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Good Shepherd Sunday is the perfect time to pray for our priests, bishops, and all those who shepherd the Lord’s flock! And the purpose of the World Day of Prayer for Vocations is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). We ask you to pray for more vocations, especially to the priesthood and consecrated life. Please pray that more men and women will generously say yes to God’s call in their lives and that their parents will support them.

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor - PROVIDENCE — Catholic theologian, leading public intellectual and author George Weigel, renowned as an author or editor on more than 30 books, including the New York Times bestseller “Witness to Hope” (1999), and its sequel, “The End of the Beginning” (2010), spoke to a group of those in formation for the priesthood at Our Lady of Providence Seminary last Thursday.

Please pray for all those who have made commitments in the consecrated life, and be sure to thank them on their special day. May they continue to be inspired by Jesus Christ and respond generously to God's gift of their vocation. (Image: USCCB)

Meet Thomas, 20 years old and in his second year of formation at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, with a tentative ordination date of June 2030. His journey toward this calling is marked not by dramatic events but by subtle, subconscious inspirations that slowly shaped his heart and mind....

ROME — On January 12, His Excellency John J. Kennedy, Secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith conferred the Ministry of Lector to 32 seminarians, in the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception at the Pontifical North American College, including Alexander S. Richardson from the Diocese of Providence. (Photo: RI Catholic)

God has a plan for each of us! This retreat is for high school seniors, college-aged, and post-college age men interested in or curious about the priesthood. The retreat will be held Friday-Saturday, January 10-11, 2025 at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, Providence. To recommend a man for this retreat or if interested for yourself, please contact Rev. Ryan J. Simas, Director of Vocations, fathersimas@gmail.com or Rev. Ryan W. Connors, Director of Pre-Ordination Formation, rconnors@dpvd.org. To sign up please visit https://catholicpriest.com/vocations-college-retreat/ to complete registration form. Call 401-331-1316 with questions.

The Retirement Fund for Religious helps religious communities care for senior members—today and tomorrow. (Photo: RI Catholic)

Editor’s Note: Rhode Island Catholic will also feature a profile on 140-year-old St. John Seminary, in Brighton, Massachusetts, in an upcoming edition. - By Jennifer Barton, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent - ROME ­­— In September, when colleges in the U.S. have begun their fall semester, a group of young men from across the country acclimate themselves to a new culture and landscape unlike any they had known before. Seminary students at the Pontifical North American College (commonly referred to as the NAC) study the the sacred science of theology — practically underneath the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in the heart of Rome. (PHOTO COURTESY OF FATHER NATHAN J. RICCI)

Your prayers for priestly vocations provide the spiritual support for our seminarians and your donation to the Seminarian Education Fund Collection provides the financial support for their education and formation for the priesthood of Jesus Christ. (Photo: Diocese of Providence)

Click below to watch! Or please consider sharing with any man who you think may be called to the priesthood. More catholicpriest.com.

Priesthood Sunday is a special day set aside to honor priesthood in the United States. It is a day to reflect upon and affirm the role of the priesthood in the life of the Church as a central one. This nationwide event is coordinated and sponsored by the US Council of Serra International. (Photo: Diocese of Providence)

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.

God has a plan for each of us! This retreat is for high school seniors, college, and post-college age men interested in or curious about the priesthood. The retreat will be held Friday-Saturday, January 12-13, 2024 at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence, 485 Mount Pleasant Ave., Providence, RI. Pre-registration required. To recommend a man for this retreat or if interested for yourself, please contact Rev. Ryan J. Simas, Director of Vocations, at 401-331-1316 or rsimas522@icloud.com. (Image: Vocations Office, Diocese of Providence)

Are you discerning the priesthood? Or do you know a young man discerning the priesthood? The Vocations Office is hosting "Frassati," a discernment group for young men ages 17-28 every second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, Providence.

By Laura Kilgus, Associate Editor - PROVIDENCE — The October morning sky is still dark, aside from a few brilliant stars and the street lamp light illuminating the Cathedral Square bricks. It’s early and the Providence city streets are quiet, alarm clocks yet to go off, but the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Word who reside at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul are up and preparing for Mass with the bishop. (Photo: Laura Kilgus)