About St. John the Evangelist · Slatersville, Rhode Island
St. John the Evangelist is a Roman Catholic parish located in the Slatersville village of North Smithfield, Rhode Island, established in 1872 to serve the workers and families drawn to the area by the historic textile mills of the Slater family. It belongs to the Diocese of Providence and is pastored by Fr. Gerard J. Caron, with a small staff supporting worship, religious education, and parish administration. The parish offers a full schedule of weekend and weekday Masses, monthly Holy Hour, regular confession, an active liturgical ministry program, and an adult choir.
- Established
- 1872
- Patron
- St. John the Evangelist
- Rector
- Fr. Gerard J. Caron
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. John the Evangelist offers a welcoming, small-parish community rooted in the heritage of Slatersville — the first mill village in the United States — with full weekend and weekday Mass schedules, monthly Holy Hour, and regular confession. Members can grow in faith through an active religious education program and serve through a wide range of liturgical ministries: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, altar servers, ushers, the funeral serving team, the Environment decorating group, and the Adult Choir. Visitors and newcomers are warmly invited to register, attend Mass, and get involved.
Mass times at St. John the Evangelist
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
- Upon request
- First Sunday of every month at 2:30 PM (during Holy Hour)
Adoration times
- First Sunday of every month at 2:30 PM (Holy Hour)
Parish History
St. John the Evangelist Parish was established in 1872 in the Slatersville section of the Town of North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The parish was created to serve the swelling population drawn to work at the textile mills founded by John Slater, brother of Samuel Slater — the founder of America's Industrial Revolution. Slatersville itself is recognized as the first mill-village community in the United States, and 1872 also marked the incorporation of the Town of North Smithfield. The original church building has served the surrounding community continuously for 150 years through various renovations. A new extension to the church was dedicated in 1987 to accommodate the growing parish.
- Established 1872 in the Slatersville section of North Smithfield, RI
- Tied to the textile mills founded by John Slater, brother of Samuel Slater
- Slatersville: the first mill-village community in the United States
- Same year as North Smithfield's incorporation
- Church extension dedicated in 1987 to accommodate parish growth
Mission Statement
St. John the Evangelist Parish is a Roman Catholic community dedicated to carrying out the Gospel message of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Its mission is to welcome, evangelize, and educate; to provide spiritual nourishment, promote Christian values, foster peace and justice, and encourage service to others.
Parish Staff
The parish is led by a small, dedicated staff who serve the spiritual, educational, and operational needs of the community.
- Fr. Gerard J. Caron — Pastor
- Celeste Baillargeon — Administrative Assistant and Director of Religious Education
- Peter Cardin-Prochniak — Caretaker/Maintenance
Liturgical Ministries
A parish can only flourish with the participation and assistance of its members. St. John the Evangelist welcomes parishioners into a broad range of liturgical roles. Anyone interested in joining a ministry is invited to contact the parish office.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Ushers
- Funeral Serving Team
- Environment (church decoration for liturgical seasons)
- Adult Choir
Religious Education
Faith formation for the parish is coordinated by Celeste Baillargeon, who serves as both Administrative Assistant and Director of Religious Education.
- Director of Religious Education: Celeste Baillargeon
Parish Council & Finance
The parish maintains a Finance Council that supports the stewardship and financial operations of the community.
- Finance Council
Visiting & Registering
The parish welcomes newcomers and visitors, inviting them to celebrate Mass and learn more about the community. Those interested in joining the parish can complete a registration form, return it to the parish office, place it in the collection basket at Mass, or slip it through the Rectory mail slot.
- Parish registration form available
- Submit to parish office, collection basket, or Rectory mail slot
Office & Contact
The parish office is open Monday through Thursday mornings. The office is closed on Fridays. Parish contact is via phone or email.
- Office hours: Monday – Thursday, 9:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
- Closed Friday
- Phone: (401) 762-0946
- Email: [email protected]
- Bulletin announcements: submit to Celeste by Monday morning before noon
Diocese
St. John the Evangelist is a parish of the Diocese of Providence, the Roman Catholic diocese serving Rhode Island.
- Diocese of Providence