About St. Mark · Jamestown, Rhode Island
St. Mark Church is a small Roman Catholic parish serving the island community of Jamestown, Rhode Island (Conanicut Island), within the Diocese of Providence. The parish was established in 1909 when the summer 'Chapel-by-the-Sea' was moved up Narragansett Avenue by horse to its present site and renamed St. Mark. Today the parish offers daily Mass, a robust Faith Formation program for children, a year-round community food pantry, a music ministry, and a wide array of lay ministries including a Knights of Columbus council and a Women's Group, all under the pastoral care of Rev. Thomas J. Ferland.
- Established
- 1909
- Patron
- St. Mark the Evangelist
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas J. Ferland
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Mark is a small, walkable island parish where parishioners truly know one another, and the church offers the full rhythm of Catholic life: daily Mass, a Saturday Vigil, Eucharistic Adoration, a Saturday confession slot, a daily rosary, and a monthly prayer group. It runs an active Faith Formation program (K–8, including First Communion and a two-year Confirmation track) and a year-round community Food Pantry open to anyone on or off the island — no registration required. With ministries spanning lectors, altar servers, music, Respect Life, the Knights of Columbus, a Women's Group, a Catholic Book Club, and a Threads of Love outreach, there is a place for nearly anyone to serve.
Mass times at St. Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- Holy Thursday 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM (following Mass of the Lord's Supper)
- Tuesday 6:00 PM (per published parish schedule aggregator)
History of St. Mark Parish
Catholic life on Conanicut Island dates to 1890, when visiting Archbishops Kenrick and Ryan concelebrated the first Mass in the Thorndyke Hotel. The Diocese of Providence soon built a summer mission of St. Mary's Newport, dubbed the 'Chapel-by-the-Sea.' In the fall of 1909 that chapel was moved by horse team up Narragansett Avenue to land deeded by Eunice D. Littlefield, and the new parish of Jamestown was erected under its first pastor, Rev. Patrick J. Sullivan. A parish hall was built behind the church — used as a library, social hall, and silent-film theater, and during World War I as a place to entertain servicemen. The parish grew steadily, and in 1960 Bishop Russell J. McVinney dedicated the present contemporary-style church, built and outfitted largely through the generosity of the Collins and Dowling families. The parish marked its centennial in 2009 and continues to serve the island community today.
- First Mass on Conanicut Island: July 20, 1890 (Thorndyke Hotel dining room)
- Chapel-by-the-Sea built as a summer mission of St. Mary's, Newport
- 1909: Chapel moved by horses; parish of Jamestown canonically erected; Rev. Patrick J. Sullivan named first pastor
- 1957: Rev. John W. Murphy arrives as 11th pastor; oversees new church construction
- July 31, 1960: New church dedicated by Bishop Russell J. McVinney
- 1984: Rev. William J. O'Neill installed as pastor by Most Rev. Kenneth A. Angell
- 2009: Centennial of St. Mark Parish celebrated
Sacraments
All seven sacraments are available at St. Mark, with preparation programs for the sacraments of initiation. First Reconciliation and First Communion are typically received in second grade after a two-year preparation; Confirmation is a two-year program beginning in seventh grade, with the sacrament conferred in the spring of eighth grade by the Bishop at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. Marriages are scheduled at least a year in advance, and the parish office provides guidelines and liturgy information for engaged couples. RCIA sessions begin each fall for adults seeking Baptism, Confirmation, and/or Holy Communion.
- Baptism — contact Father Ferland to arrange
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — two-year prep, typically grades 1–2
- Confirmation — two-year prep, typically grades 7–8; received in spring of 8th grade
- Marriage — arrangements made at least 12 months in advance
- Anointing of the Sick — contact Father Ferland
- RCIA — inquiry sessions each fall for unbaptized adults and Christians seeking full communion
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Mark's Faith Formation program, directed by Mrs. Christina Smith, serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade and is the parish's primary vehicle for sacramental preparation. Classes meet approximately two Sundays per month from 9:00–10:15 AM in the church hall, and a monthly Faith Formation Family Mass is celebrated at the 10:30 AM Sunday liturgy, followed by a reception on the church lawn. The program uses the Pflaum Gospel Weeklies for grades K–6, Dynamic Catholic 'Blessed' for First Communion, and a junior-high Confirmation track built on Pflaum's 'Gifted with the Spirit,' the Catholic Teen Bible, and YouCat; Confirmation II uses FORMED (The Search, Symbolon, The Presence) alongside the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Christina Smith ([email protected])
- Schedule: ~2 Sundays per month, 9:00–10:15 AM in the church hall
- Monthly Faith Formation Family Mass at 10:30 AM Sunday
- Registration fees: $70 (1 child) / $100 (2) / $130 (3+); financial hardship accommodations available
- Confirmation candidates are confirmed by the Bishop at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence
Parish Ministries
St. Mark's ministries are organized into active and in-active categories and aim to build a faith-based community, strengthen families, serve those in need, and support the everyday life of the parish. The Outreach Ministry operates the parish Food Pantry; the Music Ministry under Andrea Theroux supports the liturgical life of the church; the Knights of Columbus, Women's Group, and Catholic Book Club provide fellowship; and liturgical roles are filled by lectors, altar servers, and an altar-decoration team. A Respect Life ministry and Threads of Love (likely a sewing/quilting outreach) round out the lay apostolate.
- Outreach Ministry (Food Pantry) — parish's primary corporal-work-of-mercy apostolate
- Music Ministry — Director: Ms. Andrea Theroux
- Knights of Columbus
- Women's Group
- Catholic Book Club
- Prayer Group (1st Thursday, 7 PM; daily intercessory prayer)
- Family Ministry & Youth Group
- Threads of Love (outreach craft ministry)
- Respect Life
- Lectors, Altar Servers, Altar Decorations
- Parish Pastoral / Leadership Council
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by pastor Rev. Thomas J. Ferland, with day-to-day operations supported by a small staff and a lay leadership council. Three former pastors — Rev. William J. O'Neill, Rev. Stephen P. Amaral, and Rev. W. Douglas Grant — serve as Pastors Emeriti. The parish is governed in part by a Leadership Council chaired by Julie Bowler, with trustees, auditors, and council members drawn from the congregation.
- Pastor: Rev. Thomas J. Ferland
- Pastors Emeriti: Rev. William J. O'Neill, Rev. Stephen P. Amaral, Rev. W. Douglas Grant
- Secretary: Ms. Marie Lachapelle
- Faith Formation (DRE): Mrs. Christina Smith
- Music Director: Ms. Andrea Theroux
- Parish Bookkeeper: Mrs. Kerri Caduto
- Maintenance: Mr. Bob Clow
- Trustees: Michael Casey, Manuel Neronha Jr.
- Auditors: Norman Beretta, Joseph DiStefano
- Leadership Council: Julie Bowler (chair), Sean Bogus, Maria Flood, Kristin Kennedy, James Rafferty, Marlene Murphy (recording secretary)
Outreach & Food Pantry
The Outreach Ministry is the parish's primary lay apostolate of mercy. It maintains the St. Mark Food Pantry, located in the church basement, which is open to all who find themselves in need — parishioners and non-parishioners alike, with no pre-registration required. The pantry is staffed entirely by volunteers and sustained by donations from parishioners and the wider Jamestown community.
- Location: Church basement (enter through the side door to the right of the parking lot)
- Monday & Friday: 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- 2nd & 4th Wednesday: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Open to all; no registration required
- Volunteer-run; supported by parish and community donations
Online Giving, FORMED, and Safe Environment
St. Mark offers online giving through ParishSOFT Giving, a secure platform used by many Catholic parishes, and subscribes to FORMED — a Catholic media library from the Augustine Institute featuring video studies, audio, and e-books available free to parishioners. The parish also maintains a Safe Environment program in compliance with the Diocese of Providence's child-protection policies.
- Online Giving: ParishSOFT Giving (accessed via the parish website)
- FORMED subscription: register at formed.org using 'Saint Mark Church' or ZIP 02835
- Safe Environment page maintained per Diocese of Providence requirements
Ongoing Monthly Events & Devotions
Beyond weekly Mass and confession, St. Mark keeps a steady rhythm of monthly gatherings that help build community. The Weekday Coffee Hour, held the third Thursday of each month after the 8 AM Mass, is an informal gathering in the church hall. The Prayer Group meets in the main church on the first Thursday at 7 PM and offers daily intercessory prayer for parishioner requests.
- Weekday Coffee Hour — 3rd Thursday of the month, ~8:30 AM, church hall
- Monthly Prayer Group — 1st Thursday, 7:00 PM, main church (with daily intercessory prayer)
- Annual Fallfest (parish fundraiser)
- Live-streamed Masses on YouTube (StMarkJTN Live) for the homebound
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Philip Grace1890s (summer)
Early summer pastor of Chapel-by-the-Sea mission of St. Mary's, Newport.
- Rev. W. B. Meenan1890s (summer)
Succeeded Father Grace as summer pastor of the chapel.
- Rev. Patrick J. Sullivan1909–
First pastor of the new parish of Jamestown; built the parish hall behind the church.
- Rev. John W. Murphy1957–
Eleventh spiritual leader of the parish; oversaw construction of the present church, dedicated 1960.
- Rev. William J. O'Neill1984–
Installed as pastor in 1984 by Most Rev. Kenneth A. Angell; now Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Stephen P. Amaral
Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. W. Douglas Grant
Pastor Emeritus.
- Rev. Thomas J. FerlandPresent
Current pastor of St. Mark Parish.