Diocesan News | Rhode Island Catholic

Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, holds a prayer service to mark Palm Sunday, following the cancellation of the traditional Palm Sunday procession from the Mount of Olives, amid restrictions on gathering in large groups and the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, in Jerusalem, March 29, 2026.

Church Leaders Granted Access to Holy Sites for Easter Celebrations

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said an agreement has been reached with Israeli authorities to allow Holy Week and Easter celebrations to take place at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher after they … more

By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News | 4/2/26

From the Coast to the Capital: Rhode Island Catholics Mark Holy Week

This week, the faithful across the Diocese of Providence gather to observe Holy Week, commemorating the Paschal Mystery and the salvtion won for us by Christ. The week began with Palm Sunday … more

4/2/26

Praying for the Detained: Bishop Bruce to Lead Rosary Procession in Central Falls

CENTRAL FALLS — On Holy Saturday, April 4 at 11 a.m., Bishop Bruce will meet at Fuerza Laboral, 6 Chases Lane, anyone gathering to pray a “Rosary for Migrants” for our immigrant brothers and … more

4/2/26

We can explain how Christ is present in the Eucharist

On Holy Thursday we hear Christ’s stunning words: “This is my body.” Our minds struggle to comprehend how the creator of the universe makes himself become really present. To wrap our minds … more

4/2/26

We Have No King but Christ

To ensure that Christ was condemned to death on Good Friday the leaders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to destroy Jesus (cf. Mt. 27:20). Pilate then asks: “Shall I crucify your … more

4/2/26

The Donatist Comeback

My Lenten reading has included an interesting, if somewhat odd, book about the greatest of the Latin Fathers of the Church: “Augustine the African” by Catherine Conybeare, a philologist currently … more

4/2/26

The Enduring Heart of the Eucharist

The Real Presence – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity – of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist has been given popular as well as theological credence for centuries, in fact, for millennia. Believers often … more

4/2/26

East Greenwich Jews, Christians unite after latest anti-Semitic activity

EAST GREENWICH – In a calendar rarity, Holy Week and Passover, two of the most sacred occasions in Christianity and Judaism respectively, are overlapping once again in 2026, after having taken … more

By Erik Scalavino, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 4/2/26

For St. Raphael Academy senior Julian Salazar, and freshman Chloe Banks, the dream of a Catholic education was made possible through tuition assistance from the Catholic Foundation of Rhode Island, which awarded $2.6 million in scholarships to students attending Catholic schools across the Diocese of Providence. The two were photographed last Friday during Saints Olympics, an informal afternoon of friendly competition in St. Raphael’s gymnasium to celebrate the conclusion of an annual week of service to the area community by the student body.

Catholic Foundation of RI awarded $2.6 million in tuition assistance grants last year

PAWTUCKET — Julian Salazar hadn’t attended a Catholic School before, but when he was graduating from Blackstone Valley Prep and thinking about the path he wanted his future to follow, he set his … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 3/26/26

A drone photo shows emergency services inspect the damage in Jerusalem's Old City March 20, 2026, after Iran launched missiles towards Jerusalem, amid the U.S.-Israel war with Iran. An explosion struck Jerusalem’s Old City seconds after sirens warned of an incoming Iranian missile. Smoke was seen rising at the site as Iran launched multiple attacks, sending millions into shelters. Several were lightly wounded, Israeli authorities said,

Jerusalem patriarchate cancels Palm Sunday procession, postpones Chrism Mass amid war

JERUSALEM — The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem said wartime restrictions have forced the cancellation or postponement of key Holy Week observances, urging the faithful to remain united in prayer … more

By OSV News | 3/26/26

Venezuelan migrants arrive on a deportation flight from the U.S. at Simon Bolivar International airport in Maiquetia, Venezuela, Feb. 10, 2025. A new report documents the experiences of people who have been deported from the U.S., forced to return to their home countries, or have been trapped in third countries due to U.S. immigration policies.

Deportation and the conscience of a nation

A short history of America’s fascination with deportation may help us understand the present situation and correct some of its excesses. Daniel Kanstroom, author of the definitive work on outsiders … more

By Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, OSV News | 3/26/26

The appearance of the angel Gabriel to Mary proclaiming that she is to be the mother of Jesus is depicted in a stained-glass window at St. Therese of Lisieux Church in Montauk, N.Y. The solemnity of the Annunciation is celebrated on March 25.

Bad dreams? Saints to the rescue!

Most parents know the heart-stopping sound of your child crying or screaming in the middle of the night after having a bad dream. When it comes to nightmares, you sometimes don’t even know what … more

3/26/26

Lessons in Humility and Peace

The “sedia gestatoria” was a ceremonial, portable throne used for centuries to carry popes during processions. It consisted of a richly adorned, silk-covered armchair mounted on a platform and … more

3/26/26

Bishops’ call for compassion upholds human dignity, need for secure borders

TO THE EDITOR: I recently read your article, “A Call for Compassion: United States Bishops Demand Immigration Reform,” (March 5), and appreciated how you highlighted the call to uphold human … more

3/26/26

Gratitude for Bishop Lewandowski’s Stance on Immigration

TO THE EDITOR: Thank you, Bishop Lewandowski, for your active advocacy for immigration reform. Congress was so close to bipartisan immigration reform weeks before the election of 2014. So much … more

3/26/26

Providence Joins Global "24 Hours for the Lord" Initiative

The Diocese of Providence united with the global Church from March 13–14, hosting “24 Hours for the Lord” at St. Pius V Church. Following a tradition established by Pope Francis, the parish … more

3/26/26

Special Event Listings for 03.26.26

St. Barnabas Lenten Dinner PORTSMOUTH — St. Barnabas Church, 1697 East Main Road, will host a Lenten Dinner on Friday, March 27, in the church hall. The event will feature baked filet of sole with … more

3/26/26

Special Event Listings for 03.19.26

St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish Flea Market WOONSOCKET — St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish, 174 Harris Ave., will hold its annual flea market on Saturday, March 21, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will … more

3/19/26

Displaced people with belongings sit next to tents in Beirut, March 16, 2026, following an escalation between Hezbollah and Israel, amid the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Christians in Holy Land face further despair, suffering, Latin Patriarchate official says

(OSV News) — As retaliatory strikes from Iran, as well as from Hezbollah militants in Lebanon, continued, people in the Holy Land — especially Christians — face a dire present and an uncertain … more

By Junno Arocho Esteves, OSV News | 3/19/26

eff Zurowski, a member of the Holy Apostles community currently facing stage 4 kidney failure, relies on his faith and the support of his parish as he waits for a life-saving transplant.

‘A Gift to the Suffering Lord’: Holy Apostles Parish Rallies Behind Parishioner in Need of Kidney Transplant

CRANSTON — “It is beautiful, for disciples of Jesus, to offer their own organs, according to the terms permitted by law and by ethics, because it is a gift given to the suffering Lord, who said … more

By CHELSEA THORPE, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 3/19/26