Dear Parishioners, June is certainly a busy month for the parish and school. Last weekend our parish Knights of Columbus hosted a “Reading of the Declaration of Independence and Discussion of the American Creed.” All around the church hall Knight Robert Masse hung flags from America’s history: from the early days of the revolution to the first stars and stripes. He then delivered his address to those attending. He read the Declaration as if he were proclaiming it to Americans in 1776. After the reading he explained America’s founding principles of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It was an excellent presentation and a reminder of the benefits we enjoy in this country. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners, Even though we are officially in summer, lots of things are happening at our parish. As I announced at Masses a few weeks ago, our parish has once again made our Catholic Charity Appeal goal. As of June 2, 2022, 254 families and/or individuals have pledged a total of $51,578 of our $48,450 goal. Of that amount pledged, $47,275 has been paid. While our goal remained the same this year, the amount pledged and the number of parishioners who donated increased. That’s remarkable considering the difficult economic times our country is experiencing. Of course, when times are tough, those in need suffer the most. I am most grateful for our parish stepping up and helping in these difficult times. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Barely a week later and another terrible incident of gun violence. In light of these and other evil events we keep our focus on the cross and the resurrection. The crucified and risen Christ show us that evil does not get the last word. At the same time, we can pull from the vast resources of Catholic moral theology to strategize how to prevent or mitigate these types of events. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             This past week we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus into Heaven. I remember a song when I was growing up: “God is watching us from a distance.” I would often think of those lyrics in relation to the Ascension. It made me wonder: Why did Jesus leave His apostles? Why didn’t he stay here on earth? In fact, this solemnity seems to put us Christians at a disadvantage. Whereas the Apostles and the early Church had Christ with them, we have Christ from a distance. Yet, the solemnity of the Ascension is meant to tell us the precise opposite: that Christ is with us in an even more intimate way. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             This past week our nation was gripped by news of a mass shooting. Our nation grieves at this news and any acts of violence against the innocent. Confronted by the problem of evil we naturally ask the question: why? The Gospel for this weekend, taken from John’s Gospel gives the answer. The words our Lord speaks are repeated at every Mass after the Our Father and before exchanging the sign of peace: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” These words cut through the grief, sadness, and despair that comes with such news. We learn at every Mass that the peace which Christ brings is unique. His peace does not mean the absence of war or violence. In fact, he says these words on Holy Thursday night; the day before his violent crucifixion. In a word, peace comes even amid violence. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             I have exciting news for our parish. This summer we will host a summer seminarian, Mr. Joseph Brodeur. Bishop Tobin and Fr. Christopher Murphy, rector of Our Lady of Providence Seminary assigned him here for eight weeks. He is currently finishing his second year at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. This will be his first summer assignment after living, learning, and praying in Rome for two consecutive years. My first assignment after my two years in Rome was to St. Pius X parish in Westerly, Rhode Island. There I first met Joseph who was an altar server and a member of the parish youth group (among the many other activities and groups to which he belonged). In God’s providence we have ended up back together; this time with me as a priest and he as a seminarian. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Young boys and girls throughout Catholic parishes in Rhode Island receive their First Holy Communion in the month of May. Dressed in suits and dresses they approach the altar of the Lord for the first time to receive Jesus in the Eucharist. This weekend we celebrated the reception of First Holy Communion by our second graders. I want to thank our Director of Religious Education, Sue Levesque, our teachers and aids: Jaqueline Allard, Kendra Adams, and Kim DeMayo for all of their work preparing these children.

Dear Parishioners,             Last weekend our parish Knights of Columbus hosted a fundraiser for a needed family at our school. Parishioners and school families came to a pasta dinner in our church hall to support Mr. David Montenegro, his wife, and his two children who attend our school. He is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. These donations support his treatment and his family as he is out of work. It was an incredible show of support both from those who attended the dinner, and from those who simply dropped off a donation. It was a wonderful example of the generosity of this parish and school community. Please pray for David and his family that through the skills of surgeons and nurses, God’s healing gifts may be granted to him. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             The joy of Christ’s resurrection continues this weekend. For the past week the Church throughout the world continued to celebrate Easter. The great news of Christ’s triumph over sin and death cannot be contained to a single day. So this past week the prayers and readings at Mass and in the Liturgy of the Hours all focused on the empty tomb and the encounter with the Risen Christ. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Happy Easter! Or in the ancient Greek: Christos Anesti (Christ is Risen). To which we make the response: Alithos Anesti (Truly, He is Risen). Nothing is more important than what we celebrate on Easter. As St. Paul reminds us: If Christ has not been raised, our faith is vain. The Resurrection is central to our faith; sin and death defeated. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Today we celebrate our Lord’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem. Welcomed as king and messiah, only several days later he would be hung on a cross. Five weeks ago, we stood in the church and received ashes. We were reminded of our mortality, our sinfulness, and our need for penance and prayer. Those ashes were the remnant of Palm Sunday branches from last year. This year we once again receive new palm branches. This symbolizes new growth and rebirth. This begs the question: have we experienced new spiritual growth and rebirth these days of Lent, or are the only things new in our lives the palms in our hands? Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Our parish mission was a big success. Fr. Nathan Ricci gave an excellent series of talks on St. Joseph. In particular, he focused on Joseph’s three virtues: fortitude, humility, and chastity. I thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to help our parish this Lent. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners, We are now in the midst of Lent. Very often we call it the “40” of Lent. There is a strong Biblical foundation for observing a 40 day period of more intense prayer, fasting and almsgiving (we should be doing these things year round). The Scriptures are full of the significance of the number 40. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Lent is a time of prayer and sacrifice in union with Christ. Everything we do, we do in imitation of and for Jesus. Like him, during Lent, we pray, fast, and give alms. Almsgiving is one of the three pillars of Lent. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that it is “a witness to fraternal charity and a work of justice pleasing to God.” During Lent, we are asked to focus more intently on almsgiving by donating to the poor and performing acts of charity. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Our first week of Lent is complete. I hope that everyone’s Lenten practices of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are going well. Do not be discouraged if you missed a resolution or two. Often, we are tempted to give up the race to the finish line of Easter if we stumble early (or late). Instead, simply begin again and ask God’s help. Just like the loaves and the fishes, our Lord can multiply our efforts even at the last minute. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners,             Lent has officially begun. If you could not tell I really enjoy the Season of Lent for many reasons. For one, it gives me the motivation to take my spiritual life deeper. I remember when I was in seminary I found putting time aside for study difficult. So I would go and study with my classmates. Studying in the company of others made the act much easier. The Church takes that human need for community and applies it to facets of the spiritual life. Catholics throughout the world for the next several weeks will all be engaged in acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. We do not experience Lent alone and that idea can be a powerful motivator. Click the Title to read more.

Dear Parishioners, This week we begin the Season of Lent. Lent can be an amazing time of year if one observes it properly. It is a time we challenge ourselves to be detached from the things of this world and cling more completely to Jesus. The three main pillars of Lent are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Of course, Lent does not have to be the only time of the year that we practice these three things because they are essential to Christian faith year round. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners, This weekend we begin our part in the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal for the Diocese of Providence. Letters have already been sent out to families of the parish. Once again, the diocese asks us to give both spiritually and materially to help support those in need. While the petition remains the same, the circumstances each year change. Times are most certainly difficult for many. The Appeal exists precisely for times such as these. Through it, we know that our support goes to help the vulnerable and needy. As our Lord reminds us: “Whatever you did for the least of my brethren, you did for me.” This is just a short list of ministries the Appeal supports: Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners, Last weekend we had students from our school speak at all the Masses. It was a chance to hear from them about their good experiences at our school. I would like to take this opportunity to once again speak about something very important to me: the ability for parents and guardians to send their children to the school of their choice. There are many ways to accomplish this (financial aid, scholarships, etc.). The best way to accomplish this would be through the School Choice Movement. This is a national movement which seeks to pass state legislation which would allow parents to apply a portion of their tax dollars to the school they send their child. This could be to a public or a private/Catholic school. There are many reasons to support this movement. Click the title to read more.

Dear Parishioners, I hope that everyone made out it through the snowstorm. We owe a huge thank you to Topper Senn, his son Tad and all of their workers who cleared the parking lots and walkways of the parish. They did an excellent job. You may have even seen Topper driving the backhoe on Newport Avenue clearing away the sidewalk so that funerals could park there. Click the title to read more.