About St. Anthony · West Warwick, Rhode Island
St. Anthony Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Riverpoint neighborhood of West Warwick, Rhode Island, founded in 1925 by Portuguese American immigrants who settled in the area shortly after World War I. The parish is part of the Diocese of Providence and today shares its pastor with neighboring Christ the King Parish under the diocesan linked-parish model. Worship is offered in both English and Portuguese, reflecting the parish's heritage, with a Sunday Mass in Portuguese each week and daily Mass celebrated in the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel in the parish center.
- Established
- 1925
- Patron
- St. Anthony (of Padua/Lisbon)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian J. Morris
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Anthony is a welcoming, bilingual Catholic community rooted in nearly a century of Portuguese-American heritage in West Warwick. Families find a full Faith Formation program from kindergarten through Confirmation, a vibrant Family & Youth Ministry with monthly youth group, kids' ministry, vacation Bible school, and family events throughout the year. With worship offered in both English and Portuguese, an active choir, and a pastor shared with neighboring Christ the King Parish, it is a close-knit parish where new arrivals are invited to register and join the life of the community.
Mass times at St. Anthony
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every other Saturday
- By appointment (call 401-821-8342)
Parish History
Portuguese Americans settled in Riverpoint and began to build a church to serve their community shortly after World War One. Land was purchased on November 21, 1922 and the rectory on Woodside Avenue was purchased on June 5, 1925. On June 14, 1925, the first Mass was celebrated by the first pastor, Fr. Vincent. The original cost to build the church was $10,000, and many families guaranteed the loan by putting their homes up for collateral. On August 4, 2013, the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel and the St. Anthony Parish Center was dedicated under then-pastor Rev. Victor T. Silva, with St. Anthony's 5th pastor Rev. Reinaldo Cardoso cutting the ribbon.
- Land purchased November 21, 1922
- Rectory acquired June 5, 1925
- First Mass celebrated June 14, 1925 by Fr. Francis Vincent
- Original construction cost: $10,000
- Our Lady of Fatima Chapel & Parish Center dedicated August 4, 2013
- Sharing one pastor with Christ the King Parish since July 2022
Sacraments
St. Anthony celebrates the seven Catholic sacraments according to the norms of the Diocese of Providence. Couples are asked to call the Parish Office one year before a wedding, and parents seeking Baptism are asked to call six months in advance. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish's ongoing Faith Formation program.
- Baptism — call 6 months in advance
- First Communion — requires registration in Faith Formation
- Confirmation — requires registration in Faith Formation
- Weddings — call 1 year in advance
- Confession — every other Saturday or by appointment
Faith Formation & Sacramental Preparation
The Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation programs at St. Anthony (shared with Christ the King Parish) exist to form young people in faith, hope, and charity. The program provides opportunities to learn the faith and grow in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Classes run from Kindergarten through Confirmation, with a full team of catechists serving each grade.
- Director: Mr. Matthew J. Silva
- Program Assistant/Registration Clerk: Ms. Francesca Longo
- Kindergarten: Mackenzie Owens
- First Grade: Grace Black
- Second Grade: Melissa Conceciao
- Third Grade: Missy Warzeka
- Fourth Grade: Catarina Anselmo
- Fifth Grade: Catarina Anselmo
- Sixth Grade: Donna Valliere
- Seventh Grade: Dot Sampaio
- Eighth Grade / Confirmation 1: Joanne Scanlon
- Confirmation 2: Candy Costa, Fr. Brian, & Matthew Silva
Family & Youth Ministry
The Family and Youth Ministry at St. Anthony and Christ the King parishes seeks to provide faith-formation and fellowship opportunities for young people and their families. The goal is simple: help people to encounter the Lord and one another. Activities run throughout the year for middle school, high school, and younger children, plus the whole family.
- Youth Group for Middle and High School students (monthly meetings & events)
- Kids' Ministry Group for grades 3-5 (monthly meetings)
- Spring Volleyball team
- Summer Bible Camp / Vacation Bible School 2026
- Family Nights (Advent & Lent)
- Halloween Event, Christmas Movie Night, Easter Egg Hunt
- Summer 'Drop In' nights for teens (June-August)
- Annual Summer Trip (e.g. 'An Adventure in Rome')
- Local Service Projects & Special Activities
- Summer Camp Director: Tiffany Carreiro
Clergy & Staff
St. Anthony is served by Rev. Brian J. Morris as pastor (shared with Christ the King Parish), along with two deacons, a parish business manager, a director of faith formation, an administrative assistant, a pastoral assistant, choir director, organists, and a facilities manager.
- Rev. Brian J. Morris — Pastor (401-821-8342 / 401-821-9228)
- Deacon Alex Marchetti
- Deacon Carlos Botelho — Deacon for the Portuguese Community
- Mrs. Roberta Rybka — Parish Business Manager (St. Anthony)
- Mrs. Terry Carvalho — Administrative Assistant (St. Anthony) & Parish Business Manager (Christ the King)
- Mr. William Rogers — Pastoral Assistant at St. Anthony (401-263-5299)
- Mr. Matthew Silva — Director of Faith Formation, Family, & Youth Ministry / Website & IT Administrator
- Ms. Francesca Longo — Program Assistant / Registration Clerk
- Mr. Thomas Hogan — Choir Director / Organist at St. Anthony
- Mrs. Edmea Slyvestre — Organist for Portuguese Mass at St. Anthony
- Joe Dias — Facilities Manager (Christ the King & St. Anthony)
Parish Center & Our Lady of Fatima Chapel
Dedicated on August 4, 2013, the Our Lady of Fatima Chapel and St. Anthony Parish Center serves as the chapel for daily Mass (Thursday Portuguese and Friday English), houses the parish staff offices, and functions as the meeting place for many of the parish's organizations and ministries.
- Dedicated August 4, 2013
- Made possible by then-pastor Rev. Victor T. Silva and the building committee
- Ribbon cut by Rev. Reinaldo Cardoso (5th pastor)
- Chapel for daily Mass (Thursday & Friday 7:30 AM)
Finance Council, Trustees & Auditors
The parish is supported by a Finance Council that works with the pastor and parish business manager, alongside elected Trustees and Parish Auditors who help oversee the temporal affairs of St. Anthony.
- Finance Council members: Fr. Brian Morris (Pastor), Ms. Roberta Rybka (Business Manager), Mr. Benjamin Leander, Mr. William Rogers, Ms. Gail Hopkins, Mrs. Grace Payan, Mrs. Cristina Castaldi, Mr. Rick DaSilva, Ms. Joan Ray
- Parish Auditors: Mr. Greg Laboissonniere, Mrs. Maria Shank
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Anthony Parish by phone, email, or in person at the Parish Office on Woodside Avenue (open Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM). The rectory mailing address is 10 Sunset Ave, West Warwick, RI 02893, and the church itself is located at 1 Sunset Ave, West Warwick, RI 02893.
- Parish Office: 17 Woodside Ave, West Warwick, RI 02893 — (401) 821-8342 — [email protected]
- Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM
- Rectory & Mailing Address: 10 Sunset Ave, West Warwick, RI 02893
- Church Address: 1 Sunset Ave, West Warwick, RI 02893
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Vincent1925-1940
First pastor; celebrated the parish's first Mass on June 14, 1925.
- Rev. Teofilo Oliveira1940-1951
- Rev. Manuel Rego1951-1957
- Rev. Hyacinth Moniz1957-1986
Longest-serving pastor to date at 29 years.
- Rev. Reinaldo Cardoso1986-2006
5th pastor; cut the ribbon on the new Our Lady of Fatima Chapel and Parish Center in 2013.
- Rev. Fernando Cabral2006-2012
- Rev. Victor T. Silva2012-2023
Led the building of the parish center; began sharing pastor role with Christ the King in July 2022.
- Rev. Brian J. Morris2023-Present
Appointed pastor of both St. Anthony and Christ the King Parishes on July 6, 2023; also chaplain at Bishop Hendricken High School.