May 31, 2020 PENTECOST SUNDAY Our Lady of Grace

A Parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence



OUR LADY OF GRACE CATHOLIC CHURCH 15 George Waterman Road Johnston, Rhode Island 02919 Telephone: (401) 231-2220 Facsimile (401) 231-3905

OURLADYOFGRACERI.ORG

REV. PETER J. GOWER, PASTOR

 

OUR LADY OF GRACE- PARISH DIRECTORY Our Lady of Grace Mass Intentions

Church Address: Saturday, May 30 15 George Waterman Rd Eleanor Rego by Provost Family Johnston, RI 02919 Sunday, May 31 Mailing Address: Guisepina Laorenza (Memorial) 4 Lafayette St Johnston, RI 02919 Monday, June 1 Month’s Mind Mass for Ann Widener by the Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 9 am—3:30 pm Blanton and DiIorio Families Friday-9am—Noon Tuesday, June 2 PARISH WEBSITE For many and holy vocations to the priest- Ourladyofgraceri.org hood in the Diocese of Providence

Wednesday, June 3 PARISH OFFICE For those who are ill, in hospitals, nursing homes or at home. Reverend Peter J. Gower Pastor Friday, June 5 [email protected] For our families, especially troubled families; that every family will be a Holy Family where Jesus dwells. Mrs. Mary Mancini Office Administrator Saturday, June 6 [email protected] Luigi and Anna Grande by Family (401) 231-2220 ext 3 Sunday, June 7 Mr. Quartino Louise Spremulli Chiaramonte, Anthony Building Superintendent Spremulli and John Spremulli by Joe and Eleanor ______Mr. Jeffrey Delgigante

Music Director Please remember that our 2021 Mass Intention Book is open for all your Mrs. Frances DiBiasio prayer intentions. We encourage Funeral Administrator you to book your intentions as (401) 231-7334 early as possible. (401) 451-0359 Weekends book up fast.

OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Mrs. Joanne Burley, Director [email protected] (401) 231-2220 ext 2

Religious Education Office Hours:

Monday—Wednesday 9:00 am until 2:00 pm

Thursday 9:00 am until 1:00 pm We would like to thank our friends at Hartford Wine & Spirits for SOCIAL MEDIA–CONNECT WITH US supporting us in our Pasta take-out supper!! Facebook @olgri2020 Please support Hartford Wine & Spirits and when you do, let them Instagram know Father Pete sent you! olg_ri

   FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK . . .  

 I’d like to take this time to speak to our high school graduates.

 Congratulations on graduating from high school! 

 It is an accomplishment that not everyone can say they have done. Though one chapter of your life is coming to a close, you are at the threshold of something great and wonderful. I know you have probably already made many decisions up to this point in your life, but there are many more coming ahead of you. The next couple of years will greatly influence where you end up in life.

 There are many great lists of advice for high school graduates. I would recommend that you seriously consider my seven pieces of advice for graduating from high school.

 1. Whatever you feel called to do, look at ways to be faithful to God.

 2. Make some plans for your life. Write them down. Tell your friends and your parents. Have a direction that you want to pursue.

 3. Don’t forget to consider your immediate and extended family as people who will be there by your side for the rest of your life. It may be you helping them 20 years from now or them helping you. Either way, the relationship needs to start or become stronger today.

 4. Visiting another country or culture can help open your eyes to a world much bigger than your own. You will realize that other people live differently. That is okay. There is nothing wrong with our differences. You might find better ways to do things when you learn about other cultures.

 5. Think of this; if a good number of people older than you are telling you to avoid something, then it is probably best to avoid it.

 6. My parents always told me, “If in doubt, don’t.” the idea is that if you have any questions as to whether an activity might be right or wrong, then it is probably best to avoid it.

 7.  Keep a good relationship with the God of Creation.

 I also hope you will join us on the evening of Friday, June 5, 2020 from 6:00 pm until 7:00 p.m. to celebrate high school graduations from our Church and from Johnston High School. We have titled the eventOGOD FOR GRADUATES. Everyone will be asked to stay in their cars and hear the live event over station FM 90.1 and from the bell tower of the Church. I, along with Mayor Polisena, the Johnston Superintendent of Schools and others will address the graduates. Additionally, Alex Jackson, a performer on the XFactor will perform live. 

 HAPPY GRADUATION 2020 !!

 

View from the Pew by George W. Reilly

We celebrated Memorial Day last Monday and, while sitting at home still in quarantine, I wondered about the significance of that national holiday. Why are human beings willing to fight and die for freedom? As Americans, Memorial Day annually asks us to remember those who died in the service of our country.

But as Catholic Americans, we should also reflect on the meaning of true free- dom.

One reason why we human beings are willing to fight and die for freedom is be- cause the need for freedom is imprinted onto our very nature. By virtue of our ability to reason and our free will, we are impelled to seek truth, especially reli- gious truth.

Catholics rightly honor our fallen brothers and sisters, those who have died so that we may continue to choose freedom. But we should also remember our Church, which has defended the dignity and freedom of the human person for over two thousand years.

Like many of you on Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to summer, my wife the chef was cooking on the outdoor grill. We were having some chilled summer beverages and soaking up some much-needed sunshine and Vitamin D in the outdoors.

But, Memorial Day is so much more than just the start to the summer season. Personally, I think it is one government holiday that we can consider partly through our lens as Catholics, not just Americans.

First and foremost, we pray for the dead. After all, Memorial Day was originally established to honor Civil War dead. Unfortunately, we have had many more wars since then, and many more dead to remember. Has anyone in your family perished during a war? Search through your family tree and find out. Pray for your deceased family members, and if you have not lost anyone in conflict, pray for the many others who rest in peace.

Visit the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery in Exeter (about a half-hour from Johnston) to say prayers for our deceased veterans. Or make a short trip over to St. Ann Cemetery in Cranston and look for plots marked with a government- issued headstone or medallion. These markers are offered to all veterans so you will have to read the inscriptions to learn whether the deceased died while serving or afterwards.

Here’s a different idea. We see small vignettes of our Catholic in the par- ish bulletin each week, but let’s kick that up a notch. Learn about soldier saints from throughout Church history.

St. the , (my personal favorite) St. George, St. Sebastian, St. Martin of Tours, St. , and St. Ignatius of Loyola are a few of the more popular. Potamitus Press (https://potamitis.us/) has a wonderful book called “Warrior Saints” which shares stories of several popular saints.

 

View from the Pew by George W. Reilly continued . . .

Other soldier saints include King Louis IX, who died while on his Second Crusade, and St. the Black who was killed as he fought off monastery in- vaders. Let your children know soldiers have been a part of church history from the beginning and still are today.

There are currently two military being considered for sainthood in the U.S.: Venerable Fr. Emil Kapaun, who died while interned at a Chinese POW camp, and Father Vincent Capodanno who died giving last rites to wounded Marines in Vietnam. Several other heroic priests, including a few who died in battle, are described in this article online at https:// www.mentalfloss.com/article/29645/8-heroic-us-military-chaplains.

Finally, you might want to learn about Fr. Emil Kapaun, a priest from Kansas and a U.S. Army serving in the 1940s and 1950s. During the he ministered to soldiers in battle, was captured, spent seven months in prison and died on May 23, 1951. In 2013, he posthumously received the , and the Church is currently considering him for sainthood. In 1993, St. John Paul II declared him a Servant of God.

Take some time (and we do have it now, don’t we?) to read about Fr. Kapaun. For more information, visit FatherKapaun.org or read “The Miracle of Father Ka- paun: Priest, Soldier and Korean War Hero” (Ignatius Press, 2013).

What we remember and honor on Memorial Day is heroic sacrifice. Yes, we re- member all who have served and sacrificed on our behalf, but as we return to the inside of the church for Mass and look up at the crucifix, let us not forget what Jesus was willing to give up for us and the lessons we can learn from that perfect example of sacrifice.. in the meantime, stay healthy, patient, and strong.

______

              Every year for Primavera we can always count of the support of Corrine Cola and her busi- ness! ColaRe’s carries Gifts and Accessories that are both beautiful and tasteful.    We encourage you to stop by ColaRe’s and support Corinne and her business. Tell her Father Pete sent you!  

 

Pentecost Sunday  The Christian holiday ofPentecost (Whitsunday), which is celebrated fifty days after Sunday, commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1N31).   We would like to give a big shout out to the  Pannese Society for all they have done to help the Pentecost is one of the Great Feastsof the Eastern Orthodox Church, aSolemnityin the Roman Rite of church and for their generous contributions to our the Catholic Church, aFestivalin the Lutheran Food Pantry. We can always count on the support Churches, and aPrincipal Feastin the Anglican Com- of the Pannese Society. Thank you! munion. Many Christian denominations provide a spe- cial liturgy for this holy celebration.   Seven Saints for Pentecost The celebrations may depict symbols of the Holy  Spirit, such as the dove or flames, symbols of the As the Feast of Pentecost approaches, here are seven saints church such as’s Arkand thePomegranate.  to help you deepen your devotion to the Holy Spirit.    Red flowers at the altar/preaching area, and red  John Paul II flowering plants such asgeraniumsaround the  St. Vincent Pallotti church are also typical decorations for Pentecost  St. John Vianney masses/services. These symbolize the renewal of  St. Philip Neri life, the coming of the warmth of summer, and the  St. of Milan growth of the church at and from the first Pente-  St. Basil the Great cost   The Mary  ______ As Pentecost closes the Easter Season in the Roman  Catholic Church, the dismissal with the double alle- “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a luia is sung at the end of Mass. The Paschal Candle mighty wind coming, and it filled the whole house where they is removed from the sanctuary at the end of the were sitting. And there appeared to them parted tongues as day. In the Roman Catholic Church,Veni Sancte it were of fire, and it sat upon every one of them: And they Spiritusis thesequence hymnfor the Day of Pente- were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they began to speak cost. This has been translated into many languages with other tongues, according as the Holy Ghost gave them and is sung in many denominations today. As an invo- to speak.”[Acts 2:24]  cation of the Holy Spirit,Veni Creator Spiritusis sung during liturgical celebrations on the feast of  Pentecost.   InItalyit was customary to scatterrosepetals from the ceiling of the churches to recall the mira- cle of the fiery tongues; hence inSicilyand else- where in Italy Whitsunday is calledPasqua rosatum. TheItaliannamePasqua rossacomes from the red colors of the vestments used on Whitsunday.  According to legend,King Arthuralways gathered all his knights at the round table for a feast and a quest on Pentecost.  The typical image of Pentecost in the West is that of theVirgin Maryseated centrally and prominently among the disciples with flames resting on the crowns of their heads. Occasionally, parting clouds suggesting the action of the "mighty wind",rays of light and the Dove are also depicted.   ______   Do not be afraid of holiness, do not be afraid to aim high, to be loved and purified by God, do not let yourself be afraid to be guided by the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis

 

What’s going on in the Parish . . . Father’s Day Raffle

Bible camp will be going on as sched- The Father’s Day Raffle includes uled (July 13-July 17). Limiting the 4 prizes. number of campers between 35-40. As of now, we have 14 campers registered. First Prize-A Bulova Acutron Men’s Please return your registration to bible Watch valued at $950.00. camp ASAP. We look forward to seeing all our campers! Second Prize-A Silver Dollar Ellis Island Commemorative Coin Key Chain. Religious Education registration forms have been mailed to every family. If you Third Prize-A Leather Men’s Bracelet didn’t receive one, or need one (a new made in Italy. student), please call the parish office and we will mail you a form ASAP. Fourth Prize-A Digital CD Micro Sys- tem. Anyone who has a student attending Catholic school, can request tuition as- The donation is $5.00 for 1 ticket sistance. However, each family must and $25.00 for 6 tickets. file a F.A.C.T.S form with their school in order to qualify for assistance from the parish. Tuition Assistance Request You can go online to our website Forms should be returned to the parish at Ourladyofgraceri.org to enter the office no later than May 31. If you need raffle. a form, call the parish office. Instructions: - If you haven’t filled out the form to up- date your address, telephone number Hit on the "Happy Father's Day" button and email, please do so. We are working at our website. Enter your billing in- on updating all of our parishioner rec- formation. Remember - Under the ords. We don’t have email addresses for Comments Section you must write 1 or many parishioners-so please send that 6 ticket (s) for the Father's Day Raffle along to us. Thank you! or “FDR”. If you need any assistance, just call the Rectory Office at (401) Our food pantry cupboards are full! We 231-2220 and we will help you! are so thankful to our very giving pa- rishioners for helping us help others. We will call the Raffle Winners on Fri- Please call the Parish Office at 231-2220 day, June 19th! to tell us when you would like to come and pick up a box of food. Everyone  needs help from time to time and we want to help you!

The Our Lady of Grace Memorial Golf Tournament in honor of Fred Bruno has been postponed to Monday, October 5, 2020. We are so lucky to have received a great date in early October at the beautiful Rhode Island Country Club. If you’d like to join us, call the parish of- fice and we will send you a registration form.

PLEASE REMEMBER that the Club 100 payments are due now!!

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