About St. Joseph · Central Falls, Rhode Island
St. Joseph Parish is a Polish-American Roman Catholic parish in Central Falls, Rhode Island, belonging to the Diocese of Providence. Founded in 1905 by Polish immigrants who had settled along High Street to work in the Blackstone Valley textile mills, it has served Polish families in Central Falls, Pawtucket, and Valley Falls for over a century. The parish still celebrates Mass in both English and Polish, with a Sunday liturgy in Polish at 11:00 AM, and is led today by Rev. Dariusz G. Jonczyk. Its present Gothic Revival church, designed by Providence architect John F. O'Malley, was built in the wake of an Easter fire in 1916 and remains the spiritual and cultural heart of the local Polish community.
- Established
- 1905
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Dariusz G. Jonczyk
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Joseph is one of the oldest Polish-American parishes in New England and remains a living link to the immigrant Catholic heritage of the Blackstone Valley. Worship is offered in both English and Polish, with a weekly Sunday Mass in Polish at 11:00 AM that draws Polish-speaking families from across the region. The parish runs an annual Polish Festival each September with Polish and American food, live music, and games, and the building itself — a striking Gothic Revival church designed by architect John F. O'Malley in 1915 — is one of Central Falls' most recognizable landmarks.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
Parish Identity & Heritage
St. Joseph Parish is a designated Polish-heritage Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Providence, serving Central Falls, Pawtucket, Valley Falls, and the wider Blackstone Valley community in northern Rhode Island. Founded by Polish immigrants at the turn of the 20th century and still celebrating Mass in Polish each Sunday, it is one of a chain of Polish-American parishes that shaped New England's Catholic life.
- Designated Polish-immigrant parish in the Diocese of Providence
- Diocese: Providence; Ecclesiastical Province: Hartford
- Ordinary (at time of sources): Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, D.D.
History
The parish traces its origins to the St. Joseph's Fraternal Aid Society, organized on November 11, 1900, by Polish immigrants who had settled along High Street. After Bishop Matthew Harkins approved their petition, Rev. Francis Kluger was sent from Providence to Central Falls in 1906 to organize the parish. St. Joseph's was incorporated on December 6, 1906. A 1916 Easter fire destroyed the original wooden church, prompting construction of the present Gothic Revival building.
- 1900: St. Joseph's Fraternal Aid Society organized
- 1905: Rev. Francis Kluger ordained (June 28)
- 1906: Parish legally incorporated (December 6)
- 1907: Temperance Hall purchased and renovated as first church
- 1909: Rectory acquired at 353 High Street
- 1916: Easter Monday fire destroys the wooden church
- 1915–1917: Present Gothic Revival church built and completed
Architecture & Sacred Art
The present church is a Gothic Revival brick structure designed by Providence architect John F. O'Malley, with groundbreaking in 1915. The facade was considered one of the most impressive in the region and was paired with a tall steeple that was unfortunately lost during the 1954 hurricane. The main altar, still in the church today, was transferred from Holy Trinity Church in Central Falls.
- Architect: John F. O'Malley, Providence
- Style: Gothic Revival
- Groundbreaking: 1915
- Steeple destroyed: 1954 hurricane
- Main altar originally from Holy Trinity Church, Central Falls
Clergy & Pastoral Succession
St. Joseph has been served by a succession of Polish-heritage priests since 1906. The founding pastor, Rev. Francis Kluger, organized the parish and built the first church and school. He was followed by Rev. Lawrence A. Malecki, who completed the present church; Rev. Peter Switala (d. 1944); and Rev. Peter P. Dobek. The current pastor, Rev. Dariusz G. Jonczyk, was reappointed to a new six-year term by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin effective July 1, 2017.
- Rev. Francis Kluger (1906 – Nov 1917), founding pastor
- Rev. Lawrence A. Malecki, second pastor
- Rev. Peter Switala (d. May 12, 1944)
- Rev. Peter P. Dobek, fourth pastor
- Rev. Dariusz G. Jonczyk, current pastor
Polish-American Community Life
Reflecting its founding mission, St. Joseph remains a Polish-heritage parish where Mass, devotions, and fellowship are still lived in the Polish language. The parish hosts an annual Polish Festival each September, with Polish and American food, games of chance, children's entertainment, and live music, drawing parishioners and visitors from across the Blackstone Valley.
- Sunday Mass in Polish at 11:00 AM
- Annual Polish Festival (early September): Polish & American food, games, live music
- Open to all; donations welcome
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Joseph by phone or email, and Mass is open to anyone wishing to attend. The parish does not charge fees; donations are welcome.
- Address: 391 High Street, Central Falls, RI 02863
- Phone: (401) 723-5427
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese listing: dioceseofprovidence.org/parishfinder
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Francis Kluger1906 – November 1917
Founding pastor; born April 22, 1880 in Siemianowice, Górny Śląsk, Poland; ordained June 28, 1905; organized the parish, purchased Temperance Hall in 1907, opened the school, and began construction of the present Gothic church before being transferred back to Our Lady of Częstochowa in Quidnick.
- Rev. Lawrence A. MaleckiSecond pastor, succeeded Kluger in 1917
Continued construction of the present brick church and oversaw its completion, including the admired facade and steeple (later destroyed in the 1954 hurricane).
- Rev. Peter Switala
Assisted Father Kluger in 1916; later became pastor. Introduced Scouting and CYO in 1937 and oversaw installation of a new organ in 1938. Died of a heart attack May 12, 1944.
- Rev. Peter P. Dobek
Fourth pastor; born July 4, 1906 in Wilmington, Delaware; educated at St. Hedwig's, Salesian High School, St. Mary's College Orchard Lake, SS. Cyril and Methodius Seminary, and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore.
- Rev. Dariusz G. JonczykAppointed/ Reappointed July 1, 2017 to a six-year term
Current pastor; reappointed by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin.