The Church of Saint Sebastian 67 Cole Ave., Providence, RI 02906

(401)751-0196 stsebastianri.org

Mass Schedule

Monday - Friday: 8am

Saturday: 9 am

Sunday:

Saturday, 5pm - cantor (ad

experimentum, month of

June)

8am: Low Mass - no music

10am: organ and cantor

Both Sunday Masses are

celebrated with people in

attendance, as well as on

Facebook and Zoom.

Confessions:

Saturday at 4pm or by

appointment

Adoration of the Blessed

Sacrament

Monday - Friday, 7:15 - 8am

Parish Office Hours Closed until further notice

Parish Contact Information (410) 751-0196

June 28, 2020

Weekly Bulletin

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

You are the splendor of their strength, and by your favor our horn is exalted. For to the LORD belongs our shield, and the Holy One of Israel, our king.

Psalm 89:18-19

PARISH Directory and INFORMATION Directory Parish Information: P: (401)751-0196 F: (401)273-2753 Web: https://stsebastianri.org/ Reverend Father Jordan Kelly, O.P. Pastor 401-500-2462 pastor@stsebastianri.org Robert Short Pastoral Associate for Formation and Evangelization 401-272-6062 ssricgs@gmail.com Elaine Ginn Receptionist/Secretary office@stsebastianri.org Megan Morrow Cantor Kristen Gold Assistant Religious Education Coordinator 401-272-6062 ssriprimaryre@gmail.com Kathy Harrington Parish Accountant finance@stsebastianri@org Parish Trustees Charles Rogers Catherine Taylor Parish Finance Council James Daly Ann Carnevale Elisa Vele-Tabaddor Douglas Nani Parish Council Sarah Garcia-Mata Mary Hill Jamie Hill Janice Opalenski Patricia Recupero Fred Reinhardt Robert Whelan Amy Thomas Karin Schrott Gerry Codola Catherine Denning Toni Dumville Robert Lough

WELCOME to the CHURCH of SAINT SEBASTIAN In my own name and on behalf of the People of Saint Sebastian’s, welcome to our Parish! If you are visiting, coming back to the Church and Mass after some time away, or looking for a Parish, you are most welcome here at Saint Sebastian’s.

Parish Registration Registration is the official way we join a parish community, please stop in the Parish Office or register online to become a registered parishioner. To be considered an active registered member of the parish, members are asked to give of their time, talent and treasure. The parish is in need of and welcomes all three parts of your stewardship.

Sacrament of Baptism Congratulations on the birth of your child! We require all parents and godparents to attend Sacramental Preparation Classes. Once you have called the rectory to plan for the baptism of your child, we will have someone contact you to set up a special appointment for Preparation classes. These classes are usually done one on one with each family and are conducted by a couple who are well prepared to teach and assist in Baptismal Preparation.

Sacrament of Matrimony Congratulations on your engagement and decision to enter into a Catholic marriage! Saint Sebastian Parish will help you in your preparation to ensure that you make this serious and sacred step in your life a holy and happy one. The day and time of your wedding must be arranged in person by the prospective bride and groom themselves as soon as they feel called to marry. No arrangement can be made by phone or parents. All arrangements should be made nine months prior to the wedding date and done prior to scheduling the reception. The first meeting with the Pastor may be scheduled by calling the Parish Office at (401) 751-0196. Spiritual preparation is a key part of this special time. Frequent participation in the sacraments during this time is important, particularly weekly Mass attendance. It is also strongly recommended that you bring yourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this time of preparation.

Religious Education By their word and their example, parents are the first and principal teachers of their children concerning our Catholic Faith. The Religious Education of Saint Sebastian’s stands ready to assist parents in their sacred and most important responsibility. Should you have any questions about the program please contact Ms. Kristen Gold at ssriprimaryre@gmail.com or Mr. Bob Short at ssricgs@gmail.com

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Saint Sebastian’s also offers Level One, ages 3 - 6, of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, commonly referred to as CGS. CGS is a Montessori-based program of faith formation. Please contact Mr. Bob Short, Catechist, at ssricgs@gmail.com

Parish Auditors Ellen Boyle

Jennifer Pizzuti

Justice and peace are words sometimes used to summarize the whole area of our faith called Catholic social teaching and action. They are what the protestors decrying the brutal death of George Floyd last week in Minneapolis are chanting about. All want a harmonious society, but there can be no true peace without justice for all. As Pope St. Paul VI famously said in his message for the Day of Peace in 1972, “If you want peace, work for justice.” How do we do that? The first step is listening. While decrying violent demonstrations, Archbishop José Gomez, President of the U.S. Catholic Bishops provocatively stated, “It is true what Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, that riots are the language of the unheard. We should be doing a lot of listening right now.” Too many of our African-American brothers and sisters lament racial discrimination, including on the part of law enforcement, for it to be ignored. It is a crie de coeur. “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted,” the Psalmist tells us. (Ps. 34:19) May his disciples likewise listen to those who cry out. The next step is love. The goal is not merely the absence of external discrimination, but rather a true unity among peoples. Love means exulting in the other. Thomas Merton veritably sang about people of color in his Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander: “the grace of election that made them God’s chosen, the grace that elevated them above the meaningless and trivial things of life, even in the midst of terrible and unjust suffering.” More than speaking about a bland equality, can I sing about the beauty and giftedness of African-American people, in the way that I am drawn to admire cultures and people more familiar to me?

Then comes action — a challenge. How does one improve the situation? I recall the advice of a black friend in a conversation about race: We need to eat at one another’s homes. True equality comes with true friendship, and that means sharing lives. On a larger level, there needs to be, to borrow the phrase used in South Africa after the fall of apartheid, a spirit of truth and reconciliation. May there be an openness to listening to historic and current stories of racism — not for the purpose of accusation, but with the hope of mutual understanding and justice. “All Christians, their pastors included, are called to show concern for the building of a better world,” as Pope Francis said The Joy of the Gospel. (#183) For Dominicans, the answer starts and ends with preaching. Our communities are our first preaching, and these can each be a witness to love amidst the diversity of human background, God-willing with ever more ethnic and racial inclusion. Then proclamation can show how the message of racial equality springs beautifully from the Gospel and Church teaching, Preaching that omits justice issues is stunted. Rather, “let justice roll down like waters,” (Amos 5:24) and may Christ, the Prince of Peace, reign in our hearts and in our troubled land. Fr. Francis Belanger, O.P., is the pastor of Saints Philip and James Parish in Baltimore, MD, and the Promoter of Social Justice for the Dominican Province of Saint Joseph. Originally posted on June 3, 2020 at https://opeast.org/2020/06/steps-toward-racial-justice/

RACIAL JUSTICE and SOCIAL PEACE

MASS Intentions

SATURDAY, JUNE 27 – 9AM IN CHURCH

Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday

For the end of violence in our country and the renewal of our

Church

4pm - Confessions

Vigil of the 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5pm: Vigil Mass – Music led by cantor

+ Louis McCartin

SUNDAY, JUNE 28 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

8am: Low Mass – Quiet Mass

Pro Populo

10am: Music with organ and cantor

+All those who have died from COVID - 19

MONDAY, JUNE 29 – 8AM IN CHURCH SS. Peter and Paul - Solemnity

+Cynthia Lynch

TUESDAY, JUNE 30 – 8AM IN CHURCH The First Matters of the Holy Roman Church

The intentions of Peter and Thomas Sheffer

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1 – 8AM IN CHURCH Weekday

+Bettie Jean Kelly on her 96th Birthday

THURSDAY, JULY 2 – 8AM IN CHURCH Weekday

+Donna Conlin

FRIDAY, JULY 3 – 8AM IN CHURCH Saint Thomas the Apostle

+ Robert Koshgarian

SATURDAY, JULY 4 – 9AM IN CHURCH Weekday

For our country and all her needs

4pm – Confession

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

5pm

+Joseph Mastriano – Birthday Remembrance

Masses are celebrated as follows:

Monday – Friday: 8am; Saturday: 9am

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Monday – Friday, 7:15 – 8am

Sunday Vigil Mass: 5pm

Sunday Masses are celebrated at 8 and 10am.

Both Masses are available via Zoom, or the Parish Facebook Page

The Church is open daily from 7:15am – 7pm.

Come, rest, and pray!

PARISH PRAYER Requests

If you would like someone included in the Prayers for the Sick, please call the office at 401.751.0196 .

LET US PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE ILL:

Belle Calenda; Joseph Kennedy; Bill Dolan, Jean

Devlin Haight, those who die because of violence;

and those who live with addiction: let us pray to the

Lord.

LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD:

all veterans and all who died serving our country;

those who have died because of the Pandemic; Fr.

Joseph Daly; and all the living and deceased members

of our families and parish: let us pray to the Lord.

JOIN us IN PRAYER

AROUND the PARISH

PARISH FINANCES Thank you for your ongoing generosity and support of the Parish. This week’s numbers are: Gross Income: $2821.00 Budget Offering to Parish: $2431.00 Maintenance Collection: $ 85.00 Mass Stipends: $ 175.00 Communications Collection: $ 30.00 Father’s Day Novena: $ 25.00 Net Income to Parish: $2791.00 Of the $2431 collected in the Offertory - $515 was from money that was either dropped off at the Rectory or sent through the mail! Thank you very much!! THANK YOU! GROCERY GIFT CARD Thank you for your extremely generous response to the Grocery Gift Cards. To date we have raised $3,825.00. The amount raised over the purchased amount of $750 allows us to purchase more gift cards. Thank you! Fr. Jordan STAFF NEWS

I am delighted to tell you that Bob Short has accepted my invitation to become our parish’s Pastoral Associate: congratulations, Bob! Bob’s exact title is: Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Evangelization. Bob will continue the excellent work he is doing with Religious Education, the RCIA, and all the IT work he does to bring the Mass and other social media events to our homes. If for any reason I am unable to attend either a Parish or Finance Council Meeting, Bob will represent me at those meetings, and will in my place. Please join me in congratulating Bob, as well as thanking him, for accepting this new and expanded Position.

WEEKLY ATTENDANCE AND MASS SCHEDULE

Attendance June 20 and 21:

5pm: 22

8am: 12

10am: 42

Total: 76

Since the first week of June, the total Mass attendance for

each weekend showed the general summer trend for our

Parish. The totals were: Weekend of June 6 and 7: 153;

weekend of June 13 and 14: 91; and June 21 and 22:76. I

expect the numbers to trend in the same way throughout

the summer. Reviewing the 91 Responses of the recent

Parish Survey, and having listened to the Parish Council,

the Summer Mass schedule is:

Saturday Evening at 5pm

Sunday Morning at 10am

The Summer Schedule will begin on the weekend of

July 4 and 5

And continue until and include the weekend of

September 5 and 6

Daily Mass is at 8am; and on Saturday at 9am.

The daily Mass schedule will be in effect until

Friday, September 4.

A QUESTION FROM FATHER JORDAN

During the weeks of being quarantined the bulletin has

had a column marked, Ask Father Jordan.

Not one question. So, I thought I would ask all of you a

question:

What do you enjoy most about belonging to Saint

Sebastian?

Email your answer to: pastor@stsebastianri.org.

AROUND the PARISH

CATHOLIC SCHOOL TUITION ASSISTANCE Saint Sebastian has been very generous in assisting

Catholic Parents to provide their children with the

great blessing of a Catholic Education. The

Diocese has a process for awarding this assistance

to families in need. We have not followed this

process at all. Given our particular circumstances,

to change the way in which these monies have

been distributed is too difficult a cultural change

to accomplish. The amount of money we have to

distribute is based directly on the total amount of our

offertory income.

Families who seek Tuition Assistance need to be

registered and active parishioners; being involved

in the life of the Parish by participating as an Altar

Server, Lector, Eucharistic Minister or Greeter, or

some other identifiable service to the Parish;

contributes to the offertory as means allow on a

regular basis; and attends Mass at Saint Sebastian

on a regular basis.

As a result of COVID – 19 I know that many

parents are forced with having to choose between

Catholic Schools and other essential needs. The

Parish remains committed to helping as many

Catholic Families as possible keep their children

in Catholic Schools. Please contact me at your earliest convenience if you are requesting

tuition assistance for the upcoming school year.

SAVE THE DATES

Monday – Friday, July 13 – 17: Vacation Bible

School

Our Doors

are Open

for You!

CONGRATULATIONS, COLIN!

Last Saturday, June 13, our seminarian, Colin Lane,

was formally accepted as a Candidate for Priestly

Ordination. "Candidacy", given in the first year of the

major seminary, is an acknowledgment between the

candidate and the Diocese or Religious, that both

agree the young man should move towards

ordination.

Please keep Colin and his classmate in your prayers as

they move to Sacred Heart Seminary in Detroit.

AROUND the PARISH

June 15, 2020

Rev. Jordan Kelly, OP St. Sebastian Parish 67 Cole Avenue Providence, RI 02906

Dear Father Kelly:

Nothing energies this office more than the annual Rice Bowl Appeal, and our partnership with Catholic Relief Services. To witness young and old people donate to the poor in this unique way is gratifying to me personally. I receive request, weekly, from places all over the world seeking our assistance and it is great that you and your parish have responded so generously.

I am grateful to you and the members of St. Sebastian Parish for your donation of $750.00.

I am confident that any relationship with the poor changes us. This is the inevitable result of giving oneself to another. As we move forward to meet the ever increasing demands of our needy brothers and sisters, we must live in confidence that God blesses our work and brings it to completion. Thank you for your help.

I would be remiss if I did not remind you of the fact that Rice Bowl collection sends 75% of all that is collected to the missions throughout the world, while 25% of the money collected remains here in our own Diocese. It supports local organizations that reach out to our own population that struggles daily to survive.

Thank you for building bridges between your local community and the world. You can take great comfort in the fact your support, through CRS, keeps us vigilant in responding to our brothers and sisters daily and especially when crisis arises.

“I thank God, through Jesus Christ, for you.”

(Romans 1:8)

Rev. Robert P. Perron

Director