St. Paul

About St. Paul Parish

St. Paul Parish is a Roman Catholic community in the Edgewood neighborhood of Cranston, Rhode Island, belonging to the Diocese of Providence. Founded in 1907 and now in its second century, the parish welcomes worshippers to five weekend Masses (including a 1:30 PM Korean Mass on Sundays), a daily 12:05 PM weekday Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, regular Confession, and an active Faith Formation program from Grades 1 to 10. The parish serves a vibrant, diverse community along with Saint Paul School, continuing the founding vision that a Catholic education should be accessible to all.

History

St. Paul's Parish began in July 1907 when Bishop Matthew Harkins assigned Rev. Michael J. McCabe, then assistant at St. Mary's, Pawtucket, to organize the Edgewood territory. While a permanent church was being built, the first Masses were celebrated in the Edgewood Casino at 192 Shaw Avenue. A state charter for St. Paul's Church of Edgewood was issued on July 25, 1907, and the cornerstone church — seating 650 — was blessed by Bishop Harkins on October 27, 1907. The present neo-Gothic church was begun in 1929 and is celebrated for its stained-glass windows by Earl Edward Sanborn. Msgr. Canning, who had served as the parish's first curate and later as its second pastor, composed this history in the mid-1950s. Rev. Thomas J. Woodhouse is the parish's current and tenth pastor, continuing the parish's growth as a vibrant and diverse faith community nearly 100 years on.

• 1907 — Parish founded; first Mass in Edgewood Casino, 192 Shaw Avenue
• July 25, 1907 — State charter for St. Paul's Church of Edgewood issued
• Oct. 27, 1907 — Original 650-seat church blessed by Bishop Harkins
• 1929 — Construction of present neo-Gothic church begins (Murphy/Morino)
• 2019 — Stained-glass windows damaged by rock-throwing vandals
• 2024 — Feasibility Study launched for restoration, renovation, and renewal

Clergy, Staff, & Religious

The parish is led by its 10th pastor, Rev. Thomas J. Woodhouse, and is served by a resident priest, a deacon, a religious sister, and a lay Director of Faith Formation. Office hours at the rectory are Monday–Thursday, 9 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–5 PM.

• Rev. Thomas J. Woodhouse — Pastor (10th pastor)
• Rev. Peter J. Lee — In Residence
• Deacon Paul M. Shea — Deacon Assistant
• Sister Esmeralda Urenda, H.M.S.P. — Parish Missionary
• Julie Bradley — Director of Faith Formation

Faith Formation & Saint Paul School

Faith Formation, directed by Julie Bradley, is devoted to the religious formation of parish children and teens from Grades 1 to 10, with a special Liturgy of the Word for pre-school aged children celebrated on Sundays. The mission of Saint Paul School continues the conviction of the founding pastor Father McCabe that a Catholic education should be accessible to all. Vacation Bible Camp welcomes PreK-4 through Grade 4 campers, with Grade 5–7 as crew leaders and Grade 8–12 as station leaders earning up to 25 community service hours.

• Faith Formation — Grades 1 to 10
• Liturgy of the Word for preschoolers (Sundays)
• Saint Paul School (Catholic elementary)
• Vacation Bible Camp (PreK–Grade 4; leader tracks Grades 5–12)
• Annual adult retreats and nights of recollection

Music & Liturgy

Apart from a convenient worship schedule and lively music ministry, St. Paul offers a variety of opportunities for young and old alike in service and education. The parish's celebrated stained-glass windows, designed by Earl Edward Sanborn of Boston, form the visual heart of the sanctuary and were toured in a special G.I.F.T. presentation on June 9, 2024 by Rev. Joseph R. Upton, a former parishioner.

• Music Ministry
• Korean Catholic Community (Sunday 1:30 PM Korean Mass)
• Stained-glass window tours (occasionally offered through G.I.F.T.)

Outreach & Charity

The parish participates annually in the Diocese of Providence Catholic Charity Appeal. In 2024 the parish had already raised $54,215 in pledges toward a $67,450 goal with 130 participants. The parish also uses Faith Direct for easy online giving to the Sunday collection.

• Catholic Charity Appeal
• Faith Direct online giving
• Parish outreach / community service programs
• Knights of Columbus (referenced in bulletins)

Visit, Contact & Directions

St. Paul Church is located at 1 Saint Paul Place, Cranston, RI 02905, at the corner of Warwick Avenue (Rte. 117) and Broad Street in Edgewood. From I-95, take the Park Avenue (Rte. 12) exit, turn left onto Warwick Avenue, and the church will be at the corner of Warwick Ave and Broad Street. The rectory and parish office are open Monday through Thursday, 9 AM to noon and 1 PM to 5 PM, and can be reached at (401) 461-5734 or [email protected].

• Address: 1 Saint Paul Place, Cranston, RI 02905
• Phone: (401) 461-5734
• Office: Mon–Thu, 9 AM–12 PM and 1 PM–5 PM
• Website: www.saintpaulcranston.org
• Facebook: /saintpaulcranston