About SS. Peter and Paul · Providence, Rhode Island
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, located at 30 Fenner Street in the Cathedral Square neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. Designed in 1873 by the prolific 19th-century Catholic architect Patrick C. Keely and constructed of Connecticut brownstone in the Romanesque Revival style with a richly Gothic interior, it was consecrated on June 30, 1889 after more than a decade of work begun under the first Bishop of Providence, Thomas F. Hendricken. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1975, the cathedral serves as both an active parish church and the principal liturgical seat of the bishop, and it remains a center for diocesan worship, traditional sacred music, and major renovations undertaken in 1968–1972, 2006, and again from 2019–2022.
- Established
- 1838
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul (the Apostles)
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Raymond Bastia (Rector, named in 2026)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is more than a diocesan seat — it is also a working parish with daily Mass, ample times for the Sacrament of Reconciliation (six weekday and weekend slots), Lenten Stations of the Cross, an online and in-person Religious Education program for children with First Communion and Confirmation preparation, and a rich music tradition anchored by the resident Gregorian Concert Choir and the 1971 Casavant Frères pipe organ. Visitors and parishioners are welcomed into lay liturgical roles as altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers, and the Cathedral hosts concerts, lectures, and major diocesan liturgies throughout the year, including ordinations and anniversaries. Whether you are drawn by its Keely-designed Romanesque brownstone architecture, its 19th-century stained glass and bronze tabernacle from Barcelona, or simply by the chance to attend a Solemn Latin Chant Mass on Sunday morning, the Cathedral offers a singular Catholic experience in the heart of Providence.
Mass times at SS. Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday to Friday, 11:00 AM – 11:45 AM
- Saturday afternoon, 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Sunday morning, 9:00 AM – 9:45 AM
- Sunday afternoon, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
- Sunday evening, 5:00 PM – 5:45 PM
- By appointment
About the Cathedral
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and serves as both the seat of the diocesan bishop and an active parish serving the people of downtown Providence. Located at 30 Fenner Street in the historic Cathedral Square neighborhood — the same 'Christian Hill' where Providence's first Catholic church was built in 1838 — it remains a working church, a gathering place for diocesan liturgies, and a landmark on the National Register of Historic Places (since 1975). Daily noon Mass, a Saturday Vigil, and three Sunday celebrations (including a Solemn Liturgy with Latin Chant) are offered each week, and the Cathedral welcomes visitors, pilgrims, and parishioners into the full sacramental life of the Catholic Church.
- Roman Catholic Cathedral in Providence, Rhode Island
- Mother Church of the Diocese of Providence
- 30 Fenner Street, Providence, RI 02903
- Rector: Rev. Msgr. Raymond Bastia (since 2026); Rector Emeritus Rev. Msgr. Anthony Mancini (2004–2026)
- Bishop of Providence: Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R. (10th bishop, appointed 2025)
History of the Cathedral
The Cathedral traces its origins to 1832, when Rev. John Corry purchased land on 'Christian Hill' for Providence's first Catholic church. The first structure was dedicated as the Church of Saints Peter and Paul on November 4, 1838 and was elevated to cathedral status in 1847 by Bishop William Tyler, first Bishop of Hartford. A new Diocese of Providence was carved out in 1872 with Thomas F. Hendricken as its first bishop, and within six years he had laid the Kilkenny-marble cornerstone of the present cathedral on Thanksgiving Day 1878. Bishop Hendricken insisted on paying as he built; he died in 1886 before the cathedral was finished, and his funeral was the first Mass celebrated in the new building. Bishop Matthew Harkins consecrated the completed cathedral on June 30, 1889, and Bishops McVinney (who died in office in 1971), Gelineau, Mulvee, and Tobin all presided over major liturgical moments here.
- 1838: First Church of Saints Peter and Paul dedicated on Christian Hill
- 1847: Church consecrated as the Cathedral of the Diocese of Hartford
- 1872: Diocese of Providence established; Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken becomes first bishop
- 1878: Cornerstone of present cathedral laid on Thanksgiving Day
- 1886: Bishop Hendricken dies; his funeral Mass is the first in the unfinished cathedral
- 1889: Cathedral consecrated by Bishop Matthew Harkins on June 30
- 1968–1972: First major renovation under Bishop McVinney and Msgr. William J. Carey
- 2006: Lower-level renovation and translation of Bishop Hendricken's remains to the upper church
- 2019–2022: $4.5 million roof replacement plus $9.5 million in tower repairs
- 1975: Cathedral added to the National Register of Historic Places
Architecture and Interior
Patrick C. Keely's 1873 design for the cathedral is Romanesque Revival on the outside, clad in Connecticut brownstone and finished with two 156-foot towers, while the interior is richly Gothic in feel and bears a strong resemblance to his Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago. The nave and transepts are covered by a ceiling of carved-wood Gothic ribs with painted inter-rib panels, and the interior columns, wainscoting, and main altar are of Verde Issoire marble quarried in the French Alps. A bronze tabernacle cast by X. Corberro and Sons of Barcelona sits over the altar, and stained glass — fashioned from antique Munich glass by the Tyrolese Art Glass Company of Innsbruck, Austria — fills the windows, including the great rose windows. Bishop Hendricken's granite sarcophagus rests in the west transept.
- Architect: Patrick C. Keely (1873 design)
- Style: Romanesque Revival exterior, Gothic Revival interior
- Materials: Connecticut brownstone exterior, Verde Issoire (French Alps) green marble, carved-wood Gothic vaulting
- Two 156-foot brownstone towers with four Dutch-foundry bells (dedicated 1968)
- Bronze tabernacle by X. Corberro and Sons, Barcelona
- Munich-glass stained glass by Tyrolese Art Glass Company, Innsbruck
- Hendricken sarcophagus in the west transept
Music and Liturgy
The Cathedral's music program is anchored by the Gregorian Concert Choir, founded in 1987 by Msgr. Anthony Mancini and now the resident choir of the cathedral. The choir is the direct successor of the Peloquin Chorale (which retired in 1991) and continues to preserve the rich legacy of Dr. C. Alexander Peloquin's compositions while expanding into contemporary sacred choral works. Under Msgr. Mancini's direction the choir has sung at the Basilica of Saint Peter in Rome, the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C., and Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. Sunday worship features a Solemn Liturgy with Latin Chant at 1:00 PM and the liturgy is supported by the 1971 Casavant Frères pipe organ — Opus 3145, designed by Lawrence Phelps with 4 manuals, 74 stops, 126 ranks, and 6,616 pipes — one of the largest mechanical-action organs in North America.
- Resident choir: Gregorian Concert Choir (founded 1987 by Msgr. Anthony Mancini)
- Music Director: Msgr. Anthony Mancini (Rector Emeritus)
- Organist: Mr. Philip Faraone (since 1997)
- Instrument: Casavant Frères Opus 3141 pipe organ (1971), 4 manuals, 74 stops, 126 ranks, 6,616 pipes
Becoming Involved — Lay Ministries
The Cathedral welcomes parishioners and visitors to share their time and talents in support of its liturgical and parish life. Most directly, lay men and women assist in the celebration of daily and Sunday Mass as altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion). The parish also runs a Religious Education Program that prepares children for First Communion and youth for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Those interested are invited to contact the parish office or to follow up using the online 'Becoming Involved' page at providencecathedral.org.
- Altar Servers
- Lectors (First and Second Readings, Prayers of the Faithful, Weekly Announcements)
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Religious Education Program for Children (First Communion preparation)
- Confirmation preparation for youth
Religious Education and Sacraments
Faith formation for children and youth is coordinated through the Cathedral's Religious Education Office, which can be reached at [email protected]. Online registration forms are available for both the Religious Education Program for Children / First Communion and the Sacrament of Confirmation, with downloadable printed forms as an alternative. The parish also celebrates the Sacrament of Reconciliation on a generous weekly schedule — six time-slots across the week plus by-appointment confessions — and offers daily noon Mass, a Saturday Vigil, and three Sunday celebrations (English in the morning and evening, with Latin Chant at 1:00 PM).
- Online and printed registration for Religious Education
- First Communion preparation for children
- Confirmation preparation for youth
- Confession six times weekly plus by appointment
- Daily noon Mass Monday–Friday; Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM; Sunday 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM (Latin), 6:00 PM
Renovations and Landmark Status
Although the cathedral withstood several hurricanes during its first century and only required painting in 1921, two large renovations transformed its appearance. The first, begun in 1968 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney and completed under Bishop Louis E. Gelineau in 1972, restructured the sanctuary, repositioned the altar, installed new pews and the great Casavant Frères pipe organ, and added the bronze tabernacle. In 2006 Bishop Thomas J. Tobin oversaw a lower-level renovation that created a flexible parish and diocesan gathering space and translated Bishop Hendricken's remains to a granite sarcophagus in the upper church. Most recently, a 2021 roof replacement revealed structural decay in the towers and required an additional $9.5 million in masonry, timber, and mortar work; the cathedral continues to function as an active parish and the diocesan seat.
- 1972: Major interior renovation dedicated by Apostolic Delegate Archbishop Luigi Raimondi
- 1975: Added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP #75000057)
- 2006: Lower-level renovation and reinterment of Bishop Hendricken
- 2019–2022: Roof and tower preservation ($14 million in combined work)
Cathedral Square and the 1838 Site
The Cathedral occupies Cathedral Square at the heart of downtown Providence, the same slope that Rev. John Corry called the future site of the city's Catholic Church in 1832. The old rectory, built at the corner of Fenner and Pond Streets in the 1870s as part of the new cathedral project, still stands and serves the parish. Cathedral Square itself is a recognizable civic landmark — the cathedral is one of the most prominent pieces of architecture in the city of Providence, visible from the State House and the Downcity skyline.
- Site of Providence's first Catholic Church, dedicated in 1838
- Cathedral Square, downtown Providence
- Adjacent historic 1870s rectory at Fenner and Pond Streets
- Walking distance to the Rhode Island State House, Kennedy Plaza, and Providence Place
Who's Who at the Cathedral
The Cathedral is currently led by its Rector, Rev. Msgr. Raymond Bastia, with Rev. Msgr. Anthony Mancini serving as Rector Emeritus after 22 years in charge. Diocesan leadership associated with the Cathedral includes Bishop of Providence Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., Bishop Emeritus Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, and Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus Most Rev. Robert C. Evans. Liturgical and administrative staff include Organist Mr. Philip Faraone, Director of Web Services Dr. Joseph J. Plaud, and Parish Office Secretary Mrs. Terry Gandelman.
- Rector: Rev. Msgr. Raymond Bastia (since 2026)
- Rector Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. Anthony Mancini (2004–2026)
- Bishop of Providence: Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
- Bishop Emeritus: Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, D.D.
- Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus: Most Rev. Robert C. Evans, D.D., J.C.L.
- Organist: Mr. Philip Faraone, K.G.C.H.S., K.M.
- Director of Web Services: Dr. Joseph J. Plaud, Ph.D., M.A.T., K.C.H.S., K.M.
- Parish Office Secretary: Mrs. Terry Gandelman
Visiting the Cathedral
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul. The Cathedral is open for daily and Sunday Masses as posted, and those wishing to tour the interior — including its Casavant Frères organ, Hendricken sarcophagus, Baltimore-style stained glass, and Barcelona-bronze tabernacle — are encouraged to contact the parish office in advance. Cathedral Square is a popular destination for architecture lovers and historians; the cathedral was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1975 and is widely considered one of the architectural centerpieces of Providence.
- Open for daily noon Mass, Saturday Vigil, and three Sunday celebrations
- Confession available six times weekly plus by appointment
- Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent
- Concerts and special programs listed on the parish Events Calendar
- Listed on the National Register of Historic Places (1975)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Corry1832–c.1838
Priest in charge of the missionary territory that included Providence; in 1832 he purchased land on 'Christian Hill' for the first Catholic church in Providence, through his intermediary Francis Hye.
- Rev. (first pastors of the original SS. Peter and Paul Church, 1838–1872)1838–1872
The small stone church on Christian Hill/Cathedral Square served Providence's growing Catholic population and was elevated to cathedral status in 1847 under Bishop William Tyler.
- Bishop Matthew Harkins (as ordinary)1887–1919
Second Bishop of Providence; consecrated in the cathedral in 1887; oversaw its consecration on June 30, 1889.
- Rev. Msgr. William J. Careyc.1968–1972
Cathedral Rector during the diocese's centennial; directed the cathedral's first major three-year renovation begun in 1968 under Bishop McVinney and completed under Bishop Gelineau.
- Rev. Msgr. Anthony Mancini2004–2026
Ordained in 1978 for the Diocese of Providence; previously pastor of Holy Cross parish in Providence for nine years; Music Director; founder of the Gregorian Concert Choir (1987); named Monsignor in 2008.
- Rev. Msgr. Raymond Bastia2026–present
Named Rector in 2026; previously Vicar for Planning and Financial Services for the Diocese of Providence.
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