St. Pius V

History of St. Pius V Parish

St. Pius V was founded in 1918 through the joint vision of Bishop Matthew Harkins of Providence and the Dominican Province of St. Joseph. The Diocese purchased 17 acres in Providence's Elmhurst neighborhood in 1913 to host both Providence College and a new 'parish for preaching,' and the Holy See formally established the parish on June 3, 1918. The first pastor was Rev. Albert Casey, O.P. (1918–1921), who also served as President of Providence College; the first Mass was celebrated in a chapel carved out of a Harkins Hall lecture room on October 27, 1918. The parish was carved from three existing northwest Providence parishes — St. Patrick's, Blessed Sacrament, and St. Edward's — and took on the Dominican-run parish of St. Raymond's in trade. Under Fr. William A. Sullivan, O.P. (1926–1929), the parish built its combined church-school-residence in the Tudor-Revival style of Harkins Hall — brick and limestone with Gothic entrances, designed by architect John Hogan. The first Mass in this building was celebrated Easter Sunday, March 31, 1929; it has served continuously ever since, first as the parish church and now as the parish school. The parish marked its centennial with Bishop Thomas Tobin on October 28, 2018. In his homily the bishop praised the parish as a 'lighthouse shining forth in the community the light of faith,' and former pastor Fr. Kenneth Letoile, O.P. — then Provincial of St. Joseph — concelebrated.

Dominican Identity and the Province of St. Joseph

St. Pius V has been a Dominican parish from its very first day. The friars belong to the Order of Preachers (O.P.), the worldwide preaching order founded by St. Dominic. The parish is served by the Province of St. Joseph, founded in 1805 and one of four U.S. Dominican provinces, stretching from New England through Virginia to Ohio. Province friars serve as teachers, parish priests, hospital chaplains, itinerant preachers, and campus ministers — and at St. Pius V they preach, teach, and pastor in the tradition of the Order's four pillars: Prayer, Study, Community, and Service.

• Province of St. Joseph — founded 1805
• Order of Preachers (O.P.) — worldwide Dominican order
• Four pillars of Dominican spirituality: Prayer, Study, Community, Service
• Sibling relationship with Providence College since 1918

Mass and the Sacraments

The parish offers daily Mass Monday through Friday at 12:00 PM (with 9:00 AM Mass on Civic Holidays), a Saturday morning Mass at 8:00 AM, a Saturday Vigil Mass at 4:30 PM, and two Sunday Masses at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Holy Days are marked with a school Mass at 8:35 AM, a noon Mass, and an evening Mass at 7:00 PM. The Most Holy Rosary is recited daily in the church at 11:35 AM.

St. Pius V Catholic School

St. Pius V Catholic School, located at 49 Elmhurst Avenue, provides a Christ-centered, Dominican education for approximately 230 students in Pre-K through Grade 8. Founded in 1929 — the same year the combined church-school building opened — it was first staffed by the Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt, New York. In 2004, the Diocese of Providence invited the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia of Nashville, Tennessee, to lead the school, continuing the four pillars of Dominican spirituality: Prayer, Study, Community, and Service. Curriculum includes Religion, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, Physical Education, Music, Art, and Spanish, with an Honors Latin option and advanced Literature and Math courses in middle school.

• Grades served: Pre-K 3, Pre-K 4, K, 1–8
• Approximately 230 students
• Founded 1929 (Blauvelt Dominican Sisters); led since 2004 by Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia (Nashville)
• Subjects: Religion, Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, PE, Music, Art, Spanish (Honors Latin option)
• Advanced Literature and Math in grades 6–8
• Lighthouse Program: support and enrichment
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (on-site)
• Phone: (401) 421-9750

Faith Formation and Religious Education

The parish runs a full Faith Formation program for children, youth, and adults, with classes held at the school building at 49 Elmhurst Avenue. The office of the Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Parish Organization is located inside the front door of the Rectory (55 Elmhurst Avenue) and is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. The parish also offers a Youth Ministry, Vacation Bible School, RCIA and RCIC for adults and children, and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program at the school.

• Children's Religious Education (Pre-K–8)
• Youth Ministry
• Adult Faith Formation
• R.C.I.A. (adults) and R.C.I.C. (children)
• Vacation Bible School (VBS)
• Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
• Confirmation preparation

Parish Staff and Clergy

The parish is led by Dominican friars of the Province of St. Joseph. The current pastor is the Rev. John Marie Devaney, O.P., installed by Bishop Richard G. Henning on February 18, 2024. Fr. Devaney also serves as a Papal Missionary of Mercy, commissioned by Pope Francis. The parish is supported by Associate Pastors and a Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation and Parish Organization. The school is led by Principal Sister Josemaria Pence, O.P., of the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, alongside Sisters Mary Barbara Keiser, O.P., Mary Amata Mueller, O.P., and Amata Christi, O.P., and a staff of lay Catholic educators.

• Rev. John Marie Devaney, O.P. — Pastor (installed 2024); Papal Missionary of Mercy
• Associate Pastors (Dominican Friars, O.P.)
• Charles A. da Silva — Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation & Parish Organization
• Sr. Josemaria Pence, O.P. — School Principal
• Nashville Dominican Sisters on faculty and administration
• Pastoral Associate office: Mon–Fri, 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Visit, Location, and Contact

St. Pius V is located off US-44 (Smith Street) at the corner of Elmhurst Avenue and Eaton Street in Providence's Elmhurst neighborhood. The church sits on Eaton Street between Elmhurst and Roslyn Avenues, directly opposite Providence College's St. Dominic's Chapel. The Rectory (55 Elmhurst Avenue) houses the parish offices and the Pastoral Associate for Faith Formation; the school building (49 Elmhurst Avenue) sits directly behind the church and to the right of the Rectory. Mass-goers are invited to introduce themselves to parish staff at the Rectory during business hours.

• Parish Phone: (401) 751-4871
• Email: [email protected]
• Rectory (parish offices): 55 Elmhurst Avenue, Providence, RI 02908
• School: 49 Elmhurst Avenue, Providence, RI 02908
• Website: http://www.spvchurch.org/