Karen Pinch Serves in Multiple Ways

JUNE 2019 Karen Pinch Serves in Multiple Ways “As the Father has sent me, even so I By Cherie C. Binns send you.” And when Karen Pinch and her husband Steve he said this He have been long- breathed on them and time Christ the said, “Receive the King members and were married by Father Joseph Creedon. Their son Holy Spirit.” Ryan, 23, and daughter Emily, 19, were both raised in the faith at CTK. JOHN 20:22-23 Steve is a Union Fire District Chief and also works full time as a guidance counselor in the Narragansett School District. Karen has been an occasional writer for the Mustard Seed and also did a stint as a crossing guard for Religious Formation classes on Sunday and Young People. I met with Karen mornings. at her offi ce in Richmond, where she In the last issue, Karen was has served as Town Administrator featured in the “Did You Know?” since a week after retiring from the section and in this issue, we will fi nd Rhode Island State Police in the out more about her appointment to Spring of 2015. Karen says her then and work on the Diocesan Advisory Board for the Protection of Children (Continued on page 2) ALSO IN THIS ISSUE: Anointing of the Sick does f Meet Sara McCormick, graduating senior at The Prout School and winner not always take place in the of the DAR’s Good Citizen Award (page 5). hospital. See page 3 to read f High school students lead the Liturgy of the Word for fi rst and second how the “last” sacrament is graders (page 7). celebrated in community f Three young parishioners confi rmed in March describe what the sacrament for the living. means to them (page 8). "#(/$%&"012 1 2$3#" OLYHV Karen Pinch of minors. The board is comprised Roberts who has been involved in this (Continued from page 1) of a majority of lay personnel and work since that system was enacted. includes Pinch, as well as a former Roberts states that Bishop Tobin has administrative position with the Rhode Island Attorney General, a removed fi ve individuals from their police seemed to fi t well with the Rhode Island District Court Judge, a offi ce of priest during his time as our needs of the town and was later told retired State Police Major, the Bishop bishop. For more detail, please go to her “resume was the job description” of another Christian denomination in these links: for what she was ultimately hired Rhode Island, and a member of the https://www.providencejournal. to do. The Town of Richmond Episcopal Church. Pinch made clear com/opinion/20180825/my-turn- allows Karen the fl exibility to attend that Bishop Tobin adamantly stresses kevin-obrien-church-in-ri-has-long- meetings at the diocese during work the need for honesty and transparency fought-abuse days as many of her work hours with throughout the process as the https://www.providencejournal. the town extend into the evening Advisory Board strives to determine com/opinion/20190211/my-turn- hours. what constitutes a credible allegation. dennis-j-roberts-ii-diocese-has- In part, because of her two It is important for people to pursued-justice-zealously decades as a Rhode Island State Police know that each and every accusation offi cer, Karen was asked last fall to of sexual abuse that is reported to be a part of the Providence Diocese’s the diocese is immediately reported Advisory Board to Protect Children to both law enforcement at the state and Young People. Karen tells me level and the Attorney General’s 0XVWDUG6HHG a former colleague with the State Offi ce. Law enforcement then Mustard Seed is a quarterly Police and fellow Christ the King has the opportunity to conduct a newsletter of Christ the King Parish parishioner, Kevin O’Brien, was hired thorough investigation that may in Kingston, R.I. Its mission is by the diocese when he retired from lead to conviction and punishment. to celebrate the good stewards in the State Police. He now heads the Kevin O’Brien will then conduct an our midst and to inspire others Diocesan Offi ce of Compliance and internal investigation to determine to deepen their commitment to investigates any and all complaints if there have been any improprieties stewardship. lodged against anyone working or violations of diocesan policies and Co-editors: Kathy Pesta, Marie within the diocesan structure in any procedures. When even a single act White capacity. These complaints include of sexual misconduct is established, not only sexual misconduct but any the offender is removed permanently Production Editor: David Smith potential criminal activity or other from ecclesiastical ministry after Contributors: Cherie Binns, Sara matter requiring investigation. Karen appropriate process with canon law. and Jason Marshall, Kathy Pesta, said, “Having worked with Kevin for Karen provided me with two links Lisa Rodier, Marie White 23 years in the State Police, I have to Providence Journal articles that We need your help in fi nding all the a lot of confi dence in his honesty may further enlighten readers to the people in the parish who do so many and integrity and am convinced process that has been developed in great things. that all matters will be investigated this diocese to prevent or deal with thoroughly and objectively.” abusers. The fi rst one is written by Please contact us at any time: Kathy Pesta When asked about her duties on O’Brien detailing what has been in at [email protected], or place proactively since 1993 in the the board, she told me that currently Marie White they are working with the Bishop in diocese as well as giving a description at [email protected] an advisory capacity to develop and of this committee and its actions publicly release the names of priests and charge. The second is written credibly accused of the sexual abuse by former Attorney General Dennis !"#$%& "((& • )!*( +,-. • + 5!% 35 !*1#6 57 IDLWK THE MISUNDERSTOOD SACRAMENT Anointing of the Sick By Kathy Pesta sacrament. The reception of Penance, the forgiveness of Many of us remember a sacrament we the person’s sins, was the second part. This was followed once called “Extreme Unction,” also by Viaticum, a word meaning “provisions given for a commonly called “The Last Rites.” journey.” Thus, Viaticum is the Eucharist given to a It involved a priest coming into the person before he or she dies as it is the greatest provision hospital room of a dying person while for the person’s fi nal journey from life to death. relatives waited tearfully outside. We Since the 1970s, however, following the reforms knew that inside the room the priest was absolving the of the Second Vatican Council, this sacrament is more person of sin, anointing the person with sacred oils, and, commonly referred to as “Anointing of the Sick.” No if the person were able, giving the person Eucharist. longer is it given only to those near death, but to any Sometimes, the priest came to our homes to administer Catholic facing diffi cult and/or chronic physical and this sacrament. In those days, many Catholics kept a little (Continued on page 4) box in their homes sometimes called Last Rite Kit or Sick Call Kit which contained a crucifi x, candles, and holy oil to be used for the administration of the sacrament. For most, the sacrament was synonymous with death. It was with this thought in mind that my paternal grandmother, who desperately wanted to live to be a hundred so that she could get her picture in the local paper, reacted rather harshly one day with her parish priest. She expected to reach her goal. Longevity ran in her family. In fact, when my grandfather died at 88, she told everyone, “I warned him if he didn’t take care of himself that he’d die young.” So on a Sunday in her ninety-fi fth year when the priest, intending to give her Communion, found her sleeping on the couch, she, fearing he was there to give her the “Last Rites,” opened one eye slowly and said, “Get out of here, Father. I’m not dead yet!” Actually, it was a little more salty than that, but we’ll leave it there. In short, the sacrament we now call Anointing of the Sick was for a long time shrouded in mystery, in silence, and even in fear. The name Extreme Unction came into use in the second part of the twelfth century. “Extreme” referred to the fi nality of life, from the Latin, “in extremis” meaning “at the point of death.” “Unction” is a synonym for “anointing.” So, Extreme Unction was the fi nal anointing for a Catholic after the anointings of Baptism On a Sunday afternoon in April, approximately 60 people and Confi rmation (and Holy Orders for priests). The gathered in church at Christ the King to receive the healing anointing itself was one part of the administration of the grace of Jesus at a special Mass of Anointing. !"#$%& "((& • )!*( +,-. • 4 5!% 35 !*1#6 57 IDLWK member is hit with a serious illness was deeply experienced Anointing of the Sick by Mary as she watched her beloved Son carry his heavy (Continued from page 3) cross. The Second Station is “Jesus Falls the First Time,” emotional challenges. Today, it is sometimes received more reminding us that we, too, will surely fall, but the Fifth than once by those with on-going illnesses as well as by and Sixth Stations, “Simone of Cyrene helps Jesus Carry the elderly.

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