News - March 2023 RSS Feed

PROVIDENCE — On Tuesday, March 21, the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee met to discuss SB0617, known as the Solitary Confinement Reform Act. Proposed in the Senate on March 7, the bill is sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Acosta, District 16 (Central Falls). The bill seeks to reform some of the practices surrounding the use of solitary confinement among prisoners, to prevent abuse and inordinate punishment.

Did you know that 18 years ago today, on March 31, 2005, Bishop Tobin was named the eighth Bishop of Providence by Pope John Paul II?! (Photo: RI Catholic)

From the diocesan office of Priests' Personnel.

Bishop Thomas J. Tobin invites us to pray for the Holy Father at this time...

SMITHFIELD — On Saturday, March 18, the Diocese of Providence’s Office of Faith Formation held its annual Faith Formation Convocation at Bryant University, with the theme “This Is My Body Given For You,” and centering on the role of the Eucharist in the life of the believer. (Photo: RI Catholic)

PROVIDENCE — The House Judiciary Committee met on Thursday, March 16, to discuss R.I. House Bill No. 5510, sponsored by State Representative Carol Hagan McEntee (District 33-Narragansett, South Kingstown), which proposes to eliminate the statute of limitations in cases pertaining to those who were sexually abused as minors to bring a civil lawsuit. This bill would eliminate any statute of limitations and apply it retroactively in such cases. (RIC file photo)

Recently, in the mornings, I’ve taken to listening to music instead of watching the news on TV. I’ve found that some soft and gentle music is a much more peaceful way to start the day than hearing the accounts of murder and mayhem, corruption and crime.

The New England CYO Basketball Championships will be held in Providence beginning on Friday, March 31 and continuing Saturday, April 1 and Sunday, April 2. This event rotates among the participating Dioceses in New England and was last held in Rhode Island in 2014. The following Dioceses are expected to participate in the 2023 Championships: Manchester, Fall River, Burlington, Norwich, Hartford, Bridgeport and Boston. Over 50 teams comprised of male and female student athletes from ages 8 to 18 are scheduled to participate. For more, visit calsportsri.org.

Father Charles P. Quinn, 82, Pastor Emeritus of St. Eugene Parish, Chepachet, died on Wednesday, March 22, 2023. Visitation will be in St. Eugene Church, 1251 Putnam Pike, Chepachet, on Monday, March 27, from 4 – 7 p.m. A Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial for the repose of Father’s soul will be offered on Tuesday, March 28, at 10 a.m., at St. Eugene Church. Burial will be in St. Ann Cemetery, Cranston.

Lenten events, activities, revivals and more!

Bishop Richard G. Henning celebrated Mass with the school community of Saint Raphael Academy, Pawtucket. (Photo: Diocese of Providence)

CATHOLIC NEWS AGENCY - Pope Francis has invited Catholics to annually renew an act of consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25.

PROVIDENCE — For years, Alfred Carpionato would marvel at the grandeur of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul as he faithfully attended Sunday Mass each week, along with his wife, Sheryl. Whenever Carpionato, an extremely successful developer on both the local and national fronts, saw something amiss, such as the dulling of the brass candlesticks arrayed around the altar or the tabernacle losing its luster with age, he would approach Msgr. Anthony Mancini, the cathedral’s rector, and ask what he could do to help restore their beauty.

A Catholic Charity Supported Ministry

There are several incidents in the Gospels in which Jesus cured the blind and allowed them to see. These miracles are among the most dramatic miracles that Jesus performed, for they completely changed the lives of the people he touched. But it’s good to recall, too, that in working his miracles, Jesus was concerned not only for the physical well-being of those who turned to him, but for their spiritual health as well.

PROVIDENCE — Not every architectural firm can claim credit for a cathedral-sized restoration project. Even more impressive is when that project nets two prestigious awards. DBVW Architects, the company that undertook the exterior restoration of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence, hit the nail on the head, recently receiving an award from the Rhode Island chapter of the American Institute of Architects in December and more recently were informed that they won the Faith and Form International Award for Religious Architecture: Restoration, which will be awarded later this year.

PROVIDENCE — A recently released annual audit of its finances shows that the Diocese of Providence ended fiscal year 2022 on solid financial footing.

The Rhode Island House Judiciary Committee will be hearing a bill that seeks to legalize Assisted Suicide in Rhode Island, the so-called "Lila Manfield Sapinsley Compassionate Care Act" (2023-H5210), on Wednesday, March 22 beginning at 4 p.m. in the House Lounge of the State House. Please take action now!

For 20 years, the All-Day-Confession event at Saint Joseph has helped make the Sacrament of Reconciliation more accessible for hundreds of Catholics each Lent. This year, the All-Day Confessions will be held on Saturday, March 25, from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

The annual Diocesan Basketball Championships began play Saturday, March 11. Over 40 boys and girls teams of student athletes, grades 5 through 10, qualified to participate. The outcome of the first weekend of games can be found on the Catholic Athletic League (CAL) website, calsportsri.org. The Diocesan Tournament finals are this Saturday, March 18 at LaSalle Academy, with 6 games taking place on 2 courts beginning at 9 a.m. Click for more!