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PROVIDENCE—Two neighboring parishes which have long collaborated and shared a pastor, staff, programs, and resources will now be formally combined. After consulting the diocesan College of Consultors and the Council of Priests, Most Rev. Thomas J. Tobin, Bishop of Providence, approved the request of the pastor and leadership of two parishes to merge Saint Madeleine Sophie Parish into Saint Catherine of Siena Parish effective January 24, 2023.

Three neighboring parishes in Providence and North Providence which have been united by combined efforts and a shared pastor since 2013 will now become formally united as a single parish.

All Saints Parish, Woonsocket, merges into neighboring St. Joseph Parish. All Saints church building to close permanently.

St. Benedict parish, Warwick, merges into neighboring St. Kevin parish. St. Benedict church building closed permanently.

The canonical merger is the result of collaboration between the Diocese and parishes regarding parish modifications in Warwick

The Vatican has approved the merger of St. Charles Borromeo parish in Woonsocket with neighboring All Saints Parish in a decree dated July 16, 2020.

Bishop Tobin suspends decree of permanent closing so that further study can continue; church building to be used occasionally for special liturgical events

Steady decline in Mass attendance, sacramental practices, parish income

One year after creation of a new Woonsocket parish, Holy Trinity serves as a successful model for churches facing change

The Diocese of Providence has compiled statistical data about the state of the Catholic Church in Rhode Island from 2000-2018 in a Pastoral Profile designed to provide the faithful with a roadmap to the current pastoral landscape of the local Church.

St. Mary church building to become a ‘mission’ of SS. John and James Parish

There are currently 141 churches within the Diocese of Providence, which is down 14 from 1997...

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has announced that ...

Three parishes will merge to become new faith community

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has announced that St. Brigid Church in Johnston will become a ‘mission’ of St. Rocco Parish in Johnston, effective July 1, 2018.

As we think about all the changes taking place in the Diocese of Providence these days...

The merged parishes will be known as St. Aidan-St. Patrick Parish, effective July 1, 2018.

Due to a steady decline in Mass attendance, sacramental practice and in overall parish income, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin has granted a request by Father Carl Fisette, administrator of Holy Cross Parish, Providence, to change the status of Holy Cross Church to become a ‘mission’ of nearby St. Thomas Parish in Providence, effective April 2, 2018. Parishioners at both parishes were informed of the decision at Masses this past weekend.

He ... took to the floor to speak about the current state of the diocese, with a strong emphasis on the changing demographics of the local church, where the number of priests reaching retirement age is increasing rapidly and the ongoing focus on pastoral planning is more important than ever...

Six months after Bishop Thomas Tobin, in a cutback of priestly personnel, appointed him to run three city parishes, the Rev. Daniel J. Sweet has begun floating a plan to put them under one roof and close down the oldest churches in the group, Sacred Heart and Holy Family.