About St. Mark · Cranston, Rhode Island
St. Mark Church is a Roman Catholic parish in the Garden City section of Cranston, Rhode Island, belonging to the Diocese of Providence. Founded on October 10, 1950, the parish grew from 325 families carved out of St. Matthew Parish into a community of more than 1,700 households served today by a pastor, religious sister, and lay staff. The church is notably built into the ground (a 'basement church'), and the original 1960 convent under the patronage of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini now serves as the Mother Cabrini Parish Center, housing parish offices and religious education classrooms.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy Reilly
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Mark is a mid-sized, debt-free Catholic parish of more than 1,700 families in the Garden City neighborhood of Cranston that warmly welcomes new members, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about the faith. The parish runs a structured Religious Education program for grades 1–9 with dedicated catechists and a Confirmation track, complemented by Adult Faith Formation opportunities. Its active lay life includes a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference, two Knights of Columbus units (the Rev. Richard A. Donnelly Council #322 and the Arthur S. Rebello Assembly #2808), a choir, altar servers, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, an Event Planning Committee, and a Church Decorating Committee. A trained homebound-ministry team, coordinated by Sr. Angelina Giramma, brings Holy Communion and pastoral visits to parishioners who cannot attend Mass.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 3:00 P.M.
History of the Parish
St. Mark Parish was established in 1950 when Bishop Russell J. McVinney carved a new congregation out of St. Matthew Parish to serve the growing Garden City area of Cranston. Rev. John C. Ells, the founding pastor, oversaw construction of the church and rectory, dedicated January 18, 1952, and led the parish for 22 years. Over the decades, five pastors have guided the community — Ells, Lawless, Heaney, Donnelly, and Verdelotti — and a sixth, Rev. Timothy Reilly, currently serves.
- Founded October 10, 1950; parish incorporated October 24, 1950
- Started with 325–350 families; now over 1,700 families
- First church and rectory dedicated January 18, 1952
- Parish school and convent dedicated Palm Sunday 1961; school closed October 2009
- Beautifully renovated church rededicated September 29, 1990 by Bishop Louis E. Gelineau
- St. Mark Endowment Fund established January 10, 1995
Sacraments
Baptisms are typically celebrated after the 10:00 A.M. Mass on the first Sunday of the month. Parents and godparents are required to attend a Baptism Preparation Program, coordinated by Sr. Angelina Giramma. The parish prepares children for First Penance, First Holy Communion (Grade 2), and Confirmation (Grade 9) through its Religious Education program, and provides a Sponsor Certificate for Catholics asked to serve as godparent or Confirmation sponsor at another parish.
- Baptism — first Sunday of the month after 10:00 A.M. Mass; preparation required
- First Penance and First Holy Communion — Grade 2
- Confirmation — Grade 9
- Marriage — contact the parish office
- Anointing of the Sick / homebound visits coordinated by Sr. Angelina Giramma
- Sponsor / Godparent Certificates for parishioners
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The Religious Education Program at St. Mark assists parents of students in grades 1–9 in the religious formation of their children, supplementing family catechesis with systematic instruction. The 2025–2026 catechist team is published on the parish site. Adult Faith Formation offers periodic programs for parishioners who want to deepen or refresh their understanding of Catholic teaching; inquiries are directed to Paul Gebhart.
- Mission: assist parents as primary educators of their children (Grades 1–9)
- Grade 1 — Mathew Gebhart
- Grade 2 (First Penance / First Holy Communion) — Hilary Andolfo
- Grade 3 — Paula Regan
- Grade 5 — Mary Gallo
- Middle School (Grades 6–8) — Marta Buxbaum
- Grade 9 (Confirmation) — Bud Andolfo and Ray Andolfo
- Religious Education Coordinator: Claudia Jackvony ([email protected])
- Adult Faith Formation contact: Paul Gebhart ([email protected])
Parish Ministries & Organizations
St. Mark supports a wide range of liturgical, service, and social ministries. Liturgical roles include altar servers, readers, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, and the parish choir. The parish also hosts two Knights of Columbus units and a Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference. Two committees — Event Planning and Church Decorating — sustain parish life and the beauty of the worship space.
- Altar Servers (Grade 3 and up)
- Readers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Parish Choir — Music Director Ron Almeida
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul — St. Mark Conference
- Knights of Columbus Rev. Richard A. Donnelly Council #322
- Knights of Columbus Arthur S. Rebello Assembly #2808 (4th Degree)
- Event Planning Committee
- Church Decorating Committee
Ministry to the Homebound
Trained homebound ministers visit parishioners unable to leave their residence, bringing Holy Communion, prayer, and companionship. The ministry is rooted in the early Christian practice of bringing Communion to those who could not gather with the assembly and is coordinated by Sr. Angelina Giramma, M.P.F.
- Pastoral visits and reception of Holy Communion at home
- Prayer partnership and social conversation
- Visits arranged at mutual convenience of visitor and homebound parishioner
- Coordinated by Sr. Angelina Giramma, M.P.F. ([email protected], 401-942-1616)
Parish Facilities
The parish complex includes the underground church at 9 Garden Court, the Mother Cabrini Parish Center (the original 1960 convent) at 31 Poplar Drive that houses the parish offices, Religious Education classrooms, and meeting spaces, and the rectory. Accessibility features include handicapped parking on Poplar Drive, a ramp to the main doors, a wheelchair area, and accessible restrooms. Two Philips FRx AEDs are installed in the building.
- Church: 9 Garden Court, Cranston, RI 02920-5787 (underground / basement church)
- Parish Office / Mother Cabrini Parish Center: 31 Poplar Drive, Cranston, RI 02920-5711
- Rectory: 15 Garden Court, Cranston, RI 02920
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.
- Phone: 401-942-1616; Fax: 401-942-1747
- Candle Room (added 2007) with statues, devotional images, votive candles, pew, and kneelers
- Cry Room reserved for families with young children
- Handicapped parking, ramp, wheelchair area, and accessible restrooms
- Two AEDs (main foyer and main hallway)
Clergy & Staff
St. Mark's clergy and lay staff are listed on the parish website, with email contacts and a contact form available. The parish is served by a pastor, a religious sister coordinating outreach, and a team of lay staff running faith formation, liturgy, music, business, and parish secretarial work.
- Rev. Timothy Reilly — Pastor ([email protected])
- Matthew Gebhart — Parish Business Manager ([email protected])
- Sr. Angelina Giramma, M.P.F. — Parish Outreach Coordinator ([email protected])
- Michelle Ferri — Parish Secretary ([email protected])
- Claudia Jackvony — Religious Education Coordinator ([email protected])
- Andrew Pappas — Parish Liturgy Coordinator ([email protected])
- Ron Almeida — Music Director ([email protected])
- Matthew Pappas — Sacristan ([email protected])
Visit, Join, and Giving
St. Mark welcomes visitors, those looking for a parish home, returning Catholics, and those inquiring about the Catholic faith. The website offers a step-by-step path for joining the parish, becoming Catholic, or returning to the faith, and an online giving option. Yellow Poor Box envelopes are available at the doors of the church for those who wish to help the local poor.
- FAQs and 'I'd like to join the parish' page on stmarkri.org
- Online giving available through the parish website
- Yellow Poor Box envelopes at the church doors
- Office hours Monday–Friday 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. or by phone at 401-942-1616
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John C. Ells1950–1972
Founding pastor. Curate at St. Matthew who surveyed the boundaries; parish was incorporated October 24, 1950; church and rectory dedicated January 18, 1952. Retired June 1972.
- Rev. William Lawless1972–1982
Second pastor. Liquidated remaining $157,000 debt through 157 interest-free family loans, making the parish debt-free. Wished to renovate the basement church but retired in 1982; died December 1985.
- Rev. Joseph P. Heaney1982–1991
Third pastor. Oversaw the renovation and rededication of the church by Bishop Gelineau on September 29, 1990. Retired 1991.
- Rev. Richard A. Donnelly1991–2005
Fourth pastor. Oversaw the Diocesan Vision of Hope Campaign ($510,112 raised) and establishment of the St. Mark Endowment Fund (1995). Retired due to illness June 30, 2005; passed away May 21, 2008. The parish Knights of Columbus council is named in his honor.
- Rev. Anthony W. Verdelotti2005–
Fifth pastor; Installation Mass celebrated by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin on August 21, 2005. Renovation of the Rectory and Mother Cabrini Parish Center, creation of Religious Education classrooms, organ relocation, and addition of the Candle Room (blessed August 19, 2007).
- Rev. Timothy Reilly
Current pastor (listed on the parish's Clergy & Staff page).