News - The Season of Advent RSS Feed

“Especially during this Advent season, our God is seeking to gather us together and lead us towards heaven. Because heaven is the goal, my friends,” Msgr. Kenney said. “And now with the celebration of Christmas in just a few weeks, we’re going to talk about the incarnation of Jesus coming into our world, the Son of God coming into our lives to change us, to make us more holy, to make us more faithful disciples.” (PHOTOS: LAURA KILGUS)

By Cole DeSantis, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent - PROVIDENCE — The Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul was nearly filled to capacity for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the yearly celebration which represents an important day for both Catholics of Latin-American descent as well as Catholics in the Americas more generally, as it is a remembrance of the first apparition of Our Lady to take place in the Western Hemisphere. (PHOTOS: COLE DESANTIS)

A Child is born to us! A Son is given to us. And He will be our ruler. He will be called, Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. - Psalm 89:2 (Image: USCCB)

"...the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.  For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her.  She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:20-21 (Image: USCCB)

“In saying that Mary is ‘a mother to us in the order of grace’ the [Second Vatican] Council stresses that her spiritual motherhood is not limited to the disciples alone, as though the words spoken by Jesus on Calvary: ‘Woman, behold your son’ (Jn 19:26), required a restrictive interpretation. Indeed, with these words the Crucified One established an intimate relationship between Mary and his beloved disciple, a typological figure of universal scope, intending to offer his Mother as Mother to all mankind.”

All are invited to the upcoming Advent Masses, held December 9-24, at our Catholic Cemeteries, click for schedule of dates, times and locations. (Photo: Diocese of Providence) [Note: schedule updated 12-10-24]

“The promises of the Lord I will sing forever, proclaim your loyalty through all ages.” – Psalm 89:2 (Photo: RI Catholic)

By Jennifer Barton, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent - Nothing rings in the holiday season like Christmas carols. Although stores and radio stations bombard the average person with Christmas music as soon as the calendar turns to November, Catholic churches will not play sacred Christmas songs until December 24. Many of these beloved carols came from Protestant composers, yet some hymns sung at Christmas Masses have Catholic roots. (PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. TERESA SCHOOL)

For December 24, the fourth Sunday of Advent, Mr. Adam Habershaw, Seminarian at St. John's in Boston and parishioner at St. Paul Parish, Cranston, explains "The Nativity Story."

Click for the full schedule.

In observance of Christmas and New Years, the diocesan Chancery Office Building, located at One Cathedral Square, Providence, will be closed Monday, December 23 through Wednesday, January 1, reopening Thursday, January 2, 2025 at 8:30 a.m.

From Rev. Msgr. Albert A. Kenney, S.T.L., Diocesan Administrator - "Come they told me, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum A newborn king to see, pa-rum-pa-pum-pum" Who doesn’t recognize these words taken from the popular Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy?” Thinking about that song brings back childhood memories of my time in elementary school when we had the auditions for the roles in the nativity play. Since I was not blessed with a singing voice, I was hopeful to get one of the acting roles...

“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.” – Matthew 11:4-5 (Photo: RI Catholic)

For the third Sunday of Advent, Rev. Michael Najim, Pastor, St. Philip Parish, Greenville and Vicar for Priests, Diocese of Providence, shares from the Chancery Office Building about the joy and meaning of Gaudete Sunday.

Laura Kilgus, Associate Editor - PROVIDENCE — For the past 20 years, Keep the Heat On has been a lifesaver for thousands upon thousands of Rhode Island households. Since it began in 2005, the program has continued to provide heating assistance to Rhode Islanders who have exhausted all other public and private forms of assistance. Keep the Heat On has contributed nearly $4.4 million of heating assistance to 17,750 Rhode Island families and individuals to help keep warm during the winter. (Photo: Laura Kilgus)

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico as the pregnant Mother of God to Blessed Juan Diego... (Image: USCCB)

Advent news from some of our Catholic Schools! (Photo courtesy of St. Margaret School)

Saturday, December 14 beginning at 10:30 a.m. concluding with the 5 p.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence. The day features speakers Rev. Msgr. Anthony Mancini, Cathedral Rector, and Sister Elizabeth Castro, HMSP. Our theme will be: "Preparing for Christmas." Advance registration required. Click for more! (Photo: Laura Kilgus)

This is a patronal feast day in the United States of America and is observed as a Holy Day of Obligation. Since December 8, 2024 is the Second Sunday of Advent, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is transferred to Monday, December 9 for 2024. The Chancery Office Building located at One Cathedral Square, Providence, will be closed.

"A voice of one crying in the desert, Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths." – Mat 3:1-3 (Photo: RI Catholic)