About Sacred Heart · East Providence, Rhode Island
Sacred Heart is a Roman Catholic parish in East Providence, Rhode Island, belonging to the Diocese of Providence and entrusted to the care of the Servants of Charity (SdC), an international religious order founded in 1908 by St. Louis Guanella in Italy. The parish was established in 1876, and the current church building on Taunton Avenue dates to 1950, placing Sacred Heart among the older Portuguese-American Catholic communities of the East Bay. The parish runs a Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic school (opened 1917), a CCD/religious education program, daily and Sunday Masses, Eucharistic Adoration, and outreach to the homebound at City View Manor.
- Established
- 1876
- Patron
- Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Rector
- Fr. Silvio De Nard, SdC
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
Sacred Heart is a welcoming Portuguese-American Catholic community that offers daily Mass, Saturday Vigil and Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, and regular visits by a priest to the homebound at City View Manor. The parish supports Catholic formation through its CCD religious education program and school, gathers for devotions like the Rosary Crusade and Solemn Eucharistic Benediction, and provides a way to register, give online, and join the parish family by appointment with the pastor.
Mass times at Sacred Heart
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Tuesday 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM (chapel)
- Wednesday 7:30 AM – 3:00 PM (chapel)
- Saturday 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM (chapel)
Parish History & Heritage
Sacred Heart Parish was established in 1876 as a Catholic community in East Providence, Rhode Island. The present church at 118 Taunton Avenue was constructed in 1950, replacing earlier worship spaces and serving the growing Portuguese-American Catholic population of the East Bay. A parish centennial volume titled 'In the Hands of the Lord': Sacred Heart Parish Centennial, 1876-1976, was produced to mark the parish's 100th anniversary and remains an important record of the community's origins.
- Founded 1876
- Current church built 1950
- Centennial history 'In the Hands of the Lord' published 1976
- 2025 marked 75th anniversary of the current church and approached 150th anniversary of the parish
Our Priests — Servants of Charity
Sacred Heart is served by members of the Servants of Charity (SdC), an international religious congregation founded in 1908 by St. Louis Guanella in Italy. The parish's two priests are Fr. Silvio De Nard, SdC (Pastor) and Fr. A. C. Peri, SdC (Assistant Pastor). The Servants of Charity website at servantsofcharity.org provides more information about the order's mission and spirituality.
- Fr. Silvio De Nard, SdC — Pastor
- Fr. A. C. Peri, SdC — Assistant Pastor
- Religious order: Servants of Charity (SdC), founded 1908 by St. Louis Guanella
Sacred Heart School
Sacred Heart School opened in 1917 on Purchase Street, offering a distinctively Catholic Pre-K through 8th-grade education. The school was known for its academically challenging program, athletics, and award-winning band and chorus. After more than a century of service, with enrollment at 125 students, the parish and the Diocese of Providence announced in February 2025 that the school would close at the end of the 2024–2025 academic year due to financial difficulties and declining enrollment. The final day of classes was June 13, 2025.
- Opened 1917 on Purchase Street, East Providence
- Grades Pre-K through 8
- Principal: Mrs. Emily DaSilva
- Finance & Operations Manager: Mrs. Terry Carvalho
- Closed June 13, 2025
Religious Education (CCD)
The parish's Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) program provides faith formation for children whose families attend Sacred Heart. Classes are held on Sundays from 10:00 to 11:00 AM, September through April. Registration takes place through the parish website, and the parish emphasizes that attending Sunday Mass is an essential part of the family's formation.
- CCD Classes: Sundays 10:00–11:00 AM, September–April
- Director of Religious Education: Ms. Sandy Duarte (401-434-0326 ext. 4, [email protected])
Parish Ministries & Devotions
Beyond the sacraments, Sacred Heart supports a Bible Study on Monday evenings in the Church Hall, an annual Rosary Crusade with Solemn Eucharistic Benediction, and a Christmas Choir open to children and adults. The parish also runs seasonal fundraisers such as the popular Malassadas (Portuguese pastry) sale, and supports the Little Sisters of the Poor Turkey Drop at Jeanne Jugan Residence each November.
- Bible Study — Mondays 6:00 PM, Church Hall, led by Mr. David O'Connell
- Rosary Crusade with Solemn Eucharistic Benediction (annual)
- Christmas Choir (open to children and adults)
- Malassadas Portuguese pastry fundraiser
- Little Sisters of the Poor Turkey Drop support
Parish Staff & Directory
The parish is administered by the rectory office, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Pastoral and operational staff include the two Servants of Charity priests, trustees, the Director of Religious Education, the Organist/Music Director, and the Finance & Operations Manager.
- Pastor: Fr. Silvio De Nard, SdC
- Assistant Pastor: Fr. A. C. Peri, SdC
- Trustee: Mr. James Hopkins Jr
- Trustee: Mr. Christopher Rossi
- Organist/Music Director: Mrs. Lori Dunn
- Director of Religious Education: Ms. Sandy Duarte
- Finance & Operations Manager: Mrs. Terry Carvalho
Parish Registration, Giving & Visiting
New parishioners are warmly invited to introduce themselves after Mass and to register at the rectory during the week by appointment with the pastor. The parish offers online giving through ParishSOFT Giving for one-time or recurring donations, with gifts transferring directly into the parish bank account. The rectory office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
- Address: 118 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
- Phone: (401) 434-0326
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Online Giving: ParishSOFT Giving via sacredheartepri.com