St. Robert Bellarmine

About St. Robert Bellarmine Parish

St. Robert Bellarmine is a Roman Catholic parish in the Cherry Hill section of Johnston, Rhode Island, in the Diocese of Providence. The parish community gathers at 1804 Atwood Avenue for weekend and weekday Mass in English and is served by a Family Faith Formation, Outreach & Evangelization office that supports catechesis and evangelization. The parish website identifies its core call as welcoming visitors, sustaining the sacramental life of its members, and reaching out in charity to the wider Johnston community.

History & 60th Anniversary

The parish was canonically established on August 27, 1963 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney. Father James Joseph Cooney, the founding pastor, went door-to-door recruiting families, and the first Mass was celebrated on September 8, 1963 (Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary) at Johnston High School. Ground was broken on a 10½-acre Cherry Hill site (formerly the Gemma family property) on March 21, 1965; the church was blessed on Thanksgiving Day 1965 and dedicated by Bishop McVinney on March 13, 1966. In 2023 the parish marked its 60th anniversary with Bishop Richard G. Henning concelebrating a special Mass with Father Richard A. Narciso and Father John G. LaPointe.

• Established August 27, 1963 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney
• First Mass: September 8, 1963 at Johnston High School
• Founding pastor: Father James Joseph Cooney
• Founding trustees: Edward Halpin and Michele Damiano
• Groundbreaking: March 21, 1965 on the 10½-acre Cherry Hill site
• Church blessed: Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 1965 (first Mass by Msgr. John L. Drury)
• Church dedicated: March 13, 1966 by Bishop McVinney (cornerstone laid; marble altar consecrated)
• 60th anniversary celebrated in 2023 with Bishop Richard G. Henning

Pastoral Leadership

St. Robert Bellarmine has had three pastors since its founding. Father Richard A. Narciso, a North Providence native, was installed on Father's Day, June 16, 2019, by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, succeeding Father John G. LaPointe, who had shepherded the parish for 28 years and retired from active ministry on February 1, 2019. Father Narciso also serves as director of Pastoral Care at Fatima Hospital and has been recognized publicly for his ministry to COVID-19 patients during the pandemic. The founding pastor, Father James Joseph Cooney, shepherded the parish from its 1963 establishment through the construction and dedication of the church in 1966.

• Father James Joseph Cooney – founding pastor (1963–)
• Father John G. LaPointe – pastor for 28 years, retired February 1, 2019
• Father Richard A. Narciso – installed June 16, 2019; also Director of Pastoral Care, Fatima Hospital

Mass & Sacrament Schedule

The parish's published schedule on strobertsparish.org lists a Saturday vigil Mass, three Sunday morning Masses, and weekday Masses on Monday, Wednesday and Friday — all celebrated in English. The website notes that confessions are arranged individually by contacting Fr. Richard at the parish office. Third-party listings of the parish's Mass schedule may include some Masses celebrated at the neighboring Our Lady of Grace Church; the parish's own published schedule, however, lists weekday Masses on the parish site itself.

• Saturday Vigil Mass: 5:00 PM (English)
• Sunday Masses: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM (English)
• Weekday Masses: Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 8:00 AM (English)
• Confession: by appointment — contact Fr. Richard at 401-232-5600

Family Faith Formation, Outreach & Evangelization

The parish operates a Family Faith Formation, Outreach & Evangelization office to support catechesis for children and ongoing evangelization for adults and families. This ministry reaches out to parishioners across the Johnston area, complementing the work of Catholic schools and helping families grow together in faith.

• Family Faith Formation Office: 401-232-9321
• Email: [email protected]

Accessibility & Recent Building Improvements

Through the Diocese of Providence's 'Grateful for God's Providence' capital campaign, St. Robert Bellarmine funded significant accessibility upgrades to its 1960s church building. Bentley Companies of Warwick served as general contractor, with long-time parishioner Bart Catanzaro acting as parish-based project manager.

• New handicap-accessible restroom on the main level off the main foyer
• Vertical platform lift (Garaventa Lift) providing access to the lower level of the church
• General contractor: Bentley Companies of Warwick

Visit, Contact & Office Hours

Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email, or in person during the posted office hours. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday and is closed on Fridays. The Family Faith Formation office has a separate phone line and email address.

• Parish Office Phone: 401-232-5600
• Parish Office Fax: 401-231-5793
• Parish Office Email: [email protected]
• Faith Formation Phone: 401-232-9321
• Faith Formation Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM (closed 12:00–12:30 PM for lunch); closed Fridays
• Address: 1804 Atwood Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919

Online Giving & Livestream

The parish website provides online giving through ParishSoft and a livestream link so that homebound parishioners and those unable to attend in person can still participate in Mass and follow along with the parish's liturgical and devotional life.

• Online Giving: ParishSoft Online Giving (link via strobertsparish.org)
• Livestream Mass: link provided on the parish homepage