Joseph ANTHONY Andreozzi
Tessa FRANCIS Barone
Francesca PIER GIORGIO Biafore
Ava PETER Bogs
Nicolas PEDRO Buontempo
Brandon THOMAS Carll
Lucas THOMAS AQUINAS Caporaso
David JORDAN Carreiro
Patrick GENESIUS Cavanagh
Emily MARIA Chatowsky
Sofia ELIZABETH Chianese
Charles ISIDORE Cofoni
Samuel PATRICK Deady
Michael MAXIMILIAN KOLBE DeOrsey
Zachary ANTHONY Dessert
Ava KATHARINE Doorley
Sophia TERESA D’Orsi
Brooke MARY Fairbanks
Gregory JOHN Flanders
Brandon MAXIMILIAN KOLBE Flood
Jonathan THOMAS AQUINAS Ford
Evan FRANCIS Franchina
Finan PATRICK Gammell
Leyla THERESE Gomez
Daven Matthew Gopalakrishnan
Ava ANNE Hayes
Cameron PATRICK Hayes
Connor JOHN PAUL,II Hayes
Brayden MICHAEL Healey
Aidan SEBASTIAN Igoe
John MICHAEL Kiernan
Maeve ELIZABETH Kiernan
Toby FRANCIS Kim
Christian CALEB Koness
Kaitlyn ANNE Kopec
Madeline PIER GIORGIO Kortz
Jace THOMAS AQUINAS LaPlante
Quinn ROCCO Legault
Alejandro MIGUEL Leon
Emily CAROLINE Loiselle
Dylan ANDREW Lynch
Rees SEBASTIAN Maccarone
Matthew MAXIMILIAN KOLBE Maligaya
Emma TERESA Manzo
Megan VITUS Matthews
Richard PATRICK McAuliffe
Madeline BERNADETTE Medeiros
Mary MARY MAGDALENE Mita
Luke MATTHEW Moio
Finn DEMETRIUS Moynihan
Mary CLARE Murphy
Ryan FRANCIS Narcessian
Catherine HOPE Neville
Margaret GENEVIEVE Neville
Andrew ELIGIUS Nicchia
Joseph JOSEPH Nicchia
Daniel PATRICK Nuti
Quinn PATRICK O’Connell
Bonnie BRIGID O’Flaherty
Daniel ANTHONY O’Hare
Ava TERESA Paletta
Julianna GEMMA Pauley
Olivia MARIA Prior
Roman ANTHONY Prosseda
Isabella LEE Righi
William DOMINIC Roberti
William BENEDICT Ruskaup
Ava CECILIA Scott
Kaitlyn CECILIA Toce
Iris MARIA Weiss
Henry JOHN Wind
Matthew NICHOLAS Ziady
The rain did not stop the Blessing of Animals on the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron of animals, Monday, October 4th at Our Lady of Mercy School. Father Daniel Mahoney was met by countless families looking to have their cherished pets blessed. All were welcome from snails to gerbils to cats and dogs - this tradition has long been a family favorite event in the OLM community.
The blessing of animals dates back 800 years to the life of Saint Francis of Assisi (1181–1226). He first blessed animals early in his ministry sometime between 1210–1215. Tradition has it that he was wandering around outdoors one warm afternoon, full of self-doubt when he noticed a flock of birds in his path. He immediately felt the need to first talk to them as though they were his equals and then preach to them about God’s glories and the reasons why men and animals should be grateful for these blessings. The tradition of the Blessing of Animals on St. Francis’ feast day continues today and recalls his love for animals as expressed in his Canticle of Creatures.
Beginning September 8, 2021, and lasting until June 26, 2022, the Diocese of Providence will host an ongoing celebration of the sesquicentennial of its founding in February 1872. The central theme of the celebration - embossed on the anniversary logo beneath the welcoming outstretched arms of Christ - is rooted in the sacred scripture of Psalm 126: “The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.”
Our diocesan celebration will begin on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, with the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady, with "A Night to Honor Mary" at 6 p.m. in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, and will continue through Sunday, June 26, 2022, when the commemoration of the 150th anniversary will conclude with a solemn closing Mass at the cathedral at 1 p.m. That Sunday is the closest to the patronal feast day of SS. Peter and Paul.
In the months between the opening and closing celebrations, an extensive, multi-faceted program of dynamic guest speakers, concerts and artistic events is being planned by the diocese’s 150th anniversary Cultural and Educational Events Committee. Dates will be added to the calendar below, showcased in the Rhode Island Catholic, and shared across our diocesan social media.
Information will be added as we celebrate this year!