February 7, 2021 FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church 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 “View from the Pew” by George W. Reilly Football – Super Bowl -- Religion Sports, or more specifically football, is generally on everyone’s mind this weekend with the arrival of Super Bowl LV (55) on Sunday, February 7. Have you ever wondered if any of those fine, physical male specimens at the top of their form are Catholics? I thought I would highlight some of the best examples of Catholic football athletes that achieved Super Bowl status, but due to space restraints, I can only give you five of my top picks. Perhaps you have seen these players in Super Bowl action, but now you know that we share something special with them – our faith. It does affect their choices in life and how they conduct themselves, so read on. Bob Griese - Quarterback Bob Griese led the Miami Dolphins to nine winning seasons in the 1970s and was the field general for the celebrated 1972 Dolphin team that went 17-0 and played in three consecutive Super Bowl games. In Su- per Bowl VI, the Dolphins lost to Roger Staubach’s Cowboys, 24-3. The next year, Miami’s perfect season, Griese was eight for 11 with one touchdown as the Dolphins prevailed over the Washington Redskins, 14-7. The following January, Griese completed six of his seven passes in a 24-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. Miami’s head coach of that era, Don Shula, a devout Catholic himself, called Griese “the most unselfish player I have ever been around.” Bob finished his 11-year pro career in 2008 playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Having lost his first wife to cancer in 1988, Griese has raised funds for Judi’s House, an outreach for grieving children founded by his son. Reportedly both Bob and his son Brian are strong Catholics with devotion to praying the rosary. Ed McCaffrey - McCaffrey played professional football for 13 years and was three-for-three in his Super Bowls. In Su- per Bowl XXIX, he caught only a single pass for five yards in the 49ers victory over the San Diego Chargers, 49-26. He was a major factor, however, in the Denver Broncos’ back-to-back Super Bowl victories in 1998 and 1999. In 1998, he was Denver’s leading receiver with 45 yards on two catches, including a 36-yard gainer, as the Broncos topped the Green Bay Packers 31-24. A year later, he caught five passes for 72 yards as Denver triumphed over the Atlanta Falcons 34-19. Ed and his wife, Lisa, have been active in Catholic Charities in the Denver archdiocese. Citing the couple’s charitable work, strong faith, and dedication to family life, Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver presented the McCaffreys with the J. Francis Cardinal Stafford Award for Justice and Charity saying, “They give a marvelous witness to families.” Ed also is involved now with the McCaffrey Family Foundation, which assists children with special educational and medical needs in Colorado. Mark Bavaro - A University of Notre Dame graduate, Bavaro was a tight end who could catch a pass as well as throw a block. In his six NFL seasons with the New York Giants, he set many team records and won two Super Bowl rings. The first was in the 1987 Super Bowl against Denver and four years later defeating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV, 20- 19. Bavaro is known for his Catholic faith. During and after his NFL career, Bavaro has been highly active as a member of Life Athletes, a pro-life, pro-abstinence group. Among the pictures on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s NFL preview issue for the 1987 season was a photo of Bavaro doing his trademark touchdown celebration -- genuflecting in the end zone and making the sign of the cross. Brett Favre - After a spectacular comeback year that saw the Green Bay Packers turn their poor 2006 season into a divi- sion-winning 13-3 record in 2007, Brett Favre seemed poised to lead his team to another Super Bowl appearance. A loss to the New York Giants, the eventual NFC champion, ended that dream season. The durable quarterback led the Pack- ers to a Super Bowl victory in 1997 as they defeated the New England Patriots 35-21. Oh yeah, I remember that one! The Favres were members of St. Agnes Parish in Green Bay during football season and St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in Hattiesburg, Miss., during the off-season. Brett established the Brett Favre Fourward Foundation in 1996 and has do- nated more than $2 million to charities for disadvantaged and underprivileged children in his home state of Mississippi as well as to those in his adopted state of Wisconsin. Roger Staubach - Roger Staubach took over as quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys in 1971 and ran off 10 consecutive victories including a 24-3 rout of the Miami Dolphins in Super Bowl VI. He stayed with the Cowboys through the 1979 season and was a six-time Pro Bowl selection. During those years, he would lead Dallas to three more Super Bowl ap- pearances, winning in 1978 over the Denver Broncos, 27-10, in Super Bowl XII, but losing twice to the Pittsburgh Steel- ers in Super Bowl XI (21-17) and Super Bowl XIII (35-31). Staubach’s Catholic faith was evident in one of the best highlight reel plays in NFL history. In a 1975 playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings, he threw a 50-yard bomb to receiver Drew Pearson in the final seconds to win the game, 17-14. Interviewed after the game, Staubach shared that he had said a Hail Mary just before he threw the ball. From that point onward, any long desperation pass in an attempt to score in a game’s final seconds would commonly be re- ferred to as a “Hail Mary pass.” Just like Doug Flutey. Religion does matter, doesn’t it! Stay warm and healthy and enjoy Sunday’s game. OUR LADY OF GRACE RELIGIOUS EDUCATION February Mass Schedule 2021 CLASS SCHEDULE FOR FEBRU- DATE TIME NAME ARY Group 1 ( Grades 1 through 4) 1 8:00 Dennis J. Alpaio 3 8:00 Patricia Mc Cahey February 14 Home Session Anthony Spremulli, February 21 In Class Session 6 4:00 John Spremulli February 28 Home Session Louis Spremulli Chiar- amonte Group 2 (Grades 5 through 8) Jack Oliver February 14 In Class Session Andrew Baynes & Bry- February 21 Home Session 7 8:30 an Baynes February 28 In Class Session Michael Sr. & Angela 10:30 Capabianco Michael Capabianco Jr. 8 8:00 Claire Letourneau 10 8:00 Mary Mancini Michael & Lillian Ce- 13 4:00 rullo 14 8:30 William Gallagher 10:30 Jesse Gomez 16 8:00 Elaine Palleschi Ann & Salvatore De 17 8:00 Louise 20 4:00 Johanne Polisena 21 8:30 Frances Grasso 10:30 Anna N. D'Acchioli 23 8:00 Antonetta Grande 27 4:00 Anna Carbone Rose Argente & Felix 28 10:30 Argente ___________ 4 PM 8:30 AM 10:30 AM 6th/7th J. Mancini B. Rivelli S. Lemoi Mancini C. Richard G. Marciano 13th/14th V. Winsor L. Stadelbauer R. Poli J. Pietrantonio M.S. Andreozzi J. LaSalandra 20th/21st A. Broccoli G. Halliwell S. Mansolillo DiSanto B. Rivelli P. Gondreau 27th/28th R. Ventetuolo J. Parisi R. Cola ___________ 4 PM 8:30 AM 10:30 AM 6th/7th A. Aiello J. Parisi P. Gondreau 13th/14th L. Buono D. Buffi R. Cola 20th/21st A.M. Fiorillo R. Parascandolo L. Mansolillo 27th/28th J. Carbone J. Raposa S. Lemoi ___________ 4 PM 8:30 AM 10:30 AM_________ 6th/7th M. Colardo K. Bonetti B. Bentley M. Colardo K. Bonetti J. Clark 13th/14th N. Broccoli B. Bentley M. Coalrdo A. Broccoli J. Grossi M. Colarado 20th/21st C. DiSanto G. Halliwell B. Winsor DiSanto I. Halliwell A. Vendetti 27th/28th M. Colardo V. Winsor K. Bonetti Family Law, Bankruptcy & Estate Planning Jacqueline M. Grasso, Esq. GRASSO LAW OFFICES Attorney at Law 1310 Atwood Ave., Johnston LICENSED IN RI & MA 401-946-4500 or www.grassolaw.net MICHELETTI SCITUATE HARDWARE OIL SERVICE INC. - LOCK & KEY Burner Sales & Service FULL SERVICE LOCKSMITH Thomas G. Gattone, Founder • “Woodlawn” High-Tech Oil Heat Equipment PHONE: 401-647-4900 600 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI Joe Micheletti 401-946-5055 Family Owned and Operated Since 1926 Commercial • Residential 987 Plainfield St., Johnston Anthony W. Hamel, LFD 4th Generation 421-0289 • www.WoodlawnGattone.com [email protected] Automotive • Locks Re-keyed Robert J. Lepore Assistant to the Director facebook.com/michelettioilRI 1381 Smith Street, North Providence Lost Keys Made Michael P. Tasca President • Susan M. Tasca Director www.michelettioil.com 353-2400 32 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, RI One Cherry Hill Rd. | Johnston, RI Document Shredding OPEN HOUSE Computer & Hard Drive Destruction Every Thursday 3-4pm Bob Cucino, President/CEO Live Entertainment & Refreshments 15 Green Hill Rd. • Johnston RI 401-943-0522 • www.shredngori.com 401.233.2880 | www.cherryhillbridge.com [email protected] THIS SPACE IS “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends” ONE STOP SHOP - ATTENDING TO ALL OF YOUR NEEDS - HASSLE FREE We handle your claim from start to finish - ALL DISCOUNTS APPLY TO DEDUCTIBLES - FULL MECHANICAL (401) 437-8444 | 775 Hartford Avenue • Johnston, RI 02919 SCOTT’S GARAGE LLC.