Projects and Patience in Parish Life

Dear Parishioners:                    

The project on our OLM School Field began last week. What little crabgrass and weeds that were growing on the field were removed. It is now being prepared for the placement of new sod. Thankfully we already have a sprinkler system installed in the field, so the new sod can be properly watered. In September, the students will run and play at recess and Gym Class on new, thick green grass! We are grateful to all who make this project possible.    

Our organ project is ongoing and progressing quite well. I spoke with Anthony Peragallo of the organ company this week. He assures me that the organ parts will be fully restored and returned to OLM in late August. In the meantime, the temporary organ provided by the Peragallo Organ Company is working nicely. However, its sound is less majestic than the sound of our organ.

We hope to hear our organ's majestic sounds at our Annual Patronal Feast Day Mass on Sunday, September 24, at 10:30am. This Mass kickoffs our OLM Feast Week. Bishop Henning is celebrating the Mass. We hope and pray he can also bless our new Church doors! Mark your calendar for the Feast Week Mass and all the events of that week.     

The Annual OLM Saints and Scholars Golf Tournament at Quidnessett Country Club is Monday, September 25. Our Holy Hour of Mercy is on Wednesday, September 27, and Thursday, September 28, we have our Work of Mercy. And on Friday, September 29, we have our Annual OLM Oktoberfest!      

As for the church doors, as I write this column on Monday morning, our contractor for the project, Dave Chirico, informs me that he is installing the stained glass in the doors. Once this is done, the doors are ready for installation. Say a few prayers!! 

We have been patiently awaiting our doors for a long while. There is an adage that says Patience is a virtue. My mother always told me this as a child because I tended to rush things or insist that things were done when I wanted them done. "Patience is a virtue," those words would return to me when I asked for the hundredth time, "Well, when will it be done? When will it happen?" 

  No person in the world could say they do not need the virtue of Patience. Jesus said: "By your patience, you will save your soul." Given that this virtue is universal and not easy to attain,  In his book, the Three Ages of the Interior Life, the great French Dominican Theologian, Father Réginald Garrigou-Lagrange, OP, says:

"Patience is an exercise of the cardinal virtue of fortitude. Patience, says St. Thomas, is a virtue attached to the virtue of fortitude, which hinders a man from departing from right reason illumined by faith by yielding to difficulties and to sadness. It makes him bear the evils of life with equanimity of soul, says St. Augustine, without allowing himself to be troubled by vexations." 

Of course, Patience is a critical virtue in the spiritual life but also for life in general. St. Paul's description of the many characteristics of love – the first thing he says about love is that it is patient. The next thing he says is that it is kind (1. Cor. 13:4). May God give us the grace to be patient and kind and help us grow in charity!   

On Sunday, August 13, Father Patrick Ryan, just ordained on June 24, is coming to OLM to celebrate a Mass of Thanksgiving at 10:30am. You may remember him from the summer he served at OLM as a Summer Seminarian about four years ago. His benevolent Pastor, Fr. Barrow, has permitted him to return to OLM to celebrate and preach Mass. Following the Mass, you can greet and congratulate Father Ryan. He will also offer First Priestly Blessings after the Mass. 

A special grace may be gained from receiving a "first blessing" of a newly ordained priest. First blessings are customarily given when the first Masses are celebrated. Still, they may be given up to a full year after ordination. After receiving the blessing, the faithful may kiss the palms of the newly ordained priest in recognition of the sacred character of his priesthood and the hands that now hold the Eucharist and confer the sacraments. Let us pray for Father Ryan and also for an increase of vocations to the priesthood, especially in the Diocese of Providence. Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!

For What It's Worth, An Appreciation

Dear Parishioners:                    

Last week the long-time Providence Journal columnist Bill Reynolds died. He was a great sports writer. His basketball coverage, especially local high school basketball,  was exceptional. His many books about basketball were equally as good. I always looked forward to his weekly Saturday column "For What It's Worth." It was humorous, insightful, and always contained a quiz and a notable quote. So in honor of this outstanding columnist, here's my feeble attempt at "For What It Worth." 

•Who would have thought the Red Sox are only two games behind in the Wild Card?

 •Major League Baseball games are much quicker now, thanks to the new pitch clock. However, I miss those five-hour games between the Red Sox and the Yankees!

•Before you set a clock on Sunday Mass, remember the Mass perpetuates the Paschal Mystery in time; it follows that it stands outside of time. So no "Pitch Clock" for Holy Mass!

•Nobody complained last weekend that it was too cold at Mass.

• Air-conditioned movie theaters are usually very cool places in the summer. I haven't seen a movie at a movie theatre since before the Pandemic. 

 •Fr. Mahoney tells me that the theaters now have big comfy chairs and serve cocktails too! I don't remember that!

•These movies might bring me back: Sound of Freedom, The Miracle Club, Oppenheimer, and coming this fall, Napolean!

Portuguese Man of War

 • There's nothing like a great epic on the big screen! Jaws was one of the best summer movies! Speaking of Jaws, several Portuguese Man of War were spotted at R.I. beaches!

•They are named after the sailing warship, the Portuguese Man of War! Maybe they can prevent access to private beaches!

•Quiz of the Week: Who was the last pitcher to record more than 20 complete games in a season for the Red Sox?

•Did you know smoking cigars on R.I. beaches is prohibited? But I'm sure you can smoke marijuana. They seem to smoke it everywhere else now that it's legalized!

•I haven't gone to the beach yet! I hear the water is in the 70s!!!

•Fr. Mahoney is an avid soccer fan, he hasn't converted me yet, but Messi in Miami seems interesting, and I may even watch a game! 

•Pray for our FAS Sisters on retreat!

Carlos Alcaraz, Wimbledon Champion.

•Congrats to Carlos Alcaraz on his first Wimbledon title. It was an amazing five-hour tennis match against Novak Djokovic. I think we'll see more of Alcaraz. 

•The Providence Journal isn't what it used to be! Not much of paper anymore. Where have you gone, John Hanlon, Jack Major, Jack White, and John Hackett?  

 •The Journal regularly ran anti-Catholic editorials during the 19th Century. Some things don't change, Bunky! Last week's Sunday Journal ran a column full of the old anti-Catholic bigotry of the 19th Century. Famed historian Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. called anti‐​Catholicism “the deepest bias in the history of the American people.”

 •I often find those who advocate for tolerance don't usually have much tolerance for Catholics. From his vantage point atop the statehouse, the Independent Man might agree. 

Phil Rivers with his wife and nine children

 •LINE OF THE WEEK: Retired NFL Quarterback Phil Rivers, now a high school football coach at St. Michael Catholic H.S. in Fairhope, Alabama, has nine children, seven girls, and two boys. His wife Tiffany is expecting their tenth child. The new addition is breaking a family tradition. Tiffany is one of nine, as is her own father. Rivers said: "We thought we would be the third generation of nine, but we decided to go double-digits — or I should say we didn't decide. God decided."

•As the ninth of nine children myself, I always thought eight wasn't enough, but nine!

•Soon, we'll be watching NFL football games on Sundays again! The Chiefs are the current favorite to win the NFL Super Bowl. What are the odds the Pats will even make the playoffs?

•What are the odds that our new Church doors will be installed before the football season begins!?

•Quiz answer: El Tiante, Louis Tiant with 25 in 1974! He makes a fine cigar now, aptly called El Tiante! In the 70s, I remember a picture of him smoking a cigar in the shower after a  Sox game. I bet he smokes them on the beach too!

  Well, that's for what it's worth this week at OLM, with due thanks and deep respect to the late, great Bill Reynolds. Rest in Peace, Bill.  Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!

The Good News! Hear it and Spread it!

Dear Parishioners:                    

Last Sunday, I read the New York Times weekly column by Tish Harrison Warren, a priest in the Anglican Church in North America, entitled "Why We Shouldn't Lose Faith in Organized Religion." In it, she interviewed Eboo Patel, an American Muslim and founder and president of Interfaith America, which promotes cooperation across religious differences. I found the column and his comments very uplifting and interesting. He said:

"Particularly in the areas of America where people have higher levels of education...It is considered sophisticated and educated to know only the bad stuff about religion. Of course, that's ironic because to only know the bad stuff is to not actually be educated. So that is discouraging.

    I'll tell you what I find encouraging. Catholic sisters just keep on doing what Catholic sisters do, which is taking care of poor people. Our society relies on religious communities to take care of people, to do addiction counseling, to do job training, to do hunger and homelessness work, to do refugee resettlement. We just don't often tell the story of them doing that work. And I think that that's a big problem. " 

Here's some good news to report at OLM. This weekend we welcome the Superior of the Franciscan Apostolic Sisters, Mother Aida, who is visiting from the Philippines. While here, she will visit the Franciscan Convent at OLM and the FAS Convent at St. Philip Church in Greenville. Mother Aida is also meeting with Bishop Henning this week.   Please pray for her.       

On Wednesday, Mother and the FAS Sisters from Rhode Island depart for Peoria, Illinois, for their Annual Retreat. Please pray for their safe travel as they will be driving to Peoria. And pray their time of retreat is fruitful.   Sister Lourdes and Sister Emma return to OLM during the first week of August. However, they are not returning alone. Mother Aida informed me that Sr. Jane Molitas, FAS, has been assigned to serve at OLM.

Sister Jane comes to us from Nebraska, where she has served at the Seminary of St. Gregory the Great over the last few years. Some of you may remember her from her time at the old Scalabrini Villa Nursing Home several years ago. She joins Sister Lourdes and Sister Emma, living at the Franciscan Convent here at OLM, and working with them at OLM Church and School.

We are very grateful to Mother Aida for this good news and her generosity in assigning Sister Jane to OLM. Sister Jane just celebrated her 25th Anniversary of Religious Profession in June. She is a humble, joyful, and holy sister. Welcome to OLM, Sister Jane! Please pray for more vocations to the consecrated life.

 In the name of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, thank you for your warm welcome to Sister Barbara and Sister Veronica last weekend.  Their witness to the work of the FMM Missions serving the poor and needy across the globe is good news. I also thank you for your generous financial support of the Missions. It, too, is good news!

If you could not donate last week, please forward a check payable to OLM with "Mission Co-op" in the memo line. Please put it in the weekly collection basket, deposit it in the safe in the vestibule, or mail it to the Parish Office. Your donations go directly to supporting the Missions.  Thank you for your support.

More good news! OLM exceeded our Catholic Charity Appeal goal of $190,000, raising over $275,000! Your generous support and great charity made it possible. I offer my deep gratitude on behalf of the poor and needy who benefit from the Appeal. We are grateful to the 480 parishioners who donated so generously.

I  thank Jerry and Kim O'Connell and Mike and Lee Mita, Chairs of the Appeal at OLM, for their help in surpassing our parish goal. Over $7 million was raised in parishes across the Diocese.  This funds the good works and charitable agencies of our local Church across the state. This is good news too!

 That's only some of the good news about our parish and Church. And while we sometimes hear about the good news,  too often, the media and many in our society largely concentrate on the bad news about religion and the Catholic Church. Mr. Patel is right! Let's enjoy the good news and spread it with joy! Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go, Sox!??? 

Summertime! Supporting the Missions, Resting with God

Dear Parishioners:                   

 We had a beautiful celebration last Sunday for Bishop Evans' Golden Jubilee of Priesthood. Bishop Matano's homily was inspirational and uplifting. We thank all those who helped with the Mass and reception. We especially thank our outstanding Altar Servers for their reverent service. Our Choir and musicians, under the direction of Henri St. Louis, for providing such majestic and beautiful music. And we thank Doug Green and his team of volunteers for the reception. And finally, we thank Bishop Evans for his fifty years of priesthood and faithful and loving service to the Church! 

This weekend we welcome to OLM Sister Barbara Dopierala, FMM. She is speaking at all Masses on behalf of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. They were founded in 1877 in France by Blessed Mary of the Passion and beatified in 2002 by Pope John Paul II.    Before she died in 1904, she established the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary across the globe. During her lifetime, the sisters were established in Marseilles, Carthage, Ceylon, China, England, Belgium, Canada, Mozambique, Burma, Japan, Spain, Madagascar, and Chile. She boldly responded to the Church's or government's calls to have the good sisters assist with education, healthcare, and social work. In 1900, seven FMM Sisters were martyred for the faith in China. In 2000, they were canonized. 

Each year every parish in the Diocese of Providence takes a weekend to promote the work of missionaries through the Missionary Co-op Collection. This provides an opportunity for us to learn more about the work of the Church in the missions as well as to provide some financial assistance to missionaries. Thank you in advance for your generous financial support of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in this weekend's Second Collection. We welcome Sister Barbara and thank her for her witness on behalf of the FMM Missions doing the good work first begun by Blessed Mary of the Passion. Please pray for missionaries and their work preaching the Gospel in the four corners of the earth.

With the Fourth of July already come and gone, the summer is going too quickly. However, summer is a time for us to stop and rest and refresh ourselves. St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross said: "God is there in these moments of rest and can give us in a single instant exactly what we need." So take some time this summer to rest with God. Of course, reading in these summer months is also a form of rest from the routine. I've already begun my summer reading and hope to finish it all! Along with the teachers at Our Lady of Mercy School, I am reading a short book, "Educating for Eternity.” It provides great insight into Catholic Schools forming saints.

For my own spiritual reading, I've begun a new book written for priests by the Dominican Friar, Fr. Ezra Sullivan, OP, entitled "Alter Christus."  He also wrote the more general spiritual book,  Heroic Habits: Discovering the Soul’s Potential for Greatness, which I recommend you read.

My big summer book to read is "The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, the Cold War, and the World on the Brink." Considering all that is happening worldwide, especially with the war in Ukraine, it will be a timely read. It's dense and long, so I'm unsure I'll finish it by September! And for fun on the beach, I usually read a detective novel from Martin Walker's Bruno the Chief series. However, the newest one isn’t released until September.

But I found another set of detective mysteries by American author Rebecca Pawel called The Sergeant Carlos Tejada Investigations. This murder mystery series is set in Spain during the Spanish Civil War. I read the first one, Death of a Nationalist, a few years ago. It was very enjoyable. I hope to read a couple more as they are short and easy reads. What are you reading this summer at the beach or in the backyard?     

The author Henry James once said: "Summer afternoon, summer afternoon; to me, those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language." I agree and hope you spend a  summer afternoon or two resting with God, recreating with family, reading a good book, and maybe even enjoying a good cigar! Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!! Enjoy some rest this Summer! 

Faith, Freedom and Fireworks!

Dear Parishioners:                    

Then Bishop William Hickey ordains Robert C. Evans a priest on July 2, 1973 in St. Peter’s Basilica.

We celebrate with Bishop Evans this weekend as he marks his Golden Jubilee of Priestly Ordination. He is celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving at 10:30 am, and Bishop Matano of Rochester is preaching the homily. A reception follows the Mass in Mercy Park. Bishop Evans was born September 2, 1947, in Moultrie, Georgia, the son of the late Ivey Evans and Lolita Baldisseri.

He was ordained to the priesthood on July 2, 1973, in St. Peter's Basilica, Rome, by then-Bishop James A. Hickey. He grew up on Federal Hill and worshiped at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Bishop attended Providence public schools, graduated from the Our Lady of Providence Seminary High School, and received a B.A. in Philosophy from Our Lady of Providence College Seminary. He studied for the priesthood at the Pontifical North American College in Rome, earning degrees from the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas.

After his ordination as a priest, Bishop Evans served in several parishes, including St. Pius X Parish in Westerly, Holy Angels Church in Barrington, St. Lawrence Parish in North Providence, and St. Mark's Parish Cranston. He also served as chaplain at Roger Williams College and assistant chaplain at Rhode Island Hospital and Roger Williams Hospital.  

St. Pope John Paul II greets a then Father Robert C. Evans.

Bishop Evans was appointed Priest Secretary to Bishop Gelineau in 1983 and, in 1987, assigned to advanced studies in Canon Law in Rome. In 1989, he was awarded a licentiate in canon law from the Gregorian University. Upon returning from studies, he served as vice-chancellor with residence at St. Margaret's Parish, Rumford. In June 1991, the Bishop was appointed pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in Woonsocket, Chancellor of the Diocese, and director of the Office of Priests' Personnel. In the 1990s, he was a resident at St. Joan of Arc Parish, Cumberland, and later at Our Lady of Mercy Parish, East Greenwich.

In 2001, Bishop served as the Institute for Continuing Theological Education director and faculty member at the North American College in Rome. He then served as Secretary at the Apostolic Nunciature (Vatican Embassy) in Washington, DC. Following these assignments, he was appointed Pastor of St. Philip Church in Greenville and an adjunct faculty member of the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence.

Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop Evans as titular Bishop of Aquae Regiae and Auxiliary Bishop of Providence on October 15, 2009. Two months later, on December 15, 2009, he was consecrated to the episcopacy by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin in the Cathedral of S.S. Peter and Paul, becoming the seventh auxiliary Bishop in the history of the Diocese of Providence.

Upon his 75th birthday this past September, Bishop Evans offered Pope Francis his resignation as Auxiliary Bishop of Providence. In November, his resignation was accepted. He resides in his home behind Our Lady Mercy Church in the joyful bliss of a well-deserved retirement. Of course, the Bishop readily continues to help out at OLM with Masses and Confessions and celebrates Confirmations and Masses across the Diocese. We offer our prayerful best wishes, deep gratitude, and congratulations to Bishop Evans on his fifty years of priesthood! Ad multos annos!       

Next weekend, the Second Collection is the Mission Co-op for the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary. Sister Barbara Dopierala, FMM, is speaking at all Masses about their mission work. There is no envelope for this collection, so please make checks payable to OLM with "Mission Co-op" in the memo line. Thank you for your financial support and prayers for the missions.

On the Fourth of July, we celebrate our nation's birth again. We rejoice in the freedom won by our forefathers who overthrew the despotic shackles of English tyranny in the War of Independence. This day gives us time to thank God for the birth of our nation and give thanks for the gift of life and liberty. We also ask God to preserve our nation in unity and rid our country of its evils. 

 I am away this coming week, celebrating the Fourth of July with my sister and her family in Saratoga, NY. Do good. Be well. God Bless. Go Sox!! Happy Independence Day! God Bless America! 

Summer Arrives, A Time to Celebrate & Work!??

Dear Parishioners:                                 

Bishop Austin Vetter, Bishop of Helena, Montana, ordained Patrick Ryan, a seminarian of the Diocese of Providence, and 22 others to the transitional diaconate on Sept. 29., 2022 at Saint Peter Basilica, Rome.

This weekend we rejoice at the ordination of Father Patrick Ryan as a priest of Providence. On Saturday, he was ordained by Bishop Henning at the Cathedral. We offer our prayers and best wishes to him!Ad multos annos gloriosque annos vivas!                              

Next Sunday, July 2, we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood of Bishop Evans. He will celebrate the 10:30 am Mass, and Bishop Salvatore R. Matano of Rochester will serve as the homilist. Bishop Matano is a priest of Providence and a long-time friend of Bishop Evans. Many priests and bishops will attend the Mass, including our Metropolitan Archbishop, the Most Reverend Leonard Blair of Hartford. Please join us for the Mass and the Reception in Mercy Park.

Bishop Evans has been associated with Our Lady of Mercy Parish for nearly three decades. He first arrived here as a resident priest in the 1990s and has continued these many years to be part of our parish family. Pray for him as he celebrates his Golden Jubilee!

In early July, the Peragallo Organ Company will begin repairs on our organ. The organ was installed in 1995 and has 1776 pipes. It was built by the Peragallo Organ Company specifically for Our Lady of Mercy. It is serviced and tuned annually by them. However, at the annual tuning in January, it was discovered that the seven reservoir bellows of the pipe organ were worn and leaking. This problem adversely affects the organ's tuning stability and must be addressed to prevent the motor and blower from overworking.

In the second week of July, the Peragallo Company will arrive to remove the units for repair and bring them to their shop in Patterson, New Jersey. The bellows will be overhauled with new canvas hinging, rubber cloth stripping, leather corners, and gussets. The organ will also be vacuumed and cleaned out during this period. They are providing a replacement organ for our use during the repairs. It should take about five to six weeks to complete the project. The cost of the repair is $53,000!

The organ itself cost over $200,000 when purchased thirty years ago. This repair was somewhat unexpected at this time, but the organ is nearly thirty years old, so the wear and tear on the bellows are normal for the life span of the leather. If we delay the repair, it would only cause more problems that require even more costly repairs.

Of course, everyone, including me, is also wondering about our new church doors! The delays first began with the pandemic and have only continued. We have been waiting several weeks for the stained glass to be prepared, and I am told it is nearing completion. This delay resulted from a supply chain issue as a needed chemical for the stained glass was unavailable. Our contractor and architect of the door project assure me that once the doors are ready for installation, it will be done with dispatch. I hope and pray it is so!

Also, we plan to resod the OLM School field during the summer. Over the years, the grass has been disappearing on the field, which is more dirt than grass. Our students frequently use the field for gym classes, recess, and after-school care throughout the school day. After researching the options for the field, including sod, hydroseeding, or artificial turf, it was decided that sod was the best option. Paul Anderson is overseeing this project. We hope that by September, the students have a field of thick green grass on which to run and play.

We also plan to upgrade some of our security features at the school and parish during the summer. These are just a few of the projects happening at OLM this summer! Summer vacation also allows for the cleaning and painting of the school rooms.

Summer officially began last week, but our work is never done! In his Rule of Life for the monks, St Benedict of Nursia wrote: "Idleness is the enemy of the soul; and therefore the brethren ought to be employed in manual labor at certain times, at others, in devout reading."  With all our maintenance projects, we are hardly idle. However, many good books are also available to keep us busy with summer reading. What are you reading at the beach this summer?

 We offer our prayerful congratulations and best wishes to the new Father Patrick Ryan and Bishop Evans!  Be well. Do good. God Bless. ! Go Sox!