St. Joseph

Parish History

St. Joseph Parish is one of the oldest Catholic churches in the Pawtuxet Valley. In the late 1800s, Rev. John Couch, Pastor of St. John's Church in Centerville (Jericho), established a French parish in the village of Natick, beginning with a small mission church on East Avenue. In the spring of 1867, the Sprague & Co. mill donated the present site on Providence Street. Construction of the church began on Thanksgiving Day, 1872, and the first Mass was celebrated in the basement chapel on Christmas Day of that same year. Worship continued in the basement for sixteen years until the upper church was completed and dedicated on Christmas Day, 1888. In 1899, Bishop Matthew Harkins invited the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart (M.S.C.) to assume pastoral care of the parish; the Canadian Province served from 1899 to 1974, followed by the American Province from 1974 to 1989. In June 1989, the M.S.C. transferred the parish to the Diocese of Providence, and Bishop Louis E. Gelineau installed Father Charles Downing as the first diocesan pastor. A 100th anniversary commemorative book ("100th Anniversary, St. Joseph's Church, West Warwick, R.I.") was published in 1973.

Clergy & Staff

St. Joseph Parish is led by Father Gregory P. Stowe and assisted by Deacon Cyrille Cote. A dedicated lay team coordinates music, faith formation, parish operations, and governance.

• Pastor: Rev. Gregory P. Stowe
• Deacon: Rev. Mr. Cyrille Cote
• Music Director: Mrs. Amanda Santo
• Organist: Mrs. Claudette Archambault
• Religious Education Coordinator: Mrs. Nicole Knott
• Religious Education & Adult Faith Formation: Mr. William Patenaude, Ms. Katherine Brissette
• Business Manager: Natalia C. Bonella
• Trustees: Mr. Thomas Walsh, Mr. Daniel T. Burns, Jr.
• Auditors: Mr. Norman Lavallee, Mrs. Elizabeth Pimentel

Sacraments

St. Joseph Parish prepares the faithful for and celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments. Parents coordinate baptism dates directly with the pastor. Sacramental preparation for Confirmation follows a one-year program beginning each May; First Communion is typically celebrated in Grade 2 as part of the school or religious education program. Couples are asked to contact the pastor at least ten months before their wedding.

• Baptism — date arranged with the pastor and parents
• Confirmation — one-year program, registration each May
• First Communion — typically Grade 2 ($50 sacramental-year fee)
• Reconciliation — Saturday 3:15–3:45 PM or by appointment
• Matrimony — contact the pastor at least 10 months in advance
• Religious Education — required for all parish children not enrolled in Catholic school

St. Joseph School

St. Joseph Catholic School has been educating children in West Warwick since 1923. The school opened on September 4, 1923 with 135 students in grades 1–7, administered by the Sisters of Divine Providence from their Mother House in Kentucky. The current campus at 850 Wakefield Street was constructed in 1956–57 and dedicated by Bishop Russell J. McVinney on April 29, 1957. Father Charles Downing led a significant renewal in the 1990s; a three-classroom wing with a handicap-accessible entrance was dedicated on January 1, 2000 by Auxiliary Bishop Robert McManus. The school today serves PreK3 through Grade 8, is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), and offers before- and after-care for working families.

• Address: 850 Wakefield Street, West Warwick, RI 02893
• Phone: (401) 821-3450
• Grades served: PreK3 – Grade 8
• Principal: Mrs. Julie Capirchio
• Admissions Contact: Jessica Loffler
• NEASC accredited since November 1996; re-accredited 2006
• Member of the Catholic Athletic League (CAL) since 1997
• Before-care 7:00–8:00 AM; after-care 3:15–5:45 PM

Parish Ministries & Outreach

St. Joseph's ministries give parishioners regular, practical ways to participate in the parish's sacramental and community life — from liturgy to service to simple acts of stewardship.

• Eucharistic Ministers
• Lectors
• Altar Servers
• Religious Education Teachers (parents especially encouraged to help)
• Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Joseph Conference ("a network of friends, inspired by Gospel values, growing in holiness and building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.")
• Cleaning Ministry — Saturdays after the 8:00 AM Mass

Parish Mission Statement

The parish mission statement, published on stjosephww.org, reads: "Affirming our common Baptismal call to holiness and discipleship, we at St. Joseph Parish strive to deepen our communion with Christ and His Church, by worshiping God through Word and Sacrament, serving our community with God's healing compassion and love, giving freely what we have received, nurturing our children in faith, and respecting the dignity of all human life. In this we hope always to be a sign of the saving power of God in the world, by inviting all people to journey with us spreading God's presence to all who yearn to see His face."