Brothers and sisters of our tri - parish community of faith, this weekend we celebrate the victory of Christ over death as we do every year. But this year is profoundly different after a painful episode in our country that resulted in more than a half million deaths because of the Covid -19. Moreover, the necessary restrictions that we have had to endure to prevent the spread of the disease have also affected us in many ways that we have yet to process. No doubt our Lenten pilgrimage has helped us to grow spiritually to appreciate the many sacrifices we have had to endure throughout the year and maybe have made them opportunities to grow closer to the divine presence in each one of us. The good news of more widely available vaccinations and the safety they promise has expanded our freedom to connect with family and friends for which we are most grateful. As the country slowly continues to enjoy less restrictions, we hope that this blessing will lead to a resumption of our practice of worship since we have been able to increase our capacities for safe attendance. We have added a Sunday Mass at Saint Anthony Church which will give you an additional time to pray together. With the English Sunday morning Mass at Saint Edward Church all parishioners have five opportunities to worship at all three churches every weekend. You are encouraged to attend any Mass convenient for you and drop off your budget at the door as you enter the Church unless you give on - line. We are most appreciative of your continued financial support during this time of pandemic. In the coming months we are hoping that we can plan a May breakfast in some form as well as our annual Saint Anthony Feast and Saint Edward Family Feast. Please pray that progress in fighting the disease through vaccinations and safe practices continues. On behalf of Father Nolasco who has just returned from Colombia after successful eye surgery and the dedicated staff members of our parishes, I wish you and your families a hope filled joyous Easter season!!
Father Ed
My friends, our readings for this Sunday speak so beautifully of the
hope of salvation. Describing feasts, fatted calves, rich food and choice
wines, the prophet Isaiah tells of a time when the Lord will wipe away
our tears, tears from every face, destroying death forever. I often use
this reading at Funerals since it is a powerful revelation of God’s plan
for us. That promise of destroying death forever remained for those to
whom Jesus was speaking to on his way to Jerusalem, as he tells yet
another parable of what the kingdom of God is like. This time, the
kingdom includes an actual king who hosts a lavish wedding banquet
for his son. In his teaching, Jesus tells of a God who invites us – all of us
– to that feast. And that invitation is offered over and over again. Our
God is one who keeps inviting us, keeps reminding us of our place at
the table.
The invitation to the table is not for just a select few, those deemed
worthy. Indeed, there is a place at the banquet for those whom the
world deems not worthy at all. Given Jesus’ track record on those
matters, we can assume that those invited would include a whole host
of those outcast and on the margins – lepers, prostitutes, women
caught in adultery, and even the despised tax collectors of that era.
Perhaps, there is even a seat at the table for you and for me. Most
certainly there is. The good news is that the invitation to the table is
not only for the perfect, for if that were true, the table would be empty.
This is true for the kingdom of heaven, of the promise of eternal life. It
is also true for what we know to be the kingdom of God here on earth,
the church, and the table that is set for us, and for all. In Pope Francis’s
apostolic letter, The Joy of the Gospel, the following is proclaimed: The
Eucharist, although it is the fullness of sacramental life, is not a prize for
the perfect but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak.
These convictions have pastoral consequences that we are called to
consider with prudence and boldness. Frequently, we act as arbiters of
grace rather than its facilitators. But the church is not a tollhouse; it is
the house of the Father, where there is a place for everyone, with all
their problems (47). Unfortunately, these words have been the source
of dissention among some church leaders who have a somewhat
restrictive and exclusive point of view that would deny certain people
from receiving Holy Communion because of their opinions on
controversial issues.
In the parable of the wedding banquet, the room was full of everyone,
no matter where they came from, what they did, or what they failed to
do. The same should be true of this church building, this sanctuary. As
Pope Francis has also noted, the church is a “field hospital,” a place of
healing and mercy, but far too often we can be a place of judgment and
division. The invitation to the banquet, is for everyone – even sinners
like you and me. And that is why the persistence of God’s invitation is
so important. It would be easy for us to dismiss the invitation quickly,
noting all the ways in which we are not worthy. And yet God continues
to invite, to tug at us, to remind us of our inherent goodness. God
continues to reach out to us, and to all humanity. God sends out
messengers with the invitation again and again. Our God does not give
up on us.
On our part, when we accept the invitation, we must be open to go
deeper and live active lives of faith and surrender to God who loves us
without condition and without reservation. No one is beyond the
promise of redemption, and no amount of guilt, shame, or pain can
keep us from enjoying the banquet of God’s love.
My friends, as you know many people throughout our country are
currently experiencing food insecurity because of unemployment and
the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. We witness this
every week locally in those we serve through our tri-parish outreach
ministries. The first reading from the Prophet Isaiah written over 2500
years ago can inspire us during these times. It was directed to a people
in exile from their native land that had been destroyed. The prophet,
rather than reprimanding them for their infidelities which got them into
trouble in the first place, tries to comfort them, by telling them, despite
all signs to the contrary, God had not forgotten them. As God had done
in the past leading them out of slavery, God would give them a new
beginning with the invitation to eat and drink free of charge. I believe
that’s how it always is with God. When we are at our lowest point, in
one exile of our own making, or another, God is always inviting us back
home. God is saying “Let me supply the nourishment you have desired
and searched for in all the wrong places. I have what you really need
and I want to give it to you free of charge. Forget the past. We have a
future together.” That’s why we gather at the Eucharistic table to
remind us of God’s forgiveness and generosity.
In Jesus, God has sent out another similar invitation to guests to come,
sit down, eat and drink. God offers a special meal, free of charge for
those who are in a “deserted place”. At the multiplication of the loaves
and fishes, God’s promise to the needy is renewed. It is a spectacular
miracle, which is recorded in all four gospel accounts because of its
importance, but which starts very small with the disciples panicking and
asking Jesus to send the crowd away to find food. But then comes the
quote that is at the heart of this passage. He tells them “Give them
some food yourselves.” And then it happens. They bring him the little
food they have. Jesus blesses it and then gives it only to the disciples.
It is the disciples, in turn, who feed the 5,000 from what they have
been given. So it was the task of the disciples to feed everyone else.
This can be a lesson for us because God blesses each one of us. God
feeds us. God graces us with abundant gifts…which we often take for
granted. God feeds us in the Eucharist. Jesus wants us to take those
blessings, those talents, those gifts which God has given us and in turn
“feed” those who come into our lives looking for a listening ear, a
compassionate heart and a helping hand.
What God wants from us is a partnership. We provide the best we can
to do God’s work and, instead of standing far off to see how we do God
rolls God’s sleeves and gets to work with us. We have to trust that –
otherwise, we would never set about to address the huge issues we
face in our world, like hunger, racism, war, injustice, violence, disease
and social inequalities. When the disciples brought the few loaves and
fishes to Jesus they believed it wasn’t enough to do the job of feeding
so many. But with God all things are possible. So we do what we can,
even though it feels puny to us and appears insignificant by the world’s
standards of measurement. We hand over what we have to Jesus
Christ who invites us to “Bring them here to me”. And we will be
surprised that God can bring about so much out of so little. So it’s not
about what we have but rather what we bring to others that makes the
difference in bringing about the reign of God in our world.
Today’s second reading has one of my favorite quotes from the Bible:
“Nothing can separate us from the love of God”- not even death itself,
an insight so appropriate to reflect upon since I received the sad news
about the sudden death yesterday of Father Bob Perron, the Pastor of
Saint Michael’s Church in South Providence, and a good friend. He was
truly a compassionate priest with a heart for the poor and marginalized.
For example he began a soup kitchen years ago which is still in
operation. He made sandwiches and distribute them to the homeless
living under highway overpasses. He was a hard-working pastor of a
large inner-city multicultural parish and knew several languages. He
also headed up the Society for the Propagation of the Faith in the
Diocese of Providence. He also served with me on Diocesan
committees and his knowledge was invaluable. He will be deeply
missed not only by his brother priests but by the people of his parish.
Let us keep Father Bob and the parishioners of Saint Michael the
Archangel Church in our prayers at this tragic time.
The Saturday evening vigil Mass at Church of the Presentation will begin on August 08, 2020. Because the seating capacity there with social distancing regulations is much larger than that of Saint Anthony Church, parishioners preferring an afternoon vigil Mass are encouraged to consider that option. Reservations are no longer necessary for any Mass.
Masks need to be worn and anyone with preexisting conditions is cautioned to come at their own risk since the pandemic continues. That is why the obligation to attend continues to be suspended by Bishop Tobin.
Complaints have been received because of violations to social distancing at Saint Anthony Church. Unfortunately, zeal to give everyone a seat at Mass has trumped safety concerns on occasion with some parishioners put at risk when seated too close to others who are not related. Patience is required on the part of everyone during these times. Early arrival is necessary for those making a reservation since it is impossible to regulate those who come without first calling ahead. Of course, no one is obliged to take a seat where one does not feel safe. We sincerely apologize to anyone who has been offended.
If you would like to attend the 10 am Sunday Mass at the Church of the Presentation or the 11:30 am Mass at St. Anthony Church, please call the parish office Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9 AM through 4PM. at 353-3120 or 722-7140 to attend either the 10AM Mass at Presentation Church or the 11:30 AM Mass at Saint Anthony Church.
Reservations are necessary as seating is limited due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Please see the below entitled "Sunday Mass Update - 06/14/2020" for additional information.
In regards to the 11:30 am Mass at St. Anthony Church, once capacity has been reached inside the church, you can choose to watch the Mass on a live stream at the Parish Center and then receive Holy Communion immediately after Mass.
The celebration of public masses has recently begun on Sundays only at Saint Anthony and Presentation Churches. Mass attendance is still optional because of the coronavirus pandemic. For those who are inclined to return, please note that reservations will be required because seating is limited because of restrictions imposed by the government.
Please call the parish office Monday through Thursday between the hours of 9 AM through 4PM.
at 353-3120 or 722-7140 to attend either the 10AM Mass at Presentation Church or the 11:30 AM Mass at Saint Anthony Church.
Reservations are not required for the Sunday 9 AM English Mass at Saint Edward Church (or the Spanish Masses on Saturday at 6PM and Sunday at 11:30 AM).
Please wear protective masks and bring hand sanitizer. Families can sit together and everyone will be escorted to a pew. Cry rooms are closed. Baskets are at the church entrances for deposit of financial support offerings.
As conditions change other Mass times will be added and everyone will be notified by phone in advance. Please provide a correct phone number to be notified.
A live transmission of 11:30 Mass can viewed as well as a link to watch a previous Mass on the church website: saintanthonychurch.org
Your cooperation is always appreciated.
This weekend marks the restoration of public masses in all three parishes. This plan was carefully enacted according to the policy established by the Diocese of Providence in compliance with directives from the CDC. Parishes through the country are similarly taking such precautions because of the coronavirus pandemic. Mass attendance is still optional until further notice as decreed by Bishop Tobin. For those who are without health issues and are willing to take the risk until a vaccine is developed, limited seating will be available as long as a reservation is made by calling the principle business phone number of Saint Anthony Church at 353-3120. The new capacity for Saint Anthony Church is 100 seats and Mass time is Sundays at 11:30 AM; for Church of the Presentation 125 seats are available and the Mass time also Sundays at 10:00 AM; for Saint Edward Church the capacity is 75 seats and the Mass time is Sundays at 9:00 AM.
Phone reservations are necessary for both St. Anthony and Presentation Churches. Since the typical St. Edward English Mass attendance has been around 30 persons, more can be accommodated if reservations are made on the St. Edward Website. Church doors will be open 30 minutes before Mass begins and those making reservations need to be present 15 minutes in advance. It is advised that protective masks are worn during Mass and can be removed to take Holy Communion only. Please bring hand sanitizer although there will be stations at the church entrances. Communicants will be able to enter the churches through the main entrance only and will be escorted to seating designated by social distancing beginning with those closest to the sanctuary and proceeding to the rear of the church. Families will be seated together. But cry rooms are closed and in fairness to all no special seat locations can be honored. Social distancing will be followed for distribution of Holy Communion and exiting Mass will be through the side entrances.
There will be no offertory collection or gift procession. Church support envelopes can be placed in receptacles when entering the church. Please understand that other weekend Mass times as well as daily Mass will be added over the course of the summer as mandatory sanitization procedures are put in place. This is a learning experience for all so patience is appreciated.
Please note that a live transmission of the 11:30 Mass is planned which can be accessed on the church website for those choosing to remain at home, when the necessary equipment is in place. Very soon there will be a live radio broadcast of that Mass for people who choose to remain in their cars in the parking lot with the option of receiving communion when the Mass is ended. Directions will be given when ready. Thanks again for your cooperation.
Rev. Edward S. Cardente
Pastor