Dear Parishioners:
We continue to mourn and pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals, was the principal celebrant of the Funeral Mass last Saturday. In his homily, he said:
"Rich in human warmth and deeply sensitive to today's challenges, Pope Francis truly shared the anxieties, sufferings, and hopes of this time of globalization. He gave of himself by comforting and encouraging us with a message capable of reaching people's hearts in a direct and immediate way. Mercy and the joy of the Gospel are two key words for Pope Francis. In contrast to what he called ‘the culture of waste,’ he spoke of the culture of encounter and solidarity. The theme of fraternity ran through his entire pontificate with vibrant tones. In his Encyclical Letter Fratelli Tutti, he wanted to revive a worldwide aspiration to fraternity, because we are all children of the same Father who is in heaven. He often forcefully reminded us that we all belong to the same human family. Pope Francis used to conclude his speeches and meetings by saying, 'Do not forget to pray for me.'
Dear Pope Francis, we now ask you to pray for us. May you bless the Church, bless Rome, and bless the whole world from heaven as you did last Sunday from the balcony of this basilica in a final embrace with all the people of God, but also embrace humanity that seeks the truth with a sincere heart and holds high the torch of hope."
Over 400,000 people attended the Funeral Mass last week. Among them were the President, other Heads of State, and several Monarchs. I had several priest friends, and some parishioners from Our Lady of Mercy (OLM) were even in attendance. What a special blessing for our parish to be represented at the Holy Father's Funeral Mass. As I said at Mass last weekend, we are in an unusual situation here in the Diocese of Providence, as we now have neither a Bishop nor a Pope. Bishop Lewandowski was among the last appointments made by the late Pope Francis, and he will be officially installed as Bishop of Providence on May 20. Please continue to pray for him as he prepares to be our new shepherd. Meanwhile, the Sacred College of Cardinals has gathered in Rome for the Conclave to elect the new Pope. It begins this Wednesday. Pray for them. There is a prayer in the bulletin for the Conclave. I ask that you please pray it daily until a new Pontiff is elected.
Of course, the secular media love to speculate about who the next Pope will be and what happens inside the Sistine Chapel during the Conclave. However, only the Holy Spirit and the Cardinals know what happens. They divulge any information. They are locked in the Sistine Chapel, without phones or computers, until they elect the Pope. So ignore the media prognosticators and instead pray for the Sacred College of Cardinals. Hollywood recently made a movie called Conclave, which, sadly, but not surprisingly, was nominated for an Academy Award. It is now attracting a new audience in light of the current Conclave in Rome. I urge you to skip watching it! In his review of the film, Bishop Robert Barron said:
"Conclave is more a piece of anti-Catholic propaganda than a work of art. It might have stunning cinematic sequences and a star-studded cast, but those things do not redeem the underlying ugliness of the project. Namely, it aims to paint the Catholic Church in the most negative light possible."
While the Church in Rome is busy, we are busy here at OLM as well. We aren't having a Conclave, but we have several important events coming up. We have the OLM School Spring Fling this Saturday night at the Quidnessett Country Club. This live and silent auction event is the primary fundraiser for our outstanding parish school. So please pray for its success!! And next Saturday, we celebrate First Holy Communion for sixty-one of our parish children. Please pray for them as they prepare and practice this week for this special event in their lives. They join us on Mother's Day next Sunday at the 10:30 am Mass for the May Crowning!
It's May, the Month of Mary! Please pick up your Rosary and join us for Marian Devotions every Monday at 7:00 pm. Be well. Do Good. God Bless. Go Sox!