PROVIDENCE — Boston Archbishop Richard G. Henning, S.T.D., was greeted by one of the largest crowds for a Chrism Mass in years as he returned to the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul Monday, packed with hundreds of worshippers from across the diocese. He was buoyed by a wave of joy that began for him when he was shepherd of the Diocese of Providence.
He said in his homily that as he traveled from one end of the Ocean State to the other during the approximately 18 months he served here he began to see a groundswell of support for the faith again, following a decline for some during the pandemic, as the isolation for some led to a rise in anger, addiction and compulsive behavior.
The archbishop believes that in that isolation, young people, especially, began to understand the emptiness of our material culture, and of the ideologies that swirl around us, inspiring them to look for something more.
“What I began to see as I traveled from town to town, parish to parish, school to school is a moment happening in our midst. There’s something going on,” Archbishop Henning said.
“It was a thing of joy, because what I began to see in Rhode Island is the spirit of God moving on the waters of the bay. In a very beautiful way. After many years of decline and suffering I was beginning to see shoots of new life.”
He said that even three years before, as the world began to thaw from the global pandemic, that was already becoming apparent.
In his travels to the state’s Catholic Centers at the colleges and universities, he noticed a slow and steady desire among young people to increase their participation in the faith.
“I was meeting young adults; not only were they there, but they were also fully there, they had profound questions,” he said.
“Not only were they desiring to know the Lord, but they were also willing to pay the price for that. College campuses are not always the friendliest places to those who are disciples of Jesus Christ.”
As shepherd of the Boston Archdiocese, he said he is finding chapels on the college campuses overflowing with worshippers. He is meeting young adults who are not just present for the services, they are zealous participants, asking profound questions.
Archbishop Henning attributes that groundswell of support among young people with fertilizing the hearts and minds of an increasing number of young men pursuing vocations to the priesthood.
“There is something happening, the spirit of God is moving,” he said, noting how young men have been responding generously and trustingly to God’s call.
There are 18 new men in formation for the priesthood in Boston, the archbishop said, numbers that haven’t been seen there in 20-30 years.
During the Chrism Mass, the annual celebration at which priests renew their priestly promises, the precious sacramental oils used throughout the diocese each year — the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the Sacred Chrism used for Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders — are blessed and consecrated.
“This is a blessed opportunity for us in the Diocese of Providence,” said Father Richard Narciso, pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish, Johnston, who will celebrate his 18th anniversary of ordination on June 2.
“It’s always good for us to come together to reflect on the day of our ordination, what it means to have been called by God, and to renew those promises in the presence of the archbishop, and our fellow priests and the people of God, whom we’ve been sent to serve.”
Father TJ Varghese, pastor of Mary, Mother of Mankind Parish in North Providence, will celebrate his 30th anniversary of ordination on November 30.
“I love to be in the Mother Church. I love renewing the priestly promises that I have taken,” he said, smiling with joy after the Mass.
Carol Dooley, a parishioner at St. Philip Parish, Greenville, found great comfort in the Mass and the words of Archbishop Henning.
“I thought it was beautiful,” she said. “It’s uplifting to see that many Catholics coming together.”
She said that Archbishop Henning was quite correct in saying that Catholics are indeed coming back to their roots as she has seen an uptick in new parishioners in recent months.
“My parish has at least one new family coming to church every week, sometimes three or four.”
Cheryl Martinelli, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Parish, in East Providence, looks forward to attending the Chrism Mass each year.
“It was awesome, and it was a great joy to see Archbishop Henning as well,” she said of her participation in the Mass.
And she especially enjoys seeing all the priests, deacons and seminarians taking part in the liturgy.
“It was beautiful because you can see that they are there for the parish families, and it was good to see the seminarians there, too. It makes your heart rejoice.”
