A Time to Celebrate Fatherhood

Dear Parishioners:                                

Fathers' Day began around 1910 in the United States to complement Mother's Day. It is a day to celebrate fathers and Fatherhood. As the great poet William Wordsworth once said: "Father, to God himself, we cannot give a holier name."      

On Fathers' Day, we honor our Fathers and pay tribute to their hard work, sacrifice, and love. Of course, this means giving gifts as a sign of our love. But I think the best gift to give any Father, living or deceased, is the gift of prayer. Therefore, we are offering all our Masses this Sunday for all Fathers.

Fathers' Day is also a day for us, especially men, to reflect on what it means to be a Father and how we are called to live Fatherhood. Father's Day is celebrated on March 19 in many Catholic countries on the Solemnity of St Joseph, the model for all Fathers. In his Apostolic Letter, Patris Cordes "With a Father's Heart," marking the Year of St. Joseph, Pope Francis wrote:

"Fathers are not born, but made. A man does not become a father simply by bringing a child into the world but by taking up the responsibility to care for that child. Whenever a man accepts responsibility for the life of another, in some way, he becomes a father to that person."

Fathers must provide for the spiritual needs of their children. A Father teaches and helps his children to pray. He brings his children to Mass faithfully and joyfully, teaching them to practice the faith. With a good Father as a model, children learn to love God, become faithful to attending Mass, and develop devotion to our Catholic faith. The English Poet George Herbert said: "One Father is more than a hundred schoolmasters." 

There is a great need for good, faithful, and loving Fathers today. In our nation, millions of children live without a Father in the home. Strong, courageous, and caring Fathers are essential for family life. All children need a Father whose love is strong and sacrificial and who provides care, concern, correction, courage, and encouragement.

Patrick Ryan at Our Lady of Mercy.

As we celebrate Fatherhood on this Fathers' Day, we look forward to celebrating Patrick Ryan's ordination as a priest next Saturday, June 24. Patrick served a summer here at OLM and has been studying for the priesthood in Rome. Next Saturday at 10:00 am, at the Cathedral, Bishop Henning is to ordain him a priest of the Diocese of Providence. The new Father Ryan, will serve at St. Theresa's in Pawtucket with Fr. Barrow for the summer and return to Rome for further studies in the fall. Please pray for him.

The Ordination Mass is always a joyful celebration; everyone can attend. The new Fr. Patrick Ryan is celebrating his First Mass of Thanksgiving next Sunday at his home parish, Saints John and Paul, in Coventry at 2:00 pm. Father Connors is preaching at this Mass, and a reception follows. Everyone is most welcome to attend.

I hope to have the new Father Ryan back to OLM before he returns to Rome to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving with us. We can celebrate the great gift of his priesthood and spiritual Fatherhood with him as we offer him our best wishes and congratulations in person.

Bishop Evans is ordained a priest on July 2, 1973 at St. Peter’s Basilica by then Bishop William Hickey.

June is traditionally the month for priestly ordinations in Providence. In fact, like Patrick Ryan twenty-eight years ago, I was also ordained a priest on June 24. Fr. Mahoney celebrated his 2nd Anniversary of Ordination on June 2. And Father Connors celebrates his 11th Anniversary of Ordination this Friday, June 23.

Fifty years ago, Bishop Evans was ordained a priest on July 2, 1973, in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. He will celebrate his 50th Anniversary with us on Sunday, July 2, at the 10:30 am Mass. All are invited to this Mass for his Golden Jubilee. A reception follows in Mercy Park. So please join us for this special celebration.  

We wish all Fathers a Happy Fathers' Day and thank them for all they do. Gentlemen, enjoy your special day! We also offer our prayers and congratulations to Patrick Ryan on his ordination as a new Father next Saturday. Ad multos annos.

Summer officially begins this Wednesday, June 21. Summer typically means family vacations, beach days, golf outings, cookouts, and picnics. Enjoy the summer sun and warm weather, but please remember not to take a vacation from attending Sunday Mass! Be well. Do good. God Bless.  Have a great summer! Go Sox! 

Eucharistic Love in the Face of Hatred

Dear Parishioners:                                     

Members of the OLM School Class of 2023 celebrate their graduation in Mercy Park.

We congratulate all our OLM parishioners graduating this spring. Many are graduating college and high school, and our OLM School 8th Grade graduated this past Monday. We wish them well and pledge our continued prayers for them as they enter the next chapter of their lives.                                   

It's hard to believe that school ends this Friday! On Thursday, the OLM School Pre-K and Kindergarten celebrate their "graduations." It is always a joyful ceremony for our youngest students. And then, on Friday, the summer break begins for all our students and faculty. We pray they have a healthy and happy summer break and return tan, rested, and ready for school on August 30!

Next Sunday, we will recognize several Senior Altar Servers at the 10:30 am Mass. These graduating seniors have faithfully served God's Altar since the 4th Grade. Now as they prepare for college in the fall, we acknowledge with thanksgiving their service to our parish. We are grateful for their dutiful and dedicated service and wish them well.

This weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, commonly called by its Latin name, Corpus Christi. We celebrate the real presence of Christ, body, soul, and divinity in the Holy Eucharist.

The graces received from the body, blood, soul, and divinity of Jesus provide sustenance for our pilgrim journey here on Earth. Receiving the Body of Christ transforms us. The grace we receive in the sacrament is more powerful than any natural force on Earth.

While we celebrate our Catholic Faith, I am sure you have heard about the recent controversy with the Los Angeles Dodgers. They invited, disinvited, and reinvited the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" to award them and allow them to perform this Corpus Christi weekend. 

I am a Red Sox fan, but  I remember rooting for the LA Dodgers in the 1970s because Davey Lopes, a native son of Providence, RI, was their Second Baseman. Today, we are far from the old Dodgers with their Catholic manager Tommy Lasorda, legendary Catholic announcer Vin Scully, and the late Catholic Dodger, the great Gil Hodges.

In their lurid and vulgar performances, "The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" mock Catholic beliefs and especially ridicule religious sisters and nuns. Of course, mocking the Catholic Faith is quite popular and even a source of pride for many in our nation. It is "the last acceptable prejudice." Those who revel in their anti-Catholic bigotry are not canceled but extolled in our culture.

Sister Emma, FAS serves the children at OLM School.

Thousands of Catholic nuns and religious sisters make vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience and dedicate their entire lives to Christ and service to his Church. These brides of Christ serve as educators, nurses, counselors, and teachers. They serve the young, the old, the poor, the sick, the dying, the imprisoned, the immigrant.

They serve in schools, hospitals, prisons, and soup kitchens and bear daily witness to Christ as they perform heroic works of charity worldwide. They deserve admiration and respect, not ridicule and mockery. Shame on the Dodgers for their decision to honor such bigotry and mockery.  

Bishop Robert Barron describes the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" as an "anti-Catholic hate group." Their performances consist of many sacrilegious, lewd acts, none appropriate to describe in the bulletin. In response to this outrageous and shameful display allowed by the Dodgers, the Bishop suggests all Catholics do the following: 

First,  we must pray for the "Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence" to find Christ and the Catholic faith and embrace it from their hearts. Pray they grow to respect all people of faith and find other means of expression that are not anti-religious. Pray for more vocations to religious and consecrated life. Pray for all the dedicated religious sisters and nuns we know, especially our own sisters, Sr. Jeanne, Sr.  Emma, and Sr.  Lourdes.   Write a respectful letter to the Dodgers asking them not to host hate groups that blaspheme and mock any religion. Send it to LA Dodgers, 1000 Vin Scully Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

On Corpus Christi, let us be united in our love of the Eucharistic Lord and, with charity, pray for those who hate us and mock us for our faith and beliefs. Be well. Do good. God Bless.

June is a Month to Celebrate Graduation & The Sacred Heart

Dear Parishioners:                                     

The Our Lady of Mercy Class of 2023

This week we say farewell to our OLM School Eighth Grade as we celebrate a special Mass for them at 10:30 am, and together we pray for the Class of 2023. An Academic Awards Luncheon follows the Mass for the graduates and their families. There we acknowledge and celebrate the many academic achievements of our outstanding Eighth Grade students.

We celebrate the OLM School Graduation Ceremony on Monday at 6:00 pm. Please pray for these young men and women as they prepare to enter high school. May they remember the wisdom of St. Francis de Sales: "You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves."

June is a month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on the Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost, which this year is June 16. Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus began when Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque received private revelations from Jesus Christ. He spoke to her on June 16, 1675, and asked her to promote a feast that honored his Sacred Heart.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart is a wonderful expression of the Church's love for Christ, her Spouse. It calls for conversion, reparation, love and gratitude, apostolic zeal, and dedication to Christ and his saving work. Let us turn to the Sacred Heart this month and pray.

Pray especially for our elected officials who recently passed a bill sponsored by Senator Valverde (D-East Greenwich), which legalizes taxpayer dollars funds for abortions on demand until the birth of the child. A great violation of conscience for those who support the sanctity of all human life. At a ghoulish bill signing ceremony at the statehouse, Governor McKee, State Senators and Representatives, and their allies in the abortion industry very enthusiastically celebrated the new law with loud applause and shouts of joy. Their joy and delight in publicly funding the destruction of innocent human life aren't merely distasteful but gravely offensive and quite depraved.

Images of the Sacred Heart show it in the middle of Jesus' chest, with a cross crowned with thorns. On the side of the Heart is a bleeding wound that recalls the wound Jesus suffered on the cross and symbolizes the wounds men's sins keep inflicting on him daily. Abortion and those who glory in its expansion deeply wound our Lord's Sacred Heart.

Let us turn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and pray for our Governor and all those who rejoice in abortion. May they repent of their grave sin, convert their hearts to lovingly welcome the unborn, and build a culture of life. Pray for them with this Act of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus:

"Jesus, Son of God and our Savior, have mercy on all who wound your Sacred Heart by sin, unfaithfulness, and neglect. O loving Heart of Jesus, broken by our ingratitude, pierced by our sins, yet loving us still, accept in reparation the suffering I now make to you of all that I am and all that I have. Draw me ever nearer to your Sacred Heart: there where I can learn best; teach me, Jesus, your blessed way to eternal life. Amen."

Jules Breton - La Bénédiction des blés en Artois (1857)

Next Sunday is Corpus Christi, a feast that calls us to focus intently and devoutly on the Eucharist. In honor of this great feast, we take up the traditional Corpus Christi Procession following the 10:30 am Mass. When the Eucharist is carried in solemn procession, we give the public witness of our faith toward the sacrament of the Eucharist. The Corpus Christi Procession is not walking to the Lord but walking with the Lord. The Eucharistic Lord, who has become our Bread of Life, is showing us the way. He is the way. He leads us.

Join us at 10:30 am Mass next Sunday and make the prayerful and devout procession of the Eucharist following Mass. It is a tradition every Catholic should take up as we prayerfully adore our Lord truly present in the great gift of the Eucharist.  Let us recall the words of St. Thomas Aquinas: “Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail.” Congratulations to the Class of 2023! Heartfelt prayers and best wishes to all who graduate from school this year! Be well. Do good. God Bless. Go Sox! 

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!!