The Sunday Evening 5:00pm will end on Sunday, April 30 and resumes on Sunday, October 1, 2023.
Dear brothers and sisters, Christ is risen!
On this day we proclaim that he, the Lord of our life, is “the resurrection and the life” of the world (cf. Jn 11:25). Today is Easter, the Pasch, a word that means “passage”, for in Jesus the decisive passage of humanity has been made: the passage from death to life, from sin to grace, from fear to confidence, from desolation to communion in him. In him, the Lord of time and history, I would like to say to everyone, with heartfelt joy, Happy Easter to all!
May this Easter be for each of you, dear brothers and sisters, and in particular for the sick and the poor, the elderly and those experiencing moments of trial and weariness, a passage from affliction to consolation. We are not alone: Jesus, the Living One, is with us, forever. Let the Church and the world rejoice, for today our hopes no longer come up against the wall of death, for the Lord has built us a bridge to life. Yes, brothers and sisters, at Easter the destiny of the world was changed, and on this day, which also coincides with the most probable date of Christ’s resurrection, we can rejoice to celebrate, by pure grace, the most important and beautiful day of history.
“Christ is risen; he is truly risen!” In this traditional proclamation of the Churches of the East ... the word “truly” reminds us that our hope is not an illusion, but the truth! And that, in the wake of Easter, humanity’s journey, now marked by hope, advances all the more readily. The first witnesses of the resurrection show this by their example. The Gospels speak of the haste with which, on the morning of Easter, the women “ran to tell the disciples” (Mt 28:8). Mary Magdalene then “ran and went to Simon Peter” (Jn 20:2), while John and Peter himself then “ran together” (cf. v. 4) to the place where Jesus had been buried. Later, on the evening of Easter, after meeting the Risen Lord on the road to Emmaus, two disciples “set out without delay” (cf. Lk 24:33) and traveled several miles, uphill and in the dark, spurred on by the irrepressible joy of Easter that burned in their hearts (cf. v. 32). The same joy that led Peter, on the shore of the Lake of Galilee, after catching sight of the risen Jesus, to leave the boat with the others, to throw himself immediately into the water and to swim quickly towards him (cf. Jn 21:7). At Easter, then, the journey quickens and becomes a race, since humanity now sees the goal of its journey, sees the meaning of its destiny, Jesus Christ, and is called to make haste to meet him, who is the hope of the world.
May we too make haste to progress on a journey of reciprocal trust: trust among individuals, peoples and nations. May we allow ourselves to experience amazement at the joyful proclamation of Easter, at the light that illumines the darkness and the gloom in which, all too often, our world finds itself enveloped.
Let us make haste to surmount our conflicts and divisions, and to open our hearts to those in greatest need. Let us hasten to pursue paths of peace and fraternity. Let us rejoice at the concrete signs of hope that reach us from so many countries, beginning with those that offer assistance and welcome to all fleeing from war and poverty.
At the same time, along this journey we also encounter many stumbling stones, which make it more difficult and demanding to hasten towards the Risen Lord. To him, then, let us make our prayer: Lord, help us to run to meet you! Help us to open our hearts!
Help the beloved Ukrainian people on their journey towards peace, and shed the light of Easter upon the people of Russia. Comfort the wounded and all those who have lost loved ones because of the war, and grant that prisoners may return safe and sound to their families. Open the hearts of the entire international community to strive to end this war and all conflict and bloodshed in our world, beginning with Syria, which still awaits peace. Strengthen all those affected by the violent earthquake in Turkey and in Syria itself. Let us pray for all those who have lost family and friends, and for those left homeless. May they receive consolation from God and assistance from the family of nations.
On this day, Lord, we entrust to you the city of Jerusalem, the first witness of your resurrection. May there be a resumption of dialogue, in a climate of trust and reciprocal respect, between Israelis and Palestinians, so that peace may reign in the Holy City and in the entire region.
Lord, aid Lebanon, which still seeks stability and unity, so that divisions may be overcome and all citizens cooperate for the common good of the country.
Be mindful of the beloved people of Tunisia, and in particular the young and those suffering from social and economic hardship, so that they may not lose hope and may work together to build a future of peace and fraternity.
Turn your gaze to Haiti, which has long experienced a grave social, economic and humanitarian crisis, and support the efforts of political actors and the international community to seek a definitive solution to the many problems that afflict that sorely tried people.
Consolidate the processes of peace and reconciliation undertaken in Ethiopia and in South Sudan, and grant an end to violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Sustain, Lord, the Christian communities that today celebrate Easter in particular circumstances, as in Nicaragua and Eritrea, and remember all who are prevented from freely and publicly professing their faith. Grant consolation to victims of international terrorism, especially in Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and Nigeria.
Help Myanmar to pursue paths of peace, and enlighten the hearts of leaders, so that the deeply afflicted Rohingya may encounter justice.
Comfort refugees, deportees, political prisoners and migrants, especially those who are most vulnerable, as well as the victims of hunger, poverty and the dire effects of the drug trade, human trafficking and all other forms of slavery. Lord, inspire the leaders of nations to ensure that no man or woman may encounter discrimination and be violated in his or her dignity; that in full respect for human rights and democracy these social wounds may be healed; that the common good of the citizenry may be pursued always and solely; and that security and the conditions needed for dialogue and peaceful coexistence may be guaranteed.
Brothers, sisters, may we rediscover the enjoyment of the journey, quicken the heartbeat of hope and experience a foretaste of the beauty of heaven! Today, let us summon the energy to advance in goodness towards Goodness itself, which never disappoints. If, as one of the ancient Fathers once wrote, “the greatest sin is not to believe in the power of the resurrection” (SAINT ISAAC OF NINEVEH, Sermones Ascetici, I, 5), today let us believe and profess: “Christ is truly risen from the dead!” (Sequence). We believe in you, Lord Jesus. We believe that, with you, hope is reborn and the journey continues. May you, the Lord of life, encourage us on our journey and repeat to us, as you did to the disciples on the evening of Easter: “Peace be with you! Peace be with you! Peace be with you!” (Jn 19:21).
Pope Francis
Newly Baptized, Received and Confirmed in the Catholic Faith at the Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Mercy. Left to Right: Fr. Mahoney, Eric Joseph Broomfield, Pamela Agatha Bibeault, Philp Augustine Palanza and Fr. Healey.
December 31, 2022
The Diocese of Providence mourns the loss of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and we pray for the peaceful repose of his immortal soul.
Throughout his life and ministry Pope Benedict served God and the Church with humility and generosity. In following Jesus, the Good Shepherd, Pope Benedict was likewise a good and wise shepherd whose impact on the Church and the world will be long-lasting. Pope Benedict was a world-class theologian who loved seeking and speaking the truth, and he taught the faith of the Church with the moral authority and doctrinal clarity so sorely needed today.
Pope Benedict, true to his name, was richly “blessed” by the Lord. He was a great man, but more importantly, he was a good man; a gracious, gentle and kind man whose example of charity and compassion, and gentle leadership, will be his lasting legacy.
May Almighty God open wide the gates of heaven to Pope Benedict and grant him a blessed reward of eternal peace and joy in the company of the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, and with all the saints and angels in the kingdom of
Pope Francis has accepted the formal resignation and retirement of Bishop Robert C. Evans. We wish him well in his retirement, and may God Bless him with healthiness, happiness, and holiness. Ad multos annos
Bishop Evans, 75, was appointed auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Providence by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. As required by the Code of Canon Law, Bishop Evans offered his resignation to the Holy Father on his 75th birthday in September. Bishop Tobin stated:” For almost 50 years now, Bishop Evans has served the Diocese of Providence as a priest and, in the last 13 years, as a bishop. No one knows or loves the Diocese of Providence more than Bishop Evans, and we are all deeply grateful for his ministry.”
The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has appointed Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., as Coadjutor Bishop of Providence with right of succession and has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Robert C. Evans, J.C.L as Auxiliary Bishop of Providence. The changes were publicized today in Washington, D.C., by Archbishop Christophe Pierre, apostolic nuncio to the United States. “I am most grateful to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, for approving my request to have a coadjutor bishop appointed for the Diocese of Providence… And, on behalf of our entire diocesan family, we are grateful to the Diocese of Rockville Centre for sharing with us such a good, talented, and faithful bishop like Bishop Henning,” said Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence, in a statement at a press conference this morning at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. Bishop Henning, 58, currently serves as auxiliary bishop for the Diocese of Rockville Centre in New York. As coadjutor, he will assist Bishop Thomas J. Tobin much like an auxiliary bishop. Still, he will automatically succeed Bishop Tobin as the next Bishop of Providence whenever the Holy Father accepts the latter’s resignation. “I am grateful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for the call to serve as coadjutor bishop in the Diocese of Providence,” said Bishop Henning at the press conference, “I give thanks for the opportunity to learn from Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, and I give thanks for the priestly and episcopal witness of Bishop Robert Evans who retires today.”
Biography Bishop Henning
On June 8, 2018, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States announced that Pope Francis had appointed Rev. Msgr. Richard Garth Henning to be an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. On July 24, 2018 in St. Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre, New York, Most Reverend John O. Barres, Bishop, Diocese of Rockville Centre ordained Bishop-Elect Henning an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Most Reverend William Murphy, Bishop-Emeritus, Diocese of Rockville Centre and Most Reverend Robert Brennan, the Bishop of Brooklyn, were co-consecrators.
Bishop Henning was born in Rockville Centre, New York in 1964 to Richard and Maureen Henning, the first of five siblings. He grew up in Valley Stream receiving the sacraments of Baptism, first Holy Communion, and Confirmation at Holy Name of Mary Parish, where he also attended the parish grammar school. In the summers, Bishop Henning spent a good deal of time on a small island in the Great South Bay where his family has gone for generations. There, he developed a lifelong passion for the water, sailing, boating, and kayaking on the bay.
Bishop Henning attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, New York and counts the Marianists as a major influence in his faith life and commitment to learning. He received a BA and MA in History from St. John’s University, Queens New York and received his training for the priesthood at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington New York. He was ordained in 1992 and served for five years as an associate pastor at the Church of St. Peter of Alcantara, Port Washington. In that assignment, he did extensive pastoral work in the large parish school and ministered to the Spanish-speaking Catholics of that peninsula. In addition to fluency in English and Spanish, Bishop Henning speaks Italian and is able to read French, Greek and Hebrew.
In 1997, Bishop McGann assigned then Father Henning to post-graduate studies in Sacred Scripture. He earned a Licentiate in Biblical Theology at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and a Doctorate in the same from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy.
After his studies, Bishop Henning joined the faculty of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, where he taught scripture for more than ten years. In 2012, as part of the partnership for seminary formation among the Dioceses of Rockville Centre, Brooklyn, and the Archdiocese of New York, then Rev. Msgr. Henning was appointed to lead the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception through its transition to the largest retreat house in the Northeast. The Ordinaries of Rockville Centre, Brooklyn and New York also charged him to establish and lead the Sacred Heart Institute for the ongoing formation of Catholic priests and deacons. Bishop Henning is also noted for his work with international priests serving in the U.S.
Bishop Barres appointed Bishop Henning the Episcopal Vicar for the Central Vicariate of the Diocese of Rockville Centre in September of 2017. Since June of 2021, Bishop Henning has served as the Vicar for Clergy and the Vicar for Pastoral Planning.
Bishop Henning has been active in the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, serving on the Doctrine Committee, the Subcommittee for the Church in Latin America, and as the Chair of the Subcommittee for the Translation of the Sacred Scriptures. Recently, he was appointed Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio.
On Sunday, October 23, 2022, the Most Reverend William D. Byrne, Bishop of Springfield, confirmed fifty-five young adults in their Catholic Faith!
We congratulate them and promise our prayers for them!!
The 5:00 PM Mass of Anticipation moves back to a 4:00 PM start time beginning on Saturday, November 5, 2022 Also, Saturday Afternoon Confessions move from a 4:00 PM start time to 3:00 PM on Saturday, November 5, 2022
This schedule is in effect until the first Saturday of April 2023
The 5:00 PM Sunday Evening Mass resumes this Sunday, October 2, 2022, and continues through May 2023.
Join us if you haven’t gone to Mass yet today!
See You in September Raffle Winners
First Prize -$5,000
Jerry O’Connell
Second Prize -$2,500
Rocky Ruggiero
Third Prize -$1,000
Stephan Toljan
Fourth Prize -$1000
Robert & Bridget Block
Fifth Prize -$500
Francine Hannon
Over 600 parishioners gathered on Friday, September 30, 2022 to celebrate the OLM Mercy Feast Week celebration of Oktoberfest. Great German food, beer and music! Great fun for all!
Labor Day 2022 Statement Focuses on
Promoting the Welfare of Working Families
WASHINGTON - As Americans prepare to mark Labor Day on September 5, Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development, issued an annual reflection on the world of work and the importance of upholding the dignity of all laborers.
“The Church often looks at the well-being of society through the lens of the well-being of the family. ”
“This Labor Day, let us reflect on how we can build a more just economy by promoting the welfare of working families through both charitable works and through advocacy for improved policies such as expanding the Child Tax Credit and passing the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Advancing these two policies would have a profound impact on family stability, especially for families who are financially vulnerable,” said Archbishop Coakley.
In considering the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision to reverse Roe v. Wade, he continued, “This unique moment necessitates a society and an economy that supports marriages, families, and women; it demands that all of us reach across political aisles and work diligently to reframe social policies in ways that are pro-woman, pro-family, pro-worker and, thus, authentically pro-life.”
Archbishop Coakley’s full Labor Day statement is available here
