Bishop Richard G. Henning | Rhode Island Catholic

REVIVAL!

As I write these words, I am returning from the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. Over several days, more than 100,000 people visited the Congress with daily gatherings of 50,000. The … more

7/25/24

Faithful Citizenship

American politics have become quite rancorous in recent years and the 2024 election season is shaping up to be another time of deep divisions among parties and candidates. People on all sides will … more

7/9/24

Configured to Christ

Recently a friend asked me to identify the best thing about my first year as the Bishop of Providence. I responded by saying “the priests!” last week in describing the purpose and work of … more

6/27/24

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

In contemporary culture some people misunderstand the nature of the Catholic Church, imagining it as a kind of supranational corporation in which the Holy Father issues the marching orders for … more

6/20/24

The Challenge of Fatherhood

Studies have demonstrated over and again that children have their best opportunity to thrive when they enjoy the blessing of a mother and a father. This is not to lessen the heroic contribution of … more

6/13/24

Put Out Into The Deep

As a child, I spent much of the summertime on or in the waters of the Great South Bay along the south shore of Long Island. I loved crabbing and clamming, swimming and sailing. Because we went as a … more

6/6/24

God is Love

Each year in June, the Church observes the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotion was originally proposed by Father John Eudes in the 1600s and spread far and wide through the … more

5/30/24

Transcendent and Immanent

Transcendent and immanent — these are not words of everyday speech. They are theological words that express a tension found in language about God. Transcendence expresses the sense that God is … more

5/23/24

“A sower went out to sow…”

I would like to express belated best wishes to all of the good mothers and grandmothers of our parishes and schools. I hope that Mother’s Day was a joyful celebration of gratitude to mothers … more

5/16/24

Blessed are You, Lord God of All Creation

“Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of … more

5/9/24

The Fire of Love

On May 4, the Church marks the feast day of St. Florian, a third-century Christian martyr. Florian was a high-ranking officer in the army of the Roman Empire. One of his particular duties was to … more

5/2/24

The Response to Child Sexual Abuse

Child sexual abuse poisons all segments of society - families, schools, churches, community organizations, and health and welfare institutions. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that 1 in 7 … more

4/25/24

God’s ways are mysterious and marvelous

Last week, the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was packed to overflowing for a Mass of Thanksgiving and farewell with Bishop-elect James Ruggieri. At the reception after the Mass, people waited … more

4/18/24

Preventing Child Abuse is a Sacred Task

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month. As we raise awareness around the protection of young people, I would like to share with you my own experiences both here in the Diocese of Providence … more

4/11/24

Divine Mercy is Personal

This coming Sunday concludes the Octave of Easter. The Church celebrates the great feast of Easter for eight days, a number that speaks of the central importance of Easter. In Genesis, God created … more

4/4/24

The Risen Lord walks beside us on our path to eternity

O God You “have conquered death and unlocked for us the path to eternity.” Thus we praise God in the opening prayer of the Mass for the solemnity of Easter. After our 40 days of Lent and … more

3/28/24

The Way of the Lord

In the New Testament, the title used by the text for the Christian community was “the way,” or “the road.” The term Christian would come later and was first applied to the … more

3/21/24

Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done

Is it possible to speak like a Christian but live like an atheist? In the demands and distractions of daily life, is it possible to live much of our day with little thought for God? We may start or … more

3/14/24

Faith is a Verb

During this season of Lent, we practice self-denial, intensify our commitment to prayer and seek spiritual opportunities such as missions or retreats. We confess our sins and engage in works of … more

3/7/24

In Rhode Island, we are bound by ‘two degrees of connection’ rather than separation

I have received much friendly and sometimes amusing advice from longtime residents of Rhode Island. I frequently hear advice about great restaurants and beautiful parks and beaches. Many have … more

2/29/24