July 18, 2021 Sixteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time 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

La Madonna OUR LADY OF GRACE- PARISH DIRECTORY Della Difesa Feast Church Address: 15 George Waterman Rd Johnston, RI 02919 Opens at Mailing Address: 4 Lafayette St Johnston, RI 02919 Our Lady of Grace Office Hours: Mon-Thurs 9 am—3:30 pm Friday-9am—Noon Sept. 9-12 PARISH WEBSITE Ourladyofgraceri.org

PARISH OFFICE

Reverend Peter J. Gower Pastor [email protected]

Mr. Joseph Quartino Building Superintendent

Mr. Jeffrey Del Gigante Music Director

Mrs. Frances DiBiasio Funeral Administrator (401) 231-7334 (401) 451-0359

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

SOCIAL MEDIA–CONNECT WITH US

Facebook @olgri2020

Instagram olg_ri

“View from the Pew” by George W. Reilly

The Vatican's Space Observatory Wants To See Stars and Faith Align

I would be willing to bet that you, like me, did not know that the Vatican Church has an institution that does scien- tific research and recently launched a campaign to promote dialogue between faith and , according to a June 6 Twitter post by Sylvia Poggioli.

It is the , located on the grounds of the papal summer residence in Castel Gandolfo, a medie- val town in Alban Hills 15 miles southeast of Rome. The director, Brother Guy Consolmagno, is also proud of the working farm there that provides the Pope at the Vatican with vegetable and dairy products.

Pope Francis, known for his frugality and habit of not taking vacations, decided not to use the papal summer villa, which he considers too luxurious. But he ordered the estate become a museum open to the public.

Ironically, for most of its history, the Catholic Church rejected scientific findings that conflicted with its doctrine. During the Inquisition, for example, it even persecuted scientists such as Galileo Galilei. Four centuries ago, the idea of a heliocentric solar system was so controversial that the Catholic Church classified it as a heresy and warned the Italian astronomer Galileo to abandon it. Also in 1616, the church banned Nicholas Copernicus’ book “On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres,” published in 1543, which contained the theory that the Earth re- volved around the sun.

In the Middle Ages, it became apparent that the Julian calendar, named for Julius Caesar and established in 46 B.C., had accumulated numerous errors. But it was not until 1582 that the Vatican Observatory was born with the reform of the Gregorian calendar (named for Pope Gregory XIII) that, based on observation of the stars, estab- lished fixed dates for religious festivities.

Run by Jesuits, the Observatory moved to this bucolic setting in the 1930s, when light pollution in Rome obstruct- ed celestial observation. One domed building in the papal gardens houses a huge telescope dating from 1891 called Carte du Ciel — map of the sky — and it stands under a curved ceiling that slides open. Consolmagno says, "It was one of about 18 identical telescopes that were set up around the world to photograph the sky, and every national observatory was given its own piece of sky to photograph." He adds, it was "one of the first inter- national projects of ."

A native of , Consolmagno studied physics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, volunteered with the Peace Corps in Africa and taught physics before becoming a Jesuit brother in his 40s. He has been at the Ob- servatory for three decades.

Top scientists teach at the Observatory's summer school. And scientists and space industry leaders have come there for a United Nations-sponsored conference on the ethics and peaceful uses of outer space. It cooperates with NASA on several space missions, and it operates a modern telescope in partnership with the .

"But where we still need to work is with the rest of the world," says the Observatory director, "the people in the pews, especially nowadays. There are too many people in the pews who think you have to choose between sci- ence and faith."

To reach those people, the Observatory recently launched a new website and podcasts exploring issues such as meteorites hitting the Earth or how to live on the moon. An online store sells merchandise and visitors to the website have doubled recently.

As to how the faith vs. science culture wars can be resolved, Consolmagno says what is most important is that he wears a collar and he is a devoutly religious person who also considers himself an "orthodox scientist." "That fact alone shatters the stereotypes," he says.

Consolmagno, asked how the study of the stars interacts with his faith, says astronomy does not provide answers to theological questions, and scripture does not explain science. "But astronomy is the place where I interact with the Creator of the universe, where God sets up the puzzles, and we have a lot of fun solving them together," the director says.

And he believes the recent dark period of the pandemic has weakened the arguments of those who are skeptical of science. "Because people can see science in action, science does not have all the answers," he says. "And yet science is still, with all of its mistakes and with all of its stumbling, is still better than no science."

Club Members Dinner Friday August 27 at 6:30 PM

Summertime Reflection Bishop Paul S. Loverde

As summer begins, we should all take a few moments to reflect upon the meaning of this special God-given season and thank Him for it.

Summer often acts like a Sabbath for the year. God created the world in six days, and rested on the seventh. Likewise, students and people in the work force work diligently through the year, and summertime provides a period of rest and refreshment after long hours of labor. Although work continues through the summer, many use this season to take a much-needed vacation with family and friends.

School is out for students, but they still continue to learn every day. As parents, who are the pri- mary educators of their children, what lessons have you planned for your children this summer? Perhaps the lesson of sharing and loving our neighbors through swimming pool parties? Perhaps the influence of the media on our culture through gathering a group to go to a good movie, and discussing its message and effects on their perceptions? Perhaps taking care of the less fortunate through involvement in a local charity or soup kitchen? Perhaps helping your children to delve deeper into their faith through summer Bible-school sessions, or inviting local children over to have mini catechism lessons which are fun as well as instructive?

And what about those of us who are not children? Are we not called to continue to form our- selves in some way over the summer? We can find many ways to continue to grow in this less stressful and restful time of year. We can grow in our appreciation of God’s beauty through visit- ing art exhibits, parks and reserves, or boating on one of the many area lakes and rivers. We can grow in our love of neighbor through volunteering to help the less fortunate, the shut-in and/or the suffering. We can grow in our faith through attending one of the many adult formation pro- grams offered at the parishes throughout the diocese during the summer, or buying a good spiritu- al book to take to the beach.

Our Holy Father emphasizes the need for vacations and renewal. Several summers ago he shared these observations. “I invite everyone to make these days of well-deserved summer rest a time of inner enrichment and worthwhile family relaxation” (Angelus Message, July 16, 2000).

“Vacations, holidays, must be wisely used in order to benefit the individual and family through contact with nature, tranquillity, the opportunity to foster greater family harmony, good reading and healthy recreational activities; above all, through the possibility of spending more time in prayer, in contemplation and in listening to God” (Angelus Message, July 23, 2001).

Summer is a wonderful time of year, and as we embark on this season of picnics, family gather- ings and rest, I pray that God will bless each and every one of us with a summer of fun and joy. May we emerge from this season more rested to do God’s work, more committed to serve God’s people, and more in love with our God who created and loves us.

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 OIL SERVICE INC. HARDWARE Burner Sales & Service Large Fastener Selection Thomas G. Gattone, Founder • “Woodlawn” High-Tech Oil Heat Equipment Plumbing • Electrical • Hardware Joe Micheletti Family Owned and Operated Since 1926 Keys • Windows Screens 600 Pontiac Ave, Cranston, RI 401-946-5055 Cabot Stain • Glidden Paint 987 Plainfield St., Johnston Anthony W. Hamel, LFD 4th Generation 421-0289 • www.WoodlawnGattone.com [email protected] Locksmith Service Robert J. Lepore Assistant to the Director facebook.com/michelettioilRI 1381 Smith Street, North Providence Tom & Lori Ricci 401-647-4900 Michael P. Tasca President • Susan M. Tasca Director www.michelettioil.com 353-2400 32 Danielson Pike • North Scituate

One Cherry Hill Rd. | Johnston, RI Document Shredding OPEN HOUSE Computer & Hard Drive Destruction Every Thursday 3-4pm Bob Cucino, President/CEO Refreshments available 15 Green Hill Rd. • Johnston RI 401-943-0522 • www.shredngori.com 401.233.2880 | www.cherryhillbridge.com [email protected]

LET US PLACE YOUR THIS SPACE IS AD HERE.

Domenic & Sons Floorcovering, Inc Carpet & Area Rugs Hardwoods, Laminates & Vinyl Tile & Stone Free In-Home Estimates 255 Greenville Ave, Johnston, RI, 02919-4111 Phone: 401-231-1885 “Enter as Strangers, Leave as Friends” www.domenicandsons.net

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. 86 Greenville Ave, Johnston, RI 401-521-7318 QUALITY USED CARS COMPLETE AUTOMOTIVE WORK DOMESTIC • FOREIGN

Contact Al Wickenheiser ROBBINS to place an ad today! FUNERAL HOME Directors: [email protected] or Geoffrey D. Greene • Jennifer L. Fagan 2251 Mineral Spring Avenue (800) 477-4574 x6409 North Providence 231-9307 Ad info. 1-800-477-4574 • Publication Support 1-800-888-4574 • www.4lpi.com Our Lady of Grace, Johnston, RI 03-1238