About Saint Joseph · Woonsocket, Rhode Island
Saint Joseph Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, established on July 21, 1929, and belonging to the Diocese of Providence. The parish describes its mission as 'A Roman Catholic church making true disciples, centered on the Eucharist, devoted to Our Lady.' Located at 1200 Mendon Road on the Mendon Road corridor, St. Joseph serves a multi-generational Catholic community in northern Rhode Island and is currently pastored by Fr. Mark Gadoury, who was installed on October 26, 2024. The parish is known for its strong Eucharistic devotion (offering weekly Monday Adoration with Benediction), an active Pro-Life Sandwich Ministry that has delivered over 15,000 sandwiches to the homeless, and a flourishing religious education program for grades 1 through 10.
- Established
- 1929
- Patron
- Saint Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Gadoury
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a Eucharistic-centered parish that lives its Catholic identity through prayer and service. Weekday Mass every morning at 7:30 AM and a Saturday Vigil at 4:00 PM are paired with a robust Monday Eucharistic Adoration (8 AM–6 PM, including Confession and Benediction) — a rhythm that has earned it the motto of being 'centered on the Eucharist, devoted to Our Lady.' The parish is small enough to know one another by name, yet busy in ministry: a choir that sings the 4 PM Mass each weekend, Religious Education for grades 1–10, RCIA, a Confirmation prep program, an active Pro-Life Ministry with a weekly Thursday sandwich-making outreach to Woonsocket's homeless (over 15,000 sandwiches delivered), and ongoing support for Gabriel's Call, Mother of Life, and the local Life Chain. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly invited to join any of these groups.
Mass times at Saint Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday: 5:00 PM – 5:50 PM
- Saturday: 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- First Saturdays: 7:15 AM – 7:45 AM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday Eucharistic Adoration: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Benediction following Monday Adoration: 5:50 PM
About Saint Joseph Parish
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Providence located at 1200 Mendon Road, Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The parish's self-described mission is 'A Roman Catholic church making true disciples, centered on the Eucharist, devoted to Our Lady.' Established July 21, 1929, it now serves a multi-generational community of Woonsocket-area Catholics and welcomes visitors to its weekend and daily Masses. The parish is led by Fr. Mark Gadoury, who was appointed pastor on July 1, 2024, and installed on October 26, 2024.
- Mission: making true disciples, centered on the Eucharist, devoted to Our Lady
- Established July 21, 1929 — Diocese of Providence
- Located at 1200 Mendon Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895
Parish History
Saint Joseph Parish was founded July 21, 1929, as part of the Diocese of Providence. It was formally incorporated as a Rhode Island non-profit on October 27, 1937. The parish grew in a region with deep Franco-American Catholic roots, with French-Canadian immigration having shaped Woonsocket's Catholic life since the 19th century. A parish history, 'Saint Joseph's Parish, Woonsocket, R.I., 1929–1979: A Community of Faith Alive' (Raymond H. Bacon, 144 pp., 1979), commemorated the first fifty years. In February 2022, the Diocese of Providence merged the neighboring All Saints Parish into St. Joseph Parish (effective February 7, 2022), citing a decline in registered parishioners at All Saints from 748 in 2019 to about 134 at the time of merger. All sacramental records for All Saints were transferred to the St. Joseph Parish office.
- Established July 21, 1929
- Incorporated as Rhode Island non-profit October 27, 1937
- 50th-anniversary history by Raymond H. Bacon (1979)
- All Saints Parish merged in February 2022
Meet the Pastor — Fr. Mark Gadoury
Fr. Mark Gadoury is a Roman Catholic priest of Jesus Christ for the Diocese of Providence, ordained June 4, 2022. A native of Cumberland, Rhode Island, he grew up at Saint Joan of Arc Parish and earned a Bachelor's in Computer Science from the University of Rhode Island in 2014. He began seminary studies in 2016 at Our Lady of Providence Seminary, completed two years of philosophical studies at Providence College as a pre-theologian, and then attended St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, graduating with a Master of Divinity (MDiv) and a Bachelor in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.). Before coming to Woonsocket, he served as Associate Pastor at both St. Luke's and Holy Angels parishes in Barrington, Rhode Island. He was appointed pastor of St. Joseph's on July 1, 2024, and installed October 26, 2024. In addition to his pastoral duties, he serves as chaplain to St. Raphael Academy in Pawtucket and as State Chaplain to the Rhode Island Knights of Columbus.
- Ordained June 4, 2022 (Diocese of Providence)
- MDiv and S.T.B. from St. John's Seminary, Brighton, MA
- Installed pastor of St. Joseph's on October 26, 2024
- Chaplain, St. Raphael Academy (Pawtucket)
- State Chaplain, Rhode Island Knights of Columbus
Parish Office and Contact
The Parish Office serves as the hub for scheduling, sacramental records, and parish life. It is staffed Monday 9 AM–12 PM, Tuesday and Wednesday 9 AM–3 PM, and Thursday 9 AM–12 PM (closed Friday–Sunday). The Religious Education Office can be reached at extension 107, and the Emergency Anointing line is extension 301.
- Rectory Office: (401) 766-0626
- Rectory Fax: (401) 766-1632
- Religious Education: (401) 766-0626 ext. 107
- Emergency Anointing: (401) 766-0626 ext. 301
- Office Hours: Mon 9–12, Tue–Wed 9–3, Thu 9–12
Religious Education (CCD)
The Religious Education program at St. Joseph's Parish is designed to give a dual dimension of doctrine and practice. The stated goal is not only that children learn and believe the precepts of the Catholic faith, but LIVE it as well. The program is coordinated by Deb Doris and runs across the academic year, with on-site classes for younger grades and a Confirmation track for older students. The parish Religious Education site references an annual 'feast day Mass' tradition tied to the parish's patron saint.
- Coordinator: Deb Doris
- Grades 1–3: Mondays 3:30–4:30 PM
- Grades 4–6: Mondays 6:30–7:30 PM
- Grades 7–8: one semester in-class + one semester at-home study
- Grades 9–10: every other Sunday, beginning with 10 AM Mass and class 11:00 AM–12:30 PM
- CCD office located on the first floor of the Good Shepherd school building
RCIA and Adult Faith Formation
Adults seeking Baptism, reception into the Catholic Church, First Communion, First Penance, or Confirmation are invited to participate in the parish's RCIA program. Inquiries are directed to the pastor and the rectory office.
- Contact pastor or rectory for RCIA information
- Adults seeking Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation welcome
Sacrament Preparation
The parish walks families through the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation — with age-appropriate catechesis and ongoing support from the Religious Education team. Confirmation is a two-year process involving service to the Church and community, faithful Mass attendance on Sundays and Holy Days, and weekly religious education classes.
- First Communion: annual preparation
- Confirmation: 2-year process with service and Mass attendance
- Baptism: contact the rectory
Parish Choir
St. Joseph's Choir is made up of the young and 'young at heart.' It lifts its voice in song at the Saturday 4 PM Vigil Mass each weekend and at special liturgical events throughout the year. Singers of all levels are welcome to join; interested parishioners are invited to contact the choir directors through the parish.
- Sings the Saturday 4 PM Vigil Mass weekly
- Open to singers of all levels
- Also sings for special events and Holy Days
Pro-Life Ministry and Sandwich Outreach
St. Joseph's Pro-Life Ministry offers multiple opportunities to support life in prayer and action at the parish, diocesan, and broader community levels. Activities have included hosting the National Day of Remembrance at Resurrection Cemetery in September, praying the rosary at Planned Parenthood, participating in the Life Chain, collecting clothes and necessities for Gabriel's Call, encouraging Spiritual Adoption, supporting Mother of Life with rose sales on Mother's Day, and providing prayer shawls for those suffering illness or loss. The ministry's signature outreach is the weekly Thursday sandwich-making at 9 AM in Andre Bessette Hall, which has produced over 15,000 sandwiches delivered to Serenity House for the homeless of Woonsocket. Monthly meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month; all are welcome.
- Hosts National Day of Remembrance at Resurrection Cemetery
- Rosary at Planned Parenthood and participation in Life Chain
- Collections for Gabriel's Call; support for Mother of Life (Mothers' Day rose sales)
- Spiritual Adoption program
- Prayer shawl ministry for the sick and bereaved
- Weekly Thursday sandwich-making (9 AM, Andre Bessette Hall) — 15,000+ sandwiches delivered to Serenity House
- Monthly meetings: 2nd Thursday of each month
Parish Governance and Diocesan Affiliation
Saint Joseph's Church, Woonsocket is a domestic non-profit corporation in Rhode Island (ID #000030189, incorporated October 27, 1937), with Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R. (Bishop of Providence) serving as President and Rev. Msgr. Albert A. Kenney as Vice President. Fr. Mark Gadoury serves as Registered Agent, Secretary, and Treasurer, alongside lay directors Julien P. Ayotte and Edwin Burke. The parish operates under the canonical authority of the Diocese of Providence.
- Diocese of Providence
- Bishop: Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
- Vicar General / VP: Rev. Msgr. Albert A. Kenney
- Pastor / Secretary / Treasurer: Rev. Mark Gadoury
- Lay directors: Julien P. Ayotte, Edwin Burke
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Mark Gadoury2024–present
Appointed pastor July 1, 2024; installed October 26, 2024. Previously associate pastor at St. Luke's and Holy Angels, Barrington, RI. Ordained June 4, 2022.
- Rev. Ryan J. Simasprior pastor (as of Feb. 2022 merger)
Served as pastor of St. Joseph and administrator of All Saints at the time All Saints was merged into St. Joseph on Feb. 7, 2022.