Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Identity & Patron

The parish takes its name from the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Marian feast celebrated each year on November 21, commemorating the child Mary's presentation in the Temple at Jerusalem. Its long-standing tagline on the parish website is 'A Vibrant Catholic Community Since 1912.'

History & the 2022 Merger

Founded in 1912 for the Catholic families of the Marieville neighborhood of North Providence, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary served as an independent parish for a century. Beginning in 2013 the parish entered a 'tri-parish community' with St. Anthony Parish (North Providence) and St. Edward Parish (Providence, founded 1874) under a single pastor, Rev. Edward S. Cardente. On December 31, 2022 Bishop Thomas J. Tobin formally merged Presentation and St. Edward into St. Anthony Parish; the Presentation church building remains open as a worship venue, and the existing Mass schedule has been kept intact.

• Founded 1912 (articles of incorporation filed 1913, Rhode Island State Archives #45)
• Tri-parish collaboration with St. Anthony and St. Edward since 2013
• Canonical merger into St. Anthony Parish effective December 31, 2022
• Church building retained as a worship site of St. Anthony Parish

Pastoral Leadership

Since 2013 the parish has shared in the ministry of Very Rev. Edward S. Cardente, pastor of the tri-parish community (St. Anthony, Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Edward). He is assisted by Associate Pastor Rev. Stephano Kwak. The parish is also served by a deacon (identified on the parish website as Deacon Vani). The shared business office at 5 Gibbs Street, North Providence, is staffed by Karleen Celona, Administrative Assistant.

• Rev. Edward S. Cardente — Pastor
• Rev. Stephano Kwak — Associate Pastor
• Deacon Vani
• Karleen Celona — Administrative Assistant
• Tri-Parish Facilities Manager: Ed Martino

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Religious Education for the tri-parish community is administered from the St. Anthony Parish Center (401-353-5215). Programs serve children from Grade 1 through Grade 10, including First Eucharist and Confirmation preparation, and there is an active RCIA process for adults 18 and older who have not yet received the Sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, or Confirmation.

• Maryann Pallotta — Elementary Coordinator
• Michelle Ficocelli — Jr. High Coordinator and Confirmation Coordinator
• Sr. Carol Ann Murray, RSM — First Eucharist Coordinator
• First Communion and Confirmation annual celebrations at Presentation / St. Anthony
• RCIA for adults seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church

Outreach & Charity

Outreach is one of the defining marks of Presentation's tri-parish life. The community supports and staffs a network of programs that feed and house the poor of Providence and North Providence, and participates each year in the Diocese of Providence Catholic Charity Appeal. A Winter Heating Assistance Grant program — funded by an anonymous benefactor — helps parishioners keep their heat on during the cold months.

• St. Anthony Mobile Lunch — Cheryl Anderson (374-3039), Chrissy Roberti (353-3120)
• St. Edward Food & Wellness Center, 1001 Branch Avenue, Providence — Teresa Perez, Director (401-600-1935)
• Holy Family Home for Women and Children — Ernest Spaziano, Director (304-7744; [email protected])
• Mary's Meals to the Poor — Leslie Corneau (442-9606)
• St. Edward Kitchen — Michelle Arena (451-4339), Mike Murphy (339-7848), Patricia Giammarco (353-4032)
• Respect Life Committee ([email protected])
• Catholic Athletic League — Tom Malloy (401-330-7021)
• Winter Heating Assistance Grants (anonymous benefactor, tri-parish)
• Annual Catholic Charity Appeal — Bishop's appeal supporting diocesan ministries

Devotions & Parish Mission

The parish sustains a year-round rhythm of devotions. During Lent the tri-parish community gathers for a Lenten Mission; in 2020 the mission 'Lent Matters' was preached at Presentation Church and St. Anthony by Dominican Fathers James Sullivan, OP and Patrick Brisco, OP of St. Pius Church in Providence, with evenings of preaching, individual Confession, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. The Way of the Cross is led by the community at the Presentation church on Friday evenings during Lent.

• Tri-Parish Lenten Mission (annual) — preaching, Confession, and Eucharistic Adoration
• Way of the Cross — Friday evenings at 6:30 PM at Presentation Church
• Stewardship reflections (e.g., Saint Teresa of Calcutta: 'We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean.')
• Parish pilgrimage to the Holy Land (hosted with Collette tours, led by Father Ed)

Office, Stewardship & Memorials

The tri-parish business office is located at 5 Gibbs Street, North Providence, RI 02904 (401-353-3120, fax 401-353-5126), open Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to 4 PM, and closed on Fridays. Stewardship of the parish plant is supported by a memorial giving program: donations of $250 or more are recognized by an engraved brick in a memorial walkway around the Presentation church, and donations of $500 or more are acknowledged on a memorial wall of 12-inch square tiles mounted along the eastern wall of the church.

• Business Office: 5 Gibbs Street, North Providence, RI 02904
• Office Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9 AM – 4 PM (closed Friday)
• Online giving available via saintanthonychurch.org
• Memorial walkway (engraved bricks, $250+) and memorial wall (12-inch tiles, $500+)

Visit & Contact

Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary remains an active Catholic church building in North Providence. Visitors are welcome at weekend Masses, and the parish shares the tri-parish business office and Religious Education office for sacramental registration, marriage preparation, ministry to the sick, and sacramental records.

• Address: 1081 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904
• Parish phone: (401) 722-7140
• Parish email: [email protected]
• Website: http://presentationchurchnp.org/
• Facebook: Angels on a Mission RI (parish-affiliated outreach page)