Rhode Island Catholic

Bishop celebrates Rite of Candidacy for two Rhode Island seminarians

In his final public Mass as the eighth Bishop of Providence, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin officiated the Rite of Candidacy at St. John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, for Diocese of Providence … more

5/4/23

Robert “Rocket” McCarthy

WESTPORT, Mass. — Robert “Rocket” McCarthy, 78, of Westport, peacefully passed away on Saturday, April 29, 2023 at Massachusetts General Hospital. He was the beloved husband of … more

5/4/23

Diocese announces ordination of Jairon Gabriel Olmos Rivera to Sacred Order of the Diaconate

PROVIDENCE — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has announced that on Saturday, May 13, the Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., will ordain Jairon Gabriel Olmos Rivera, 31, to the … more

5/4/23

Statement of Bishop Thomas J. Tobin on the Occasion of His Retirement from Active Ministry

May 1, 2023 I have fought the fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. (2 Tim 4:7) On this day dedicated to St. Joseph the Worker, and as we begin this month dedicated to our … more

5/4/23

Special Event Listings for 05.04.23

May breakfast at St. Anthony Church NORTH PROVIDENCE — The Holy Name Society at St. Anthony Church will hold a May breakfast on Saturday, May 6 from 8 -11 a.m. and Sunday, May 7 from 8 a.m. … more

5/4/23

Above, Bishop Henning presents a special gift to jubilarians, including Bishop Evans, at left, and Father McKenna, at right.

Jubilarians celebrated for their years of dedicated service to priesthood

During the annual Priests Study Day at the Crowne Plaza, Warwick, held on May 1, Bishop Richard G. Henning honored the 2023 Reverend Jubilarians, with those in attendance pictured at top. 25 … more

5/4/23

R.I. Press Association honors Rhode Island Catholic at annual awards

WARWICK — Rhode Island Catholic staff were honored on Friday, April 28, at the Rhode Island Press Association’s annual awards banquet, which was held at Chelo’s on the Waterfront in … more

5/4/23

Catholic Chaplaincy Coordinator Martha Paone has retired from the ACI after 25 years of service.

ACI dedicates chapel to Martha Paone on her retirement

CRANSTON — Longtime Catholic Chaplaincy Coordinator for the Intake Center and the Adult Correctional Institute Martha Paone was honored in a special and lasting way as she retired after more … more

By Cole DeSantis, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 5/4/23

Christopher Sanders named ‘Man of the Year’ at Bishop Hendricken

WARWICK — Christopher Sanders ‘23 has been named Bishop Hendricken High School’s 2023 Man of the Year, the highest honor bestowed on a student. Man of the Year is presented annually … more

5/4/23

Portsmouth Abbey to host private collection of William Congdon artwork in School Gallery

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth Abbey School is proud to present the artwork of Rhode Island abstract artist William Grosvenor Congdon (1912–1998) through an exhibition titled “A … more

5/4/23

First Holy Communion at Saint Margaret

The children of Saint Margaret School and Parish, Rumford, made their First Holy Communion on Sunday, April 30, with Father Jeremy J. Rodrigues, S.T.L., pastor. If your child made their first … more

5/4/23

The consecration to Mary is worth doing badly

I used to be spiritually allergic to Marian devotion. Even though I grew up saying the rosary with my family, I never really understood the idea of being devoted to Mary, specifically. Asking saints … more

5/4/23

The Catholic crisis over ‘us’

Cambridge historian Richard Rex has provocatively proposed that Catholicism today is embroiled in the third great crisis of its bimillennial history. The first crisis was the fierce, Church-dividing … more

5/4/23

The Center of Sacrifice

The ancient Jews had two places of prayer. After the Hebrew Scriptures were translated into Greek by the seventy scholars in Alexandria, Egypt, the synagogue system grew steadily throughout the … more

5/4/23

Pope Francis Accepts Retirement of Bishop Thomas J. Tobin; Bishop Richard G. Henning Succeeds Him as Bishop of Providence

PROVIDENCE. — The Holy Father, Pope Francis, has accepted the resignation of Most Reverend Thomas J. Tobin, D.D., from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Providence. As required by the … more

5/1/23

Catholic Charity Appeal reaches 80% of its goal

PROVIDENCE — With two months left to go in the 2023 Catholic Charity Appeal, the annual collection has reached 80% of its goal to raise $7 million.During the Lenten season, pastors and laity … more

BY RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 4/27/23

A plaque was installed and blessed in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, honoring years of dedicated support for the local church by Barbara Papitto and her late husband Ralph, a successful local businessman. Their support includes a $4.5 million donation to the cathedral enabling the recent restoration of its towers to be completed. Pictured, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, Barbara Papitto and Msgr. Anthony Mancini, rector of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.

Bishop Tobin blesses plaque in gratitude of Papittos’ support

PROVIDENCE — Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, on Monday morning, blessed a plaque affixed to the back wall of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul dedicated to Barbara and her late husbad Ralph Papitto, … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 4/27/23

Improving the educational climate in Rhode Island

The current government-run model of a “one size fits all” educational system in Rhode Island is no longer working. In his April 7, 2023 article in the Boston Globe, reporter Dan McGowan … more

4/27/23

Pacem in Terris after 60 years

On April 11, 1963, John XXIII issued the encyclical Pacem in Terris, a powerful call for a world in which there were neither victims nor executioners that cemented the pontiff’s reputation as … more

4/27/23

The Good Shepherd has come to lead us to eternal life

Modern believers have probably acquired more information about Biblical shepherds from Christmas cards than from the Scriptures themselves. Generally thought to be gentle, kindly, caring men, … more

4/27/23