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

(401)751-0196 stsebastianri.org

Mass Schedule

Due to the directive from Bishop Tobin banning the public celebration of the Eucharist until further notice Saint Sebastian's schedule has changed. Sunday: 10:00 am via Livestreamed Mass Video Mass will be posted on www.stsebastianri.org following the livestreamed Mass

The Church is open daily from

8:30am – 7pm.

Come, rest, and pray!

Confession Times

By appointment

Devotions

Adoration of the Blessed

Sacrament: Monday – Friday,

5pm – 6pm

Sunday: 11am – Noon

Parish Office Hours Closed until further notice

Parish Contact Information (410) 751-0196

April 19, 2020

Weekly Bulletin Divine Mercy Sunday

I was hard pressed and was falling, but the LORD helped me. My strength and my courage is the LORD, and he has been my savior.

The joyful shout of victory in the tents of the just: Psalm 118:13-15

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 Elaine Ginn Receptionist/Secretary office@stsebastianri.org Carole Graves Director of Music/Organist music@stsebastianri.org Megan Morrow Cantor Robert Short Director of Faith Formation and Evangelization 401-272-6062 ssricgs@gmail.com Kristen Gold Assistant Religious Education Coordinator 401-272-6062 ssriprimaryre@gmail.com Paul Castaldi Maintenance Kathy Harrington Parish Accountant finance@stsebastianri@org Parish Trustees Charles Rogers Catherine Taylor James Daly Ann Carnevale Elisa Vele-Tabaddor Douglas Nani Parish Finance Council Sarah Garcia-Mata Mary Hill Jamie Hill Janice Opalenski Patricia Recupero Ellen Reinhardt Fred Reinhardt Parish Council

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

Robert Whelan Amy Thomas Karin Schrott Gerry Codola Catherine Denning Toni Dumville Robert Lough

Ellen Boyle

Jennifer Pizzuti

Parish Auditors

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

Today the Church rings with this great intercession:

For the sake of His

Sorrowful Passion;

Have mercy on us,

And on the whole world!

The Church also rings with this great acclamation:

Jesus, I trust in You!

Since the pontificate of Saint John Paul II, the Second Sunday of Easter has become known as Divine Mercy Sunday. The last page in the bulletin describes the origin and history of the Feast; as well as the role of Saint Faustina in making known the Lord’s desire for this Feast. We have been shown such great mercy through the Paschal Mystery of the Savior, why do we need a special Feast to celebrate the Lord’s Divine Mercy? A very simple answer would be: as we have received mercy, now we are asked to share mercy, and to intercede for God’s Mercy for ourselves and others. But let’s delve a bit deeper about this Divine Mercy. Mercy has two goals: reconciliation and communion. When researching the etymology of the word reconciliation, one learns the more colloquial expression of reconciliation was “to be eye lash to eye lash”, and later, “to dry the tears from another’s eyelash”. Both if these analogies depict how reconciliation brings people together in a very intimate way. Because of its intimacy, reconciliation can be very difficult: how do I/ why would I seek reconciliation with someone who has objectively hurt me? Humanly, we would not desire such a reunion. But with the assistance of God’s Grace, we can begin to desire such reconciliation, and so we cry, “for the sake of His Sorrowful Passion; have mercy on us and on the whole world…”. This acclamation of intercession pleads for God’s Mercy for all of creation acknowledging that we are not able to be reconciled with ourselves, others, or even the Lord, without the assistance of Divine Mercy given to us by God’s grace. Reconciliation is not the

panacea of “everything is just fine,” it is the reality that I acknowledge a breach in a relationship, and I need to pray for the healing of that breach. But mercy also leads to communion. Communion… to be one with. In these days, so many of us long to return not only to the reception of the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion; but we also long for the commun – ity in which we experience that communion. But being one with another person is hard work, and there are times that this “one-withness” is stretched and tried. Again, it is the grace of Divine Mercy, that no matter the struggle, we forge on to maintain the communion we so treasure with those we know and love. This is why the Sacrament of Reconciliation is so important in our lives, and it is one of the greatest sources of knowing Divine Mercy. Through the Sacrament of Reconciliation we admit that we have weakened and perhaps broken the communion that exists between God, ourselves, and others. Through the absolution of our sins, the Grace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation gives us what we need to begin again and strive for the communion we have lost or weakened. But what about those situations or people where reconciliation seems impossible and communion isn’t in the vocabulary of our heart? Thanks be to God, His Mercy delights in our effort not our perfection; and, His Mercy is greater than our struggle to allow His Grace to restore the reconciliation which yields communion. On this Divine Mercy Sunday, how does the Lord invite you to seek through the merits of His Passion, mercy for ourselves and for the whole world? As we pray, Jesus, I trust in You! may we trust in His work in us until we are one with Him, the Angels and Saints, and one another. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! In the Lord,

From FATHER JORDAN, O.P. , Pastor

JOIN us IN PRAYER

MASS Intentions Father Jordan is celebrating Mass each day in the Rectory Chapel

at 9am. While this is not a public Mass, the intentions of the entire Parish are remembered in each celebration.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament:

Monday – Friday, 5pm – 6pm Sunday: 11am – Noon

The Church is open daily from 8:30am – 7pm.

Come, rest, and pray!

SATURDAY, APRIL 18

Saturday in the Octave of the Resurrection

9am: For the renewal of the Church

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 The Second Sunday of Easter/Divine Mercy Sunday

For all the living and deceased members of our Parish

+Angela Margiotta

MONDAY, APRIL 20 Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, OP

+Aloysius Sanjaya

TUESDAY, APRIL 21 Easter Weekday

+All deceased family members

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 Easter Weekday

For the intentions of the Kleusner Family

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 Easter Weekday

For the unemployed

FRIDAY, APRIL 24 Easter Weekday

+ Fr. George Christian, O.P., on the anniversary of his death SATURDAY, APRIL 18 Saint Mark, Apostle and Evangelist – Feast

9am: For the Church

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:

All those who test positive for COVID-19; Belle

Calenda; Ken Johnson; Laura; Joseph Kennedy;

Esther Sanjaya; those for whom the isolation in a great

problem; all first responders who risk their lives caring

for the sick, and may become ill themselves; those

who live with addiction.

LET US REMEMBER OUR BELOVED DEAD:

Jack Horan, Richard Schantz; Angelo J. Maraldo;

Fr. George Christian, O.P., and Angela Margiotta.

10 WAYS TO HARNESS EASTER JOY, EVERY DAY! 1. Begin each day by

thanking God for all the good things in your life.

2. Give God all of your fears and worries.

3. Offer up the suffering and disappointments you experience.

4. Do something nice for someone.

5. Be a forgiving person. Let go of anger and resentments that drag down your spirit.

6. Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the emerging springtime.

7. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Learn to laugh at yourself.

8. Find ways to show family members and friends how much you appreciate them.

9. Try to live more simply. Clear out material possessions that are not essential to your happiness.

10. End each day by thanking God for all the good things in your life.

~ from Our Sunday Visitor

AROUND the PARISH THANK YOU!

My sincere thanks to all of you for your Easter

Wishes, phone calls, emails and texts, and certainly the

many goodies that you so kindly brought to the

Rectory.

If you saw any of the live streaming, I did my best to

acknowledge and thank the “Fabulous Five” who

made Holy Week, the Triduum, and Easter so

beautiful, and made it all look effortless: thank you!

SAVE THE DATES:

Saturday, May 30 at 5pm: Vigil of Pentecost Mass

and Reception – details to follow

Monday – Friday, July 13 – 17: Vacation Bible

School

MOTHERS’ DAY NOVENA

In your current set of Budget Envelopes, you will see

an envelope for the Mothers’ Day Novena. Beginning

with the 5pm Mass on May 2nd and concluding with

the 11am Mass on May 10th, Mass will be offered each

day for all of our Mothers, living or deceased. The

names of all those Mothers enrolled in the Novena

will be placed the Blessed Mother’s May Altar. Please

write the names of those you wish remembered on

the envelope or on a sheet of paper enclosed with

your donation.

DIOCESAN RESOURCES • Diocese of Providence offering Stop and Shop

gift cards to those temporarily out of work.

• List of Online Masses

• ONLINE SPIRITUAL RESOURCES • https://stsebastianri.org/ • https://dioceseofprovidence.org/ • http://www.usccb.org/ • https://www.wordonfire.org/

ASK FATHER JORDAN

Do you have questions about something you see in

the Parish? Or, do you scratch your head and say, “I

wonder about….?” If this is you, think about using

Ask Father Jordan by emailing your questions to him

at pastor@stsebastianri.org. If the answer is for the

good of the entire Parish, Father will answer your

question in the bulletin (you will not be identified). If

Father’s answer is of a more private nature, he will

respond to you personally.

The banns of marriage are announced for the Third time between our parishioner

Cosimo Petracchi

of 5 Seekonk Street

And

Lucia Pecorario

Of Prato, Italy

NEW PARISH FACEBOOK PAGE

Please visit our new Facebook page! Click the

link or search for Saint Sebastian Church.

Live stream Mass will be shown on the Facebook

page until we can celebrate the Eucharist

together again.