Father John A. Kiley | Rhode Island Catholic

Retirement fund allows priests to enjoy their senior years after a lifetime of service

Several years ago, a pay increase was proposed for the priests of the diocese. I was stationed in Warwick at the time, so I attended a regional meeting on the issue at St. Paul Church in Cranston. A … more

9/18/25

Courageously following God’s providential will

The St. Francis House, formerly on Blackstone Street in Woonsocket, was once a Catholic home for working women and then generally for elderly residents. The Franciscan Sisters from Allegheny in New … more

9/11/25

Loyalty and devotion to Christ must flow from the mind and the heart

Older Catholics may remember occasions when religious women—the sisters who taught in our parish schools and staffed our nursing homes—were severely limited in their contacts with their … more

9/4/25

The Jerusalem Temple and the neighborhood church each symbolize distance and nearness

The beginning of salvation history, the Garden of Eden, and the conclusion of salvation history, the New Jerusalem, clearly have at least one thing in common. Neither Eden nor heaven has a temple. … more

8/21/25

Christ’s ‘New Commandment’

While the United States has never had an official national church, America has, until quite recently, favored a generic religious framework for daily life. National and local political assemblies … more

8/7/25

One, holy, Catholic, apostolic — and synodal — Church

The death of Pope Francis rightly evoked many prayers and much sympathy. His passing has also raised many questions. The pontiff’s favored policy of synodality which would broaden the number of … more

7/24/25

St. Peter, the institutional Church has its heroic prototype

The ancient Christian Church sometimes knew rival hierarchies in the great cities of the Mediterrean world. The bishops of Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem, for the most part, … more

6/26/25

Seeking sincere participation in the Mass

One notable parish renovation after the Second Vatican Council was the frequent transfer of the Blessed Sacrament from a central place of prominence on a church’s main altar to a shrine … more

6/19/25

The Holy Trinity reveals God’s internal, external life

About halfway through the Mass, the congregation offers a prayer asking God to accept the sacrifice about to be offered at the altar. Often labelled the “Sucipiat” after its first Latin … more

6/12/25

The eternal life of the Trinity is shared love

Certainly among the basic prayers of the Christian life, along with the Our Father and Hail Mary, is the Apostles’ Creed. Possibly going right back to the Apostolic Age when Christ’s … more

6/5/25

Division in the Catholic Church should be seen as scandalous

In the early 1960s a new Lutheran church was dedicated in the North End of Woonsocket. Ecumenical events on the local level were rare in those days so my curiosity about the affair had to be subtly … more

5/29/25

Redemptorist charism is defined by a commitment to preaching the Good News

Older Catholics might well remember the annual parish mission which men and women attended on separate evenings allowing the preacher to speak frankly about issues thought sensitive at the time. … more

5/21/25

St. Alphonsus’ great contributions to the church

When the 10th Bishop of Providence assumes his title next week, not only the traditional letters “D.D.” will follow his name but also the letters “CSsR” will be observed as … more

5/15/25

The Good News: Redemption is on hand for mankind

How about this for the proudest boast ever: “The Father and I are one.” (Jn10:30) Still, Scripture readers should not be surprised at Christ’s claim. The very first line of St. … more

5/8/25

The Prominence of St. Peter

Trivia Question: What was Jesus’ last miracle? No, no, not his Resurrection; let’s leave that grand event to God the Father. Actually during his public lifetime Jesus worked 37 miracles, … more

5/1/25

Through sincere belief in the Son of God we have life in His name

For many years, actually many centuries, the Catholic Mass was concluded with the priest’s reading of the opening verses of the Gospel according to St. John which begins, “In the … more

4/24/25

Continuing the work of Jesus through the ages

Cornelius, a Gentile military officer, was “…devout and God-fearing along with his whole household.” The Book of Acts recalls that he “… used to give alms generously … more

4/17/25

A visit with the original Apostolic band, what they saw and passed on

The prophet Mohammed was not only an insightful preacher he was also a capable and quite successful military leader. Within his lifetime, most of Asia Minor and much of North Africa had been wrested … more

4/10/25

Opening our hearts to divine grace

The Hebrew Scriptures do not mince their words when it comes to the punishment suitable for adultery. The Book of Leviticus, reflecting the traditions of the southern Jews in Judea, clearly provides … more

4/3/25

The everyday availability of God to the average believer must never be discounted

The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, was at one time the residence and home of the Russian Czars. Over the centuries the massive building also became the residence and home of some of the … more

3/27/25