URI Catholic Center

About the Catholic Center at URI

The Catholic Center at URI — branded Rhody Catholic — is the Catholic campus ministry of the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. Open to all students, faculty, staff, and friends of the University, the Center describes itself as a community of believers who seek holiness together within the Catholic Church, striving to empower disciples to become apostles of the Good News through worship, catechesis, charitable works, and Christ-centered community. It is served by a priest-chaplain and a team of FOCUS missionaries, and operates as the university-parish ministry of Christ the King Parish under the Diocese of Providence.

History of the Catholic Center

The Catholic Center was dedicated in 1966 as the URI Newman Center, the same year Catholic campus ministry formally began on the Kingston campus. Early chaplain Father Raymond Collins renamed it the Catholic Center so the average undergraduate would recognize it. In 1968 Bishop Russell McVinney decreed that the adjacent Christ the King Parish, founded in 1950, would serve as both a territorial and University parish, formalizing the relationship that continues today. Successive chaplains have shaped six decades of student ministry, and in 2016 more than a hundred alumni, staff, and clergy returned to celebrate the Center's 50th anniversary at a Mass at Christ the King Church.

• 1966 — Catholic Center dedicated; Rev. Raymond Collins becomes second chaplain and renames the ministry
• 1968 — Bishop McVinney declares Christ the King a territorial and University parish
• 2016 — 50th anniversary Mass at Christ the King Church, homilist Father Randy Chew
• 2019 — Rev. Carl Fisette named eleventh chaplain and Director
• 2023 — Justin Dery hired as Pastoral Associate of Music and Communications

Mass & Liturgy

The Center offers a robust liturgical schedule during the academic semester, centered on daily Mass in the Catholic Center Chapel and a Sunday Student Mass at Christ the King Church. The chapel is also the setting for weekly Eucharistic adoration and the regular celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

• Daily Mass, Mon–Thu 5:00 PM and Fri 12:00 PM in the Catholic Center Chapel
• Sunday Student Mass, 6:00 PM at Christ the King Church (during the semester)
• Eucharistic Adoration: Tue & Thu 5:30–6:30 PM
• Confession: Tue & Thu 5:30–6:15 PM in the sacristy; Sun 5:00–5:45 PM at Christ the King

Formation & Discipleship

Beyond Mass and the sacraments, the Catholic Center is a place of formation where students are invited into deeper prayer, study, and discipleship. Programming includes Bible studies, spiritual direction, retreats, and the RCIA process for those seeking full communion with the Catholic Church.

• Faith Formation
• Bible Studies
• Spiritual Direction
• Retreats
• Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) — for those seeking Baptism, First Communion/Confirmation, or full reception into the Church

Rhody Catholic Organization (RCO) & Student Life

The Rhody Catholic Organization (RCO) is the umbrella of programs, activities, and leadership teams that grew out of what was once the Newman Club. Its signature gathering is the Rhody Catholic Event, held every Wednesday evening, with dinner followed by service, fellowship, catechetical sessions, or discussion of current issues in the Church and the world. The Center building itself — with a chapel, game room (ping pong and pool), library, kitchen, dining areas, and common spaces — is set up to be a home away from home on the URI campus.

• Weekly Rhody Catholic Event — Wednesdays at 6:00 PM
• Student Mass — Sundays at 6:00 PM at Christ the King Church
• Game room with ping pong and pool
• Library for quiet study
• Kitchen and dining areas

Service, Mission & Outreach

Service and mission are core to Rhody Catholic's identity. The Center regularly offers service opportunities and mission trips for students, working in partnership with FOCUS missionaries to identify works of mercy on and off campus. Students discern religious vocations and Christian leadership in this environment — the 50th anniversary gathering noted that several former students had entered seminary or full-time ministry after their time at the Center.

• Service Opportunities
• Mission Trips
• Communal Prayer and Service
• Vocational discernment supported through FOCUS missionaries and chaplaincy

Staff & Chaplaincy

The Catholic Center is served by a priest-chaplain and a team of FOCUS missionaries, with additional pastoral staff supporting music and communications. Together they form a small, mission-focused team responsible for the sacramental life, formation, and community life of the Center.

• Reverend Ryan Simas — Chaplain
• Natalie Burke — FOCUS Team Director ([email protected])
• Justin Dery — Pastoral Associate of Music and Communications (hired 2023)

Visit, Hours & Contact

The Catholic Center welcomes visitors throughout the academic year. During the academic semester, the building is open Sunday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and is closed during school vacations. It sits at 90 Chapel Way in Kingston, between the Emporium and the Fine Arts Center on the URI campus.

• Address: 90 Chapel Way, Kingston, RI 02881
• Phone: (401) 874-2324
• Email: [email protected]
• Hours (academic semester): Sun–Thu 8 AM–10 PM; Fri 8 AM–5 PM; closed during school vacations
• Web: rhodycatholic.com