St. Veronica

St. Veronica Chapel at a Glance

St. Veronica Chapel is the Bonnet Shores worship site of St. Thomas More Catholic Parish in Narragansett, Rhode Island. Located at 1035 Boston Neck Road (Route 1A), it hosts a Saturday Vigil Mass and two Sunday Masses year-round, with an additional Sunday evening Mass in summer. The chapel functions as the Religious Education hub for younger grade-school children in the parish and as the site of major parish gatherings, missions, and capital-campaign milestones.

History

The chapel was erected as a mission chapel in 1961 to serve the swelling summer population of Bonnet Shores after St. Mary Star of the Sea had already been established nearby. In 1998 it was transferred from the Diocese of Providence to St. Thomas More Parish and then fully renovated under Msgr. Halloran's leadership. The 'Expansion and Enhancement Campaign for the New Millennium' (renovation rededicated 2000) and the 'Continuing Our Vision for the Future' campaign (parish hall blessed 2006) together reshaped the campus.

• First Mass celebrated July 7, 1961
• Chapel transferred from diocese to parish in 1998
• Renovation rededicated by Bishop Robert E. Milvee on May 14, 2000
• Parish hall, classrooms, office and kitchen blessed by Bishop Thomas J. Tobin on June 25, 2006

Stained Glass & Sacred Art

Under Fr. Taillon's pastorate, the chapel's sanctuary has been enriched with stained-glass artistry by Nick Parrendo of Hunt Stained Glass Studio, Pittsburgh, PA. The first four windows were inaugurated at the Easter Sunday 'window reveal' on April 4, 2010, and additional windows were installed on November 1, 2015.

• Four sanctuary windows inaugurated April 4, 2010
• Additional windows installed November 1, 2015
• Designed and manufactured by Hunt Stained Glass Studio, Pittsburgh, PA

Clergy & Staff

Pastoral care at the chapel is shared with St. Thomas More Church. Fr. Marcel L. Taillon serves as pastor; Fr. Joseph Mappilamattel is associate pastor; Fr. Przemyslaw 'Shemek' Lepak assists part-time; Msgr. John C. Halloran serves as Pastor Emeritus; and Deacon Joseph Clossick assists.

• Rev. Marcel L. Taillon, S.T.L. — Pastor
• Rev. Joseph Mappilamattel, C.M.I. — Associate Pastor
• Rev. Przemyslaw 'Shemek' Lepak — Part-time Assistant Pastor
• Msgr. John C. Halloran — Pastor Emeritus
• Deacon Joseph Clossick

Faith Formation & Religious Education

St. Veronica Chapel hosts the parish's elementary faith-formation program. Grades 1–4 meet on Sunday mornings (10:05–10:55 AM) and Monday afternoons (4:10–5:00 PM). Older students preparing for Confirmation continue their coursework at St. Thomas More. Classes follow the parish academic-year calendar.

• Grades 1–4: Sunday 10:05–10:55 AM at St. Veronica Chapel
• Grades 1–4: Monday 4:10–5:00 PM at St. Veronica Chapel
• Confirmation preparation continues at St. Thomas More

Becoming a Parishioner

New parishioners are always welcome at St. Thomas More Parish and St. Veronica Chapel. Registration forms are available online, at the parish office, or from the sacristans at either church on weekends, and the staff looks forward to welcoming you into parish life and ministry.

• Registration form available on stthomasmoreri.org
• Forms also at the parish office (53 Rockland Street)
• Available from sacristans at both churches on weekends

Visiting & Contact

All correspondence and phone calls are routed through the St. Thomas More Parish office because there is no office on-site at St. Veronica Chapel. Office hours are Monday–Friday 9:30 AM–2:00 PM, with summer hours from Memorial Day through Labor Day of Monday–Thursday 9:30 AM–2:00 PM and Friday 9:30–11:30 AM.

• Parish Office: 53 Rockland Street, Narragansett, RI 02882
• Phone: (401) 789-7682
• Email: [email protected]
• Office hours: Mon–Fri 9:30 AM–2:00 PM (summer hours reduced on Fridays)