About St. Joseph · Pascoag, Rhode Island
St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church is a Catholic parish in the village of Pascoag, in the Town of Burrillville, in the picturesque northwestern corner of Rhode Island — what the parish calls "God's country." It is one of three historically-linked parishes in the Burrillville Catholic community and belongs to the Diocese of Providence. Established in 1884, the parish currently shares pastoral leadership with neighboring St. Eugene's in Chepachet under Reverend Stephen J. Dandeneau, Administrator. The parish's worship, faith formation, music, and outreach ministries sustain a community that traces its roots to 19th-century mill-country Catholic life.
- Established
- 1884
- Patron
- St. Joseph
- Rector
- Reverend Stephen J. Dandeneau (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Joseph's is a small, warm Catholic community in the heart of Burrillville where members know each other by name and generations of Pascoag families have worshipped since the 1880s. The parish sustains a full sacramental life — weekend and weekday Mass, confession by appointment, baptisms, marriage preparation, and anointing of the sick — along with faith formation (K-8), the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, Vacation Bible School, a choir, the Legion of Mary, a Prayer Shawl Ministry, a Prayer Ministry, and an Activities Committee that runs a food pantry, holiday baskets, and the 20-Week Club raffle. Joining means becoming part of a parish that has rebuilt itself twice from fire and still anchors Catholic life in northwestern Rhode Island.
Mass times at St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Patrick's, Harrisville)
- By appointment — contact the parish office at 401-568-2411
Parish Story & History
Established in 1884 as Pascoag's first independent parish, St. Joseph's grew out of a mission started in 1880 by Rev. John Maguire of St. Patrick's, Harrisville. After a brief first pastorship (Rev. Daniel Driscoll, 1884–1886) and a return to mission status, Rev. James Mahon brought the parish back to full standing in 1893 — a date the parish marks as the true beginning of its independent life. Two catastrophic fires — 1919 and 1948 — destroyed and damaged the church, but each time the parish rebuilt, ultimately producing the admired English Gothic–style church blessed in 1932.
- Cornerstone laid March 17, 1880; parish established 1884.
- Returned to full parish status May 1893 under Fr. James Mahon.
- 1919 fire destroyed the church; basement chapel served the parish.
- Present English Gothic church completed and blessed by Bishop Hickey in September 1932; cost $137,000.
- Second fire in 1948 caused serious damage but was repaired within a year.
- 100th Anniversary of full parish status celebrated in 1993.
Sacraments
St. Joseph's celebrates the seven sacraments in the traditional Catholic rhythm. Baptism is scheduled monthly to allow proper preparation; marriage requires a year of advance notice; anointing of the sick is available at any time and especially in emergencies, simply by calling the parish office. The parish welcomes both Christians and unbaptized persons through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
- Baptism: 3rd Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM — contact the parish office to register.
- Reconciliation (Confession): Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM or by appointment.
- Marriage: contact the pastor at least one year in advance.
- Anointing of the Sick: contact Fr. Dandeneau at the office, especially in emergencies.
- O.C.I.A. (RCIA): inquiries through Fr. Dandeneau via the Interparish Office, 401-568-2411.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children and youth is directed by Fran Gallo, with curriculum available to families on request. The parish runs Vacation Bible School each summer and supports the Rite of Enrollment of students preparing for Confirmation. Fr. Dandeneau also serves as Religious Education Coordinator.
- Faith Formation classes — available curriculum on request from the parish office.
- Vacation Bible School — annual summer program; registration via the parish website.
- O.C.I.A. (RCIA) — adult initiation into the Catholic Church.
- Confirmation preparation — Rite of Enrollment and ongoing formation.
Music Ministry
Music at St. Joseph's is led by Choir Director and Organist Richard Phelan, supported by singers Bri and Lisa Brisette. The parish's pipe organ was given a major overhaul in 2005, restoring its true sound for liturgies in the Gothic-era interior.
- Choir Director & Organist: Richard Phelan.
- Singers: Bri and Lisa Brisette.
- Pipe organ restored 2005.
Outreach, Prayer & Fellowship
St. Joseph's runs a constellation of small but energetic outreach ministries built around the parish's volunteer Activities Committee. Members support the interparish St. Patrick's Food Pantry in Harrisville, distribute Thanksgiving and Christmas baskets, maintain a year-round Giving Tree and Jacob's Gift Box, run a yard sale, and sponsor the 20-Week Club (formerly the 50 Club) raffle. The Prayer Shawl Ministry gathers on the first Wednesday of each month at 10:00 AM at St. Patrick's rectory; the Prayer Ministry offers a phone-based prayer chain through Pauline Prew (401-568-5644).
- Activities Committee funds giving via the 20-Week Club raffle, Dino's Park-n-Shop receipts, yard sale, food pantry gifts.
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — first Wednesday, 10:00 AM, St. Patrick's rectory (Pauline Prew, 401-568-5644).
- Prayer Ministry / prayer chain — call Pauline Prew.
- Holiday Food Baskets (Thanksgiving & Christmas).
- Giving Tree and Jacob's Gift Box (seasonal).
- St. Patrick's Food Pantry, Harrisville — accepts non-perishables and gift cards year-round.
Parish Staff & Contact
The parish is administered through an Interparish Office shared with St. Patrick's, Harrisville. Staff members include a business manager, faith formation director, facilities director, and music ministers, supported by named trustees.
- Reverend Stephen J. Dandeneau — Parish Administrator (401-568-2411).
- Mary Dougherty — Business Manager.
- Fran Gallo — Faith Formation Director.
- James Howard — Facilities Director.
- Richard Phelan — Choir Director and Organist.
- Bri & Lisa Brisette — Music Ministry.
- Trustees — Michael Franklin, Mitchell Parkhurst (per 2016 bulletin; recent roster unverified).
Father Holland Catholic School — A Legacy
For more than half a century the parish's identity was inseparable from its school. Opened in September 1962 under Fr. Daniel Holland with staffing by the Religious Sisters of Mercy, the school graduated its first class in 1967. It was regionalized in 1978 as Northwest Catholic Regional and renamed Father Holland Catholic Elementary School in 1993 to honor the pastor buried between church and school. The school reached a peak enrollment of about 240 in pre-K through 8. After a brush with closure in 2008 saved by community support, declining enrollment (down to 89 students by 2014) forced the Diocese of Providence to close Father Holland Catholic School at the end of the 2014–2015 academic year. In August 2025 the parish sold the former school building and the adjoining 7.5-acre lot at 175 Sayles Ave to R.P.A. Services, LLC for $650,000, retaining a right of first refusal on the church lot.
- Opened September 1962 as St. Joseph School under Fr. Daniel Holland.
- First graduating class 1967.
- Regionalized 1978 as Northwest Catholic Regional.
- Renamed Father Holland Catholic Elementary School 1993.
- Targeted for closure 2008, saved by community support.
- Closed end of 2014–2015 academic year; enrollment 89.
- School building sold in 2025 for $650,000 to a housing developer.
Burrillville Catholic Community & Interparish Life
St. Joseph's does not stand alone. It is part of a cluster of Catholic communities in the towns of Burrillville and Glocester that share clergy, staff, and outreach — historically linked through St. Patrick's in Harrisville (the mother church of the region) and continuing today with St. Eugene's in Chepachet, where Fr. Dandeneau also serves as pastor. The parish's website and bulletin direct visitors to its interparish office at 401-568-2411 for most needs, and the parish participates in the wider "Burrillville Catholic" network of churches.
- Interparish office: 401-568-2411, [email protected].
- Hours: Monday–Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (per website welcome).
- Sister parishes: St. Eugene's (Chepachet), St. Patrick's (Harrisville), Our Lady of Good Help (Mapleville), St. Theresa of the Child Jesus (Harrisville).
Planning Your Visit
First-time visitors and returning Catholics are warmly welcomed at St. Joseph's. The parish encourages registration and full participation in Mass and church events, noting that "the true heart of any parish is its parishioners." Mass is celebrated Saturday at 4:00 PM and Sunday at 9:15 AM, with weekday Masses Tuesday and Wednesday at 7:45 AM. Confession is offered Saturday at 3:15 PM (St. Patrick's) or by appointment. Anointing of the Sick and homebound visits can be arranged by calling 401-568-2411.
- Address: 183 Sayles Ave (Route 107), Pascoag, RI 02859.
- Phone: 401-568-2411; Fax 401-568-2586.
- Email: [email protected].
- Website: https://www.stjosephri.org/.
- Office hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (call ahead).
- Parking: on-site at the church.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Daniel Driscoll1884–1886
First pastor at the parish's 1884 establishment; his departure sent St. Joseph's back to mission status.
- Rev. James Mahon1893–1905
Returned the parish to full status in May 1893; eliminated the church debt and built the rectory.
- Rev. Bernard Redihan1905–1915
Hosted the Grand Parish Reunion of 1906; beautified the grounds and renovated the rectory.
- Rev. John Dunn1915–1922
Reigned when fire destroyed the church in 1919; shepherded the basement-chapel years.
- Rev. John Downing1922–1932+
Built the present English Gothic church, blessed 1932.
- Rev. Dennis Fullam1936
Listed among successive pastors.
- Rev. Charles O'Neill1946
Served during/after the second fire of 1948.
- Rev. Daniel O'Connell1952
Listed among successive pastors.
- Rev. Daniel Holland1959–1973 (pastor; curate from 1946)
Most beloved pastor; built the parish school in 1962 (later Father Holland Catholic School); buried between church and school.
- Rev. William Gallagher1973
Added the sanctuary curtain; restored the Fleche steeple.
- Rev. Thomas Keenan1979
Restored the church interior in the mid-1980s.
- Rev. Paul Laporte1991
Led the 100th Anniversary (1993) of full parish status.
- Rev. Clifford Cabral1996
Now Pastor Emeritus; wrote the parish history narrative.
- Rev. Peter J. Sheehan2013–2017
Former U.S. Marine and Navy chaplain; led St. Joseph's, St. Patrick's, Fr. Holland School and cemeteries.
- Rev. Scott Carpentier
Predecessor administrator; now Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Stephen J. Dandeneau
Current Administrator; also Pastor of St. Eugene's, Chepachet; spiritual director of the Providence Comitium of the Legion of Mary.