About Saint Katheri Tekakwitha · Exeter, Rhode Island
St. Kateri Tekakwitha is a small Roman Catholic parish in the rural town of Exeter, Rhode Island, in the Diocese of Providence. The parish was born in 1981 when five local families, together with Father Gerry and Sister Antoinette, began celebrating Mass in a farmhouse at 84 Exeter Road — originally a mission of St. Bernard Church in North Kingstown. Today it remains one of the smallest parishes in the diocese, but is known for its intimate family atmosphere, its patroness (Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American saint), and the creative, hand-built character of its worship space. Weekend Masses are offered Saturday evening and twice on Sunday morning.
- Established
- 1981
- Patron
- Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (Lily of the Mohawks) — also patroness of the environment and ecology
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Gerard O. Sabourin (Father Gerry)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence, Rhode Island
Why belong here
St. Kateri Tekakwitha is one of the smallest parishes in the Diocese of Providence, but that is exactly its appeal: it is a true family community where everyone knows everyone and prays for one another. Built from the ground up by its own parishioners in 1981, the parish retains the simple, handcrafted character of a faith community that took a leap of faith to build a church with its own hands. Weekend Mass, accessible confession, and 24-hour tabernacle access invite visitors into a quiet, prayerful setting in rural Exeter.
Mass times at Saint Katheri Tekakwitha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–5:30 PM
Adoration times
- 24-hour tabernacle access via a side door for private prayer
History of St. Kateri Tekakwitha Parish
In the spring of 1981, five Exeter families — together with Father Gerry (Rev. Msgr. Gerard O. Sabourin), Sister Antoinette, and four handicapped residents of the farmhouse — celebrated the first Mass in the farmhouse at 84 Exeter Road. Originally a mission of St. Bernard in North Kingstown, the community dedicated itself to Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha because of her Native American heritage and the strong Indigenous connections in South County. Members young and old cleaned and refurbished the garage to create a worship space. By 2003 the parish had grown to roughly 100 families; parishioners then donated all the money and labor over three years to build a larger church. In 2007 the 25th anniversary was marked by a special Mass with Bishop Thomas Tobin.
- Founded spring 1981 as a mission of St. Bernard, North Kingstown
- Five founding families; first Mass in the farmhouse at 84 Exeter Road
- Original farmhouse converted into the parish center
- New church built by parishioners 2003–2006 and dedicated on the parish's 25th anniversary
Patroness: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
The parish takes its name from Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha (1656–1680), the 'Lily of the Mohawks,' a Native American convert who is venerated for her holiness. She is also the patroness of the environment and ecology — a fact the parish itself honors by repurposing pews and stained-glass windows into its church. The church is also reported to house a relic of St. Kateri.
- Patroness: Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Lily of the Mohawks
- Feast day: July 14
- Patroness of ecology and the environment
- Relic of St. Kateri present in the church
Clergy and Staff
From its very first Mass, St. Kateri has been served by its founding pastor, Rev. Msgr. Gerard O. Sabourin (Father Gerry), working alongside Sister Antoinette. Their long, steady pastoral presence has been central to the parish's identity as a family community.
- Rev. Msgr. Gerard O. Sabourin — Pastor (founding pastor since 1981)
- Sister Antoinette — long-standing pastoral staff
Sacramental Life
Reconciliation is offered every Saturday afternoon before the vigil Mass. The tabernacle is accessible 24 hours a day through a side door for personal prayer. The parish prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, and visits the sick and homebound.
- Confession: Saturday 4:00–5:30 PM
- 24-hour tabernacle access
- Baptism, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick
- Pastoral visits to the sick and homebound
Architecture and Worship Space
The church is the result of decades of hands-on building by parishioners. It was originally constructed as an addition off the farmhouse that hosted the very first Mass, and the interior remains deliberately simple and unadorned. Visitors notice the repurposed pews (still bearing old-school hooks) and stained-glass windows saved from other churches — a deliberate echo of Blessed Kateri's patronage of ecology. The parish also uses video screens in the sanctuary (often to project prayer intentions) and prints out the readings and Gospel for everyone; during Mass the three readings are done in a dramatic style similar to the Passion, with a narrator, the priest speaking the part of God/Jesus, and the congregation speaking the people's part.
- Hand-built addition off the original farmhouse
- Repurposed pews and stained glass
- Video screens used for prayer intentions
- Dramatic, dialogue-style proclamation of the readings
Music and Liturgy
Despite the parish's small size, it maintains a notably large and active Mass band that sings and plays through nearly every part of the liturgy. The combination of a robust musical program and the dialogue-style proclamation of the readings gives the parish's liturgy a distinctive, participatory character.
- Active Mass band providing music for most of the Mass
- Congregational participation in the readings
- Prayer intentions projected on screens
Visit, Contact, and Directions
The parish sits at 84 Exeter Road in the rural town of Exeter, Rhode Island. From Route 95 South, take Route 4 South to Route 102 North, exit at Exeter–Veterans Cemetery, turn left at Route 2 South, first left after Legion Hall, right before the Post Office, then right onto Exeter Road. On-site parking is available.
- Address: 84 Exeter Road, Exeter, RI 02822
- Phone: (401) 212-0855
- Website: stkateriexeter.org
- On-site parking
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Gerard O. Sabourin (Father Gerry)1981 – present
Founding pastor; led the parish from its first Mass in the farmhouse through the construction of the new church and its 25th anniversary.