News - June 2024 RSS Feed

Rev. Mr. Jairon Olmos Rivera is looking forward to a beautiful life of ministry as new priest of the Diocese of Providence! (PHOTO: RICK SNIZEK)

Rev. Mr. Joseph Brodeur is looking forward to a beautiful life of ministry as a new priest of the Diocese of Providence! (PHOTO: COLE DESANTIS)

In preparation for the ordinations of Rev. Mr. Joseph Brodeur and Rev. Mr. Jairon Olmos Rivera, we will gather the night before ordination for a Holy Hour for Vocations, Most Rev. Richard G. Henning, Bishop of Providence, presiding, and Rev. Christopher J. Murphy, Rector of Seminary of Our Lady of Providence and Director of Pre-Ordination Formation for the Diocese of Providence, Homilist, on Fri., June 28 at 7 p.m. in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence. All are welcome!

Bishop Richard G. Henning will celebrate Holy Mass with the ordination of Rev. Mr. Joseph Brodeur and Rev. Mr. Jairon Olmos Rivera to the Sacred Priesthood on Sat., June 29 at 10 a.m. in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence. All are welcome! Can't join us in the Cathedral? Watch the livestream on the Diocese of Providence YouTube channel, youtube.com/DioceseofProvidenceRI.

The following clergy appointments have been made within the Diocese of Providence.

Deacon Jairon Olmos Rivera will become Rhode Island's first Dominican priest following his ordination this weekend. See what he had to say to WPRI 12.

Most Reverend Daniel P. Reilly, 96, Bishop-Emeritus of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts, died Tuesday, June 18, 2024. Bishop Reilly’s funeral arrangements are as follows: On Tuesday, June 25, his body will be received at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Worcester, with a brief service at 2 p.m.. Calling hours will then be conducted at St. Paul’s from 2 to 7 p.m.. A Vigil Service will be conducted at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at 11 a.m. His burial will take place later that day at St. Ann’s Cemetery in Cranston, RI.

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 Catholics across the world. In reality, the Catholic Church is a complex organism which exists in communion and in diversity...

By Cole DeSantis, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent - BRISTOL — In spite of the relatively small size of their operation – their priest and retirement home currently houses only 14 retired priests –­ t­he Columban Fathers in Bristol have received what can only be described as a generous and providentially bestowed gift. A recently deceased Catholic in the Diocese of Providence donated a sum of $500,000 to the Columban Fathers to be used for the continued operation of their retirement home. (Photo: Cole DeSantis)

During this extreme heat, the Diocese of Providence's Emmanuel House will remain open during the day through Thursday as a cooling center. Anyone can walk in to the center at 239 Public Street in Providence to escape the heat or receive bottled water.

By EMILY GRANT, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent - CRANSTON — Thousands of pieces of art lined the walls as students Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School, or ICCRS, prepared for their second annual art show on May 22, but that was not the only exciting event happening that day. The students also prepared for a visit from Bishop Richard G. Henning. (Photo: Emily Grant)

At the beginning of June, the American College of Pediatricians (ACP) issued a declaration titled “Doctors Protecting Children.” More than 100 doctors, nurses, therapists and research groups signed the declaration asking major medical institutions to halt Gender-Affirming Care (GAC), an often-used approach for people with gender dysphoria....

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 many single parents or other family members who step in to assist. It is to say that we can and should still hope that each child might have good and loving parents who reflect God’s gift of creating humanity “male and female.”...

By Laura Kilgus, Associate Editor - GREENVILLE — Encouragement, physical and emotional healing, relaxation, joy and companionship: There are an endless list of benefits that three-year-old Georgi, a playful and loving Cavachon therapy pup, brings the students of Saint Philip School on a given day. (PHOTO: Laura Kilgus)

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor - PROVIDENCE — For the third consecutive year, the annual Catholic Charity Appeal in the Diocese of Providence has surpassed 100% of its goal, garnering $7.3 million in pledges so far, and is on pace to reach 105% of its $7 million goal for 2024. In 2022, the Appeal reached 102% of goal, and 105% in 2023.

From Bishop Henning: "Each year in June, the Church observes the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotion was originally proposed by..."

Bishop Henning has made the following appointment...

Students from Mercymount Country Day School in Cumberland visited their neighbors at Mount St. Rita Health Centre to celebrate the Feast of St. Rita. Students joined the residents for Mass, shared prayer cards with the seniors and presented a statue of St. Rita with red roses. (Photo: Laura Kilgus)

PHILADELPHIA — In honor of its 35th anniversary, Partners for Sacred Places — the only national, nonsectarian, nonprofit organization dedicated to the sound stewardship and active community use of America’s older religious properties — held a photo contest with the theme “Sacred Places at the Heart of Communities.” (Photo: Jennifer Barton)

NORTH KINGSTOWN — The Rhode Island Press Association on May 10 presented awards across more than 45 categories to journalists throughout the state for writing, design and photography in its editorial contest for 2023. Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent Jennifer Barton won Third Place in the Religion category for a story she wrote titled “Incorrupt Saints: Who Knew Religion Figures’ Bodies are Preserved?”