About Holy Angels · Barrington, Rhode Island
Holy Angels Catholic Church is a small, tight-knit Roman Catholic parish located at 341 Maple Avenue in Barrington, Rhode Island, within the Diocese of Providence. Founded in 1913 by Italian immigrant families who farmed the surrounding pastoral land, the parish remains rooted in its local history while welcoming new generations. Today the parish offers a Saturday Vigil Mass, weekday Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, a Religious Education program for grades 1 through 9, an active Social Outreach Ministry, a parish Prayer Chain, and stewardship of the historic Santa Maria del Campo Cemetery on Upland Way.
- Established
- 1913
- Patron
- Holy Angels
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy D. Reilly (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Holy Angels is exactly the kind of parish where a newcomer can be known by name: a small, family-style Catholic community on Barrington's Maple Avenue with over a century of Italian-American heritage, a Saturday Vigil Mass and weekday Masses, Religious Education for grades 1–9, a Prayer Chain and Prayer Intention Book that actively carry the needs of the sick, homebound and bereaved, and a Social Outreach Ministry that quietly supports the less fortunate through weekly food collections and signature 'Take-Out Thursday' charity food sales.
Mass times at Holy Angels
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- By appointment
- Saturdays 3:00–3:45 pm (priest on-duty in the confessional box)
Welcome to Holy Angels Parish
Holy Angels Catholic Church is a small, historic Roman Catholic parish in Barrington, Rhode Island, in the Diocese of Providence. Since 1913, generations of families have called the church at 341 Maple Avenue their home. The parish describes itself as both 'a gathering place of festivities and an intimate family community' — a parish that gathers for Mass, for Religious Education, for charity, and for quiet prayer in its Peace Garden.
- Founded 1913 by Italian immigrant families
- Diocese of Providence
- Address: 341 Maple Avenue, Barrington, RI 02806
- Phone: 401-245-7743
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday and Tuesday, 9 am – 3 pm
History of Holy Angels
The history of Holy Angels begins with humble circumstances common to small-town country parishes. The early Catholic settlers of Barrington numbered fewer than fifty families, the majority of them Italians recently emigrated to America, who were obliged to travel — sometimes on foot — to Warren to attend Sunday services at St. Jean's or St. Mary's Church. The first Mass at Holy Angels was celebrated on November 30, 1913, and the parish was formally incorporated on December 17, 1913. The parish was originally incorporated as St. Alexander's and received its first resident pastor, Fr. Iannetta, within a few years. A permanent chapel was eventually erected and the church was dedicated by Bishop Russell. Through the twentieth century, Holy Angels remained a tight-knit Italian-American community built on the labor of those founding families, and that identity continues to shape the parish today.
- First Mass: November 30, 1913
- Incorporated: December 17, 1913 (originally as St. Alexander's)
- First resident pastor: Fr. Iannetta
- Church dedicated by Bishop Russell
- Italian immigrant heritage
Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently administered by Rev. Timothy D. Reilly. Rev. Raymond J. Ferrick serves as Pastor Emeritus, Rev. Mark G. Gadoury as Assistant Pastor, and Rev. Peter H. Lee as Priest-in-Residence. Carol Owens serves as parish secretary (office hours Monday and Tuesday, 9 am–3 pm), and Nicholas Rocha is the parish organist. Peter DeAngelis and Nicholas Alteri are Trustees, and Gale Toegemann is Auditor.
- Rev. Timothy D. Reilly — Administrator
- Rev. Raymond J. Ferrick — Pastor Emeritus
- Rev. Mark G. Gadoury — Assistant Pastor
- Rev. Peter H. Lee — Priest-in-Residence
- Carol Owens — Secretary (Mon & Tues 9 am–3 pm)
- Nicholas Rocha — Organist
- Peter DeAngelis — Trustee
- Nicholas Alteri — Trustee
- Gale Toegemann — Auditor
Sacraments
Arrangements for all sacraments are made through the parish office. Couples are asked to contact the office at least a year in advance of a wedding. Sponsor certificates for Godparents and Confirmation sponsors are issued to Confirmed, registered, practicing Catholics who attend weekly Mass, are validly married in the Church (if applicable), and provide for the Religious Education of their own children (if applicable).
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage — contact at least 1 year in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Sponsor certificates for Baptism and Confirmation
Religious Education
Holy Angels runs a 'personalized grades 1 through 9 full Religious Education program' out of its air-conditioned downstairs hall. The program is administered together with St. Luke's Parish; the current Director of Religious Education is Diane Comerford ([email protected], 401-246-1363).
- Grades 1–9 Religious Education
- Director: Diane Comerford
- Held in the downstairs parish hall
- Coordinated with St. Luke's Parish
Social Outreach Ministry
The Holy Angels Social Outreach Ministry is one of the most visible signs of parish life beyond the sanctuary. Parishioners are asked to bring non-perishable food each week to help the less fortunate in the community, and all calls to the parish for assistance are kept confidential. The ministry's signature fundraiser is the seasonal 'Take-Out Thursday' charity food sale, where themed carryout menus (e.g. Labor Day, Summertime Splash, Jolly in July, Stars Stripes and Bites for America 250) are prepared by parish volunteers and proceeds go directly to the less fortunate. Past menus have included clam stuffies, burger-puff 'flip flops', Italian lasagna, and themed cheesecakes and cupcakes.
- Weekly non-perishable food collection
- Confidential direct assistance to those in need
- Signature 'Take-Out Thursday' charity food sales (seasonal)
- Run by a dedicated team of parish volunteers
Prayer Ministry and Prayer Chain
The Holy Angels Prayer Chain is an important part of the parish's Prayer Ministry. Requests can be called or texted to Carol (837-5538), emailed to the parish office at [email protected], or emailed directly to [email protected]. Weekly parish prayers include all parishioners' intentions, those in war zones, the unborn, the lonely, sick and homebound, family unity, the poor and homeless, religious vocations, the diocese's priests, and prayers written in the parish Prayer Intention Book. The parish also remembers Bishop Henning as he assumes his new mission and Bishop James Ruggieri.
- Prayer Chain coordinator: Carol (call/text 837-5538)
- Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- Prayer Intention Book in the church
- Weekly prayers for parishioners, the sick, the poor, and vocations
Maria Del Campo (Santa Maria del Campo) Cemetery
The historic Maria Del Campo Cemetery, also known as Santa Maria del Campo Cemetery, is located on Upland Way in Barrington and was first established by the parishioners of Holy Angels Church. The cemetery was transferred to the Diocese of Providence in 1978 by Father Pasquale Rotondi, with the permission of Bishop Gelineau, and has since been maintained by the staff at Gate of Heaven Cemetery. It sits on over 3.5 acres and contains approximately 2,000 burials across its history, averaging about ten burials a year; families of original parishioners continue to bury relatives there.
- Location: corner of Barrington Ave. & Upland Way, Barrington, RI 02806
- Founded by Holy Angels parishioners
- Transferred to the Diocese of Providence in 1978 by Fr. Pasquale Rotondi
- Maintained by Gate of Heaven Cemetery staff
- Over 3.5 acres; ~2,000 burials
- Contact: 401-434-2579 (Diocese of Providence Catholic Cemeteries)
Parish Facilities
The Holy Angels campus at 341 Maple Avenue includes the church, a rectory office, a Presentation Room used for church events, an air-conditioned downstairs hall that hosts both Religious Education classes and large parish gatherings, and a tranquil Peace Garden for prayer and quiet reflection.
- Church and rectory at 341 Maple Avenue
- Presentation Room for events
- Air-conditioned downstairs hall (Religious Education and large events)
- Peace Garden for prayer and quiet reflection
- Rectory fax: 401-245-9698
Get Involved / Parish Registration
The parish invites everyone to register and to take part in its life. New parishioners are asked to call Carol at 401-245-7743 between 9 am and 3 pm on Mondays or Tuesdays. Common ways to support the parish include attending Mass, joining the Social Outreach Ministry or Prayer Chain, volunteering for Religious Education or Take-Out Thursday events, scheduling Mass intentions or sanctuary candles, and supporting the parish cemetery.
- Parish registration: call Carol at 245-7743 (Mon/Tues, 9 am–3 pm)
- Volunteer for Take-Out Thursday or Social Outreach
- Join the Prayer Chain or Prayer Ministry
- Mass intention and sanctuary candle offerings: $10 daily / $25 weekend / $15 sanctuary candle
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Iannettaearly pastor (within a few years of 1913)
First resident pastor of Holy Angels, shortly after the parish was established under the name St. Alexander's.
- Rev. Pasquale Rotondi
Transferred the parish cemetery (Santa Maria del Campo) to the Diocese of Providence in 1978 with Bishop Gelineau's permission.
- Rev. Raymond J. Ferrick
Long-serving pastor; now Pastor Emeritus.