Congrats to the Newly Intiated at Easter

With prayerful best wishes and heartfelt congratulations we welcome the following who have been baptized and confirmed in the Catholic Faith.

Michael Jude Cotugno

Jonathan Augustine Martin

Casey Flora Naylor

Grant Thomas More Pilkington

O God, who on this day, through Your Only Begotten Son, have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity, grant we pray, that we who keep the Solemnity of the Lord’s Resurrection may, through the renewal brought by Your Spirit, rise up in the light of life.

OLM Confirmation Class Makes Easter Cupcakes for McAuley House

On Good Friday afternoon students from the OLM Confirmation Class spent a few hours making and baking delicious cupcakes for the clients of McAuley House in Providence. Sponsored by the Sisters of Mercy, McAuley house provides basic needs of food, clothing, shelter, health services, and guidance to the poor and vulnerable of the community. It is named for the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, Mother Catherine McAuley. The homemade cupcakes will delivered on Holy Saturday in time for Easter Sunday Dinner at McAuley House. We thank and commend these young men and women for their charity in doing this act of mercy.

A Prayer to Jesus Forsaken

To Jesus Forsaken

Sweet Jesus! For how many ages hast Thou hung upon Thy Cross and still men pass Thee by and regard Thee not!

How often have I passed Thee by, heedless of Thy great Sorrow, Thy many Wounds, Thy infinite Love!

How often have I stood before Thee, not to comfort and console Thee, but to add to Thy Sorrows, to deepen Thy Wounds, to spurn Thy Love!

Thou hast stretched forth Thy Hands to raise me up, and I have taken those Hands and bent them back on the Cross.

Thou hast loved me with an infinite love, and I have taken advantage of that love to sin the more against Thee.

My ingratitude has pierced Thy Sacred Heart, and Thy Heart responds only with an outpouring of Thy Love in Thy Precious Blood.

Lamb of God Who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on me!

A Prayer for Notre Dame Cathedral

Prayer of St. John Paul II at Notre Dame
May 30, 1980:

Virgin Mary, at the heart of the Cité

We pray to you for this capital city.

You Intact, preserve the purity of its faith!

Virgin Mary, from the banks of the Seine,

We pray to you for the country of France.

O Mother, teach it to hope!

Virgin Mary, in this great Christian site,

We pray to you for all the earth’s people.

You, full of grace, may they be one in Love.

A Prayer for Palm Sunday and Holy Week

Prayer for Palm Sunday and Holy Week

This prayer is designed to be said before a Crucifix
on Palm Sunday and during Holy Week.

All-powerful, eternal God, you have chosen to give mankind a model of humility; our Savior took on our flesh, and subjected himself to the Cross. Grant us the grace to preserve faithfully the lessons he has given us in his Passion and to have a share in his resurrection. Favor us, Lord, with your presence. Far from us repulse all the wiles of Satan. Your holy angels — let them live with us, to keep us in peace. And may your blessing remain always upon us. Through Christ our Lord.

A Prayer Before a Crucifix

A Prayer Before a Crucifix

O good and dearest Jesus, I kneel before your face. With all my heart I ask you to place in my heart more faith, hope and charity. Give me a true sorrow for my sins and a strong will to do better With great sorrow and grief I look upon your five wounds and think about them. Before my eyes are the words that the prophet David said of you, O good Jesus: "They have pierced my hands and feet They have numbered all my bones."

Saturday Evening Mass Moves to 5PM on Saturday, April 6

Beginning on Saturday, April 6 the Mass of Anticipation moves to a 5:00PM start time and Confession move to a 4:00PM start time on Saturdays. Please plan accordingly . These start times for Mass and Confession on Saturdays remain until the First Weekend in November 2019.

Congratulatons to OLM Trustee Bill Wray, 2019 Lumen Genitum Award Reciepent

2019 Lumen Gentium Award for Stewardship and Administration
Willliam K. Wray, Sr.
Our Lady of Mercy Parish Trustee

William K. Wray, Sr.

We congratulate OLM Parish Trustee, Bill Wray, on being named a recipient of the 2019 Lumen Gentium Award for Stewardship and Administration, for his faith, dedication and service in providing his Church and Parish wise counsel and guidance.

On May, 15 individuals or groups will be honored by the Diocese of Providence in 9 different categories with the 2019 Lumen Gentium Catholic Service Award. The Lumen Gentium awards, translated from Latin as “Light for the Nations,” honor those “who toil in the vineyard of the Lord,” without compensation or acclaim for their efforts.

“The faithful of this diocese continue to impress me by their unwavering dedication and love of our local Church,” said diocesan Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, Msgr. Albert A. Kenney, who serves as chairman of the Lumen Gentium Committee. The committee reviews the nominations submitted in each award category and presents to Bishop Thomas J. Tobin a list of those chosen for each award for his approval. “The award winners this year are examples of discipleship lived robustly and faithfully. We are grateful to the missionary service they give to Christ and His Church,” Msgr. Kenney said.

The recipients of the 2019 Lumen Gentium award will be honored at a dinner scheduled for Wednesday, May 15, at 6 p.m. at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln. The proceeds from the 2019 Lumen Gentium Dinner will benefit Catholic Youth Ministries which provide leadership training, evangelization, faith formation, gathering and recognition programs and competitive athletic opportunities to Catholic youth throughout the Diocese of Providence. For more information, visit catholicyouthri.com.

Since 2013, when the Lumen Gentium awards were first presented in the diocese, 89 individuals and groups — representing 54 parishes — have been recognized. The awards banquets have raised more than $450,000 in support of numerous diocesan ministries. Click to register for the banquet online, or call Andrea H. Krupp in the Office of Stewardship and Development at 401-277-2121. Tickets are $100 each and tables seat 10 people.

William K. Wray, Sr. is Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Risk Officer of The Washington Trust Company. Before joining Washington Trust, Wray most recently served as Chief Operating Officer for Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at Citizens Bank, culminating in the role of Vice Chairman and Chief Information Officer.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a master’s degree in engineering from Stanford University. Bill and his wife Nancy are long time parishioners of Our Lady of Mercy. Bill serves as a Trustee of the parish and on the OLM Parish Finance Council. In addition, he serves on the Finance Council of the Diocese of Providence.

The Litany of Saint Joseph

The Litany of Saint Joseph

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God the Father of Heaven,
Have mercy on us.
God the Son, Redeemer of the world,
Have mercy on us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary, pray for us.
Saint Joseph, pray for us.
Illustrious son of David, pray for us.
Light of the patriarchs,
Spouse of the Mother of God,
Chaste guardian of the Virgin,
Foster-father of the Son of God,
Watchful defender of Christ,
Head of the Holy Family,
Joseph most just,
Joseph most chaste,
Joseph most prudent,
Joseph most valiant,
Joseph most obedient,
Joseph most faithful,
Mirror of patience,
Lover of poverty,
Model of workmen ,
Glory of domestic life,
Guardian of virgins,
Pillar of families,
Solace of the afflicted,
Hope of the sick,
Patron of the dying,
Terror of demons,
Protector of Holy Church,

Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Graciously hear us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world,
Have mercy on us.

V. He made him the lord of His household,
R. And prince over all His possessions.

Let Us Pray.

O God, Who in Thine ineffable providence didst choose Blessed Joseph to be the spouse of Thy most Holy Mother, grant that as we venerate him as our protector on earth, we may deserve to have him as our intercessor in Heaven, Thou Who livest and reignest forever and ever. R. Amen.

Prayer of St. Patrick

Lorica of St. Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

Penitential Prayers for Lenten Season

Penitential Prayer of St. Augustine

O Lord, The house of my soul is narrow; enlarge it that you may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it! It displeases Your sight.
I confess it, I know. But who shall cleanse it, to whom shall I cry but to you?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord, and spare Your servant from strange sins. Amen

Penitential Prayer of St. Ambrose of Milan

O Lord, who hast mercy upon all,take away from me my sins,
and mercifully kindle in methe fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone,and give me a heart of flesh,
a heart to love and adore Thee,a heart to delight in Thee,
to follow and enjoy Thee, for Christ's sake, Amen

OLM Parishioner Marianna Toljan recieves St. Timothy Youth Award

Fr. Healey and Fr. Barrow pose with St. Timothy Award Recipient, Marianna Toljan, following the Mass at the Cathedral.

At a Youth Ministry and Scouting Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul on Sunday, March 3 Bishop Tobin presented OLM Parishioner Marianna Toljan the Diocesan St. Timothy Award for Youth for her dedicated service to Church and Parish. Marianna is a longtime OLM Altar Server and Religious Education Teacher. We congratulate her on this great recognition of her exemplary service and living witness to the faith. OLM is proud of her!

Guidelines for Fast & Abstinence For Lent

Guidelines for Fast & Abstiennce For Lent

Abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent (for those 14 and older) is required by Church law. Also, Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fasting: those between the ages of 18 and 59 should eat less, meaning, take no solid food between meals and only one full meal that day. Serious health conditions excuse a person from these precepts.

Pastors and parents are encouraged by the law of the Church to ensure that minors who are not bound by the law of fast and abstinence are educated nonetheless in an authentic sense of penance.

Following the implementation of the revised Code of Canon Law on November 27, 1983, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in the United States determined that the rules of fast and abstinence which have existed for the last several years in this country be maintained. Namely, that the faithful observe suitable penitential practices on all Fridays throughout the year. These penitential practices need not include abstaining from meat. However, as indicated above, the faithful must not eat meat on all the Fridays of Lent as well as on Ash Wednesday. They must also observe faithfully the fast regulations as they have been stated above in accord with the universal law of the Church (Cf. Code of Canon Law, Canons 1250-1252).

A Critical Time to Pray, Act and Advocate for the Unborn at the RI Statehouse

Dear fellow Catholics:

I write to you today at a crucial time for our state. Legislation has been introduced at the RI General Assembly radically expanding abortion in Rhode Island. In the House these bills are H 5125 sponsored by Rep. Williams and H 5127 sponsored by Rep. Ajello and in the Senate the bill S 152 sponsored by Senator Goldin.

This legislation goes far beyond “codifying” existing federal law on the subject of abortion and includes the elimination of any constitutional restrictions on late-term abortion. Our advocacy against these bills is ongoing but there is mounting pressure from the well-financed pro-abortion lobby and their many elected allies at the General Assembly and in state government to bring these bills to a vote. The RI House Judiciary Committee conducted a hearing on the bills a couple of weeks ago and thankfully many pro-life people turned out in opposition to these bills. A hearing in the RI Senate has not yet been scheduled.

In the meantime, our advocacy in promoting a culture of life in RI and opposing this legislation continues as we work with our allies in the General Assembly and with Mr. Barth Bracey, the Director of RI Right to Life. RI Right to Life is leading the petition drive against these bills and a link to this petition is included below. Also included on that site is the excellent legal analysis of this legislation by Paul Linton which clearly illustrates that it goes far beyond the codification of Roe vs Wade in RI law. I suggest you read his analysis.

Many have asked how they can help at this time. First, I would ask that prayer for the unborn and for our elected officials be taken up in some way in every parish. Second, I would ask that you act now by encouraging the people of your parishes to write letters, emails and make phone calls to their local RI State Representative and RI State Senator to voice their opposition to these bills. Also encourage people to write the local print media expressing their opposition to this radical expansion of abortion in our state. Additionally I would encourage all people to advocate against this legislation by having as many people as possible to sign the online petition. Please consider placing this information in your weekly bulletin or making pulpit announcements.

Also please know RI Right to Life is need of crucial support and additional resources to keep the fight going against a very well organized and well financed pro-abortion lobby. Volunteers to help advocate against these bills at the General Assembly during the legislative session are needed. Please contact Barth Bracey at RIRTL by phone (401) 521-1860 or by email at bebracy@rirtl.org if you are able to provide any kind of assistance of your time, talent or treasure.

Pray, act and advocate is what we each of us is called to do as faithful citizens. I thank you for your support in protecting the lives of the unborn at this critical time for our state and nation.

Fr Bernard A. Healey
Director of the RI Catholic Conference

Link to online petition:

http://www.rirtl.org/action/index.php?vvsrc=%2FPetitions%2F1564%2FRespond

Prayer for World Day of the Sick

Prayer for World Day of the Sick

O ever Immaculate Virgin, Mother of Mercy, Health of the Sick, Refuge of Sinners, Comfort to the Afflicted, you know my wants, my
troubles, my sufferings. Deign to cast upon me a look of mercy. By appearing in the Grotto of Lourdes, you were pleased to make it a privileged sanctuary, whence you
dispense your favors; and already many sufferers have obtained the cure of their infirmities, both spiritual and corporal. I come, therefore, with the most unbounded confidence to
implore your maternal intercession. Obtain, O loving Mother, the granting of my requests. Through gratitude for favors, I will endeavor to imitate your virtues that I may one day share your glory

Prayer in Honor of St. Blaise, Patron of Ailments of the Throat

Prayer in Honor of St. Blaise

O GOD, deliver us through the intercession of Thy holy bishop and martyr Blaise, from all evil of soul and body, especially from all ills of the throat; and grant us the grace to make a good confession in the confident hope of obtaining Thy pardon, and ever to praise with worthy lips Thy most holy name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

February 3 is the Feast of Saint Blaise and on this date the traditional Saint Blaise blessing of throats.is offered. Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316. The legendary Acts of St. Blaise were written 400 years later. According to them Blaise was a good bishop, working hard to encourage the spiritual and physical health of his people. Although the Edict of Toleration (311), granting freedom of worship in the Roman Empire, was already five years old, persecution still raged in Armenia. Blaise was apparently forced to flee to the back country. There he lived as a hermit in solitude and prayer, but he made friends with the wild animals. One day a group of hunters seeking wild animals for the amphitheater stumbled upon Blaise’s cave. They were first surprised and then frightened. The bishop was kneeling in prayer surrounded by patiently waiting wolves, lions and bears. The legend has it that as the hunters hauled Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat. At Blaise’s command the child was able to cough up the bone. Agricolaus, governor of Cappadocia, tried to persuade Blaise to sacrifice to pagan idols. The first time Blaise refused, he was beaten. The next time he was suspended from a tree and his flesh torn with iron combs or rakes. Finally, he was beheaded.