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Information from the Diocese of Providence
during the COVID-19 Crisis
February 12, 2021
The Imitation of Christ: Early Learning, Lifetime Memories
From Bishop Tobin
I guess I’m a typical sports fan. I cheer for the home team and am happy when they win. I cheer against the “bad guys” and am happy when they lose. Although sometimes the “bad guys” are considered bad only because they’re so good and seem to win all the time. (You know whom I’m talking about, right?)

Coronavirus pandemic to affect how Catholics will receive ashes on Ash Wednesday
PROVIDENCE — The beginning of Lent this year will have a different look and feel because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Instead of tracing the sign of the cross with ashes on the forehead, a priest will sprinkle ashes on each person’s head without saying anything. Blessing the ashes at the altar, the priest will, one time, recite the common penitential formula found in the Roman Missal.

Lenten Fast and Abstinence Regulations
2021 GUIDELINES FOR LENT
As Lent approaches on Ash Wednesday (February 17), all pastors are asked to please make their parishioners aware of the following Lenten Regulations:

Ash Wednesday Mass in ASL
February 17th at 12 noon and 5:30pm
Dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return." - Genesis 3:19

On Ash Wednesday, February 17th, Catholics begin the forty-day season called Lent which precedes the celebration of Easter, Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

Join us at St. Patrick Church Providence, 244 Smith Street, Providence, RI at the 12:00 noon or 5:30pm for Ash Wednesday Mass in ASL.

Contact the church with any questions, 401.421.7070 or Irma I. Rodríguez, Director, the Apostolate for People with Disabilities at 401.278.4578,  irodriguez@dioceseofprovidence.org.
40 Days for Life Lenten Campaign kicks off
Ash Wednesday, February 17
From the Office of Life & Family
The mission of the 40 Days for Life campaign is to bring together the Body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40-day campaign of prayer, fasting, and peaceful activities as we seek God’s favor in turning hearts and minds from a culture of death to a Culture of Life, thus bringing an end to abortion.

Can't join us? Pray outside of an abortion facility…pray at church…pray at work…pray in the car…pray at home!

We Can Do Our Part!
Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl 2021
When you donate to CRS Rice Bowl, you share your life and your abundance with our global family in need. Your generosity puts nutritious food on their tables and helps them lead healthy lives and reach their God-given potential!
Jesus teaches us that when we help our sisters and brothers around the world, we are helping him, too. Over the 40 days of Lent, we’ll learn how families and communities discover ways to lead healthier lives and remind ourselves how we can do our part through CRS Rice Bowl.

CRS Rice Bowl is the Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. Through CRS Rice Bowl, faith communities in every diocese throughout the United States put their faith into action through prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Click below to watch video!

To learn more, please visit: crsricebowl.org
After 11 months of ‘giving up,’ what is there left to give up this Lent?
WASHINGTON (CNS) — Since childhood, the typical U.S. Catholic’s response to Lent is giving up, as in “What are you giving up for Lent?”

If you haven’t been keeping track, Catholics in the United States and worldwide — just about everyone, really — have been giving up a lot since the coronavirus pandemic struck 11 months ago, with no clearly defined end in sight. You would need the fingers on both hands to name some of the things that have been lost, not to mention nearly a half-million lives lost in the U.S. alone.

2021 Virtual Faith Formation Convocation
Fri., March 19 through Sunday, March 21
For Parish Leaders, Catechists, Teachers, and Parents

The 2021 Virtual Faith Formation Convocation will include both live and pre-recorded content.

Attendees can register for the live portions or view pre-recorded sessions throughout the weekend.

To view the schedule of speakers, live events, and exhibitors, visit the Faith Formation Convocation 2021 website at faithformationconvocation.com

Questions? Contact the diocesan Office of Faith Formation, here.
World Day of Prayer for Consecrated Life celebrates vocations virtually this year
PROVIDENCE — In the consecrated life, mission and consecration are directly linked, Benedictine Brother Sixtus Roslevich told a virtual audience of religious sisters, brothers and priests.

“Mission can be equated with the overarching theme of holiness,” Brother Sixtus, OSB, the director of oblates at Portsmouth Abbey Monastery, said during his Feb. 7 reflection to commemorate the World Day of Consecrated Life.

Diocesan Youth Day 2012
Save the Date!
Pope Francis pleas for “vaccines for all”
A look at Pope Francis’ calls for a fair distribution of vaccine and the global challenges to doing it
In case you missed it!
The Diocese on Social Media
More great photos from our Catholic Schools
St. Pius V School, Providence - PreK & 3-8
8th & 1st grade students in the SPV Buddy Program enjoyed some socially distant activities to celebrate St. Valentine’s Day

St. Kevin School, Warwick - PreK-8
Representatives of Operation Stand Down Rhode Island visited and received supplies that grade 4 and grade 5 collected - - winter socks, soap, toothpaste and other personal hygiene items for homeless veterans

St. Joseph School, West Warwick - PreK-8
They say imitation is the most sincere form of flattery...check out some of the middle school students who came to school dressed
as their teachers (and Pastor)!

St. Teresa School, Pawtucket - PreK-8
V is for Violin, Volcano, and helping our Vets!
Unable to attend Holy Mass?
Learn how to Make a Spiritual Communion
March 2020, at the start of the pandemic, Rev. Jeremy J. Rodrigues, S.T.L., Administrative Secretary to the Bishop & Director of the Office for Divine Worship, Diocese of Providence, recorded videos for the faithful explaining "How to Make a Spiritual Communion."

Need some help?

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Click here to see the good work of your Catholic Charities donation in action.
The Rhode Island Catholic
After having moved all publishing to the RI Catholic website as the pandemic began to unfold, the diocesan newspaper has returned to print!


Find the Catholic online:
Live-streamed and pre-recorded Masses
**Please consult parish websites, bulletins, and social media often for the most up-to-date Mass times as we slowly move to resume public worship. Be reminded that some parishes may continue with live-streaming liturgies, Mass times may change, and each parish will have guidelines in place for parishioners.**

Regular Masses
During the COVID-19 Crisis, regular Masses continue to be posted on the diocesan website page dedicated to parish live-streamed/pre-recorded Masses. Find it here.

Special Devotions & Public Worship
As in the past, please consult your parish's bulletin, website, and social media pages for the specifics relative to special devotions, the Rosary, and more. Find parish contact and website information here.
Watch the Sunday 10:00am Mass live from the Cathedral
Stay in touch
Get help, follow the Diocese on social media, and more
Sincerely yours in Christ,

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence
Office of Communications
One Cathedral Square, Providence, RI
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