About Holy Spirit · Central Falls, Rhode Island
Holy Spirit Parish (Parroquia del Espíritu Santo) is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish serving Central Falls, Rhode Island, in the Diocese of Providence. It worships in the historic former St. Matthew's Church, a French-Gothic stone landmark built in 1929 to serve the city's French-Canadian community and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Today the parish is a vibrant English-Spanish community led by Rev. Otoniel J. Gómez, offering daily and Sunday Masses, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic adoration, RCIA, faith formation, a Legion of Mary, charismatic prayer groups, men's and women's groups, and active youth ministry.
- Established
- 1906
- Patron
- Holy Spirit (originally Saint Matthew, the parish's historic patron under the name St. Matthew's Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Otoniel J. Gómez
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Holy Spirit Parish welcomes everyone — English- and Spanish-speaking — into a 'caring and welcoming community that reaches out with the love of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.' You can grow in faith through a packed weekly calendar that includes RCIA in both languages, First Communion and Confirmation classes, Bible study, a Spanish Legion of Mary, a Charismatic Renewal prayer group, men's and women's prayer groups, a young adult group, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every Thursday evening — all in addition to six weekly Masses in the historic 1929 French-Gothic church on Dexter Street.
Mass times at Holy Spirit
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM (Chapel / Capilla)
Our Story — From St. Matthew's to Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit Parish traces its roots to 1906, when the French-Canadian population of Central Falls had grown enough to need its own parish on the western side of the city. The community was shepherded for its first 46 years by Monsignor Joseph Alfred Laliberte, who guided it from a 1907 brick chapel-school all the way through the construction of the present stone church, completed in December 1929 at a cost of about $600,000. In November 2009 the parish was reincorporated under its current name, Holy Spirit Parish, marking its identity as a bilingual English/Spanish community in the Diocese of Providence.
- 1906 — Parish founded for French-Canadian Catholics in western Central Falls
- 1907 — Yellow-brick chapel-school built (Walter F. Fontaine, architect)
- 1929 — Present stone church dedicated (December, ~$600,000)
- 1952 — End of Msgr. Laliberte's 46-year pastorate
- 1979 — Church listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- November 6, 2009 — Reincorporated as 'Holy Spirit Parish, Central Falls, Rhode Island'
The Church Building — A 1929 French-Gothic Landmark
The building that worshippers enter today was designed in the 1920s by Walter F. Fontaine and completed in 1929. It is a large stone basilica-plan church in the French Gothic style, built of warm-toned Weymouth granite with limestone trim, buttressed at the corners and bays, and topped by a five-level square tower at the southeast corner. A great traceried east window fills the main facade, with traceried oak doors below; a matching window crowns the chancel end inside.
- Architect: Walter F. Fontaine (1871–1938)
- Style: Late Gothic Revival / French Gothic, basilican plan
- Exterior: Weymouth granite ashlar with limestone trim, buttressed bays, traceried entrance window, traceried oak doors, five-level southeast tower with pinnacles and crockets
- Interior marbles, vaulted ceiling with painted stone-block interstices, marble reredos and altar rail, octagonal pulpit
- Stained glass by Mommejean de Paris (saints and scenes from the life of Christ)
- Figurative painting by Guido Nincheri (spandrels, side altars, vestry doors)
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, April 6, 1979 — NRHP #79000008
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
Holy Spirit offers a full sacramental-preparation program for children and adults, with classes in both English and Spanish.
- RCIA — English: Tuesdays 6:00 PM (Parish Center)
- RCIA — Español: Sundays 8:30 AM (Parish Center)
- First Communion Classes: Sundays 11:45 AM (Parish Center)
- Confirmation Classes: Mondays 6:30 PM (Parish Center)
- Advent Reflections for the whole family during Advent, Sundays 2:00 PM (basement)
Parish Ministries & Prayer Groups
A wide range of Spanish-language prayer and formation groups meet in the Parish Center, alongside an English-speaking young adult community.
- Bible Study (Spanish) — Wednesdays 6:30 PM
- Legion of Mary (Spanish) — Thursdays 4:00 PM, rosary and faith sharing
- Men's Group 'Disciples of Jesus' (Spanish) — Thursdays 7:00 PM (contact Sr. Daniel 617-888-1581 or Jairo 726-2600)
- Charismatic Renewal Prayer Group (Spanish) — Fridays 7:00 PM, praise and worship
- Women's Prayer Group 'Walking with Jesus / Caminando con Jesús' (Spanish) — Saturdays 2:00 PM
- Ultreya (Spanish) — Saturdays 10:00 AM
- Young Adult Group (Spanish) — Sundays 9:00 AM
Seasonal Devotions
Two major seasonal devotions shape the parish year.
- Novena of Guadalupe — December 1–11, gathering in the homes receiving the visiting image of Our Lady of Guadalupe at 7:00 PM; Mañanitas December 12 at 5:00 AM; Mass at 6:00 PM
- Advent Reflections — Sundays during Advent at 2:00 PM in the church basement, with prayer, song and meditation for the whole family
Notre Dame Cemetery / Cementerio Notre Dame
Notre Dame Cemetery is operated in connection with the parish, continuing the Catholic burial ministry that has long been part of Central Falls' French-heritage parishes.
- Notre Dame Cemetery — 725-1333 (listed in the parish bulletin)
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Rev. Otoniel J. Gómez as Pastor, supported by a Hispanic pastoral assistant and a lay leadership team, and is incorporated within the Diocese of Providence under the authority of the diocesan bishop.
- Rev. Otoniel J. Gómez — Pastor / Párroco
- Celso Vera — Pastoral Assistant (Hispanic Ministry)
- Diocese of Providence oversight — Bishop (Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., per RI corporate filings)
- Joan Dion — Parish Secretary (per RI corporate filings)
- Milton Ricaurte — Parish Director
Mission Statement
The parish's bilingual mission statement, published in its weekly bulletin, expresses its identity as a welcoming community rooted in the Holy Spirit and the love of Christ.
- English: 'Our Parish is a caring and welcoming community that reaches out with the love of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit.'
- Español: 'Nuestra Parroquia es una comunidad que cuida, acoge y se acerca a todos con el amor de Cristo, guiada por el Espíritu Santo.'
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Right Rev. Msgr. Joseph Alfred Laliberte1906–c.1952
Founded the parish in 1906 and led it for forty-six years; the visionary behind the 1929 stone church, chosen architect Walter F. Fontaine, and longtime pastor at the time of the building's completion.