Dear Parishioners, As I announced last week, I have big news to share: Bishop Henning has asked me to study Canon Law at Catholic University of America. For the next four years, during the months of June and July, I will be in Washington D.C. taking courses to complete the degree. There are at least two reasons for this decision: First, we need priests who know Canon Law and can assist with Church law issues regarding marriages and annulments. Given the shortage of priests, we will need to wear multiple hats going forward. Second, since I already have a licentiate degree in theology, I can complete the degree for Canon Law in a shorter length of time. All that having been said, I want everyone to know that I am still pastor of St. Teresa Parish and School. As part of this process I wanted to make sure that I would continue serving you and the parish. This is not me leaving the parish. I will still be in regular contact during the months of June and July. I am a hard priest to get rid of! Click the title to read more.
Dear Parishioners, This weekend we welcome our summer seminarian Mr. Vincent “Jay” Zizza. Jay comes to us from Narragansett, RI. He grew up going to Christ the King Parish. He began life with a passion for science, which then developed into a passion for theology while at Bishop Hendricken High School. He attended Providence College and majored in Theology and English. While at Providence College he served as an Intercessory Prayer Minister. Through this position he was influenced by the time spent praying for others, reflecting on the saints, and speaking with the Dominican Friars. He then discerned a vocation to the priesthood and entered the seminary in fall 2020 as a pre-theologian at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Providence, Rhode Island. He is currently going into Second-Theology at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts. He loves swimming, running, playing ultimate frisbee, and playing guitar. Click the title to read more.
Dear Parishioners, This Thursday we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord into Heaven. We celebrate that 40 days after his resurrection he ascended. I fear we can get this feast day wrong; that is, we can think of today as the Lord’s departure, as his definitive parting from us. After some 33 years of walking this earth, performing his miracles, founding the church, establishing the sacraments, today, in which he ascends into heaven, we could think of as his leaving us. 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. Next weekend we celebrate the reception of First Holy Communion by our second graders. I want to thank our Director of Religious Education, Lindsey Rutowski, our teachers and aids: Jaqueline Allard, Francesca Facenda, and Jessica Hanley for all of their work preparing these children. Click the title to read more.