Prayer and Remembrance on November Feasts

Dear Parishioners:    

As I sit at my desk to write this column on Monday morning, after the Patriots' disappointing loss, all the news seems to be about the election. Polls and predictions are plentiful, and every expert has an opinion about the likely outcome.  The loud talking heads dominate the airwaves as partisan apparatchiks try to advance their candidates.  Add to that the plethora of political advertisements, and it's hard to escape the election.  I've decided to tune it out until I vote on Tuesday morning.

Instead, I plan to pray for our country and all political candidates. Of course, we should also pray that the rancor and division that seems to dominate our politics might subside after the election.  We hope and pray our nation will be a peaceful place where all elected officials seek unity and serve the common good of all.  There is a Prayer for After An Election in the bulletin. Please use it as you pray for our nation.

Monsignor Albert A. Kenney, Diocesan Administrator of Providence.

Last Friday,  the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Providence met as required by the Code of Canon Law and elected a diocesan administrator, Monsignor Albert A. Kenney, who has been serving as the Vicar-General of the Diocese. We offer our congratulations and promise of prayers.

Canon Law required the Diocese to elect an administrator after Archbishop Henning's installation as Archbishop of Boston, officially leaving Providence without a bishop. Monsignor Kenney remains as the Diocesan Administrator until the Holy Father names a new Bishop of Providence, and he takes possession of the Diocese.   A diocesan administrator governs with many of the same powers as the diocesan bishop but with certain limitations. The administrator's primary duty is to ensure the continued smooth operation of our Diocese and its many good works and ministries. Let us pray for our Diocese as we await the Holy Father's appointment of our next Bishop of Providence.

Monday, November 11, is Veterans Day.  It makes sense, as November is a month of remembrance. A month that starts with All Saints Day. On the first day of the month, we remember all those in heaven and contemplate how to emulate them. The next day is All Souls Day, as we remember all souls in Purgatory.  Veterans Day was originally called Armistice Day.  It marked the Armistice that ended the First World War on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. It was renamed Veterans Day after the Second World War and the Korean War. 

Saint Martin of Tours

November 11 was St. Martin's feast day long before it became Armistice Day. Many people prayed for St. Martin's intercession to end the war, and they saw the hand of God in signing the Armistice on this special day. Traditionally, in Western Europe, November 11 served as a day to sign peace treaties in honor of Saint Martin.

St. Martin was a fourth-century Christian Roman soldier. He served for many years in a cavalry unit in France. One day, he told his commander: "I have served you as a soldier; now let me serve Christ." He remained a soldier for a few years more but ultimately got his wish. St. Martin, who started service as a soldier, became an outstanding priest and bishop.

Remember this Catholic connection on Veteran's Day and the rest of the month. Thank our veterans, but also pray for them. I will pray that they learn to be like this soldier and bishop of the 4th Century. I pray that we all grow in the desire to live entirely for God like St. Martin. Join us in thanking and praying for all Veterans on the holiday at the 8:30 am Mass. Afterward, attend the Veterans Day Parade at 10:00 am on First Avenue.  Many veterans march in the parade, including  OLM Usher, John Romano. He served as a  Navy Fighter Pilot in the Second World War, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War!  At 101 years of age, he deserves our thanks and gratitude. Thank you, veterans!

  During this All Souls month, there is a beautiful tradition of visiting cemeteries and praying for our beloved dead. They rest in sacred ground where they are to be remembered and reverenced. Cemeteries are places where the faithful await the return of Christ and the resurrection of their bodies. With hope of the resurrection, let us commend the dead to the mercy of God. Be well. Do good. God Bless. Happy Veterans Day and St. Martin's Day! Go Pats!???

Study, Pray, & Vote! And Then Pray Again!!!

Dear Parishioners:    

This Tuesday, November 5, is a significant day for our nation, Election Day.  Voting is not just a right but a civic duty for all Americans. As Pope Francis has reminded us, each of us has a 'vocation as a citizen,' and for Catholics, this means voting also carries a moral dimension. Every vote counts, and our Catholic Faith teaches us that  'responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation.' So, let's exercise our civic duty and moral responsibility by voting on Election Day.

Some may have voted early. If you haven't, I urge you to vote on Tuesday. The best thing to do both before and after Election Day is pray. Pray for all candidates and our state and nation. Pray before you enter the voting booth to cast a ballot. Spend time praying and reading Scripture, and ask God to help guide your conscience as you decide for whom to vote.  

Also, study the Church's teachings on the important issues facing our state and nation. We must study how the teachings about the human person, human dignity, justice, and peace apply to the relevant issues of the day—issues ranging from how we treat innocent unborn life to how we handle newcomers at our borders, from how we protect religious freedom to how we steward our natural resources, from how we factor the poor into our economic policies to the vision of family life we promote.

We cannot ignore Church teachings on these issues as we form our consciences to vote. The Church warns against dismissing some teachings as "optional concerns." The Church's moral principles are never negotiable. With such clear moral teaching in mind, study the positions held by candidates on these important issues. 

There is no perfect candidate for any office. After all, they are politicians chiefly concerned with getting elected or re-elected.  A growing number of candidates and elected officials, especially in Rhode Island, hold positions that are gravely immoral and against Church teaching on the sanctity of human life and the dignity of the human person.  These extreme positions held by candidates must also be considered when voting for a particular person for higher office. Sometimes, this leaves seemingly no one we can vote with a clear conscience.  It is the dilemma of our current political landscape.

As we carefully consider candidates, it is important to differentiate between inherent moral principles and prudential judgments. Prudential judgment determines how to act in situations with room for flexibility. At the same time, inherently moral issues are actions considered evil by their very nature.    For instance,  abortion is a fundamentally different moral issue than an objectionable immigration policy.  Abortion always takes an innocent human life and is, therefore, inherently evil. Immigration policies are a matter of prudential judgment.

Because of the positions of certain candidates, many inside and outside the Church demand bishops and priests publicly support or oppose a particular candidate. However, the Church cannot and should not endorse any candidate or political party. It is not only illegal, but it is not the proper role of the Church to be partisan.

Rather, the Church provides a clear moral teaching that should inform our conscience and guide us as faithful Catholics.  We should vote as Catholics who consider the common good of all people, not just our own political, economic, or personal self-interest.   

Before we vote, we must properly form our conscience with the teachings of the Church, pray for insight, and act on this formation process. Voting with a well-formed conscience, one based upon the teachings and moral values of the Church, is part of living out a life of faithful discipleship in Christ.

Pray before you vote. Pray for our country. Pray for all the candidates, not just the ones you may support.  Pray that there will be peace and harmony no matter the election outcome. The bulletin has a Prayer Before An Election for your use in prayer.

As we begin this All Souls Month, we pray for the gentle repose of the souls of our fellow parishioners who died this past year. Their names are listed in the bulletin. May they Rest in Peace. Study, pray, and vote! And then pray again!

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

Celebrating All The Saints & Praying for All Souls

Dear Parishioners:                                 

The  Confirmation Mass last Sunday was beautiful and joyful.   We thank Bishop Evans for confirming fifty-six of our young parishioners.  We also thank our candidates and their families for choosing to come forward and confirm their Catholic Faith.  Let us pray for them. Their names are listed in the bulletin.                

Many people work to ensure Confirmation is a great occasion of Faith.  The music was magnificent, and we thank Henri St. Louis, our Music Director, and our OLM Adult Choir.  We also thank the outstanding OLM Altar Servers for their service.  We thank Mr. Jeremy Long, the Director of the OLM Confirmation Program, for preparing the candidates so well.                

November begins this week! Next Saturday, the 5:00 p.m. Mass of Anticipation will move back to a 4:00 p.m. start time, and Confessions will move back to a 3:00 p.m. start time. Be sure to note this and alert fellow parishioners!         

All Saints Tapestry, Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles

Of course, the arrival of November brings with it the two great feasts of All Saints and All Souls. All Saints’ Day is a solemnity and holy day of obligation on which the universal Church honors the saints, known and unknown, all those who have gained the reward of heaven.   There is a Mass of Anticipation on Thursday at 5:00 pm and three Masses on the Holy Day at 7:30 am, 9:00 am School Mass, and 7:00 pm.  Plenty of opportunities to fulfill your obligation to attend Mass on the Holy Day.           

On All Souls’ Day, the universal Church prays for all those in purgatory who were much like us and in need of purification. By praying for them, we are inspired to lead purer lives. On that day, and during the entire month of November, we remember our beloved dead as we visit the cemetery where they are buried, attain indulgences for them, give alms, do some good work, and have Masses offered in remembrance.  We do this for those close to us and others we may have neglected during the year.       

An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory circa 1610, Ludovico Carracci  (1555–1619)

On Saturday, November 2, there will be two All Souls Day Masses at 8:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The Noon Mass will feature sacred music fitting the solemn nature of the feast. Please return your All Souls envelopes with the names of your beloved dead inscribed so they may be remembered throughout November.           

Next Sunday, November 3, at the 10:30 am Mass, we will remember all our deceased parishioners who died this past year.     These forty-six souls have gone to their eternal reward, and we, their family, friends, and fellow parishioners, remember them with our prayers. Their grieving families will be in attendance at the Mass. Please pray for their consolation.       

Also, this week, Archbishop Henning will be installed as the seventh Archbishop of Boston.  It is a bittersweet day for us as we say farewell to a bishop who served us so well in such a short time. Still, we rejoice that the Holy Father recognizes his outstanding abilities as a faithful, loving, and wise shepherd for the Church of Boston.  Please pray for Archbishop Henning as he begins his episcopal ministry in the Bay State!           

Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul, Providence. RI

 On Friday, we will be a Diocese without a bishop! Also, on Friday, the College of Consultors of the Diocese of Providence convenes to elect an Administrator. The College assists the diocesan bishop in governing the Diocese. Canon Law requires the College to elect a Diocesan Administrator when a diocese is without a bishop.        

What is a Diocesan Administrator? It is a priest of the Diocese of Providence who oversees the day-to-day administration of the Diocese until the Pope appoints a new bishop.  They are not bishops but serve as administrators of the many agencies, charities, and offices of the Diocese and ensure the good order.  

We prayerfully and patiently await for many months (up to a year) for Pope Francis to appoint the next bishop, the tenth Bishop of Providence. Pray for our Diocese and the newly elected Diocesan Administrator at this time of transition. May Our Lady of Providence guide the Church of Providence.  

Be well. Do good. God Bless.  I hope to see you Monday at 7:00 pm for our final October Devotions! Happy All Saints Day! See you at Mass on the Holy Day!  

Come Holy Spirit! Confirming Our Catholic Faith!

Dear Parishioners:

“Be sealed with the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Bishop Evans anoints Anna Gianna Jelinek at Confirmation Mass, Sunday October 20, 2024.

Sunday at 5:00 p.m. Mass, we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for fifty-six of our young adults.  Our neighbor, Bishop Evans, will celebrate the Mass and confirm these young men and women in the Catholic Faith. We offer them our best wishes and promise of prayer.  

Many young people and sometimes even their parents consider the Sacrament of Confirmation a graduation ceremony. The reality is, Confirmation is not the end; it is only the beginning of a life committed to Christ and His Church. 

The OLM Confirmation Preparation Program begins in the 8th Grade.  Our candidates attend class, take up service projects, and make a retreat.  The Sacrament of Confirmation is then conferred in the Fall of 9th Grade as the candidates begin High School.  I believe our young adults today need the grace of the Sacrament and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as they begin their High School years.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: "Every baptized person not yet confirmed can and should receive the Sacrament of Confirmation. Since Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist form a unity. Without Confirmation and Eucharist, Baptism is certainly valid and efficacious, but Christian initiation remains incomplete."

Now that our young adults are fully initiated into the Catholic Faith, we hope they continue to pray, grow in their Faith, and attend Mass and Confession frequently.  We also hope they might consider taking up a ministry in our parish, such as a Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Faith Formation volunteer, or even singing in the Adult Choir. Pray for our newly Confirmed that they may put the Gifts of the Holy Spirit to work in their lives and for our parish.

Bishop Evans poses with the newly confirmed Colin Longinus Pulsifer and his Grandmother, who was his sponsor, along with Fr. Healey, Pastor of OLM, Fr. Mahoney, Pastor of St. Piux X, and Fr. Morris, Chaplain at Bishop Hendriken High School.

St Ambrose said: "Remember, then, that you received a spiritual seal, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of knowledge and reverence, the Spirit of holy fear. Keep safe what you receive. God the Father sealed you, Christ the Lord strengthened you and sent the Spirit into your hearts as the pledge of what is to come."

Our Faith Formation Program began this month. It includes a Sacramental Prep Program for Communion and Confirmation. We also offer Family Faith Formation for families with children not in the Sacramental Program and Parent Faith Formation. If you have not registered your child for Faith Formation, please do so on the parish webpage now.

We also began the Order of Christian Initiation of Adult Program this month. This program is for non-Catholic adults interested in joining the Church, and adult baptized Catholics needing the other Sacraments.  Contact us if you or someone you know is interested in the  Catholic Faith or needs a Sacrament of Initiation. 

The Descent of the Holy Spirit May 1634 by Jacques Blanchard  (1600–1638)

The process by which adults formally join the Catholic Church has traditionally been called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). In November 2021, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops approved a new translation of the process and its corresponding curriculum, now known as the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (OCIA).  The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy called Sacrosanctum Concilium,  implemented during Vatican II,  led to the first Latin edition of the Ordo Initiationis Christianae Adultorum (OICA) in 1972.  The first English translation was followed in 1974. In 1986, the U.S. bishops translated the 1974 texts and rites. This eventually led to the 1988 text that Catholic parishes have used for RCIA.

The new OCIA is a more authentic translation of the original text.  This more accurate translation also helps foster the idea that the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults is not one rite or process. This is a lifelong journey of accompanying those entering the  Catholic Church. It's a reminder that we are all on a lifelong journey of living the Catholic Faith, following Christ and His Church with a continual conversion of heart.

I am making my Annual Retreat this week at Arnold Hall Retreat Center in Pembroke, Massachusetts, beginning on Monday night. I ask for your prayers while on retreat, as I promise my prayers for you. I return on Friday evening. We thank Bishop Evans for covering Masses this week.

Be well. Do good. God Bless.  Go Pats! Maye Day!!

Celebrations of Hope & Faith

Dear Parishioners:

Fr. Healey, Fr. Connors, and the seminarians from Our Lady of Providence Seminary.

Last Sunday, Fr. Connors, Rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary, celebrated the 10:30 am.  He brought the eighteen seminarians in formation for the priesthood at the seminary.  They are an impressive group of young men answering the Lord's call to follow him as a priest.  They are not all from the Diocese of Providence.  Some of these men prepare to serve as priests for other Dioceses, including Boston,   Worcester, Manchester, New Hampshire, Brooklyn, Rochester, and Rockville Centre, New York. It was a tremendous sign of hope for our Church and a particular grace for our parish. Speaking to seminarians in formation for the priesthood,

Pope Francis urged them to:  "Never extinguish that fire that will make you fearless preachers of the Gospel, dispensers of divine treasures. Be united with Jesus, like Mary, to surrender yourselves with Him in the Eucharistic sacrifice and the glory of His triumph. Pray for Fr. Connors and the OLP Seminary Faculty as they lead and guide these men in formation. Pray seminarians heed the Holy Father's wise words and persevere in their priestly vocation. They are the future priests who will serve God's people and proclaim the Gospel. 

Construction project in Mercy Park.

As you've noticed, we are adding some pavers around the Sacred Heart statue in Mercy Park. When completed, it will be a beautiful addition to our parish's physical plant, and the statue will be highlighted. The Sacred Heart of Jesus is mercy itself, and the statue is a fitting addition to Mercy Park. We hope to add a few stone benches to the park as part of this project so Mercy Park might be available for prayer, reflection, and receptions.

Our school boiler project is underway.  The two new boilers have been ordered and are being built.  We hope to install them in the next few weeks.  Arden Engineering Constructors are the project's contractor, and the total cost of the boilers is $168,000.  It is being funded by the proceeds from the Grateful for God's Providence Capital Campaign.  Thank you for your generous support of the campaign, which has made this most needed project possible.

This Thursday a Farewell Mass for Archbishop Henning will be celebrated at the Cathedral.  Everyone is invited to attend the Mass and say Farewell as we pray for Archbishop Henning.   He will be installed as the new Archbishop of Boston on October 31. 

Confirmation 2024 at OLM with Archbishop Henning.

Next Sunday, at the 5:00 pm Mass, fifty-six young adults of our parish will be confirmed by Bishop Evans. They will confirm their Catholic Faith and receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit.  After interviewing them, I know they are well prepared to receive the Sacrament.  I am grateful to Mr. Jeremy Long, who directs our Confirmation  Program.  Please pray for them. 

As Pope Francis has said: "We can study the history of salvation, we can study the whole of Theology, but without the Spirit we cannot understand. It is the Spirit that makes us realize the truth or–in the words of Our Lord–it is the Spirit that makes us know the voice of Jesus."

Sister Lourdes departed this week to visit her native home in the Philippines. While there, she will meet with her superiors at the Motherhouse. She will also be able to spend some time with her family. She returns to OLM in early November. Please pray for her safe travels.

Monday is  Columbus Day, commemorating explorer Christopher Columbus' landing in the New World on October 12, 1492. It also celebrates the cultural heritage of Italian Americans since  Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy.  When I was a child, "Columbus Day" was celebrated, not just with banks and post offices closed but also with a day off of school. All of America celebrated the hero who "in 1492…sailed the ocean blue." 

I invite you to celebrate the day with prayer and devotion. Join us for Mass at 8:30 a.m. and October Devotions at 7:00 p.m. Our Rosary last Monday night was offered for peace, especially in the Holy Land. October is Respect Life Month, and so this week, we offer the Rosary for increased respect for the sanctity of all human life.  

Be well. Do good. God Bless.  Happy Columbus Day!

The First Landing of Christopher Columbus (1450-1506) in America, 1862 by Dioscoro Teofilo Puebla Tolin

October is the Month of the Holy Rosary! Pick One Up & Pray!!!

Dear Parishioners:                   

Monday, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary. St. Pius V established the feast of Our Lady of Victory to thank God for the Christian defeat of the Turks at Lepanto—a victory attributed to praying the Rosary. Pope Gregory XIII changed the name to Feast of the Holy Rosary–originally celebrated on the first Sunday in October–in 1573. Pope Clement XI extended the feast to the universal Church in 1716. Moreover, in 1913, St. Pius X set a date for the feast that we know today, October 7.

The development of the Rosary has a long history. First, a practice was developed of praying 150 Our Fathers in imitation of the 150 Psalms. Then, there was a parallel practice of praying 150 Hail Marys. Soon, a mystery of Jesus' life was attached to each Hail Mary.

Though Mary's giving of the Rosary to St. Dominic is recognized as a legend, the development of this prayer form owes much to the followers of  Dominic. One of them, Alan de la Roche, was known as "the apostle of the rosary." He founded the first Confraternity of the Rosary in the 15th century. In the 16th century, the Rosary was developed to consist of 15 mysteries: joyful, sorrowful, and glorious. In 2002, St. Pope John Paul II added the five Mysteries of Light (luminous) to this devotion.

The purpose of the Rosary is to help us meditate on the great mysteries of our salvation. Pius XII called it a compendium of the gospel. The main focus is on Jesus—his birth, life, death, and resurrection. The "Our Fathers" remind us that Jesus' Father initiated salvation. The "Hail Marys" remind us to join Mary in contemplating these mysteries. They also make us aware that Mary was and is intimately joined with her Son in all the mysteries of his earthly and heavenly existence. The "Glory Bes" remind us that the purpose of all life is the glory of the Trinity.

The Rosary appeals to many people. It is simple. The constant repetition of words helps create a prayerful atmosphere to contemplate God's mysteries. We sense that Jesus and Mary are with us in the joys and sorrows of life. We grow in hope that God will bring us to share in the glory of Jesus and Mary forever, and Jesus sheds his divine light upon us. October is a month dedicated to the Rosary.  If the Rosary is not a part of your regular prayer life, it is easy to get your feet wet with this devotion.  Pick up your rosary beads.  It is an easy practice of prayer to begin and make part of your regular spiritual life.

You do not have to pray the Rosary all at once. Sure, some people might sit down and quietly pray a whole rosary in one sitting. However, we can also divide it up, saying just a decade or two at different points throughout the day: on the way to work, in between errands, in between meetings, while folding laundry, or doing dishes.  Many holy men and women and even popes have prayed the Rosary this way and have found it manageable and fruitful for their busy lives.

We can pray  the Rosary anywhere! It is like a portable chapel we can keep in our pocket and pull out anytime, anyplace. Whether we have a sudden, urgent situation to present to God in prayer or want to fill some of our days with thoughts of God, all we need to do is pull out our beads and turn to the Lord as we pray the Rosary. We might pray it in a church, the bedroom, or office. We might pray it in the car, on the treadmill, in the grocery store line, while cutting the grass or taking a walk. Bringing our hearts into the rhythm of the Rosary is something we can do throughout any day.  It is easy to fit the Rosary into your schedule, give it a try!

The American Journalist James Foley was kidnapped and then executed by ISIS in 2014. He was a devout Catholic who faced severe beatings and torture at the hands of his terrorist captors. While imprisoned in Libya, Foley never missed praying the Rosary. He wrote:  "I began to pray the Rosary. It was what my mother and grandmother would have prayed. It took almost an hour to count 100 Hail Marys off on my knuckles. And it helped to keep my mind focused."

Join us on Monday at 7:00 PM for October Devotions as we pray the Rosary as a parish family before the Eucharistic Lord.  Be well. Do good. God Bless.  Our Lady of Rosary, pray for us!