About St. Peter · Warwick, Rhode Island
St. Peter Parish is a Roman Catholic parish located at 350 Fair Street in the Pawtuxet/Gaspee Point area of Warwick, Rhode Island, within the Diocese of Providence. Founded on October 3, 1933 by Father Patrick W. McHugh, the parish grew from a small summer colony of Catholic faithful at Gaspee Point into a thriving worshipping community that built its current brick church in 1936, established a parish school in 1958, and continues today to celebrate three Sunday Masses, daily Mass, and a distinctive faith-formation program that includes the pioneering 'Autism and the Sacraments.' Under the pastoral leadership of Father Roger C. Gagné, St. Peter's mission is 'to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, celebrate the Holy Eucharist, and serve the needs of others through prayers and works of mercy and charity.'
- Established
- 1933
- Patron
- St. Peter the Apostle
- Rector
- Rev. Roger C. Gagné
- Diocese
- Diocese of Providence
Why belong here
St. Peter's offers a warm, multi-generational Catholic community in the heart of Warwick's historic Pawtuxet/Gaspee neighborhood with three convenient Sunday Masses and a daily 7 AM weekday Mass. Parishioners raise their children in the faith through St. Peter Tri-Parish School (NEASC-accredited, preschool through grade 8) and a full Faith Formation program that uniquely welcomes children on the autism spectrum. The parish combines traditional liturgy — complete with a children's choir, an organist/music director, and the reverent use of incense at solemnities — with a hands-on outreach ministry called Helping Hands for the Poor. Whether you are a long-time Catholic returning home or new to the area, the parish welcomes everyone to grow together as the family of God.
Mass times at St. Peter
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00–4:30 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Welcome from the Pastor
In his 'Welcome Home' letter on the parish website, Father Roger C. Gagné invites newcomers and returning Catholics alike to join the parish family: 'Welcome to our parish community. Welcome home.' He reminds readers that the church is 'not just a building; it is a community of faith, the gathering of the faithful, the people of God,' and calls parishioners to 'push back the walls that prevent people from coming home.' Drawing on Robert Frost's line 'Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in,' Father Gagné frames the parish as a spiritual home on the journey to the heavenly home.
Parish History
St. Peter's story begins in the 1930s as a summer colony of Catholic faithful at Gaspee Point, served each summer by a priest from St. Paul's in Edgewood. Bishop William Hickey appointed Father Patrick W. McHugh as founding pastor on October 3, 1933, and the parish's first Mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1933 in the old Lakewood fire station. The current brick church, modeled on a Greek Revival style church in Saybrook, Connecticut, was built in 1936 on Chapel Hill at Warwick Downs, and the parish was incorporated April 5, 1937. Twenty-five years later, under Fathers DeVaney, Raymond Beaulieu, and William Gillooly, a parish school broke ground in March 1958 and a Sisters of Mercy convent followed in 1960.
- First Mass: Christmas Day, 1933, in the old Lakewood fire station
- Church built: 1936, on Chapel Hill at Warwick Downs
- Incorporated: April 5, 1937 (Rhode Island)
- School groundbreaking: March 1958
- Convent opened: 1960
St. Peter Tri-Parish School
St. Peter School is a fully accredited parochial school, preschool through Grade 8, located at 20 Mayfair Road in the Pawtuxet Village/Gaspee area of Warwick. Its mission is 'to provide its students a Catholic education that fosters spiritual, academic, and social growth within an atmosphere of mutual respect.' The school is fully accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and serves a tri-parish community.
- Full-day Kindergarten
- Flexible Preschool schedule
- Early Childhood programs influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy
- Before- and after-school daycare program
- Enrichment classes: Spanish, art, drama, music, computers, and robotics
- Affordable school lunch for all grades; quality uniforms
- Bus service throughout Warwick and bordering cities/towns
- Principal: Mr. Richard Sylvia (401-781-9242)
- Office Manager: Denise Arver
- Shadow Day visits available by appointment
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs a full Faith Formation program for children and adults, organized around sacraments and grade-level milestones. Margaret Andreozzi coordinates Elementary Faith Formation and the parish's autism program, while Deborah Doyle coordinates Confirmation. Arrangements for marriage preparation must begin at least one year before the wedding date.
- Elementary Faith Formation (Grades 1–5): Margaret Andreozzi, 401-461-5691 ext 128
- Confirmation I & II: Deborah Doyle, 401-461-5691 ext 133
- First Communion Preparation: Margaret Andreozzi
- Junior High Faith Formation: Deborah Doyle
- RCIA for Adults: Deborah Doyle
- Marriage preparation (one-year notice required)
Autism & the Sacraments
In Fall 2008, St. Peter's Faith Formation Program added a pioneering ministry called 'Autism and the Sacraments' — a peaceful, welcoming, innovative approach that adapts Catholic faith formation to each child's individual learning style in a compassionate, loving, and inclusive environment. The program is tailored to children on the autism spectrum, those with developmental delays, and non-verbal learners, and has drawn families from every corner of Rhode Island and beyond. Each year the program celebrates an opening Mass in the fall, a Mass of Peace in winter, and a closing Mass in spring.
- Launched Fall 2008
- Welcomes families from across Rhode Island and beyond
- Coordinator: Margaret Andreozzi — 401-461-5691
- Waiting list maintained for new enrollments
Music & Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Peter's is led by Organist/Music Director Mary C. O'Brien and Children's Choir Director Sue Stenhouse. The parish uses incense at Mass only at solemnities and during the seasons of Advent, Lent, and Easter — and, by parish practice, only at the 5:00 PM Saturday Vigil Mass and the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass; the 8:00 AM and 9:30 AM Sunday Masses are celebrated without incense.
- Organist/Music Director: Mary C. O'Brien — 401-419-8296
- Children's Choir Director: Sue Stenhouse — 401-785-2756
- Incense used at 5:00 PM Vigil and 11:00 AM Sunday Masses (Advent, Lent, Easter, solemnities)
Outreach: Helping Hands for the Poor
Helping Hands for the Poor is the parish's primary outreach ministry, putting the parish mission — 'to serve the needs of others through prayers and works of mercy and charity' — into direct action for neighbors in need.
- Coordinator: Ernie Piedra — 401-461-3157
Parish Staff & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Father Roger C. Gagné and supported by an Office Manager, Secretary, two Faith Formation coordinators, the Director of Music, the Children's Choir Director, the coordinator of Helping Hands for the Poor, two Parish Trustees, and two Parish Auditors. Father Gagné also coordinates the Altar Servers. The school is led by Principal Mr. Richard Sylvia and Office Manager Denise Arver.
- Pastor: Rev. Roger C. Gagné
- Office Manager: Charlene Schreiber
- Secretary: Connie Anderson
- Elementary Faith Formation / Autism Coordinator: Margaret Andreozzi
- Confirmation Coordinator: Deborah Doyle
- Organist/Music Director: Mary C. O'Brien
- Children's Choir Director: Sue Stenhouse
- Helping Hands for the Poor: Ernie Piedra
- Parish Trustees: John Madden; Flora Hainey
- Parish Auditors: Benjamin Algeo; Bryan Cote
Diocese & Wider Catholic Community
St. Peter Parish is one of five Catholic parishes in Warwick within the Diocese of Providence, alongside SS. Rose and Clement, St. Gregory the Great, St. Kevin, and the partnered St. Timothy and St. Rita parishes. The Diocese of Providence covers the entire State of Rhode Island and is led by Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R. The Vicar General listed on parish corporate filings is Rev. Msgr. Albert A. Kenney.
- Diocese: Diocese of Providence
- Bishop (as of parish records): Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R.
- Vicar General: Rev. Msgr. Albert A. Kenney
- Other Warwick parishes: SS. Rose and Clement; St. Gregory the Great; St. Kevin; St. Timothy & St. Rita (partnered)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick W. McHugh1933 – founding pastor (appointed October 3, 1933)
Founded St. Peter Parish; previously a curate at St. Paul's Church in Edgewood. Celebrated the parish's first Mass on Christmas Day 1933 in the old Lakewood fire station.
- Rev. DeVaney
Broke ground for the parish school in March 1958.
- Rev. Raymond Beaulieu
Co-celebrant at the groundbreaking for the parish school in March 1958.
- Rev. William Gillooly
Co-celebrant at the groundbreaking for the parish school in March 1958.