Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish

 (an operation of the Church of St. Maron in Providence, Rhode Island)

Missionary Community for Cape Verdean Immigrants

Languages:  Portuguese, Creole, English

  

Administrator:               Fr. Arlindo A. Amaro, CSSp                                

Church address:            291 High Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860             

Rectory address:           35 Clay Street, Central Falls, RI 02863 

Telephone:                    401-725-1126

Fax:                              401-726-4119

Email:                            This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                                                                 

HISTORY

The initiative of creating a missionary parish in this area of the United States dedicated to serving Catholics who came from Cape Verde Islands belonged to the apostolic zeal of Father José Maria de Sousa.

First contacts

Father Sousa had visited the United States several times between 1969 and 1974 with the purpose of gathering funds for a small "colégio" in the city of Praia. In 1974 the Bishop of Providence appealed to Father Sousa's superiors in Rome, Portugal and Cape Verde, asking for his stay in the United States to do pastoral services for the Cape Verdean immigrants.

 

The project of a new parish

It was in February 1974 that Father Sousa, then living at the Portuguese parish of Our Lady of the Rosary in Providence, could start a more intensive work with a group of Catholics from Cape Verde with the intention of organizing with them a church community.

 

Beginning of the community in the hall of St. Anthony's parish

The Diocese gave an affable welcome to this project and rendered it an effective support. Father Sousa then started to celebrate Eucharist in the hall of the Portuguese parish of St. Anthony in Pawtucket in November 1977, and the Auxiliary Bishop Kenneth Angel ordered a monthly meeting, presided by Father Giudice as a Diocese representative, with the participation of Father Sousa and Father Freitas, Pastor of St. Anthony's parish.

 

1979 - Year of the foundation of the parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary

A committee was organized in January 1979 to get the necessary funds. In the first months of that year the process to purchase a church building was started. Meanwhile, about 450 families confirmed their willingness to belong to this new community. The price for the building came down to $80,000. The Diocese pledged to lend the necessary amount for the transaction. On June 12, 1979 the keys of the church were released. On June 18, 1979 the parish of Immaculate Heart of Mary was established.

 

Parish foundation and Church blessing

On August 12, 1979, the new parish was officially born with the blessing of the Church and its dedication to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

 

Parish Rectory

In the month of September, 1979, the parish rectory on 35 Clay Street in Central Falls, started to serve the parishioners. The building was purchased for that purpose by Fathers José Maria de Sousa, Antonio Figueira Pinto and Arlindo Amaro. This rectory continues to belogn to the Portuguese Province of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit and the parish pays an annual rent to that institution.

 

PASTOR AND PRIORITIES

Administrator:  Fr. Arlindo A. Amaro, CSSp

 

Priorities of Pastor:

• Permanent evangelization (messages to the people)
• Catechumenate or necessary preparation for each sacrament
• Ongoing Christian and human formation
• Working with lay people: organization of collaborators (agout 60)
• Youth
• CCD

Special Ministry - Collaboration with Memorial Hospital chaplaincy, on call one day a week for 24 hours