in our state,  Emmanuel House, our diocesan homeless shelter, is needed more than ever to assist people with food and shelter. So I thank you for your generous support of the Charity Appeal. Your donation enables our Church to provide critical, good works for the unborn, the poor, and the homeless.

Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox!!

Celebrate Motherhood!

Dear Parishioners:                        

Today we celebrate Mother's Day! In the United States, the first Mother's Day was celebrated by Anna Jarvis in honor of her late mother over 100 years ago in 1908. While Mother's Day in the United States is a secular holiday, the Catholic Church has celebrated the original "Mothering Sunday" since the earliest years of the Church.

So today, as Catholics, we celebrate our  Mothers by giving gifts. Still, more importantly, we pray for all living and deceased Mothers. Masses on Mother's Day are offered for Mothers. In particular, we remember the Mothers whose names are inscribed on the Mother's Day envelopes.      

On this special Day to honor Mothers, we thank God for Motherhood's wonder, miracle, and gift. Mothers carry us in their wombs, the first home of the whole human race. They offer us to the family, the Church, and the whole world.

Mothers gave us life and birthed us into the relationships which give our life meaning, the family. They taught and nurtured us on the way by offering wisdom, giving us love, and making sacrifices. Mothers picked us up when we fell and unconditionally loved us back when we strayed.  

There is no one like a mother, no substitute for her place, no equal to her love and placement in our life. St. Therese of Lisieux said: "The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of  a mother." So let us honor and celebrate Motherhood today with our prayers at Mass.    

We also honor our Blessed Mother today at the May Crowning at 10:30 am Mass. The First Communion Class join us in this beautiful ceremony as we crown Mary, Queen of May! Let us turn to our Mother Mary and pray for our living and deceased mothers.       

We congratulate our First Communion Class who received Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist on Saturday. First Communion Mass is always a joyful and hopeful celebration in the life of a parish. Fr. Mahony and I were delighted that the children were ready and prepared, and did well in their interviews. Please pray for our First Communion Class!   

Ascension of Christ, Benvenuto Tisi (1481-1559)

This week we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord 40 days after Easter. We celebrate Jesus' return to God the Father after being with his disciples after the resurrection. It is a central element of our tradition and is included in the creed recited at Mass each Sunday.   

Ascension Thursday is a Holy Day of Obligation. The Vigil Mass is Wednesday at 5:00 pm, and on the Holy Day, Masses are at 7:30 am, 10:00 am, and 7:00 pm. Please note that the OLM School Mass has been moved up one hour to accommodate the many grandparents coming for OLM Grandparents' Day.

Grandparents' Day is always very joyful for our school children and their families. Grandparents travel near and far to be here and see the great work their grandchildren are doing at our outstanding parish school.   

You may have seen the news that Pope Francis has accepted Bishop Tobin's retirement as our Bishop on Monday, May 1st. We thank Bishop Tobin for his 18 years of strong, loving, and wise leadership as our shepherd.      I thank him for all his personal and pastoral support for me and my priesthood over the years. He has been a kind and loving spiritual Father to me and many of our priests. We wish him the best in his well-deserved retirement. May he be healthy and happy! Ad multos annos!

Bishop Tobin and Bishop Henning

Immediately upon Pope Francis accepting Bishop Tobin's retirement, Bishop Henning became the 9th Bishop of Providence. As he begins his episcopal leadership of the Church of Providence, I ask you in your charity to pray daily for Bishop Henning as he "puts out into the deep," teaching, governing, and sanctifying our local Church.    

He is a man of deep faith,  hope, charity, and great intellect.   His ministry as our chief shepherd will be strong, loving, and wise!   As we seek to stay in communion with  Bishop Henning, let us remember the words of the great Saint Augustine upon his ordination as a bishop. He said: "For you, I am a bishop. With you, I am a Christian." 

A Happy Mother's Day to all Mothers! Enjoy your Day! May God bestow his blessings upon all Mothers! See you on the Ascension Holy Day! Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox!!

What's Blooming at OLM?

Dear Parishioners:                       

 The old adage says: "April showers bring May flowers." The Month of May begins this week as the flowers begin to bloom. But many other things are blooming here at Our Lady of Mercy!

It is a centuries-old custom of Catholics to dedicate the month of May to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The month of May is always part of the Easter season, the fifty days we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord. It is also a time of awaiting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. May as a Marian month fits well with the liturgical celebrations of Easter and Pentecost as we recall Mary's great joy in her Son's victory over death and her presence with the apostles in the upper room, prayerfully awaiting the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.     

In 1965, Saint Pope Paul VI wrote an encyclical entitled  Mense Maio on the month of May. He writes that May is an occasion for a "moving tribute of faith and love which Catholics in every part of the world pay to the Queen of Heaven. During this month, Christians, both in Church and in the privacy of the home, offer up to Mary from their hearts an especially fervent and loving homage of prayer and veneration. In this month, too, the benefits of God's mercy come down to us from her throne in greater abundance."  

May is the Month of Mother Mary! It's a time to take out our Rosary, dust it off, and put it to work, praying for Mother Mary's powerful intercession. Also, May is the time to come to May Devotions! Each Monday night at 7:00 pm we gather as a parish family under the patronage of Our Lady in adoration of the Eucharistic Lord, pray the Rosary, and receive Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. It is a beautiful and prayerful way to express our devotion to the Mother of God!    

During May, we celebrate the First Holy Communion for the children of our parish family. It is always a joyful and faith-filled day for the First Communion Class and their families. We celebrate with two Frist Communion Masses this year on Saturday, May 13th. Please continue to pray for the First Communion Class as they prepare for this important day.

The late Pope Benedict XVI spoke to a First Communion Class in Rome. He told the children: "I remember my First Communion day very well. It was a lovely Sunday in March 1936. It was a sunny day, and the Church looked very beautiful. But at the heart of my joyful and beautiful memories is this one: I understood that Jesus had entered my heart. He had actually visited me. And with Jesus, God himself was with me. And I realized that this is a gift of love that is truly worth more than all the other things that life can give." 

We honor the great gift of Motherhood on Mother's Day in May. On Mother's Day, the First Communion Class will celebrate the May Crowning at the 10:30 am Mass. It is always a beautiful ceremony as we crown our Blessed Mother on Mother's Day as Queen of Heaven and Earth. The May Crowning expresses Mother Mary's significance in the Church and our lives. A traditional celebration of her Queenship as the Mother of Jesus Christ. We sing those beautiful words of the hymn Bring Flowers of the Rarest: "O Mary, we crown thee with blossoms today! Queen of the Angels and Queen of the May." 

Memorial Day is also in May.  It is a day for patriotism and pride as we honor and remember those men and women who have died while serving in the United States armed forces. We prayerfully recall the sacrifice so many men and women made to preserve freedom and liberty for our nation and many others worldwide.

President Ronald Reagan spoke of its meaning at a Memorial Day Service at Arlington National Cemetery: "The United States and the freedom for which it stands, the freedom for which they died, must endure and prosper. Their lives remind us that freedom is not bought cheaply. It has a cost; it imposes a burden. And just as they whom we commemorate were willing to sacrifice, so too must we—in a less final, less heroic way—be willing to give of ourselves."

April Showers, do bring May Flowers! The flowers of family, faith, devotion, love, and sacrifice bloom at OLM in May! Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox! Go Bruins!

"The Family that Prays together Stays together!"

Dear Parishioners:                        

Fr. Patrick Peyton leads a Rosary Rally.

 In December 2017, Pope Francis promulgated the decree recognizing the heroic virtues of Father Patrick Peyton, a priest of the Congregation of Holy Cross, thus recognizing him as Venerable by the Roman Catholic Church. It is the beginning of the cause for sainthood for Father Peyton.                

Older Catholics may remember Father Peyton, often known as the Rosary Priest, from the Rosary Rallies he organized beginning in the late 1940s. These Rallies were held across the globe, and hundreds of thousands of Catholics gathered together to pray the Rosary. These rallies were the Catholic version of the Billy Graham Crusades. Father Peyton often said, "The family that prays together stays together," and "A world at prayer is a world at peace."

The need for families to pray together and for peace in our world is as urgent today as they were fifty years ago. Prayer in our life is essential for Catholics. The Rosary is one of the most excellent ways to pray for ourselves, our families, and our world. The great saints and popes all attest to his fact. The Venerable Pope Pius XII said: "We put great confidence in the Holy Rosary for the healing of evils of our times."

This is true today as the world needs this spiritual weapon to combat violence, war, racism, hatred, fear, anxiety, persecution, illness, and hardship. Much of the power of the Rosary comes from the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower, said: "I take refuge, then, in prayer, and turn to Mary, and our Lord always triumphs."

People often ask others to pray for them. Still, so much more can be gained by asking Mary to pray for us since she is close to God and can bring our intentions directly to Him. It is said that the Rosary is a chain that links heaven and earth, with one end in our hands and the other in the hands of Our Holy Mother. Through Saint Dominic and Blessed Alan de Rupe, the Blessed Virgin revealed fifteen specific promises for those who pray the Rosary, including receiving special graces and protection. She even stated, "You shall obtain all you ask of me by the recitation of the Rosary."

With such incredible promises and encouragement to pray the Rosary directly from Our Lady, one would think that devotion to the Rosary would be much more widespread, especially among Catholics. However, many still view the Rosary as a repetitive, monotonous, and outdated form of prayer instead of the efficacious tool it is for us.

Please take some time this month to pray the Rosary. You can easily do so while driving to work or before bed at night. Come to May Devotions on Monday nights at 7:00 pm as we gather together as a parish family to pray the Rosary. As St. Padre Pio said: "Pray the Rosary frequently. It costs so little, and it's worth so much!"  

You may see the children of our First Communion Class practicing in Church this week for their big day. The great celebration of faith for these children, their families, and our entire parish family is next Saturday. Please keep them in your prayers and offer a Rosary for them as they prepare to receive the Eucharistic Lord truly present in Holy Communion for the first time.

I have received word from the Superior of the Franciscan Apostolic, Mother Aida. She wrote to inform me that Sister Soledad is moving to a new assignment in Peoria, Illinois, beginning this July. Sister is returning home to the Philippines at the end of this month to visit with her family and community for several weeks before taking up her new assignment. Please keep her in your prayers. We thank her for her ministry and presence with us at OLM over these last three years.

Happily for us, Sister Lourdes and Sister Emma will remain at OLM! While we are sad to see Sister Soledad leave our parish, we are grateful to Mother Aida for the good news that Sister Lourdes and Sister Emma are staying at OLM. However, at this time, no other Sister is available to be assigned to OLM. We are so blessed to have such holy, joyful, and humble sisters serve our parish and school! Please pray for more vocations to the consecrated life!

  Pick up your Rosary beads this month! Come to Devotions on Monday in May! Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox! Go Bruins! Go Celtics!!! 

Spring is the Time of Plans & Projects

Dear Parishioners:                       

The OLM Girls 5th/6th Grade Basketball Team were crowned RI CAL State Champions and runner-up of the New England Championship. Here they pose with Fr. Mahoney and Bishop Henning.

Spring has sprung! Spring means basketball has ended, and baseball begins! I want to congratulate the OLM Basketball teams and coaches for a great Catholic Athletic League Basketball season. Several teams made it to the playoffs, and our Girls' 5th/6th Grade Team was crowned the RI CAL State Champions and went on to be the runner-up for the New England Championship! A great season for OLM, and we are truly grateful for all the parent volunteers who help coach, score the games, and assist in so many ways.

Fr. Mahoney had a good season as a First Time CAL Basketball Coach, and we thank him! We thank Jerry O'Connell, our new OLM School Athletic Director, for his leadership. We thank our players for an outstanding season of sportsmanship on the court. Now on to baseball and soccer! We look forward to honoring our OLM School athletes, coaches, and their families at the Annual OLM School Athletic Banquet on Sunday, May 21st. It is a great way to celebrate our sports program as we honor athletic achievement and Catholic values!

Speaking of banquets, we celebrate the Annual Spring Fling for OLM School next Saturday night. This is the most important fundraiser for our School of the entire year. We have a live and silent auction with a host of great times available. It is always a great night to celebrate our School with parents and friends of OLM School. If you cannot attend, consider donating or bidding on an auction item online. Spring also means that our OLM Religious Education Program is finishing for the year.

Next Sunday is the last weekend for Religious Ed Classes and the final 5:00 PM Sunday Evening Mass. Our First Communion class continues to meet and prepare in the coming weeks for the May 13th Celebration of First Communion Masses. This Saturday morning, Fr. Mahoney and I will interview our many First Communion Candidates and their parents. It isn't a theological investigation or test of knowledge but rather a friendly discussion about the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and the importance of Sunday Mass in the lives of all Catholics. Please pray for our First Communion Candidates as they continue to prepare for this important moment in their lives.

Pope Francis said in a First Communion Homily, "The Eucharist is such a great gift. That's why going to Mass is so important. Going to Mass not just to pray but to receive Communion, the Bread and Body of Christ. It saves us, forgives us, and makes us one with the Father. How beautiful! It's important for children to properly prepare for their First Communion so that there's no child without this Sacrament. The Eucharist is a firm step towards Jesus, along with Baptism and Confirmation." 

The great Russian Writer Leo Tolstoy once said: "Spring is the time of plans and projects." He was correct, especially at OLM, where Spring always means plans and projects! The Spring weather helps as we can spruce up the property and the Church Plant. It has also enabled our Church Door Project to resume. Next week, the painting and preparation of the Church door frames begins. This is the first step in installing our new Church Doors.

As you can imagine, this is quite a process as our church doors are nearly sixty years old. Soon the new and quite beautiful doors are to be installed. We hope that the project lasts only a few weeks. We've patiently waited for these doors with delays due to the pandemic, but hope springs eternal!! The Grateful for God's Providence Capital Campaign funds the Church Door Project.

Your generosity in this campaign has enabled us to install new roofs on the Convents, a new roof and gutters in the School, and new boilers in the Rectory and Convents. We have put off the restoration of our parking lots and cemetery road until the price of asphalt comes down. We hope to restore the Franciscan Convent Chapel this summer. I thank all those who pledged to the campaign and have continued to fulfill their pledges. We are grateful to you for your generous support. We are also grateful to God for the blessings we enjoy at Our Lady of Mercy Parish! 

Spring has arrived at OLM! As St. John Vianney said: "It's always springtime in the heart that loves God!" Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox!!!