St. Mary’s Church on Broadway Celebrates 150 Years

St. Mary’s on the feast of Corpus Christi this year

Today, July 11th, 2019, St. Mary’s Church on Broadway, home of FSSP Providence, celebrates its 150th anniversary! This magnificent church, dedicated on July 11th, 1869 by Bishop Francis McFarland, became a Fraternity apostolate last summer when Bishop Thomas Tobin invited the FSSP to assume administration. The parish will celebrate their milestone anniversary with a Solemn High Mass this evening at 6:30 p.m., followed by refreshments and live Irish music. If you’re in town, be sure to join them!

Bishop Thomas Tobin congratulates St. Mary’s

The Rhode Island Catholic put out a splendid article today for the anniversary of the church. The story touches on the history of St. Mary’s and how the FSSP views its assignment here: as a mission to continue the work and sacrifices that generations of parishioners have dedicated to their beautiful church.

“From the beginning the current community has felt a great connection with the past history of St. Mary’s,” said pastor Fr. John Berg, as quoted in the article. “The church itself speaks constantly to us of its history and the sacrifices made . . . It was clear to us from the start that we inherited something which others had sacrificed a great deal for and now it was up to us to care for and give life to this historical edifice.”

Read the full story here! +

July 11, 2019