About Mary, Mother of Mankind · North Providence, Rhode Island
Mary, Mother of Mankind is a Catholic parish in North Providence, Rhode Island, belonging to the Diocese of Providence. Founded in 1967 as an outgrowth of a Marian shrine chapel built in 1954 by Italian immigrants from Caserta, it has served as a worship home for generations of North Providence families. Today the parish is led by Father TJ Varghese and runs a full program of weekend and weekday Masses, religious education from grades 1 through 10, a Confirmation program, and dozens of lay ministries including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Music Ministry, Greeters, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, a Caregiver Support Ministry, and a Bible Study that meets Monday evenings.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Mary, Mother of Mankind
- Rector
- Rev. TJ Varghese
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Mary, Mother of Mankind is a small, family-sized parish where parishioners are encouraged to put their faith into action across a wide range of lay ministries — Greeters, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Altar Servers, Bible Study, the Music Ministry and Choir, Bereavement, Caregiver Support, Nursing Home Visitation at Lincoln Woods, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and a religious education program that walks children from Grade 1 all the way through the four-year Confirmation program in Grade 10. The parish's Stewardship Way of Life, in place for over 40 years, frames service as a direct response to Jesus' call — and with weekend Masses Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 a.m., plus weekday Mass Monday–Thursday at 8:00 a.m., there is room for everyone to belong.
Mass times at Mary, Mother of Mankind
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 p.m.
Adoration times
- Third Monday of each month (Adoration Ministry)
Parish History
Mary, Mother of Mankind traces its roots to 1954, when members of a local Marian Sodality — Italian immigrants from Caserta — built a small chapel to honor the Blessed Mother, patroness of their home village. In 1960 the chapel property was transferred to the Diocese of Providence, and Bishop Russell J. McVinney elevated it to a Mission of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish. On September 6, 1967, the Mission was raised to full parish status under the title Mary, Mother of Mankind, with Rev. William E. Palmer as founding pastor. A new church building was begun in 1979 and dedicated in 1980 under Rev. Clyde J. Walsh, who also oversaw construction of the attached rectory. In 2010, under Rev. Douglas Grant, St. Lawrence Parish was merged into Mary, Mother of Mankind, and the parish continued to grow into the present day.
- 1954: Marian Sodality builds a chapel in North Providence
- 1960: Chapel deeds transferred to the Diocese of Providence
- 1967: Elevated to a full parish; Rev. William E. Palmer becomes first pastor
- 1979–1980: New church building constructed under Rev. Clyde J. Walsh
- 1981: Rectory attached to the church and completed
- 2010: St. Lawrence Parish merged into Mary, Mother of Mankind
- 1967–2021: Marked on parish history as a defining era of community life
Parish Staff
Mary, Mother of Mankind is led by Pastor Rev. TJ Varghese, who was appointed on July 1, 2020. The lay staff oversees faith formation, music, and parish operations.
- Rev. TJ Varghese — Pastor
- Ms. Jean Radican — Religious Education Coordinator, Grades 1–6
- Ms. Nancy Riccitelli — Administrator of the Confirmation Program, Grades 7–10
- Ms. Kim Stanzione — Music Director
- Ms. Dawn Conaty — Office Manager
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education program (also called Faith Formation) helps children grow in the Catholic Faith and prepares them for the sacraments. It encompasses the primary grades, with First Reconciliation and First Eucharist received in Grade 2 after a two-year preparation, and Confirmation received in Grade 10 after a four-year program in Grades 7–10.
- Faith Formation for Grades 1–9
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist in Grade 2 (two-year preparation)
- Confirmation program for Grades 7–10
- Safe Environment Training for all volunteers (USCCB compliant)
- Registration fees: $40 for one child / $75 for two or more
- Office hours for registration: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is offered to anyone interested in learning about the Catholic faith and becoming fully initiated through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist. Adult parishioners are invited to help guide and support candidates by planning classes and special activities.
- Open to any adult inquiring about the Catholic faith
- Preparation for Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist
- Parishioner volunteers welcome
Liturgical Ministries
Parishioners of all ages serve in a wide range of liturgical ministries. The Liturgy and Environment Ministry works with the pastor to coordinate and prepare for liturgical seasons. Lectors proclaim the Word of God; Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist are commissioned by the Bishop for five-year terms; Greeters welcome people at the door and direct them within the church.
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Altar Servers
- Adult Servers (funerals)
- Greeters Ministry
- Liturgy and Environment Ministry
- Collectors Ministry
Music Ministry & Choir
The Music Ministry is directed by Kim Stanzione. The parish choir rehearses Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. and sings at the 4:00 p.m. Saturday Mass year-round, with additional music for the Christmas and Easter seasons. New members are warmly invited to join.
- Choir rehearsal: Thursdays at 6:00 p.m.
- Choir sings at 4:00 p.m. Saturday Mass
- Extra music at Christmas and Easter
- Music Director: Kim Stanzione
Spiritual Life & Devotions
Beyond Sunday Mass, the parish nurtures spiritual life through weekday Mass, the daily Rosary before Mass, monthly Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, and a Monday-evening Bible Study. The Prayer Chain also lifts up the intentions of parishioners in need of prayer.
- Rosary before daily Mass
- Monthly Adoration (3rd Monday)
- Bible Study — Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m.
- Prayer Chain
Outreach, Charity & Pastoral Care
Mary, Mother of Mankind extends the parish family beyond its walls through the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the Caregiver Support Ministry, Bereavement Ministry, Ministry to the Homebound, and Nursing Home Visitation. Extraordinary Ministers bring Holy Communion each Sunday to the residents of Lincoln Woods Nursing Home.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — MMM Conference (assists anyone in need regardless of religious affiliation)
- Caregiver Support Ministry
- Bereavement Ministry
- Ministry to the Homebound
- Nursing Home Visitation at Lincoln Woods (Sunday communion service)
- Catholic Charity Fund Appeal Committee
- Men of Saint Joseph
Parish Life, Fellowship & Fundraising
The Hospitality Committee welcomes new and existing parishioners with refreshments after First Communion, Confirmation, monthly after Sunday Masses, and at special celebrations. The parish also hosts the annual Snowflake Bazaar each November and supports the Triple M Club as fundraising traditions.
- Hospitality Committee — monthly refreshments after Sunday Masses
- Snowflake Bazaar (early November each year)
- Triple M Club
- Mission Possible
- Office Help Ministry
- Website / Facebook Maintenance Committee
Parish Operations
Several ministries keep the parish running smoothly — from the Finance Committee, which advises the pastor on budgeting and financial reporting, to the Building Committee, Grounds Committee, and Fund Raising committee that organize the work and resources behind parish life.
- Finance Committee (meets four times a year)
- Building Committee
- Grounds Committee (spring and fall cleanups)
- Fund Raising Committee
- Office Help Ministry
Visiting & Getting Involved
Newcomers are warmly welcomed at Mary, Mother of Mankind. The parish encourages anyone interested in joining to come to any Mass and speak with Father Varghese afterward, or to call the rectory at (401) 231-3542 or email [email protected]. The parish emphasizes its long-standing Stewardship Way of Life — over 40 years of parishioners responding to Jesus' call to follow Him through the giving of time and talent.
- Address: 25 Fourth Street, North Providence, RI 02911
- Phone: (401) 231-3542
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William E. Palmer9/6/1967 – 3/17/1972
First pastor; founded the parish in 1967.
- Rev. Cornelius Lynch3/1972 – 11/22/1972
- Rev. Clyde J. Walsh11/7/1972 – 7/2/1984
Pastor of the rebuilt MMM; oversaw construction of the new church (May 1979–May 1980) and rectory (1981).
- Rev. Barry Connerton7/9/1984 – 6/20/1991
- Rev. Ed McGovern6/20/1991 – 6/22/1997
- Rev. Stephen Silipigni6/27/1997 – 1/12/2003
- Rev. Douglas Grant6/15/2003 – 7/1/2011
Oversaw the 2010 merger of St. Lawrence Parish into Mary, Mother of Mankind.
- Rev. Joseph Pescatello7/1/2011 – 7/1/2018
- Rev. Dennis J. Kieton7/1/2018 – 7/1/2020
- Rev. TJ Varghese7/1/2020 – present
Current pastor.