About Our Lady of Victory · Ashaway, Rhode Island
Our Lady of Victory is a small Roman Catholic parish in the village of Ashaway, in the town of Hopkinton, southwestern Rhode Island. Founded in 1946 as a mission for Catholic families in the Ashaway–Hope Valley area, the parish today shares its pastor with neighboring Saint Joseph Church in Hope Valley and shares religious-education programming with that parish as well. It belongs to the Diocese of Providence and is currently served by Rev. Francesco Francese, pastor, with Mrs. Sandy Pellegrino as secretary/bookkeeper and Mrs. Jessica Gerjes as Director of Religious Education. The parish holds weekly Saturday-evening and Sunday-morning Masses and welcomes new parishioners after any Mass.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- Our Lady of Victory (Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of 'Our Lady of Victory')
- Rector
- Rev. Francesco Francese
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Our Lady of Victory offers a small, close-knit Catholic community in the Ashaway–Hopkinton corner of southwestern Rhode Island, with a simple weekly schedule (Saturday 4:00 PM vigil and Sunday 8:00 AM Mass) and an accessible pastor — Rev. Francesco Francese meets new parishioners personally after any Mass or in the parish office. Families benefit from a joint religious-education program with Saint Joseph Church in Hope Valley under Director Jessica Gerjes, and the parish publishes a weekly bulletin shared with its neighboring parish. It's the kind of parish where the office staff, the pastor and the faith-formation team know parishioners by name.
Mass times at Our Lady of Victory
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 4:00 PM
- By request
Welcome & Parish Identity
The official website opens with a warm greeting: 'Welcome to Our Lady of Victory Parish in Ashaway, Rhode Island. We are so glad to have you as a part of our parish family!' The parish is led by Rev. Francesco Francese, who meets new parishioners in person after any Mass or in the parish office. The site emphasizes four ways to take part in parish life: attending weekly Mass and receiving the Eucharist, reading the weekly bulletin, joining parish organizations, and sharing in ministries — and it invites visitors to 'become involved, grow in your spirituality, and share your gifts with others.'
Parish Office & Staff
The parish office is located at 169 Main Street, Ashaway, RI 02804, and is staffed by Mrs. Sandy Pellegrino, who serves as the parish secretary and bookkeeper. Office hours are limited but published on the parish website, and the office can be reached at 401-377-8830 or [email protected].
- Pastor: Rev. Francesco Francese
- Secretary / Bookkeeper: Mrs. Sandy Pellegrino
- Office hours: Wednesday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
- Phone: 401-377-8830
- Email: [email protected]
Religious Education & Faith Formation
Our Lady of Victory shares its religious-education program with neighboring Saint Joseph Church in Hope Valley, a small but practical partnership that combines the faith-formation resources of both parishes. Parents wishing to register a child are directed to contact Mrs. Jessica Gerjes, Director of Religious Education, who administers the program across both parishes.
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Jessica Gerjes
- Phone: 401-539-8311, option #3
- Email: [email protected]
- Partner parish: Saint Joseph Church, Hope Valley, RI
Weekly Bulletin & Communication
The parish publishes a weekly bulletin that it shares with Saint Joseph Church in Hope Valley. The bulletin is the principal vehicle for announcing Holy Day Mass schedules, parish events, ministry activities and other timely information.
- Weekly bulletin shared with Saint Joseph Church, Hope Valley
- Bulletin available via the parish website
Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners are welcomed personally by Rev. Francesco Francese either immediately after any Mass or by visiting the parish office at 169 Main Street, Ashaway. The parish asks visitors who wish to register to see the pastor after Mass or stop in during office hours.
- Speak with Rev. Francesco Francese after any Mass, or
- Stop in the parish office during Wednesday/Friday hours
History & Incorporation
Our Lady of Victory was established and legally incorporated on October 18, 1946, according to the Rhode Island Secretary of State's corporate filings (entity ID 000029099). Its articles of incorporation are preserved in the Rhode Island State Archives as folder #85 in the 'Articles of Incorporation: Catholic Churches, 1869-1972' collection, with the official corporate name 'Church of Our Lady of Victory, Ashaway.' The parish has historically been twinned with St. Vincent de Paul Church in Westerly, and the priest remembered locally as 'Father Mac' served as pastor of both before retiring in 2015 as Pastor Emeritus.
- Incorporated: October 18, 1946
- Corporate name: Church of Our Lady of Victory, Ashaway
- RI corporate ID: 000029099
- Rhode Island State Archives folder #85
- Twinned historically with St. Vincent de Paul, Westerly
Diocese of Providence
Our Lady of Victory belongs to the Diocese of Providence, the Roman Catholic diocese that covers the State of Rhode Island. The parish appears in the Diocese's online parish finder, and the corporate filings list Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.SS.R., Bishop of Providence, as the corporation's president — a sign of the parish's canonical dependence on the diocesan bishop.
- Diocese: Diocese of Providence
- Listed in the diocesan Parish Finder
- GCatholic Church ID: 22368
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. 'Father Mac'until 2015
Retired in 2015 as Pastor Emeritus of Our Lady of Victory Church in Ashaway and St. Vincent de Paul Church in Westerly; also represented Catholic Cross Outreach. Served as a diocesan priest before being assigned as pastor of these parishes.
- Rev. Francesco Francesecurrent (as of parish filings)
Current pastor; listed as Registered Agent, Secretary, Treasurer and Director of the parish corporation on file with the Rhode Island Secretary of State.