In concluding his recent encyclical, The Light of Faith, Pope Francis observes that the faith life of the Christian is not only a journey, as recalled when the nomadic Abraham and Israelites were considered, but the life of faith is also a process of building. more

This weekend the Catholic world will consider two phases of the afterlife. The Solemnity of All Saints on Saturday reminds the faithful of those celebrated and sometimes uncelebrated heroes of the Christian life. The martyrs, monks, missionaries, mentors and married folk who dedicated their lives to Christ both in spirit and in deed are recalled, reverenced and now recruited as intercessors before the face of God. On Sunday, worshippers will recall their own beloved dead who perhaps have gone on to full glory or may still be in need of the Church community’s intercessory prayers to release them from the final residue of sin. Eternity, fully enjoyed by the saints and coveted by the souls in purgatory, should be an equally important part of the Gospel message for those believers still working out their ultimate destiny here on earth. more

When Pope Francis opened the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica to inaugurate the Jubilee Year of Mercy, the local press covered the event with celebratory good humor. However, in one local paper, … more

The Scripture readings at Mass this past weekend reminded us of the power of prayer. It’s an important lesson, for after all, without prayer the Christian life is an empty shell; it has no … more

A young lady recently considered taking the Boy Scouts to court so she could apply for an Eagle Scout award like the one her brother had recently achieved. The girl argued that since the Girl Scouts … more

A few years back, I was travelling to a bishops meeting, dressed in clerical attire, seated next to a very nice young lady who engaged me in conversation. (Usually I avoid talking to people on … more

PROVIDENCE — On Sunday, May 1, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin administered the sacraments of initiation to a series of students in the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program at Providence … more

MIAMI — Reverend Fr. Paul Joseph Bolton, Lt. Col. U.S. Army, 85, retired U.S. Army Chaplain, passed away on Friday, September 23, 2022. Born in Providence, a son of the late James A. Bolton … more

NARRAGANSETT — Kevin P. Masse, 69, of Narragansett, passed away on Monday, Feb. 20, after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was born in Warwick, to his loving parents, the late … more

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is an anti-Catholic hate group, made up of drag queens whose specialty is blasphemy and sacrilege. When it was announced that the “Sisters” were to be … more

Bishop Richard G. Henning kicked off the Diocese of Providence's 2023 "Keep the Heat On" campaign on Nov. 28 at Christ the King Parish in Kingston, where the pastor, Father Jared Costanza, presented … more

The insightful description of sports inscribed above is attributed to the late, great American sports journalist Howard Cosell. It also serves as a perfect introduction to this column about the virtues and vices of the world of sports. more

“The God of peace is never glorified by human violence,” wrote the famous Trappist monk Thomas Merton. more

From St. Martin of Tours ripping his cloak in half to shelter a homeless wanderer through St. Vincent dePaul and his Daughters of Charity rescuing unwanted babies from the streets of Paris right up … more

Jesus must have been pleased upon returning to his home town of Nazareth to find his opening words delivered on a Sabbath at the local synagogue to be well received by his neighbors and … more

I don’t listen to classical music all the time, but sometimes I do, and while driving home recently I heard on the radio a Bach cantata that was inspired by the biblical account of Mary’s … more

WESTERLY — With the joys of Ecclesiastes in mind, which tells us that to everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven, St. Clare Parish, on May 4, hosted the first … more

RUMFORD — Florence D. Depatie, 97, of Rumford, passed away at home in the presence of her family on September 28, 2022. She was the wife of the late Lester J. Depatie Jr., and was the daughter … more

Faith Formation Convocation to be held on March 18 at Bryant UniversitySMITHFIELD — The 2023 Faith Formation Convocation will be held in-person at Bryant University on March 18. This special … more

On first encountering Father Victor B. Galeone at Baltimore’s St. Paul Latin High School in September 1965, my freshman classmates and I didn’t imagine we were meeting the future bishop … more