SUPPORT FOR
THE CONFRATERNITY OF PENITENTS FROM BISHOPS
The Confraternity of Penitents is most grateful
to God for the support which He has allowed to
the Confraternity, through the Bishops of the
Diocese of Providence, USA. A brief history of
this support is as follows. Please pray for our
Bishop as he prays for us.
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January 30, 1998 (Excerpt from initial letter of
permission to exist from Msgr. William Varsanyi,
written as directed by Bishop Robert Mulvee)
"this Rule does not contain anything contrary to
our faith; therefore it may be safely practiced
privately by you or by anyone inclined to do so.
. . . His Excellency is appreciative of your
efforts to live and promote Franciscan
spirituality and especially promote the
neglected practice of penance and he wishes you
success."
+++++
January 5, 1999 (Personal hand-written note from
Bishop Robert Mulvee sent with a card stating
that the Bishop would remember our intentions in
the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)
"Thank you for
your kind comments on my Christmas message. You
and the group are in my prayers. Pray for me."
+++++
October 1, 2003 (Excerpt from a letter from
Msgr. William Varsanyi, Vicar General of the
Diocese of Providence)
"This is to
acknowledge receipt of the lengthy informaton
concerning the Confraternity of Penitents, a
recently established private association with
the permission of Bishop Mulvee. I will file the
material in our diocesan archives."
+++++
November 3, 2003 (Excerpt from a letter from
Msgr. William Varsanyi, Vicar General)
"His Excellency is sending his special
blessing to all who will celebrate the Mass of
Thanksgiving on the evening of November 22 at
Holy Ghost Church in Tiverton." (Note: This was
the Mass of Thanksgiving for the refounding of
the Confraternity of Penitents. Information on
this
link.)
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February 23, 2004 (Excerpt from a letter from
Archbishop Henry Mansell, Archbishop of
Hartford, in response to a letter from the
Confraternity of Penitents, welcoming him to New
England)
"It is helpful
for me to know that, as of August 22, 2003, you
have been refounded as the Confraternity of
Penitents, a private association of the
faithful, under the Diocese of Providence, Rhode
Island. . . Be assured of my continued prayers
and best wishes for you and for all in the
Confraternity of Penitents."
+++++
April 2, 2004 (Excerpt from letter in response
to CFP correspondence offering our prayers for
Bishop Robert McManus, auxiliary bishop of the
Diocese of Providence, as he prepared for his
new assignment as Bishop of Worcester)
" . . . I would
ask you to remember me and the people of the
Diocese of Worcester in your good prayers. For
my part, I will continue to pray for you and
your intentions."
+++++
October 3, 2006 (Excerpt from a letter from Rev.
Michael Colello, Administrative Secretary)
" . . . It is both edifying and encouraging
for the Bishop to learn that additional members
have embraced your Rule of Life. vocations are a
source of blessing to the Church and the Bishop
gives his blessing to your community's noble
pursuit of a life of penance and holiness. Your
endeavor is commendable and the Bishop promises
his prayers for you and all of the members of
the Confraternity. May God grant you abundant
grace and peace."
Full letter on this
link.
+++++
October 23, 2006 (Excerpt from a letter from
Bishop Thomas Tobin)
"Thank you for
your recent note and your kinds words regarding
my recent article and homilies about the
importance of living our Catholic Faith. It is a
very important theme for our time, and in our
State, and I hope that in some small way I can
inspire the members of our Catholic Faith to a
more effective living-out of our faith
commitment. With my best wishes and prayers for
all the members of the Confraternity of
Penitents . . . "
Additional letters on these links:
Letter of September 29,
2008, affirming Fr. Michael Anthony
Sisco as Visitor of the Confraternity of
Penitents
Letter of December 15,
2008 granting permission to
distribute Prayer for the Moral Renewal of Our
Nation
Letter of January 12, 2009
wishing continued growth to the Confraternity of
Penitents
Letter of February 11,
2009 affirming canonical status of
the Confraternity of Penitents
Confraternity of Penitents
520 Oliphant Lane
Middletown RI USA
02842-4600
401/849-5421
bspenance@hotmail.com
copenitents@yahoo.com
