Dear Friends, This is our Sixth Sunday of Easter where we continue to raise our Alleluias, acknowledging our Risen Lord! The Gospel today looks forward to the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, who Jesus, ascending to His Father, promises will guide us all the days of our lives! Easter joys continue as we draw nearer to the celebration of the Ascension of Jesus and Pentecost! This Sunday we also acknowledge Mother’s Day. For myself, I cannot but think of my own mother. Mom always wanted the best for her children. She did her best and much of her “best” was a gift. Life. Isn’t that true for most of us? Maybe all of us? Not every moment may be the way we hope for, but with faith, which my parents did share with me, I can be very grateful for the person I am today because of them. Mother’s Day is before us in many different roles, persons, thoughts, and memories. Years ago, I came across a blessing, which I have chosen to use at prior Mother’s Day liturgies. I will do this blessing again on Saturday and Sunday. I believe it covers so many types of relationships that could describe a mother, a mother figure, and those who desire to be a mother or mother figure. We all have memories, some good, some not so good. We all have thoughts of what this role model should be, and what we hope to understand it should be. Listen this weekend to the blessing I will offer and see where you relate; fall into where your brother Jesus walks beside you this Mother’s Day. May is the month of His Blessed Mother, Mary. Certainly, Mary is a supreme role model to contemplate and reflect upon. Do you have a favorite prayer about Mary? My mothers was the Memorare. I have always appreciated the verse that acclaims, “remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercessions was left unaided.” Mom had this confidence in prayer. So, if you a thought to the blessing of this “Mother’s Day”, let me know. It is miraculous how our Risen Lord wants us to be included in all His blessings, and wants us to be inclusive in sharing them among one another. Mom, you left so early in earthly life. I continue to be grateful that Sunday morning, when Jesus said, as we heard last weekend in the Gospel, I have a place prepared for you! I saw on your face how peaceful you were after bearing so many crosses. It has been 26 years since Jesus embraced you into eternity! I am so happy for you! Happy Mother’s Day, Mom! Love You! Blessings to all, Father Rob

Dear Friends, We are still celebrating the days of our Easter! I have been blessed since our Easter Vigil, just a month ago, with so many wonderful moments to acknowledge and feel blessed because of the life of Jesus Christ! Since I last wrote a column for our bulletin, I was at our annual Priests’ Convocation. The highlight for myself and so many of our priests was being in the presence of our new Bishop. Bishop John Bonnici was so gracious in sharing some history about himself and that he is here to walk beside us and be present to us as a brother. His words were a welcome breath of these Easter days! This same week, I was privileged to be with Bishop Bonnici, welcoming Cardinal Tobin from the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey. Cardinal Tobin’s nephew attends the U of R, and the Cardinal was a guest presider at Mass with a presentation to follow. He spoke of Pope Francis and Pope Leo. My good friend Father Brian Cool is the Chaplain for the U of R and R.I.T. Father Cool invited our support group for dinner and the evenings’ celebrations. Cardinal Tobin was as gracious and welcoming as our new Bishop! If you are not familiar with Cardinal Tobin, check out 60 Minutes from a few weeks ago and his interview with Norah O’Donnell. This past week, on April 29th, we celebrated a great Doctor of the Church, Saint Catherine of Siena. Her wisdom and witness to the Risen Lord blesses me continuously with her words, “Be everything you are meant to be and set the world on fire.” I pray that I follow our Lord in being everything He desires of me. And this weekend, we hear in our Gospel that those who follow Jesus will do the great things Jesus did, and even greater things. Reading those words, I always marvel in the confidence that Jesus has in you and me. We celebrate this weekend with some very special young people who are making their First Communion! How exciting to have been with 17 individuals coming into the church at our Easter Vigil and now just about a month later to be among all these young individuals saying AMEN to the Body of Christ! Indeed, for me, Easter is still vibrant and before all of us! This Thursday, on May 7th, our young people will be coming to Sacred Heart Cathedral for the Sacrament of Confirmation. These wonderful people from our parishes will be among the first to receive this sacrament from our new Bishop, John Bonnici. The gift of the Holy Spirit will further enliven the lives of these young people. I still recall being confirmed by Bishop James Kearney, and what a special evening it was for me, my family and my friends. I pray our soon to be confirmed will have the same joys and love for the Lord as I do for this very moment. Let us pray for our new faithful who are joining us at the table of the Lord and those who will be confirmed in the coming week! As they bless us with their witness and faith, may we bless them witnessing us being everything we are meant to be modeling Jesus Christ, our Risen Saviour! May we keep proclaiming the Lord with our Alleluias!!! Blessings, Rob

Dear Friends, I have been on vacation the past week, volunteering at the Boston Marathon and visiting with my Boston friends. I look forward to sharing the events of the past few weeks with you in next weekend’s column. In this week’s gospel, Jesus talks about being a good shepherd. His sheep know his voice, follow him, and are protected and saved by him. Monday’s gospel continues where Sunday’s left off, with the most revealing verse. Jesus once again affirms his deep love for humanity by his willingness to sacrifice himself for all of us. How do we reflect that love in the actions of our daily lives? Fr. John Muir offers some inspiring words again this week. God Bless, Father Rob “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” John 10:11 My most boring job was working at an insurance company as a college student. My main task? Filing. Now imagine if I had told my supervisor, “I just want you to know, I’m willing to die for these files.” She would have called a psychiatrist — or at least security. There is something absurd in Jesus’ words in the Gospel: “I am the good shepherd… I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:11) It sounds noble, until you think about it. No one dies for sheep. Not a hired hand. Not even a good shepherd. Sheep are important, sure, but not worth a human life. And yet, Jesus insists: I will die for them. The crowd understandably responds: “He is out of his mind.” C.S. Lewis once said that Jesus does not leave us the option of calling him merely a good teacher. If someone speaks like him, he is either lying, crazy, or telling the truth. John’s Gospel won’t let us stay sentimental. Jesus means it. He reveals a love that surpasses logic — a love that measures worth not by strength or success, but by the willingness to suffer unto death. The Good Shepherd’s madness is mercy. His cross makes no earthly sense and yet it makes divine sense. He lays down his life not for kings or saints but for sheep — for the ordinary, the unworthy, for you and me. Think of someone who may feel unworthy of love. Do something simple and generous for them, not because they deserve it, but because Jesus did the same for you. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Dear Friends, Alleluia, He is Risen! But that doesn’t mean He has left us. Do you recognize Jesus’ presence all around you? He is here, in the beauty of our planet, in the person sitting next to you at church, in the people we help through our outreach ministries. Please enjoy this reflection from Fr. Muir on our Gospel readings this week. I will be away for a few days as I volunteer once again at the Boston Marathon. God Bless, Father Rob When I first read Homer’s Odyssey as a teenager, one scene captured my imagination: Odysseus finally returning home after 20 years, yet no one recognized him. Disguised as a beggar, he speaks with his wife, his son, and even his enemies. He is fully present, yet hidden. Only at the right moment does he reveal himself, and everyone realizes he has been with them all along. I was struck by the mystery that he could be so close to his loved ones, and yet they simply could not identify him. A similar mystery is at the heart of today’s Gospel. Two disciples walk the road to Emmaus with Jesus, but “their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:16) He listens, teaches, and eats with them, yet they remain blind until he breaks the bread. Suddenly their eyes are opened — and at that very moment, he vanishes. His disappearance is not absence. Rather, it is revelation. The Risen Lord is now present in a new way, in the breaking of the bread and in the life of His Church. Faith is this shift of vision. Instead of searching for a visible Jesus as if he were absent, we learn to recognize him unveiled in hidden ways — in Scripture proclaimed, in the Eucharist, in the sacraments, in the very life of the Church. And what is true of him is true of us. Just as he disappears into the mission of his Body, we too are meant to be hidden in him. When we live hidden in Christ, we are seen for who we really are. — Father John Muir ©LPi

Dear Friends, I hope this Octave of Easter has been days of continuing joys of our Risen Lord in your lives! This past Lent/Holy Week and Easter has been one of my best. The many services throughout Lent offered me many things to reflect upon with our theme “Change of Heart.” Holy Week was one gift after another with the Chrism Mass, Holy Thursday, Good Friday and a ever so joyful Easter Vigil! Coming home after the Easter Vigil I was so pumped up by the prayerful experience and seeing the faces of our Elect so radiant. These individuals bring much with them to enrich our parishes. I pray that we will do the same in offering our prayer and support to them not only through the Easter Season, but always. Continue to bring to your prayer Ellen, George, Jack, Katie, Lila, Vance, Quinn, Rosemary, Shauna, Abigael, Haleigh, Josh, David, Michael, Jack, Sarah, and Devon! How blessed we have been to share their happiness in following the Holy Spirit and their desire to be one with us in our church! God bless them and all of you as we sing our Alleluias , Father Rob

Dear Friends, Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!!! What a gift we celebrate in returning to song and uplifted prayer with our Alleluias, commemorating Jesus’ triumph over death and His resurrection. I am so grateful for everyone who was able to join our services this past Holy Week. I am very thankful for all those who helped prepare our services, for our music ministries, liturgical ministers, arts & environment ministries, and everyone who pitched in when a call for assistance was asked. On behalf of the Parish Staff, we wish everyone a blessed, holy, joyful, and prayerful Easter Season! May the experience we shared in a “Change of Heart” over these past six weeks keep us proclaiming Jesus Christ’s Good News! Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, Father Rob

Dear Friends, The two Gospels for this Palm Sunday certainly evoke reflections on the “Change of Heart” theme for us. The two Gospels go from shouts of praise and triumph, to calls for crucifixion and death. Gathering around Jesus, folks go from wanting to be in his presence, to desiring his presence be eliminated in their lives. These are individuals who let their hearts know Jesus for who he is, but become individuals persuaded by outside forces to deny Jesus for who he is. These sacred texts are food for thought for us. Might we ask ourselves, have we possibly been fickle about our own relationship with Jesus? Have we had moments of yes, I do know the Lord and believe in him totally, to moments of doubt, despair, and questioning just where is he in my life? Do I welcome his presence? Do I ever walk away from his presence? This Holy Week who do we identify with? Are we shouting praises or calling out to death? Who is in our crowd that we associate with? Is the crowd of this earthly world or of the eternal world? In the coming days we will be with many different people in our scriptures. There will be Pilate, Peter, Mary of Magdala, soldiers, bystanders, Judas, Veronica, Simon of Cyrene, Mary the mother of Jesus, the women at the tomb, and others. Is there someone we may identify with, whether we want to admit it or not? Is there more than one person in whose shoes we may have walked? Change of heart is a reality for all of us. Hopefully, we are working our hearts in the direction of being more like Jesus. Let’s pray for one another this Holy Week that we will be fully ready to say yes, alleluia to our upcoming Easter. We have several opportunities for reflection on our invitation to a “Change of Heart.” Holy Tuesday, the Chrism Mass will take place at Sacred Heart Cathedral at 6 PM. This very evening our newly installed Bishop John Bonnici will bless the sacred oils. These oils are the Sacred Chrism (a perfumed oil, consecrated for confirmation, ordination, and dedication), Oil of Catechumens (used for baptismal candidates), and Oil of the Sick (used for the infirm). Holy Thursday marks the beginning of the Paschal Triduum. It commemorates the Last Supper, where Jesus instituted the Eucharist. Here we hear the commandment to love and serve. The celebration will begin at 7 PM at Saint Catherine’s. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be in the chapel until 10 PM. Good Friday, we come together again at Saint Catherine’s at 3 PM, commemorating the crucifixion, suffering, and death of Jesus on Calvary. At Transfiguration, Simple Stations of the Cross will take place at 7 PM. Holy Saturday, at 8 PM, we will gather at Transfiguration for the most solemn celebration in the Christian liturgical year, marking the transition from mourning to the joy of Christ’s resurrection. During this most beautiful celebration our Catechumens and Candidates will be welcomed into the church. I hope you will come, support, and welcome them into our faith family. On Easter Sunday, we are blessed to have two masses at each of our churches. They will be at 8:45 AM and 10:45 AM. My dear friends I will be holding you in prayer and hope you can join me in these sacred liturgies. Blessings , Father Rob

Dear Friends, For three weekends now we have been engaged in the Gospel of John, reflecting upon the Samaritan woman at the well, the man born blind, and this weekend, Jesus raising Lazarus!!! These three passages from sacred scripture are some of my most beloved. To drink the water Jesus offers and to have never to thirst again…I pray to accept His gift. To reflect and pray our Lenten theme, “Change of Heart” and recognize where I need to continually open my eyes, widen my vision, and become more like my Lord among the people I live among, …is the sight I desire. To know the life I seek is the journey with Jesus that leads me to salvation…is a grace that encourages my mind, heart, and spirit to keep the pace with Himself who walks beside me. How far have you and I come since Ash Wednesday? How are your “hearts” doing? Any hardness becoming softer? Any realizations where we can love more? A week from now we will be taking steps alongside Jesus into His/Our Holy Week. I hope you will plan on joining our parishes for all the liturgical opportunities planned. Check your postcard mailed to you before Lent began, our website, weekly email, and bulletin for times and locations of our services. And do pray for our Catechumens and Candidates that will be fully received into the Roman Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. I really hope you will come to the Easter Vigil and support these wonderful individuals. Blessings to all, Father Rob

Dear Friends, Our parishes have a wonderful group of individuals who are well on their way to be fully accepted into the Catholic Church at our Easter Vigil. These individuals recently went to Sacred Heart Cathedral to celebrate the Rite of Election. During this celebration of prayer Bishop Matano acknowledged each Catechumen and Candidate. Last weekend these sisters and brothers of ours celebrated their First Scrutiny. For parishes, like ours, who have candidates for the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults) and OCIC (Order of Christian Initiation for Children) there are three Scrutinies as part of their prayerful preparations. All three Scrutinies are connected to the weekend Gospel. The purpose of these Scrutinies is to purify the hearts and minds of the Elect, helping them to turn away from sin and toward a deeper, more intimate union with Christ. These are moments of intense prayer for protection and spiritual strength. The Third, Fourth, and Fifth weekends of Lent, our liturgies are tied to specific Gospels that highlight Jesus’ power to heal and transform. Last weekend we met the Samaritan woman at the well. She encountered Jesus as Living Water. This weekend, we have the healing of the man born blind. This Gospel proclaims Jesus as Light of the World. Next weekend, we witness Jesus raising Lazarus from death. Here Jesus is recognized as Resurrection and Life! All three of these Scrutinies are not only meant for the Elect, but also for us as well. We are invited to participate in these rites to reflect on own life-long need for conversion and to renew our commitment to living a Christian life. This is a prayerful and blessed time to have a “Change of Heart” in preparing for Easter! May we continue to pray for our OCIA and OCIC sisters and brothers in their final preparations: Jake & Kate DiOrio, Devon Forrest, Ellen & George Gardiner, Lila & Vance Gilroy, Rosemary Kinney, Abigael & Haleigh LaRocca, Josh Miller, Sarah Moore, David Rivera, Quinn Thrash and Michael Soltow. And, let us remember one another too in prayer as our family of faith grows! Blessings to everyone, Father Rob