Rhode Island Catholic

Words of the clergy and the voice of the laity are essential to authentic Church life

In the depths of the lower library at the former Our Lady of Providence Seminary at Warwick Neck was a book entitled, “The Thirteenth: Greatest of Centuries.” The hefty tome was authored … more

9/29/22

Standing is an expression of unity in Christ

When the Ukrainian invasion by Russia first occurred six months ago, the prayers of many rightfully begged God for a swift and safe resolution to this unhappy conflict. The neighborhood Ukrainian … more

9/22/22

Love takes many forms in the Christian life

The Old Testament Book of Tobit is a fanciful tale of Jewish life about two hundred years before Christ. Prayers, psalms, and aphorisms blend a chilling narrative about persecution with a charming … more

9/15/22

At Masses on September 17-18, our parish will join others throughout the Diocese in a special second collection in support of the Senior Priest Retirement Fund. The collection is also our way of saying “thank you” for that service. Please consider a generous donation in support of our senior priests. To learn how this fund benefits senior priests or to make an online donation, please visit www.srpriestri.com. Thank you for your support of this worthy endeavor.

A retired priest’s ministry is never done

The Catholic people of Rhode Island have annually displayed great generosity toward the retired priests of the diocese. Last year a total of $268,000 was donated by parishioners to the Senior … more

9/8/22

Working in the same vineyard of the Lord

Sometime ago this e-mail message was received at St. Ambrose Church in Albion where I have been helping with week-end Masses since retirement. The communication reads: “To whom it may concern: … more

8/25/22

It’s time for us to dust off our Bibles

The scriptural commentary on the New Testament found in the authorized New American Bible suggests that the Magnificat, traditionally considered to be Mary’s hymn of praise in response to her … more

8/11/22

Keep the Eucharist at the center of your life

Another servant of God canonized this past Spring was Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916). He was an heir, a soldier, a roué, a geographer, a monk and a hermit. St. Charles is an … more

7/28/22

Finding Mary and Martha throughout Church history

According to the First Official Directory and Information Guide for the Diocese of Providence (1953), the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (PM) staffed St. Ambrose school in Albion, St. Vincent … more

7/14/22

It’s time for Christians to ‘get a move on’

Josef Ratzinger, later known to the world as Pope Benedict XVI, was born at 4:30am on Holy Saturday, April 28, 1927. Later that same morning, at 8:30am, the future pontiff’s father took the … more

6/30/22

The Spirit of the Lord is upon the Diocese of Providence

Worshipers who joyously and gratefully gather at the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul this coming weekend to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Diocese of Providence will notice … more

6/23/22

Continuing Christ’s work of redemption

The taking of the Blessed Cup at a Catholic Mass is just as important to the full meaning of the sacrament as the reception of the Sacred Host. The Body must be eaten and the Blood must be drunk, at … more

6/16/22

Christ’s unity with the Spirit parallels his unity with the Father

Probably the most often repeated words within the Christian community are: “In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Every liturgical celebration and each pious … more

6/9/22

Those who preach the Gospel must live out its message

Little did Adam and Eve think that their initial disobedience would have worldwide repercussions. First, their son Cain sadly follows their bad example and slays his brother Abel out of envy. Then, … more

6/2/22

All are called to share the Good News of salvation

Undoubtedly one of the happiest decisions of the Second Vatican Council was the restoration of the diaconate to favorable status within Catholic parish life. The Diocese of Providence recently … more

5/26/22

Faith must always take precedence over works

Certainly, the longest running feud within the Judaeo-Christian tradition is the struggle between faith and works. The first generation of Christians inherited from their Jewish ancestors a tendency … more

5/19/22

We must prove ourselves as Christians

The most recognizable emblem of Christianity is indeed the Cross. Church steeples, Catholic sanctuaries, and parish graveyards testify to Calvary’s solemn instrument of torture. The Cross holds … more

5/12/22

Now is the time to recognize the charisms, gifts and insights of all peoples

From the days of Pope Pius IX, in the mid-nineteenth century, through the brief papacy of Pope St. John XXIII, mid-twentieth century, Roman Catholicism was, indeed, a centralized establishment. Pius … more

5/5/22

The Church is a community rooted in scripture

A very joyous St. John shares a moment of personal satisfaction when his Book of Revelations records the worldwide praise accorded to God at the end of time: “Then I heard every creature in … more

4/28/22

A lively faith is evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit

Although the Church’s official calendar follows St. Luke’s lead and celebrates the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the infant Church on Pentecost Sunday, this coming Sunday’s … more

4/21/22

Enjoying the fruits of the Resurrection

Cole Porter’s 1935 Broadway musical “Anything Goes” featured a snappy number entitled, “You’re the Top!” A suitor compares his beloved to all the celebrated … more

4/14/22