About St. Francis Xavier · East Providence, Rhode Island
St. Francis Xavier is a Roman Catholic parish in East Providence, Rhode Island, founded in 1915 by Bishop Matthew Harkins of the Diocese of Providence to serve the city's growing Portuguese immigrant community. The parish worships in both English and Portuguese — reflecting the missionary Portuguese heritage of its patron, St. Francis Xavier, the Jesuit 'Apostle of the Indies' (feast day December 3) — and offers daily Mass, weekend Masses in three languages, Eucharistic Adoration every Friday, a parochial school legacy, and active outreach to the poor. Its mission statement, declared in both English and Portuguese, pledges faithfulness to the Roman Catholic tradition through liturgy, education, and service 'with the same missionary zeal and fortitude as our patron.'
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- St. Francis Xavier
- Rector
- Fr. Jorge Rocha
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Francis Xavier offers something rare in the Diocese of Providence: a living, century-old Portuguese Catholic tradition alongside English-language worship. The parish celebrates Mass in both languages every day of the week, runs the Joe Antonio Food Pantry twice a month for neighbors in 02914, sustains a thriving music ministry with both adult and children's choirs, and gathers a youth group that combines prayer with service projects like Adopt-a-Family. With daily and Sunday Mass, weekly Friday Eucharistic Adoration, First Friday Holy Hours, and an active calendar of sodalities (Holy Rosary Sodality, Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group), parishioners find a community that prays together, serves together, and keeps Portuguese Catholic heritage alive for new generations.
Mass times at St. Francis Xavier
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 PM
- Portuguese confessions heard on the 1st Saturday of the month, or by appointment
Adoration times
- Every Friday 12:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament)
- First Friday Holy Hour: 11:00 AM (English)
- First Friday Holy Hour: 5:00 PM (Portuguese)
Parish History
St. Francis Xavier was founded in 1914–1915 by Bishop Matthew Harkins of Providence to serve the Portuguese immigrant community of East Providence. Fr. Joseph Lopes, appointed to organize the new parish, celebrated the first Mass on January 10, 1915 in the Brotherhood of the Divine Holy Ghost hall on Phillip Street. Bishop Harkins dedicated the new church on North Carpenter Street on May 21, 1916. The parish grew quickly — early groups included the Holy Name Society and the Holy Rosary Sodality, and a successful town-hall bazaar raised $3,000. A permanent rectory at 81 North Carpenter Street followed in February 1931.
- First Mass: January 10, 1915 (Phillip Street hall)
- Church dedicated: May 21, 1916 by Bishop Harkins
- Rectory at 81 N Carpenter Street built: February 1931
Parish School
Under Fr. Manuel Rego, with permission from Bishop McVinney, the parish hired an architect to design a school and parish hall. While construction proceeded, the parish opened its first kindergarten in a parish-owned home, with 38 children taught by a Sister of St. Dorothy. The new school officially opened on September 9, 1959 with 226 students from kindergarten through third grade, also staffed by the Sisters of St. Dorothy, and later expanded through the eighth grade. Monsignor Vieira later oversaw major repairs to the school building, parking lot, and landscaping.
- Architect commissioned under Bishop McVinney's permission
- Kindergarten opened in a parish-owned home (38 students)
- New school opened September 9, 1959 (K–3, 226 students)
- Staffed by the Sisters of St. Dorothy
Sacraments & Devotions
Confessions are heard Saturday afternoons, with a Portuguese-language priest available on the first Saturday of each month (or by appointment). The parish offers Eucharistic Adoration every Friday afternoon and Holy Hours on First Fridays in both English and Portuguese — a hallmark devotion of the parish.
- Confession: Saturday 3:00 – 3:45 PM
- Portuguese confessions: 1st Saturday of month, or by appointment
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Fridays 12:30 – 6:00 PM
- First Friday Holy Hours: 11:00 AM English & 5:00 PM Portuguese
Liturgical Ministries
Lay faithful serve the parish in key liturgical roles. Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass; Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion distribute the Eucharist and bring it to the sick and homebound; Altar Servers (children who have made First Communion) assist the priest at the altar. Those interested are invited to speak with a parish priest or call the parish office at 401-434-1878.
- Altar Servers (open to First Communicants)
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (also bring Communion to the sick)
Music Ministry
Directed by organist and choir director Br. Enoch John Valentine, BSG, the Music Ministry sustains a long tradition of choral singing at St. Francis Xavier. The Adult Choir sings one Saturday Mass each month and alternates between the 9:30 AM and 11:30 AM Sunday Masses; the choir performs SATB classical and contemporary repertoire, sings six televised Masses a year, and occasionally performs at the Cathedral and ecumenical events. The St. Cecilia Children's Choir (grades 1–6) sings at the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass on alternating weeks.
- Adult Choir — rehearses Tuesdays 7:30–9:00 PM, Nossa Senhora Meeting Room (lower church)
- St. Cecilia Children's Choir — rehearses Tuesdays 6:30–7:15 PM
- Parish Concert Series — Portuguese folk/classical and other programs, instituted by Br. Enoch Valentine
- Open to high-school-age and up; no prior experience required
Prayer Groups
St. Francis Xavier sustains four prayer groups that meet in the Our Lady of the Angels Room (Church Library). The Holy Rosary Sodality hosts the Holiday Bazaar, Cake Sale, Installation of New Members, and an annual Christmas Party, and supports the Gabriel Project, the Little Sisters of the Poor, and hospital crochet gifts. The Legion of Mary, founded in 1921 by Frank Duff, visits the sick in hospitals and nursing homes and undertakes parish apostolates. The Charismatic Prayer Group gathers for praise and openness to the gifts of the Holy Spirit; 'Mothers That Pray for Their Children' seek the intercession of Our Lady for their families.
- Holy Rosary Sodality — 2nd Thursday, 6:00 PM
- Legion of Mary — Mondays, 6:30 PM
- Charismatic Prayer Group — Wednesdays, 6:00 PM
- Mothers That Pray for Their Children — Thursdays, 7:30 PM (schedule varies)
Youth Group
The parish Youth Group forms young parishioners in committed lives of virtue, prayer, and service through friendship with Christ and one another. Meeting on the first and third Thursday of every month in the school youth room, recent activities have included Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Glorify Praise and Worship, dodgeball, soccer/basketball, movie nights, an 'All Saints and Souls' Night, and service at parish events such as the Annual Feast, Christmas Bazaar, Calendar Dinner, and Anniversary Dinner. The group also runs Adopt-a-Family and supports youth events throughout the year.
- Meets 1st & 3rd Thursday in the school youth room
- Adopt-a-Family service project
- Adoration, Praise & Worship, movie nights, dodgeball
- Open to all parish youth
Community Outreach — Joe Antonio Food Pantry
The Joe Antonio Food Pantry serves East Providence neighbors in the 02914 zip code who are in need, distributing food on the second and fourth Monday of each month. Donations of non-perishable food items may be dropped off at the parish office or in the basket near the elevator and sacristy inside the church.
- Distribution: 2nd & 4th Monday of each month
- Service area: 02914 East Providence
- Donation baskets: parish office and near elevator/sacristy
Parish Staff & Contact
The parish is staffed by Fr. Jorge Rocha (Pastor), with assistance from Fr. Richard Narciso. Mrs. Rita Vargas serves as Administrative Secretary ([email protected]). Religious Education and Faith Formation is coordinated by Mrs. Doris Wigginton and Director Mrs. Rosemary Carvalho ([email protected], 401-742-9622). Br. Enoch Valentine, BSG, leads the Music Ministry ([email protected], 401-440-4784). Mr. Marques handles Maintenance. The parish office is at 81 N Carpenter Street, East Providence, RI 02914, phone 401-434-1878, fax 401-438-1950.
- Parish Office: 81 N Carpenter Street, East Providence, RI 02914
- Phone: 401-434-1878 | Fax: 401-438-1950
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Secretary email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation: [email protected] / 401-742-9622
- Music Ministry: [email protected] / 401-440-4784
Parish Membership
New parishioners are warmly welcomed to register by stopping by the Rectory Offices at 81 N Carpenter Street or by speaking with one of the parish priests after Sunday Mass. The parish asks members to live out their vocations through Sunday and weekday Mass, the sacraments, catechesis, service to the sick and poor, and a sacrificial financial offering to support parish needs — time, talent, and treasure shared as one Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12:26).
- Register at the Rectory Office (81 N Carpenter Street)
- Or speak with a parish priest after Sunday Mass
- Parish mission: liturgy, education, service in the Roman Catholic tradition
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Lopes1915–
Appointed by Bishop Matthew Harkins in 1914 to census and organize the new Portuguese parish; celebrated the first Mass on January 10, 1915 and is considered the founding pastor.
- (Second pastor, name not recorded on parish history page)1915–1957
Identity not given on the current parish history page.
- Rev. Fr. Manuel Rego1957–1980
Third pastor; built the parish school and hall with Bishop McVinney's permission; opened kindergarten in a parish home (1958) and dedicated the new school on September 9, 1959; retired due to illness and named Pastor Emeritus.
- Fr. John Farley1980 (interim)
Appointed by Bishop Gelineau as temporary administrator until the next pastor arrived.
- Fr. John TavaresSeptember 19, 1980 – June 15, 1997
Extended the rectory for office space, repaired church interior/exterior and parking lot; elevated to Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope John Paul II in April 1989.
- Fr. Victor VieiraJune 15, 1997 –
Succeeded Msgr. Tavares; continued major repairs to school, parking lot, and landscaping with assistance of Fr. Richard Narciso; elevated to Reverend Monsignor by Pope Benedict XVI in January 2009.
- Fr. Jorge Rochapresent
Current pastor; carries on the parish's bilingual English-Portuguese tradition.