About St. Luke · Barrington, Rhode Island
St. Luke's Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Barrington, Rhode Island, part of the Diocese of Providence, that grew out of a mission church established in 1936 and elevated to parish status in 1942. The parish operates St. Luke's School, a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and shares sacramental life with Holy Angels Church, also in Barrington. Its community is built around the call to stewardship — sharing time, talent, and treasure in response to God's gifts — and serves the East Bay shore along what was once the old Consolidated Railroad right-of-way, now the East Bay Bike Path.
- Established
- 1936 (mission); 1942 (parish)
- Patron
- St. Luke
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy D. Reilly
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Luke's is a stewardship-centered parish where parishioners are encouraged to share their time, talent, and treasure in creative response to God's gifts, with ministries ranging from SPRED catechesis for friends with disabilities and RCIA to a women's Bible study and a strong parish school. Families find a cradle-through-grade-eight Catholic education rooted in Gospel values, recognized twice as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, and a worship community that worships in both St. Luke's Church on Washington Road and Holy Angels Church on Maple Avenue. It is a parish with deep East Bay roots, a century-old story, and a clear mission to form disciples of Christ.
Mass times at St. Luke
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday, 4:00–4:45 PM — St. Luke's Church (also by appointment, 401-246-1212)
- Saturday, 3:00–3:45 PM — Holy Angels Church (also by appointment, 401-245-7743)
Welcome & Stewardship Mission
St. Luke's Parish community is animated by the call to stewardship. As the parish states plainly on its homepage, all that parishioners have is the gift of a generous God — time, talent, and treasure — and the community tries to respond by using those gifts creatively, in partnership with God, to advance His kingdom and witness His presence in the East Bay. Visitors and newcomers are welcomed to register, volunteer, give online, or simply attend Mass.
- Register as a parishioner
- Online Giving
- Volunteer opportunities
- Mass times linked from the homepage
Parish History
St. Luke's grew out of a mission church established in 1936 for Catholics in West Barrington and Bay Spring who had previously ridden the Consolidated Railroad to Mass at St. Brendan's in East Providence. The mission became a parish on September 27, 1942, with Rev. John A. Kelly as its first pastor. Father O'Gara's appointment in 1955 launched a long period of growth that led to the opening of St. Luke's School in 1958 and, decades later, the major church expansion completed in 2000.
- 1936 — site blessed by Father John Toohey; cornerstone laid
- 1937 — Bishop Keough dedicates St. Luke's Chapel on the Feast of the Assumption
- 1942 — St. Luke's Mission becomes St. Luke's Church; Rev. John A. Kelly named first pastor
- 1952 — permanent rectory constructed
- 1955 — Father O'Gara appointed; begins era of growth
- 1958 — St. Luke's School opens with 225 students in five grades
- 1993 and 2004 — St. Luke's School named Blue Ribbon School of Excellence
- 1994 — preschool opens in original convent building
- 1998 — asbestos abatement and stained-glass preservation
- September 25, 1999 — groundbreaking for church expansion
- November 2000 — Bishop Mulvee re-dedicates the expanded church (600 seats)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Religious Education program, under Director of Religious Education Diane Comerford, prepares children for the sacraments and accompanies youth and adults in faith formation. Confirmation preparation typically runs from September through late spring for students entering 10th grade and above, with the sacrament celebrated between May and June. The parish also runs RCIA for adults seeking to enter the Church or complete their sacraments.
- Religious Education Office: 401-246-1363 (Diane Comerford, [email protected])
- Confirmation preparation — grades 10+; September–late spring
- RCIA — begins each September; culminates at the Easter Vigil
SPRED — Special Religious Development
SPRED is a parish catechetical ministry for people with developmental disabilities. Catechists are paired with 'special friends' and form a community of love, acceptance, and shared life experience. No prior teaching experience is necessary.
- Meets Thursday evenings
- Catechists always needed
- Contact: Linda Alves, 401-246-0910
Women's Bible Study
An informal gathering for women of the parish that meets every other Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:30 AM in the conference room of the church hall. The group reads, studies, and prays over Scripture; coffee and socializing are part of the morning. No prior knowledge of Scripture is required and Bibles are available.
- Every other Wednesday, 10:00–11:30 AM, church hall conference room
- Check the bulletin for specific dates
- Contact: Liz Pesce, 774-991-0400
St. Luke's School
St. Luke's School is a parish school serving preschool through grade 8, accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges and a member of the National Catholic Education Association. Twice recognized as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence (1993 and 2004) and STEAM-certified by Roger Williams University, the school is centered on the Eucharist and committed to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and Christian leadership. The preschool, opened in 1994 in the original convent building, was featured at the 2005 NCEA SPICE conference as one of the best early-childhood programs in the country.
- Preschool through Grade 8
- Principal: Mrs. Nicole A. Varone ([email protected], 401-246-0990)
- School Secretary: Mrs. Donna Arruda ([email protected], 401-246-0990)
- Pastor and school leader: Rev. Timothy D. Reilly
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of the Cross and Passion
- Blue Ribbon School of Excellence: 1993 and 2004
- STEAM-certified by Roger Williams University
- Preschool housed in the original convent building; uses the Reggio Emilia approach
Pastoral & Administrative Staff
St. Luke's is led by its pastor, Rev. Timothy D. Reilly, and served by associate pastors and a team of parish and school staff handling administration, faith formation, music, finances, and school leadership.
- Pastor: Rev. Timothy D. Reilly
- Associate Pastor: Father Marcel Taillon
- Father Mateusz Puzanowski
- Parish Administrator: Mrs. Ann Marie Beccue — [email protected], 401-246-1212
- Director of Music Ministry: Mrs. Sheila Zuccarello — [email protected], 401-246-1212
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Diane Comerford — [email protected], 401-246-1363
- Parish Bookkeeper: Mrs. Jennifer Baker — [email protected], 401-246-1212
Sacraments at St. Luke's
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments and walks with parishioners through preparation and formation for each. Reconciliation is offered weekly at both churches; First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the Religious Education Office; adults enter the Church through RCIA.
- Baptism — infant and adult (through RCIA)
- First Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation — May–June for 10th grade and above
- Confession — Saturday afternoons at both churches and by appointment
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the rectory
Visit, Register & Get Involved
Parishioners and newcomers are invited to register, attend Mass at either St. Luke's Church or Holy Angels Church, volunteer in any of the parish's ministries, and support the community through online giving. The parish office is open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.
- Parish Office: 108 Washington Rd., Barrington, RI 02806
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Phone: 401-246-1212
- Register online via the parish website
- Online Giving available
- Volunteer opportunities across ministries
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John A. Kelly1942–
First pastor of St. Luke's when the mission became a parish in 1942; initially rented a residence at 337 Washington Road.
- Father O'Gara1955–
Began a major period of parish growth; his dream of a parochial school became reality with the opening of St. Luke's School in 1958.
- Father William Jenkinson
Led the planning for the church expansion in the late 1990s.
- Monsignor Ferland
Predecessor pastor referenced in the school's history.
- Father Bob Hawkins
Predecessor pastor referenced in the school's history.
- Father TJ Varghese
Predecessor pastor referenced in the school's history.
- Rev. Timothy D. Reilly
Current pastor; continues the tradition of his predecessors and serves the parish and school community.