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So, one evening not too long ago, I was driving along the Wampanoag Trail when I noticed the cars ahead of me, rounding a curve, tapping their brakes and slowing down. I soon knew why. There was a …
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5/23/19
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An important portion of the Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass is the calling down of the Holy Spirit to transform the basic elements of unleavened bread and grape wine into the Sacred Body and Precious …
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5/23/19
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“The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.”
(Mt 28: 16-17)
For a good while now I’ve …
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5/16/19
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Father Gerry Beirne, pastor emeritus of St. Phillip Church, Greenville, once remarked that when he was an active priest he visited the sick; now that he is a retired priest he visits doctors. I can …
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5/16/19
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Especially before and during Pentecost, but on other special occasions as well, our churches echo with the sound of the beautiful and enchanting hymn, Veni, Creator Spiritus. “Come Holy Spirit, …
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5/9/19
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Certainly among the most affectionate of Christian images is the depiction of Jesus Christ as the Good Shepherd. Woolly lambs cozying up to the Savior’s knee and the Master himself embracing a …
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5/9/19
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“The persecution of Christians is today worse than at any time in history,” says Aid to the Church in Need – a papal charity – in its report on oppressed Christians titled “Persecuted and …
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5/9/19
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I saw an interesting survey recently, from the Pew Research Center, that asked respondents to indicate which local news topics they considered to be important for daily life. Topics included things …
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5/2/19
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In a recent letter to the editor of the Valley Breeze weekly newspaper, Lincoln, Rhode Island, physician Paula Carmichael shrewdly describes abortion as a religious issue. A month earlier, Governor …
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Fr. John A. Kiley
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5/2/19
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“Unplanned” is an inspiringly powerful movie that will deeply touch your heart. It will move you to feel uncomfortable, angry, sad, enlightened, encouraged, vindicated and joyful. You’ll …
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4/25/19
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It is surely no coincidence that the very first words out of the mouth of Christ to his chosen disciples gathered in the upper room were, “Peace be with you!” Peace had eluded mankind since Adam …
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4/25/19
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Dear Bishop Tobin: Ever since I was a child I was a skeptic. I had no hope and didn’t believe anything. But now I am ready to be confirmed. It all changed when I started doing service hours and saw …
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4/25/19
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Anytime we stand at the foot of the Cross of Christ we find that we’re not alone. Among others standing there are the Virgin Mary and the Beloved Disciple John. And if we listen attentively we hear …
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4/18/19
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A number of Catholic and Protestant churches in the Woonsocket area have celebrated Lenten Scripture services weekly for a number of years, thanks largely to the inspiration and coordination of the …
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Fr. John A. Kiley
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4/18/19
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After a recent diocesan event, a nice young lady approached me and handed me a little cross, a simple wooden cross with smooth, rounded edges, just a few inches long. She explained that her father …
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4/11/19
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Two enlightening models of the desert/wilderness experience are Blessed Charles deFoucauld, the nineteenth century holy man of the Sahara Dessert, and Father Carlo Carretto, a twentieth century …
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4/11/19
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One of the traditional practices of Catholics is to “give up” things, to fast and abstain from material comforts and personal attachments. Although it should happen throughout the year, …
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4/4/19
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Thirty plus years ago, the U.S. Catholic bishops wrote a very challenging pastoral letter titled “Economic Justice for All.” In their opening statement they prophetically declared, …
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4/4/19
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The English word hermit comes from the Greek meaning desert or uninhabited. St. Paul of Thebes, St. Anthony of the Desert and St. Mary of Egypt were among the first Christians to embrace life as …
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4/4/19
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Perhaps you remember a catchy little song from the 1970s, by the British band 10cc, called “The Things We Do for Love.” The whimsical tune describes some of the crazy, unpredictable things …
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3/28/19
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