PROVIDENCE — In Rhode Island, the Dominicans are taking it to the streets to prove that Catholicism still matters. Brother Anselm Kelly, O.P., Brother Clement Greenspan, O.P. and Brother Roland Wakefield, O.P., all currently in formation for the priesthood in Washington, D.C., will be spending the summer in the Diocese of Providence, living the Dominican mission of preaching the good news. In this case, the good news is “Why Catholicism Still Matters,” and these three men will host nine four-week sessions at local parishes throughout the diocese starting June 29.
“We want to inspire people … and remind them that our faith, it still matters today,” Brother Wakefield told Rhode Island Catholic.
He sees a distinct lack of purpose in modern life. This series mixes the idea of “what does it look like to live a flourishing, thriving faith that means more than just a once-a-week thing” with a basic catechesis.
There are four separate talks in the series, given on consecutive weeks, each with a particular focus. The brothers creatively titled the four sessions “Go for Gold,” “Time to Make the Donuts,” “More than a Feeling” and “Life is Still Worth Living.” The descriptions for each of these can be found on the website godwardpreaching.com/rhodeisland. The format remains the same through each session: one of the brothers gives a talk, then there is a short break for socialization before a question-and-answer period.
To best accommodate schedules for interested participants, sessions will be offered both in the morning and the evening at various parishes, and one does not need to attend the previous week to understand subsequent talks.
The Godward program began last year on Long Island by other Dominicans in priestly formation and is a collaborative project for seminarians to study and explain what they have learned. “It comes from our Dominican life. We pray and we study, we spend time in community every day; we think it’s an opportunity to share something of that with the people.”
Even hosting the program as a trio reflects the communal Dominican life—being present for each other at all the sessions and offering feedback to each other afterwards.
Topics presented are relevant to Catholics. Brother Wakefield expects that many attendees would be regular church attendees, but he would love to see younger people searching for deeper meaning as well as those “who haven’t polished a pew in years.”
When asked what attendees should expect from the series, he responded: “I think the faith leads to the fullness of our human lives, and I think it’s a temptation to … just kind of normalize and acclimate to the mysteries and to the depth of our faith, but to see it as truly enlivening and fulfilling our purpose is something I want them to come out with.”
He also hopes that this provides an opportunity for the faithful to evangelize to others by inviting them to what he considers “an event to come to.”
Brother Wakefield hails from Massachusetts, but his vocation to the priesthood was formed right in the Diocese of Providence, at Providence College, so for him to return to the area to deliver these talks is akin to coming full circle.
“I’m really excited about this,” he said. “It’s cool to be back here, sharing the word in a place where I’ve received so much. … I’m looking forward to meeting everyone.”
For dates and parish locations, go to godwardpreaching.com, or see below:
St. Jude, 301 Front St. Lincoln MONDAYS, 9 – 10:30 AM
JUNE 29: Go for Gold; JULY 06: Time to Make the Donuts; JULY 13: More Than A Feeling; JULY 20: Life is Still Worth Living
Our Lady of Mercy, 65 3rd St., East Greenwich
MONDAYS, 7 – 8:30 PM
JUN 29: Go for Gold; JUL 06: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 13: More Than A Feeling; JUL 20: Life is Still Worth Living
St. Pius V, 240 Eaton St., Providence
TUESDAYS, 1 – 2:30 PM
JUN 30: Go for Gold; JUL 07: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 14: More Than A Feeling; JUL 21: Life is Still Worth Living
St. Teresa, 358 Newport Ave., Pawtucket
TUESDAYS, 6:30 – 8 PM
JUN 30: Go for Gold; JUL 07: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 14: More Than A Feeling; JUL 21: Life is Still Worth Living
St. Bernard, 275 Tower Hill Road, North Kingstown
WEDNESDAY, 9 – 10:30 AM
JUL 01: Go for Gold; JUL 08: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 15: More Than A Feeling; JUL 22: Life is Still Worth Living
Holy Apostles, 800 Pippin Orchard Road Cranston
WEDNESDAY, 7 – 8:30 P.M.
JUL 01: Go for Gold; JUL 08: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 15: More Than A Feeling; JUL 22: Life is Still Worth Living
St. Mary, Star of the Sea, 864 Point Judith Rd, Narraganset
THURSDAY, 6:30 – 8 PM
JUL 02: Go for Gold; JUL 09: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 16: More Than A Feeling; JUL 23: Life is Still Worth Living
St. Patrick, (en español), 244 Smith St, Providence
FRIDAY, 7 – 8:30 PM
JUL 10: Escapando de Egipto; JUL 17: Vive Una Fe Dinámica; JUL 24: Cuando Nos Fallan los Sentimientos
St. Christopher, 1554 Main Road, Tiverton
SATURDAY, 9 – 10:30 AM
JUL 11: Go for Gold; JUL 18: Time to Make the Donuts; JUL 25: More Than A Feeling
