About St. Brendan · Riverside, Rhode Island
Saint Brendan Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Riverside, Rhode Island, now clustered with Saint Martha Parish in East Providence under the Diocese of Providence. Located at 60 Turner Avenue on the east shore of the Seekonk River, the parish is currently led by Pastor Rev. Scott J. Carpentier. St. Brendan's runs the Good Neighbors Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry out of its former school building, offers faith formation for children and adults (including RCIA), and maintains an active music and liturgical ministry. The parish traces its origins to 1893 as a mission chapel and was formally incorporated in 1909, celebrating its centennial a century later.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- Saint Brendan the Navigator
- Rector
- Rev. Scott J. Carpentier
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Brendan's welcomes visitors and returning Catholics with open arms and a tight-knit Riverside community of active liturgical and outreach ministries. Parishioners can grow in faith through the parish's free FORMED.org subscription, the year-round RCIA process for adults, faith formation for children, and the parish's longstanding Good Neighbors Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry. With weekend Mass at St. Brendan in Riverside on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, and a clustered weekday Mass schedule at St. Martha in East Providence, the parish offers regular access to the sacraments and a place to serve.
Mass times at St. Brendan
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History
The Catholic community in Riverside grew out of a mission chapel run from Sacred Heart Parish beginning in 1893. Fr. John Harty served the Sprague Avenue mission until 1905, followed by Fr. John Hanney (1905–1909). On April 29, 1909 the parish was incorporated and Fr. Joseph Hughes became its first pastor. A Turner Avenue church was built by 1906, expanded in 1931, and damaged by fire in 1957. The present church was completed and its altars consecrated on December 6, 1968. Archival items preserved on the parish history page include the original Sprague Avenue church, the 1906 Turner Avenue postcard, post-fire photos of the old church and its sanctuary (noting the St. Brendan window above the altar), the groundbreaking for the new church, the altar consecration announcement with relic saints listed, the architect's stained glass window notes, and a 100-Year Anniversary Booklet covering 1909–2009. A 1960 Early History of the Church was written by Fr. Francis J. McCabe, and a 1936 Providence Visitor newspaper history is also archived.
Priestly Vocations from the Parish
St. Brendan's records that a number of priests have been ordained from the parish, including a bishop and other priests for the Diocese of Providence.
- Most Reverend Kenneth Angell (Bishop, ordained from the parish)
- Rev. Ryan W. Connors
- Rev. Christopher J. Murphy
Parish Staff
The current pastor of Saint Brendan & Saint Martha Parish is Rev. Scott J. Carpentier. Lay staff include Music Director Michael Parillo, Director of Family Catechesis Lori Lavigne, maintenance (James Gaglia) and custodian (Tom Freitas), treasurer Mr. Robert Wedekind, parish trustees Ms. Marylin Walsh and Mr. Joseph Carter, parish auditor Mr. John Keevan, and a finance council.
Faith Formation
Faith formation is offered for both adults and children, directed by Lori Lavigne as Director of Family Catechesis. The parish uses Flocknote as its primary communication tool. Registration fees are $115 for returning families and $140 for new families, with a $25 sacramental-prep surcharge for Grade 2 (First Communion) and Grade 9 (Confirmation).
Adult Faith Formation & RCIA
The parish runs the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), restored by the Second Vatican Council and formally approved for use in the United States in 1974. Each fall a new catechumenate begins, with weekly gatherings of adults (both unbaptized and already-baptized Christians or Catholics seeking Confirmation), led by lay leaders and Pastor Fr. Scott Carpentier. Reception into the Church typically takes place at the Easter Vigil, with the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist. Interested adults are invited to contact [email protected].
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministry at St. Brendan's is built around lay lectors, altar servers, and extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, following the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM 162). Younger parishioners and unconfirmed parishioners are encouraged to serve as lectors. All fourth graders and older are invited to serve at the altar by contacting Fr. Scott. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion must be fully initiated (Confirmed) and in full communion with the Church, and may also bring Communion to the homebound.
- Lectors
- Altar Servers (4th grade and up)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including homebound ministry)
Music Ministry
The parish music program is led by Music Director Michael Parillo. Inquiries about joining the choir or music ministry can be directed to [email protected].
Outreach & Charity — Good Neighbors
Out of the parish's former school building at 55 Turner Avenue (Dorr Avenue entrance) runs Good Neighbors, the parish's long-standing soup kitchen and food pantry. The Food Pantry is open on Wednesdays during operating hours. The direct line for Good Neighbors is (401) 433-0045.
- Good Neighbors Soup Kitchen — Riverside, RI
- Good Neighbors Food Pantry — open Wednesdays
- Good Neighbors Direct Line: (401) 433-0045
Parish School (Historical)
Parishioners raised funds in 1909 to found St. Brendan School to provide a Catholic education in line with the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore's 1884 mandate. In May 1955 ground was broken for a new sixteen-classroom school building, which opened in 1956 with extra first-grade sections needed that first year. The school continued operating until closing in 2009. The former school building now houses Good Neighbors Soup Kitchen and Food Pantry.
- Founded 1909
- Closed 2009 (last principal Joseph Renzuli)
- 16-classroom building opened 1956 at 55 Turner Avenue
Getting Involved
Citing the Second Vatican Council's teaching that the Church is the whole People of God, the parish invites baptized lay men and women to share in service and leadership, working in cooperation with ordained pastors. The parish notes that approximately 50% of its community is male but men are under-represented among liturgical ministers, and explicitly invites more men to answer the call to lector, altar server, or extraordinary minister roles.
Parish Finance & Governance
The parish is a Rhode Island Domestic Non-Profit Corporation, 'St. Brendan's Church' (ID 000029247), incorporated April 29, 1909, with its principal office at 60 Turner Avenue, Riverside, RI 02915. Corporation officers and directors include Rev. Scott J. Carpentier (Pastor / Treasurer / Secretary / Director), Rev. Msgr. Albert A. Kenney (listed Director and President, One Cathedral Square, Providence — the diocesan chancery address), Mr. Joseph Carter, and Mr. Robert Wedekind. The parish also has a Finance Council with members Mr. John Keevan (also Parish Auditor), Mr. David Rose, Mr. Joseph Cavaco, Mr. Adam Dias, and Mrs. Jennifer Cavaco. Parish trustees are Ms. Marylin Walsh and Mr. Joseph Carter.
Visiting & Contact
St. Brendan's welcomes visitors and returning Catholics. The parish office is open 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Monday through Thursday. The mailing address is 60 Turner Avenue, Riverside, RI 02915-3200, and the parish phone is (401) 433-2600. The parish email is [email protected]. The Faith Formation office is reached at (508) 233-3312 or [email protected]. The Good Neighbors direct line is (401) 433-0045. The parish also offers a free subscription to FORMED.org — parishioners can sign up and select 'St. Brendan's 60 Turner Ave. Riverside' in the parish search.
Architectural & Archival Notes
The parish history page preserves architect's notes describing the stained glass windows of the present church (the St. Brendan window above the altar being a notable feature of the older sanctuary), along with photos of the 1890s Sprague Avenue mission church, the 1906 Turner Avenue church postcard, the post-1931 expanded church following the 1957 fire, the new church groundbreaking, and the December 6, 1968 altar consecration announcement listing the saints whose relics were sealed in the altars.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Harty1893–1905
Served the Riverside Catholic community as a mission chapel of Sacred Heart Parish; original Sprague Avenue church used during this period.
- Rev. John Hanney1905–1909
Continued the mission church work from Sacred Heart.
- Rev. Joseph Hughes1909–1930
First Pastor of St. Brendan's Parish (parish incorporated April 29, 1909).
- Rev. John A. Toohey1930–1942
- Rev. John X. Murphy1942–1944
- Rev. Francis McCabe1944–1952
Wrote a 1960 history of the parish (preserved in the parish archives).
- Rev. William Tierney1952–1959
- Rev. Msgr. John J. Kenny1959–1972
Pastor when the new church was built and consecrated in 1968.
- Rev. James J. Cassidy1972–1990
- Rev. Roger M. Fortin1990–1996
- Rev. John E. Unsworth1996–2010
- Rev. John Codega2010–2021
- Rev. Scott J. Carpentier2021–
Current pastor.