About St. Joseph · Hope Valley, Rhode Island
St. Joseph Church is a Catholic parish located at 1105 Main Street in the village of Hope Valley, one of several small villages in the town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island. It belongs to the Diocese of Providence and is currently led by Pastor Rev. Francesco Francese, with Deacon Rev. Mr. Ronald Preuhs assisting. The parish serves Catholic families across Hopkinton and surrounding rural communities including West Greenwich, Exeter, and Richmond, and shares its religious education program with nearby Our Lady of Victory parish. Weekend Masses are celebrated Saturday evening and Sunday morning, with weekday Masses Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings and Wednesday evenings, complemented by a regular confession schedule, Eucharistic Adoration, the Upper Room Scripture discussion group, Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Rev. Francesco Francese
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Joseph is a welcoming rural Catholic parish with a clear rhythm of daily and weekly life — weekday Masses, Saturday confession, Eucharonic Adoration on Fridays, a rosary devotion on Wednesday evenings, and a thriving Upper Room Scripture discussion group that meets twice on Tuesdays. The parish supports faith formation for children through a religious education program shared with nearby Our Lady of Victory, and parishioners can get involved in the Music Ministry and Children's Choir, the Legion of Mary, the Knights of Columbus, the St. Vincent de Paul conference, and a Pastoral Council. New parishioners are warmly invited to introduce themselves to Fr. Francesco Francese after any Mass to register, and the parish makes a special point of drawing them into its ministries and parish family life.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30–10:30 AM
Our History
St. Joseph's story begins in 1922, when Bishop Hickey purchased the former Episcopal Methodist Church on the northwesterly side of Main Street in Hope Valley on behalf of the Diocese. The Marist Fathers from Immaculate Conception in Westerly remodeled the building and began offering Mass in June 1923, when Bishop Hickey dedicated the new mission to St. Joseph. A large part of the early Catholic population were Polish immigrant families working at the Nichols and Langworthy Machine Company on Mechanic Street, and the mission also served Catholics scattered through West Greenwich, Exeter, and Richmond — and, after 1933, the boys at the Yawgoog Scout Camp in Rockville and Catholic veterans at the CCC Camp in the Arcadia State Forest. The Great Hurricane of September 21, 1938 tore the steeple off St. Joseph's and dropped it into the building, condemning the structure. Bishop Keough chose to clear the site and build a larger church there as the center of a brand-new parish. Fr. Jeremiah P. Murphy, transferred from St. Andrew's on Block Island, was introduced as the founding pastor on Sunday, October 15, 1939, when the parish numbered 95 families. Bishop Keough dedicated the present church — seating 310, with a basement parish hall — on June 9, 1940, and the parish purchased a rectory on August 12, 1941.
- 1922 — Bishop Hickey purchases the former Episcopal Methodist Church property in Hope Valley for the Diocese.
- June 1923 — Marist Fathers begin offering Mass; mission dedicated to St. Joseph.
- September 21, 1938 — Great New England Hurricane destroys the mission church.
- October 15, 1939 — Fr. Jeremiah P. Murphy introduced as first pastor of the new parish (95 families).
- June 9, 1940 — Bishop Keough dedicates the new church (capacity 310) with a basement parish hall.
- August 12, 1941 — Parish purchases its rectory.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Joseph shares its Religious Education program with the nearby Our Lady of Victory parish, listed on the parish's Religious Ed Calendar as 'St. Joseph Church / Our Lady of Victory.' Families wishing to register their children in religious education classes are invited to call the Religious Education office at 401-539-8311, option 3, or email [email protected]. The director of Religious Education named on the parish calendar is Jessica Gerjes.
- Religious Education classes for parish children
- Shared program with Our Lady of Victory parish
- Contact: Jessica Gerjes, 401-539-8311 option #3, [email protected]
The Upper Room — Scripture & Prayer
The Upper Room is a parish Scripture discussion and prayer group described on the parish website as 'a gathering of fellow believers who study, listen, share, and pray together in a warm, receiving environment.' It offers two weekly sessions: Tuesday mornings at 8:30 AM at St. Joseph Church, and Tuesday evenings at 7:00 PM at the home of Jim and Kiki Latimer. A separate Bible Study also gathers every other Friday at 2:00 PM at Our Lady of Victory.
- Tuesday 8:30 AM — at St. Joseph Church; facilitator Daniel Lamendola, 401-477-6475
- Tuesday 7:00 PM — at the Latimer home; facilitator Jim Latimer, 401-486-9749
- Bible Study at Our Lady of Victory — every other Friday at 2:00 PM
Music Ministry & Children's Choir
Music at St. Joseph is led by Mrs. Mary Ellen Casey and Mr. Josh Sayer, who together direct the parish's Music Ministry. A separate Children's Choir is directed by Mrs. Kiki Latimer, providing younger parishioners an opportunity to take part in the liturgical life of the parish.
- Music Ministry — Mrs. Mary Ellen Casey and Mr. Josh Sayer
- Children's Choir — Mrs. Kiki Latimer
Parish Groups & Outreach
Beyond the Sunday and weekday liturgy, parishioners can join several long-standing Catholic organizations and service groups. The Legion of Mary meets on Monday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, the Knights of Columbus gathers monthly (see the bulletin for the current schedule), and the parish hosts a St. Vincent de Paul conference under President Mr. Bruce Olean, which serves those in material need within the parish area.
- Legion of Mary — Monday 6:00–7:30 PM
- Knights of Columbus — monthly meetings (see bulletin)
- St. Vincent de Paul Conference — President Mr. Bruce Olean
- Pastoral Council — Leader Mr. Bruce Olean; Co-Leader Mr. Edward Manlove
- Decorating Committee — Ms. Kathy Harrington
Parish Staff
St. Joseph is led by Pastor Rev. Francesco Francese, assisted by Deacon Rev. Mr. Ronald Preuhs. Parish operations are supported by Secretary/Bookkeeper Mrs. Sandy Pellegrino, and trustees Mr. Anthony Palasciano and Mr. Bruce Olean. The Pastoral Council is led by Mr. Bruce Olean with co-leader Mr. Edward Manlove. Music is coordinated by Mrs. Mary Ellen Casey, Mr. Josh Sayer and Mrs. Kiki Latimer (Children's Choir). Upper Room facilitators are Mr. Daniel Lamendola (Tuesday morning) and Mr. Jim Latimer (Tuesday evening), with Ms. Kathy Harrington serving as Decorating Coordinator.
- Pastor — Rev. Francesco Francese
- Deacon — Rev. Mr. Ronald Preuhs
- Secretary/Bookkeeper — Mrs. Sandy Pellegrino
- Trustees — Mr. Anthony Palasciano and Mr. Bruce Olean
- Pastoral Council Leader — Mr. Bruce Olean (also St. Vincent de Paul President)
- Pastoral Council Co-Leader — Mr. Edward Manlove
- Music Ministry — Mrs. Mary Ellen Casey, Mr. Josh Sayer
- Children's Choir — Mrs. Kiki Latimer
- Upper Room Facilitators — Mr. Daniel Lamendola (Tue AM), Mr. Jim Latimer (Tue PM)
- Decorating Coordinator — Ms. Kathy Harrington
Becoming a Parishioner
The parish warmly invites new families to register. New parishioners are asked to see Pastor Rev. Francesco Francese immediately after any Mass, or stop by the parish office during office hours (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM). Families wishing to enroll children in religious education should call 401-539-8311, option 3. The parish encourages new members to attend weekly Mass, read the bulletin, join an organization, share in a ministry, attend parish functions, and pray for parish families.
- Register with Fr. Francesco Francese after any Mass, or visit the office Mon/Tue/Thu 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Religious Education registration — 401-539-8311 option #3
- Parish mailing address: P.O. Box 388, Hope Valley, RI 02832-0388
Visit & Contact
St. Joseph Church is located at 1105 Main Street in the village of Hope Valley, one of the small villages in the town of Hopkinton, Rhode Island. The parish mailing address is P.O. Box 388, Hope Valley, RI 02832-0388. The parish office can be reached at (401) 539-8311 and is open Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The Religious Education office can be reached at the same number, option 3, or by email at [email protected]. The weekly bulletin is published on the parish website.
- Address — 1105 Main Street, Hope Valley, RI 02832 (mailing: P.O. Box 388, Hope Valley, RI 02832-0388)
- Phone — (401) 539-8311
- Office Hours — Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 8:00 AM–3:00 PM
- Religious Education — 401-539-8311 option #3, [email protected]
- Website — http://www.stjosephhv.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jeremiah P. Murphy1939–
First pastor of the new parish; transferred from St. Andrew's, Block Island by Bishop Keough in October 1939 and introduced to the people on October 15, 1939. Parish began with 95 families. Born Newport, RI, October 27, 1888; ordained May 27, 1914; previously served Our Lady of Mercy East Greenwich, St. Edward's Pawtucket, St. Patrick's Valley Falls, and St. Andrew's Block Island.