St. Lucy

About St. Lucy Parish

St. Lucy Parish is the first Catholic parish in the Town of Middletown, Rhode Island, founded May 23, 1951 and belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence. It sits on a generous West Main Road campus shared with All Saints STEAM Academy (K–8) and continues the sacramental, educational and outreach work begun by its founding pastor, Fr. James P. Casey. The parish is currently served by Fr. John Codega and falls under Most Rev. Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR, Bishop of Providence.

• Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence, RI
• Bishop: Most Rev. Bruce Lewandowski, CSsR
• Pastor: Rev. John Codega

History of the Parish

St. Lucy's was established in 1951 to relieve the burden that Catholics in Middletown's housing projects were placing on St. Joseph's and St. Mary's in Newport. Fr. Casey celebrated the first Masses in the Anchorage School Hall in June 1951, broke ground in September, and dedicated the finished Gothic brick-and-limestone church on June 15, 1952. In 1964 Bishop McVinney blessed the new school and convent on the Feast of St. Lucy; in 1971 the school became regional, then diocesan — now All Saints STEAM Academy. Ground was broken for the present church on June 10, 1989, the first Mass was celebrated on March 3, 1990, and it was dedicated on August 5, 1990. The original 1952 church was renovated into the Father Casey Parish Center; the 1984 conversion of the old convent created Lucy's Hearth, a shelter for women and children. The parish marked its 50th anniversary with Jubilee Year celebrations in 2001 and will mark its 75th in 2026.

Parish Staff

Alongside Fr. John Codega, the parish is supported by a part-time Office Manager (Justin Vicente), Faith Formation Coordinator (Matthew), Director of Liturgical Music (Justin Vicente), Parish Life Coordinator (Sabrina Rego, part-time), Business Manager (part-time), Program Coordinator (Karen Mancini), Custodian/Sacristan (Mrs. Tammy Primmer, part-time) and a Maintenance position currently open. Deacons include Deacon John Croy. Two Pastors Emeriti — Fr. Eugene J. McKenna (served 1985–2009) and Fr. John W. O'Brien (served 2009–2021) — remain in formal relationship with the parish.

• Rev. John Codega — Pastor (401.847.6153 x 212)
• Justin Vicente — Office Manager / Director of Liturgical Music
• Matthew — Faith Formation Coordinator
• Sabrina Rego — Parish Life Coordinator (part-time)
• Karen Mancini — Program Coordinator
• Mrs. Tammy Primmer — Custodian/Sacristan (part-time)
• Deacon John Croy

Sacrament Information

The parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick. Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Home-Bound bring Communion to private homes, nursing homes and assisted-living facilities. Couples preparing for marriage may use the renovated Father Casey Parish Center for their reception. To serve as a Confirmation Sponsor or Baptismal Godparent, a parishioner must be a Confirmed Catholic in good standing, registered and active at St. Lucy's, and (if married) sacramentally married in the Church.

Liturgical Ministries

St. Lucy's Liturgical Ministries form the backbone of every Mass. Youth (fourth grade and older), teens and young adults are especially encouraged to serve as altar servers. Lectors proclaim the readings — families may even minister together (parent with child, siblings). Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass and bring the Eucharist to those who cannot attend; a separate group carries Communion to the home-bound, nursing-home and assisted-living residents. Music Ministry includes an Adult Choir, a Children's Choir, cantors at every Mass, and instrumentalists for holy days.

• Altar Servers
• Lectors
• Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
• Eucharistic Ministers to the Sick and Home-Bound
• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Adult and Children's Choirs / Cantors

Faith Formation & Religious Education

Faith Formation classes are held on Sundays at 9:00 AM, between the 8:00 and 10:30 Masses, with a Children's Liturgy of the Word offered during that hour so that even the youngest hear the readings at their own level. Sacramental preparation for Confirmation is supported by an adult Confirmation class on selected Monday evenings during Lent. The parish also publishes announcements of programs and sacramental events in its weekly bulletin.

• Sunday Faith Formation at 9:00 AM
• Children's Liturgy of the Word
• Adult Confirmation classes (select Mondays during Lent)

All Saints STEAM Academy

All Saints Academy, a diocesan-supervised Catholic elementary school on the property of St. Lucy's Church, is the direct descendant of the parish school that opened in 1964 with six grades, 243 students and a faculty of six Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield, MA plus a lay teacher. In 1971 it became a regional school and is now a diocesan K–8 elementary school known as All Saints STEAM Academy. The school sits behind the church, accessed by the long driveway that crosses Bailey's Brook — the same driveway that was washed out in 2021 by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.

• Diocesan-supervised K–8 Catholic elementary school
• Located on the St. Lucy campus, behind the parish off Bailey's Brook
• Descended from the 1964 parish school blessed on the Feast of St. Lucy

Men's, Young Adult & Youth Ministries

St. Lucy's runs two men's prayer groups — a Tuesday morning group at 6:30 AM and a Tuesday evening group from 7:00 to 8:00 PM that meets in the church for informal scripture discussion. The Young Adult group (ages 18–30) hosts monthly game nights, trivia, bonfires, Adoration, and Theology on Tap. Youth Ministry serves the parish's teens. Non-parishioners are welcome to the men's evening group; pre-registration is not required.

• Tuesday morning men's prayer group (6:30 AM)
• Tuesday evening men's scripture discussion (7:00–8:00 PM in the church)
• Young Adult Ministry (ages 18–30)
• Youth Ministry

Outreach & Parish Life

Peace, justice and community service at St. Lucy's is organized through the Parish Community Outreach Committee (CAC), the parish St. Vincent de Paul conference, Faithful Citizenship efforts, outreach to military families, a Prayer Tree Ministry, and a Grieving Ministry. The new Religious Gift Counter, open Sunday mornings after Masses, offers rosaries, scapulars, statues and children's books; the renovated Father Casey Parish Center is available for wedding receptions and rentals by outside groups.

• St. Vincent de Paul Conference
• Parish Community Outreach Committee (CAC)
• Faithful Citizenship
• Outreach to Military Families
• Prayer Tree Ministry
• Grieving Ministry
• Religious Gift Counter (Sundays after Masses)
• Parish Center rentals (wedding receptions, outside groups)

Devotions & Holy Week

Beyond the regular schedule, St. Lucy's uses Lent for a full slate of devotions and small groups. Tuesdays feature silent Adoration with Confessions from 6:00 to 7:00 PM; Fridays include a simple Lenten meal at 5:00 PM, Adoration and devotions from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, and Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM; Mondays host an adult Confirmation class and a Young Adult group; Wednesdays close the week with Choir rehearsal. A Thursday evening F.U.N. Night (Family Unplugged Night) gathers families in the parish center for board and card games.

• Tuesday Adoration with Confessions (Lent, 6:00–7:00 PM)
• Friday Simple Lenten Meal and Stations of the Cross
• Thursday F.U.N. Nights (Family Unplugged Night)
• Wednesday Choir rehearsal (7:00 PM)

Parish Facilities

The 909 West Main Road campus includes the present St. Lucy's Church dedicated in 1990, the renovated Father Casey Parish Center (the former 1952 Gothic church), the parish rectory, the religious gift counter in the church entrance, and All Saints STEAM Academy behind the church on the Bailey's Brook side of the property. The recently completed parish center renovation is intended to revitalize parish community life and to host wedding receptions and outside-group rentals.

• St. Lucy's Church (dedicated August 5, 1990)
• Father Casey Parish Center (renovated former 1952 church)
• Parish rectory
• Religious Gift Counter in the church entrance
• All Saints STEAM Academy campus

Volunteer & Council Leadership

Parish governance includes a Parish Corporation, Parish Finance Advisory Council, and a Parish Council. The Parish Corporation members listed include Most Rev. Richard Henning (Bishop / President), Rev. Msgr. Albert Kenney (Vicar General / Vice President), Rev. John Codega (Pastor / Treasurer), Arleen Kaull (Parish Trustee / Director), Carl Salvo (Parish Trustee / Director), Ray Caron and Bill Nash and Jeff Pinault (Finance Council), with Carolann Brown and Philip DiMattia as auditors. Fr. Codega is actively forming a parish Mission Team to move the parish "from maintenance to mission."

• Parish Corporation, Parish Council, Finance Advisory Council
• Mission Team forming under Fr. Codega
• New members welcome — contact Fr. Codega

75th Anniversary Celebration (1951–2026)

The parish is planning celebration of its 75th anniversary throughout 2026. Whether a parishioner has been at St. Lucy's for decades or just months, all are invited to participate. The 75th Anniversary Planning Group is coordinated by Sabrina Rego ([email protected]) and the parish welcomes new volunteers to help with the milestone year.

• 75th Anniversary year: 2026
• Contact: Sabrina Rego ([email protected])