About Immaculate Conception · Westerly, Rhode Island
Immaculate Conception Church is a Roman Catholic parish located at 111 High Street in Westerly, Rhode Island, serving the southern coast of Rhode Island near the Connecticut border. The parish is part of the Diocese of Providence and was officially founded on January 21, 1886, growing out of the Irish, Italian, and French-Canadian Catholic communities that previously attended St. Michael's in Pawcatuck. From 1906 to 1986 the parish was entrusted to the Marist Fathers (Society of Mary), and the parish remains distinguished by its devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of the Immaculate Conception and to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
- Established
- 1886
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Rector
- Rev. Angelo N. Carusi
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers a richly devotional Catholic life centered on the Blessed Virgin Mary, with daily and Sunday Masses, multiple weekly confession opportunities, perpetual adoration in Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, and beloved traditions such as the annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and the Enrollment of Scapulars. The parish is staffed by an attentive pastor and catechetical team (Mrs. Catherine Kimmel, Catechism Coordinator), maintaining the parish school of faith formation at catechismimmcon.org and the parish cemetery (St. Sebastian Cemetery at stsebastianimmcon.org) as part of a family of ministries that has served Westerly's Catholics for more than 135 years.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Wednesday & Saturday: 7:30 AM – 7:50 AM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- First Saturday of the month: 8:30 AM – 9:30 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration in Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel (located inside the church door along the Narragansett Ave driveway)
About the Parish
Immaculate Conception Parish is in the Diocese of Providence (Rhode Island) under the auspices of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Its mission statement reads: 'We, the parish family of Immaculate Conception Church, Westerly, Rhode Island, seek to be unified with the Father through an ever growing union with Jesus Christ; and we are strongly devoted to His mother, under whose patronage our parish is dedicated to God.' Through the sacraments, liturgical prayer, religious education, and pastoral care, the parish strives for a deeper relationship with God through service to His people.
Parish History
The parish was officially founded on January 21, 1886, with Rev. William Pyne as founding pastor. Its roots trace to the Irish, Italian, and French-Canadian immigrants who settled in Westerly and previously worshipped at St. Michael's in Pawcatuck. The cornerstone was laid September 26, 1886, the first Mass was celebrated Christmas Day 1886 in the basement, and Bishop Matthew Harkins dedicated the completed church on October 19, 1890. In 2011, the parish marked its 125th anniversary.
- Founded: January 21, 1886
- Founding pastor: Rev. William Pyne
- Cornerstone laid: September 26, 1886
- First Mass (basement): Christmas Day 1886
- Church dedicated by Bishop Matthew Harkins: October 19, 1890
- 125th Anniversary celebrated: 2011
The Marist Era (1906–1986)
On June 13, 1906, Bishop Harkins offered the parish to the Marist American Province. Canonical possession was taken on July 12, 1906, making Immaculate the first Marist parish in Rhode Island and the eighth in the country. The Marists served the parish for 80 years, expanding the school, paying off the debt, and serving seven outlying missions that eventually became independent parishes.
- Marist canonical establishment: July 12, 1906
- First Marist pastor / supervisor noted: Rev. Fr. Peter McOscar (from Atlanta, Georgia)
- Assistants included Fr. Alfred St. Martin (fluent in French and Italian) and Fr. Ronault
- Missions served: Ashaway, Bradford, Carolina, Hope Valley, Misquamicut, Quonochontaug, Watch Hill
Devotions & Marian Traditions
The parish is strongly devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary under her title of the Immaculate Conception and to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Each year the parish celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, with its origins in a 19th-century Italian miracle, and holds the annual Enrollment of Scapulars on July 15.
- Annual Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
- Enrollment of Scapulars — July 15 at 7:00 PM (Celebrant: Rev. Joseph Pescatello)
- Perpetual Adoration in Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by its pastor with a small team of parish-office staff, catechetical staff, and cemetery staff.
- Rev. Angelo N. Carusi — Pastor
- Mrs. Lisa Mastrandrea — (Parish Secretary / staff)
- Mrs. Catherine Kimmel — Catechism Coordinator
- Rev. Joseph Pescatello — Celebrant for Enrollment of Scapulars
Faith Formation / Catechism
Faith formation for children and families is run through the parish's Catechism Office, with its own dedicated web presence at catechismimmcon.org. Mrs. Catherine Kimmel serves as Catechism Coordinator and is a primary parish contact for religious education.
- Catechism Office: catechismimmcon.org
- Coordinator: Mrs. Catherine Kimmel
St. Sebastian Cemetery
The parish maintains St. Sebastian Cemetery as part of its family of ministries, with its own website providing information for families.
- St. Sebastian Cemetery: stsebastianimmcon.org
Contact & Visit
Parish Office Hours are Monday through Thursday, 9 AM – 2 PM (closed Fridays). Visitors can reach the parish by phone, fax, email, or in person at 111 High Street, Westerly, RI 02891. Detailed driving directions from I-95, North Stonington, Watch Hill, and Misquamicut State Beach are available on the parish website.
- Address: 111 High Street, Westerly, RI 02891
- Telephone: 401-596-2130
- Fax: 401-348-2351
- Email: [email protected]
- Websites: immcon.org • iccimmcon.org • catechismimmcon.org • stsebastianimmcon.org
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM – 2 PM (Closed Fridays)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Pyne1886–
Founding pastor; previously of Fall River, Massachusetts; purchased the church land in 1886 and built the parish from Hibernian Hall on High Street.