About Our Lady of Czenstochowa · Coventry, Rhode Island
Our Lady of Czenstochowa is a Roman Catholic parish in Coventry, Rhode Island (in the former Quidnick village), founded in 1905 by Polish immigrant families who wanted to worship in their native language. It belongs to the Diocese of Providence and is served today by Fr. Jacek Ploch. The parish shares its website with neighboring St. Vincent de Paul (olcsvp.org), retains its Polish-American identity through events like the annual Polish American Day, and continues to welcome Polish-descent Catholics from across the Pawtuxet Valley alongside the wider Coventry community.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- Our Lady of Czestochowa (the Black Madonna of Jasna Góra)
- Rector
- Rev. Jacek (Jack) Ploch
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Our Lady of Czenstochowa is one of the oldest Polish-American Catholic parishes in Rhode Island, with a continuous Mass and sacramental life stretching back to 1905 — a place where Polish heritage and Catholic faith have been kept alive together for more than a century. The parish offers a full weekend and weekday Mass schedule, regular Saturday confessions, and an annual Polish American Day festival that draws the wider community for Polish food, music and fellowship. Active involvement with the local Knights of Columbus council (Coventry's Blessing Council), ongoing parish organizations in the Polish-American tradition, and a school campus at 222 MacArthur Blvd make it a vibrant spiritual and cultural home for both Polish-descent Catholics and any neighbor seeking a devout, family-oriented parish in the Pawtuxet Valley.
Mass times at Our Lady of Czenstochowa
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Parish Identity & Polish-American Heritage
Our Lady of Czenstochowa is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Providence, located in the former Quidnick village of Coventry, Rhode Island. Founded by Polish immigrants in 1905 and dedicated on April 21, 1907, it is one of the historic Polish-American parishes of the Pawtuxet Valley. The parish takes its name from the Black Madonna of Czestochowa (Matka Boża Częstochowa), venerated at the Jasna Góra monastery in Poland — the patroness whose feast is celebrated on August 26. GCatholic lists Polish as the parish's traditional language, and the parish continues to mark its heritage through the annual Polish American Day festival featuring Polish and American food, music, games, and sale of frozen golombki and pierogi.
- Patroness: Our Lady of Czestochowa (Black Madonna)
- Feast Day: August 26
- Traditional language: Polish (alongside English)
- Annual Polish American Day on school grounds, 222 MacArthur Blvd
Founding & Early History (1901–1907)
Around fifty Polish families living in Rhode Island in 1901 dreamed of their own parish where they could worship in their native language. The community was organized as a parish in the basement of St. John's Church under Father Francis Kluger, with the first baptism on October 10, 1905 and the first Mass on October 22, 1905. John Szrek and Joseph Olszewski — later the first lay trustees — led the lay effort. On February 12, 1906 the parishioners purchased an acre of land in Quidnick, and Father John Nowicki succeeded Father Kluger in late 1906. On April 21, 1907 Bishop Matthew Harkins blessed and dedicated the newly built church, giving it the name Our Lady of Czenstochowa.
- October 10, 1905 – first baptism
- October 22, 1905 – first Mass
- February 12, 1906 – land in Quidnick purchased
- March 1, 1908 – incorporated under Rhode Island law
- April 21, 1907 – church dedicated by Bishop Harkins
School & Parish Campus
Our Lady of Czenstochowa has long operated a parish school serving the Polish-American and broader Coventry community. In 1927 the parish purchased four acres with two existing buildings; the first was converted into a school and convent and the second into a school annex. By 1956 classrooms had overflowed, a fundraising committee was established, and on January 15, 1961 the new school was dedicated. The school grounds — used today for parish festivals such as Polish American Day — are located at 222 MacArthur Blvd, Coventry.
- 1927 – school and convent established from purchased buildings
- 1961 – new school dedicated (January 15)
- School address: 222 MacArthur Blvd, Coventry, RI
Anniversaries & Civic Recognition
The parish's major anniversaries have been marked with significant celebrations. In 1957 it celebrated its Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary of the church building and 52nd of the parish), chronicled in the Jubilee Book 'Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish – Quidnick.' In December 1979 the Diamond Jubilee Year opened with Bishop Louis Gelineau celebrating Mass, and included the compilation and publication of the parish's history, a memorial Mass and parish banquet, and a renovation program. On May 19, 2005 the Rhode Island Senate unanimously adopted Senate Resolution 05-R 285, introduced by Senators Raptakis, Blais, Sosnowski, Felag and Walaska, congratulating the congregation on its 100th anniversary and commending Father Amaral's leadership.
- Golden Jubilee: 1957
- Diamond Jubilee Year: began December 1979 with Bishop Louis Gelineau
- Centennial: May 19, 2005 — Rhode Island Senate Resolution 05-R 285
Mass & Sacramental Schedule
The parish maintains a regular weekend and weekday Mass schedule, with Saturday confessions ahead of the Vigil Mass. Weekday Masses are offered Monday and Tuesday mornings; Saturday confessions are heard immediately before the Vigil Mass.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 PM
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM and 11:00 AM
- Monday & Tuesday Mass: 8:30 AM
- Confessions: Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Parish Life, Fellowship & Outreach
Parish life at Our Lady of Czenstochowa is anchored by its Polish-American identity and active lay organizations. The parish hosts an annual Polish American Day with Polish and American food, music, games, raffles and Cow Chip Bingo, and sells frozen golombki and pierogi. The parish is one of four associated parishes supported by the local Knights of Columbus Blessing Council, whose charitable drives and family programs (such as the KANDI Drive for Special Needs charities and the Consecration of the Holy Family program) regularly take place at the parish. Historical lay societies such as the St. Michael Society and the Fraternal Aid Society of Our Lady of Czenstochowa have long supported the parish's mission.
- Annual Polish American Day (mid-June)
- Knights of Columbus — Blessing Council, Coventry (associated parish)
- St. Michael Society (historical)
- Fraternal Aid Society of Our Lady of Czenstochowa (historical)
Visiting & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish by phone or email, and the church is accessible by car from Interstate 95 via the Route 117 West exit. The parish shares administrative resources with neighboring St. Vincent de Paul Church; both parishes use the olcsvp.org web domain.
- Address: 445 Washington Street, Coventry, RI 02816
- Phone: (401) 821-7991
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://olcsvp.org/
- Pastor email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Kluger1905 – late 1906
Organized the parish in the basement of St. John's Church; celebrated the first baptism (Oct. 10, 1905) and first Mass (Oct. 22, 1905).
- Rev. John Nowickilate 1906 – 1907
Succeeded Father Kluger; oversaw completion of the church building dedicated April 21, 1907.
- Rev. Dr. Michael (Michal) DutkiewiczDecember 12, 1907 – April 1914
Polish-born theologian (University of Fribourg, S.T.D./S.T.L.); oversaw the 1909 incorporation and built up parish organizations; left for the Archdiocese of Boston.
- Rev. Malecki1914 –
Succeeded Father Dutkiewicz; parish debt was $8,000 at the time of transition.
- Rev. (Father) Amaralat least through 2005
Cited by the Rhode Island Senate Resolution of May 19, 2005 for 'outstanding and devout leadership' at the parish's 100th anniversary.
- Rev. Jacek (Jack) Plochpresent
Current pastor; listed as registered agent, Secretary and Treasurer of the Church of Our Lady of Czestochowa corporation.