About St. Gregory the Great · Warwick, Rhode Island
St. Gregory the Great is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Providence, serving the southwest corner of Warwick, Rhode Island, from its church on Cowesett Road. Canonically erected in 1961 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney to relieve the growing Catholic population of southwest Warwick, it was carved from the territories of St. Catherine's in Apponaug and Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich. The parish carries on the charitable spirit of its patron, Pope St. Gregory I (590–604), through ministries that reach out to refugees, the bereaved, those living with dementia, and families in need. Worship is offered in English with a steady weekly schedule of Sunday Masses and daily Mass, alongside faith formation for youth, a long-standing CYO, and a strong network of parish groups.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- St. Gregory the Great (Pope St. Gregory I)
- Rector
- Rev. Brian J. Morris
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Gregory the Great is a mid-sized, multigenerational parish on Cowesett Road in Warwick where Mass is celebrated every day and a warm pastoral staff — currently led by newly welcomed Fr. Brian Morris — is visible in every ministry. Members grow in faith through faith formation for grades 7–10 with a dedicated Director of Religious Education, a monthly Men's Fellowship Group that studies Scripture together, a Bereavement Support series, and a Memory Loss support group for caregivers. The parish lives out its patron's call to charity in concrete ways: the Social Action Committee has hosted a parish study of Pope Francis's Laudato Si', supports refugee families, and partners with Emmanuel House by preparing meals. For anyone moving into southwest Warwick — or any Catholic looking for a parish that takes formation, outreach, and friendship seriously — St. Gregory's is a natural home.
Mass times at St. Gregory the Great
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 3:45 PM – 4:15 PM (1/2 hour before the Vigil Mass), or by appointment
- Or by appointment — contact the parish office
Parish History
St. Gregory the Great was canonically erected in 1961 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney to serve Catholic families in southwest Warwick, drawing its territory from St. Catherine's in Apponaug and Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich. An 8-acre site was purchased on Cowesett Road, where a permanent church was dedicated in 1963. Early parish life centered on the new parish's founding pastor, Rev. Henry F. Shelley, and the founding societies — Knights of St. Gregory Altar Boys, the Holy Name Society, and the Rosary Altar Society — together with CYO baseball and religious education offered by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. The parish is actively collecting memories and historic material from its founders and longtime parishioners for its archives.
- Canonically erected September 10, 1961 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney, fifth Bishop of Providence
- Territory taken from St. Catherine's (Apponaug) and Our Lady of Mercy (East Greenwich)
- 8-acre Cowesett Road site acquired by the diocese
- First Masses held at Central Grange Hall on Toll Gate Road (later demolished for I-95)
- First rectory: 563 Cowesett Road, with a converted garage as daily chapel
- Religious education began in 1961 at Cedar Hill School under the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
- CYO baseball program started April 8, 1962
- Church building dedicated 1963 by Rev. Monsignor Daniel P. Reilly
- Incorporated September 27, 1961 as 'St. Gregory the Great Church Corporation, Warwick' (RI Entity #000029451)
Worship and Sacraments
St. Gregory the Great offers a steady schedule of Masses in English throughout the week, with daily Mass Monday–Friday and a Saturday Vigil and two Sunday Masses. Confession is offered weekly before the Vigil Mass, and the parish supports families preparing for the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, First Eucharist, Anointing of the Sick, and the funeral rite.
- Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:30 PM (English)
- Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM and 10:30 AM (English; 10:30 AM livestreamed on YouTube)
- Weekday Mass Monday–Friday: 8:30 AM (English)
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:45–4:15 PM, or by appointment
- Confirmation celebrated at the parish with Bishop Evans
- Baptism preparation classes offered (see Events calendar)
- Funerals listed on the parish site with family permission
Parish Staff and Clergy
The parish is led by Fr. Brian J. Morris, appointed Pastor of St. Gregory the Great effective July 1, 2026 by the Diocese of Providence. He succeeds a line of pastors that includes Rev. David F. Ricard (still listed on the parish staff page and serving as the parish corporation's Registered Agent) and Rev. Alfred V. Ricci (named pastor in diocesan directories). Lay leadership includes the Director of Religious Education and an active Parish Council, which approved a new Strategic Plan in 2026 to guide the parish's mission.
- Rev. Brian J. Morris — Pastor (effective July 1, 2026); previously Pastor of St. Anthony and Christ the King (West Warwick) and Chaplain of Bishop Hendricken High School
- Rev. David F. Ricard — Parish Priest; listed on parish staff page; Registered Agent/Treasurer/Director on RI corporate filings
- Rev. Alfred V. Ricci — Pastor (per diocesan directories)
- Angela R. Christianson — Director of Religious Education (ext. 3)
- Parish Office — (401) 884-1666 (reception ext. 1; faith formation ext. 3; bereavement/support ext. 8; priest ext. 5)
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith formation for middle and high school youth runs as a structured Grades 7–10 program, directed by Angela R. Christianson, culminating in a parish Confirmation Mass celebrated by Bishop Evans. The Children's Liturgy of the Word Summer Series continues the parish's long tradition of catechesis begun in 1961 at Cedar Hill School with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. Adults grow through the parish Book Club and seasonal formation offerings.
- Grades 7–10 Religious Formation (Director: Angela R. Christianson, ext. 3)
- Annual Confirmation Mass with Bishop Evans
- Children's Liturgy of the Word — Summer Series
- Adult information / inquiry classes (continuing the founding-year tradition)
- Parish Book Club
Ministry and Fellowship Groups
St. Gregory's is sustained by a wide network of lay ministries that meet in the parish center on Cowesett Road. The Men's Fellowship Group meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Room 14 for Scripture discussion and brotherhood; the Altar Server program welcomes youth from the 4th grade up through peer-mentored formation; and the Music Ministry leads liturgical music. Social and pastoral needs are served by the Bereavement Support series, the Memory Loss Support Group for caregivers, the Respect Life Committee, and the Circle of Friends, which hosts the annual May Crowning and Rosary Tea.
- Men's Fellowship Group — 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 PM, Room 14; facilitators Wayne Moore and Louis DeMascole
- Altar Servers — youth 4th grade and up, with peer-mentor formation
- Music Ministry
- Bereavement Support: Growing Through Grief — Mondays 12:00 noon – 1:30 PM
- Memory Loss Support Gatherings — 10:00 AM on listed dates
- Respect Life Committee — chairperson Megan Donnelly
- Circle of Friends — May Crowning and Rosary Tea
Social Action and Outreach
Outreach flows through the parish Social Action Committee, which has sponsored an in-depth parish study of Pope Francis's encyclical Laudato Si' on care for our common home and continues to support refugee families arriving in Rhode Island. Parishioners also serve hot meals at Emmanuel House, prepare for needs across the wider Warwick community, and support the broader Diocese of Providence charitable works — a fitting expression of the parish's patron, St. Gregory the Great, whose life was marked by vast charities for the poor and the sick.
- Social Action Committee — Laudato Si' parish study
- Refugee family sponsorship and support
- Emmanuel House community meal service
- Respect Life Committee (federal/state advocacy on life issues)
Stewardship, Events, and Parish Life
Beyond Mass and ministries, parish life runs on the rhythms of a busy weekly calendar — Baptisms and Baptisms Prep classes, Parish Council meetings, Book Club gatherings, Flea Market fundraisers, and special receptions such as the wine-and-cheese welcome for a new pastor. The Parish Council has approved a new Strategic Plan to guide the parish over the coming years, and a Planned Giving / Leave a Legacy program encourages parishioners to remember St. Gregory's in their long-term estate planning.
- Strategic Plan (adopted 2026 by the Parish Council)
- Planned Giving — Leave a Legacy
- Welcome reception for new pastor with wine-and-cheese and Coffee An' fellowship
- Flea Market and other parish fundraisers
- Funeral announcements posted on the parish website with family permission
Visiting and Contact
St. Gregory the Great is located at 360 Cowesett Road in Warwick, Rhode Island. The parish office can be reached at (401) 884-1666 (fax 401-884-2448); web correspondence goes to [email protected]. Mass is offered throughout the week, and the 10:30 AM Sunday Mass is livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel for those who cannot attend in person.
- Mailing address: 360 Cowesett Road, Warwick, RI 02886
- Phone: (401) 884-1666
- Fax: (401) 884-2448
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stgregorychurchri.com/
- Diocese: Diocese of Providence (Catholic Diocese of Providence)
- Sunday Mass livestreamed on the parish YouTube channel
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Henry F. Shelley1961–
Founding pastor; lived in the ranch rectory at 563 Cowesett Road, with a converted garage as the first chapel.
- Rev. David F. Ricard
Listed as Parish Priest on the parish staff page and as the corporation's Registered Agent/Treasurer/Director.
- Rev. Alfred V. Ricci
Identified as Pastor in diocesan directories; presided at parish sacramental schedule during his tenure.
- Rev. Brian J. Morris2026–
Appointed Pastor of St. Gregory the Great effective July 1, 2026, previously Pastor of St. Anthony and Christ the King parishes in West Warwick and Chaplain of Bishop Hendricken High School.