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Historical photos
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Under Construction - Keep checking back in!
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Two churches brought together into one family of Saint John Paul II Parish
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saint cecilia and saint leo churches
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Saint Cecilia church - established in 1910
In 1910, Bishop Harkins erected a fourth parish in the Central Falls- Pawtucket area when in August he asked Fr. Hormisdas Sylvestre to accept responsibility for eighty-five families in the Darlington section of Pawtucket and to take the necessary steps to form a new parish dedicated to St. Cecilia. In 1910, found a desirable piece of property at the corner of Central and Newport avenues which the bishop authorized him to buy for $4000. Fr. Sylvestre was formally appointed as the first pastor on August 17, 1910.
On November 26th, Bishop Harkins approved the plans for the building of church-school combination. He soon purchased an additional building nearby to serve as a convent for the Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Heart who arrived in September of 1912 to staff the school.
By 1923, the community of Saint Cecilia church had grown considerably. The next pastor began construction of the new larger brick church, which was blessed by Bishop Hickey in September 20, 1925.
Exerpts taken from "Catholicism in Rhode Island and the Diocese of Providence: 1886-1921" By Rev. Robert W. Hayman, Archivist for the Diocese of Providence -
Saint Leo the Great church - Established in 1916
The year 1916 was indeed great for the City of Pawtucket. In that year, Bishop Harkin opened the doors of St. Leo the Great to a great number of Catholic families of Irish heritage.
The church community was known for its many devotions, especially a special devotion to St. Jude. Beginning in 1935, the church had held a weekly novena to St. Jude, a tradtion which continues on at St. John Paul II parish.
In early 1930, Bishops throughout the United States were beginning to realize the great need for additional programs to teach the Catholic faith to youth. Many dioceses adopted a Vacation School model for Catholic education. In the summer of 1930 from July 14th - August 1st, a vacation religion school was offered at St. Leo the Great, educating a great number of students.
The church would later go on to establish a parochial school of its own, staffed by the Religious Sisters of Mercy, and later the Sisters of the Cross and Passion.
Exerpts taken from "Catholicism in Rhode Island and the Diocese of Providence: 1921-1948" by Rev. Robert W. Hayman and from "The Diocese of Rhode Island: A Short History 1780-2000"
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A New Chapter - Saint John Paul II Parish
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Saint Leo the Great Daily Mass Chapel
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