Diocesan News | Rhode Island Catholic

Well Wishes: Drawings for Pope Francis cover the base of a statue of St. John Paul II outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital March 8, 2025.

Pope follows Lenten retreat from hospital; his condition remains stable

VATICAN CITY (CNS) — As Pope Francis’ condition remains stable, which is a sign of continued improvement, he followed the start of the Lenten retreat for the Roman Curia by video linkup … more

By Carol Glatz, Catholic News Service | 3/13/25

Assignments 03.13.25

RETIRING FROM ACTIVE MINISTRY Reverend John E. Abreu, from Pastor, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Warren, to Pastor Emeritus, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Warren, effective June 30, 2025. … more

3/13/25

Special Event Listings for 03.13.25

Knights to serve chowder and clam cakes Fridays in Lent PAWTUCKET — Knights of Columbus will serve chowder and clam cakes at St. John Paul II Parish 745 Central Ave., Fridays during Lent, from … more

3/13/25

Trusting in God’s Promises

In the Book of Genesis, the patriarch Abraham receives a double promise from God the Father. The elderly, childless Abraham and his barren wife Sarah are guaranteed offspring through the birth of a … more

3/13/25

A priest places ashes on the forehead of a Palestinian woman during Ash Wednesday Mass in the Church of St. Catherine in Bethlehem, West Bank, March 5, 2025. Ash Wednesday marks the first day of Lent and the start of the six weeks of prayer and penitence before Easter.

Lent and the Purification of Memory

On December 20, 2002, I was at lunch in the papal apartment when the wide-ranging conversation John Paul II always encouraged took an unexpected turn, with the pope asking me how President Ronald … more

3/13/25

Take up your cross

For some years now, it has been fashionable for Catholics to declare that we’re not giving up anything for Lent but instead are doing something positive. This false dichotomy makes sense within … more

By Scott P. Richert, OSV News | 3/13/25

Linda A’Vant-Deishinni serves as the executive director of St. Martin de Porres Multi-Service Center, Neighborhood Friendly Visitor program coordinator and as coordinator of the Office of Black Catholic Ministry.

A'Vant-Deishinni is a shining light of Christ to R.I. seniors

PROVIDENCE — Linda A’Vant-Deishinni has a deep love for her community, and it shines through in her life’s work. And she has an impressive biography, currently serving as executive … more

By Jennifer Barton, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 3/13/25

Father Henry P. Zinno, pastor of St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Bristol smiles in his rectory kitchen at Mount Carmel with his favorite cutting board, which reads “He who eats prays twice.”

Local priest shares how faith and food connect

BRISTOL — Those of us who have given up sweets for Lent may find solace that a popular Rhode Island feast day is coming up: St. Joseph’s Day. And with it, comes the zeppole. A zeppola, … more

By Allison Shinskey, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 3/13/25

Providence College Announces new Graduate Program in Catholic Theology

PROVIDENCE — Providence College (PC) has announced that a new Master of Arts (MA) in Catholic Theology and Culture will be offered beginning in the Fall 2025 semester. This new program is in … more

3/13/25

Dr. Andrew Harper, medical director for Huntsville Reproductive Medicine, P.C., looks on as Lynn Curry, nurse practitioner for Huntsville Reproductive Medicine, P.C., opens IVF cryopreservation dewar in Madison, Ala., March 4, 2024. U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order Feb. 19, 2025, to develop policy recommendations to expand access to and affordability of in vitro fertilization

America needs more babies: Catholics look to restorative reproductive medicine as alternative to IVF

This article is first in a four part series on the Catholic viewpoints of reproductive technology PROVIDENCE —America needs more babies. This became the official position of the United … more

By Kathleen Troost-Cramer, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 3/6/25

Sister Agnes Bonville, RSM

Sister Agnes Bonville, RSM (whose religious name was Mary Bonaventure John) a Sister of Mercy for 76 years, died on February 19, 2025 at Catholic Memorial Home in Fall River, Massachusetts. Agnes was … more

3/6/25

In this file photo, Sister Elizabeth Castro, H.M.S.P., director of the Office for Religious for the Diocese of Providence and a member of the Missionary Sisters Servants of the Word, distributes communion on Ash Wednesday at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul, Providence.

This Lenten season, let us live as ‘Pilgrims of Hope’

A couple of weeks ago, I went food shopping at Stop & Shop. Per usual, I started in my favorite aisle, the one all the way to the right of the store, particularly known as the ice cream aisle. As … more

By Msgr. Albert A. Kenney | 3/6/25

Special Event Listings for 03.06.25

Sunday Holy Hour for the Jubilee Year of Hope PROVIDENCE — Adoration is a quiet time spent in prayer before Jesus present in the Eucharist. Join us Sundays from noon to 1 p.m. in the Cathedral … more

3/6/25

Don’t Believe Dictators

On September 30, 1938, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, and Germany signed the “Munich Agreement,” which annexed to Germany the Sudetenland, territory belonging to then-Czechoslovakia. … more

3/6/25

Father Albert P. Marcello III, J.C.D./Ph.D, at right, is joined by, from far left, Father Wojciech Kowal, OMI; Msgr. John Renken; and Saint-Paul University Dean Chad Glendinning, during Father Marcello’s doctoral thesis defense on November 25, 2024.

A fascination with the annual timing of Easter becomes subject of priest’s doctoral thesis

PROVIDENCE — Growing up, seeing the tables in front of the church missals for calculating the date of Easter captivated a young, curious and inquisitive future priest, so much so that it would … more

By RICK SNIZEK, Executive Editor | 3/6/25

People cheer during the 52nd annual March for Life rally in Washington Jan. 24, 2025.

The pro-life movement is not merely an opposition to specific laws or legal decisions

PROVIDENCE — It was a cold, cloudy day in the nation’s capital during this year’s March for Life. But despite the dreary conditions, tens of thousands of pro-life demonstrators … more

By Cole DeSantis, Rhode Island Catholic Correspondent | 3/6/25

Fidelity and Fulfillment in the Resurrection

St. John makes no mention of the post-baptismal temptations of Christ. St. Mark offers a brief mention of the event: “At once the Spirit drove him out into the desert, and he remained in the … more

3/6/25

Repentance, reconciliation and renewal will make all the difference this Lent

PROVIDENCE — Repentance, reconciliation and renewal — those three “R’s” are going to make all the difference in our spiritual journeys this Lent, Bishop Emeritus Thomas … more

By Laura Kilgus, Associate Editor | 3/5/25

A priest holds a vessel of ashes as Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, celebrates Ash Wednesday Mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome March 5, 2025.

Ash Wednesday teaches human fragility, Gospel hope

ROME (CNS) -- The journey of Lent "unfolds amid the remembrance of our fragility and the hope that, at the end of the road, the Risen Lord is waiting for us," Pope Francis wrote in his homily for Ash … more

By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service | 3/5/25

Young people and members of the House of Mary, groups associated with the Pontifical Academy of the Immaculate Conception, pray at the base of a statue of St. John Paul II outside Rome’s Gemelli hospital March 2, 2025. Pope Francis is receiving treatment there for double pneumonia.

Pope no longer on mechanical ventilation after respiratory crises

VATICAN CITY — The morning after suffering two acute episodes of respiratory crisis, Pope Francis no longer needed oxygen through a breathing mask, the Vatican said. The crises March 3 led … more

By Justin McLellan, Catholic News Service | 3/5/25