Advent Evenings at Historic Saint Mary's Church

Beautiful and historic Saint Mary's Church, home to Rhode Island's oldest Catholic parish, invites you to drop by this Advent Season. The church will be open between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm on these three Wednesday evenings, during which meditative music will be played:

December 3rd, 10th, 17th

Visitors are invited to enjoy the sacred space decorated for the Advent Season, light a candle, and admire the Gothic Revival architecture and beautiful stained glass windows. Freewill offering envelopes will be available should visitors wish to make a gift to benefit the St. Mary's Hot Lunch Program, serving our neighbors in need, on the second, third, and fourth Wednesday of the month.

The St. Mary's Advent Evenings are part of the 55th annual Christmas in Newport. Founded in 1971, Christmas in Newport began as a two-week festival that celebrated the non-commercial traditions of the holiday season. The annual program boasts multiple activities for nearly every day of the December calendar. For the full calendar of events, click HERE.

Please use the William Street side entrance, which is accessed from Spring Street. If wheelchair access is required, please use the ramp to the breezeway entrance on William Street, between the red brick rectory and its garage. There is a parking lot adjacent with several handicapped spots.

QUESTIONS? Write stmarysecretary12@gmail.com or phone (401) 847-0475.

 Brief History
The parish was established in 1828 to serve Newport's growing population of Catholics, many of whom were Irish immigrants working on the construction of nearby Fort Adams. The congregation soon outgrew its first two buildings, which were located at Barney & Mt. Vernon Streets, a short stroll from Washington Square. The Gothic Revival style building you see today at the corner of Spring Street and Memorial Boulevard West was designed by Irish-American architect, Patrick C. Keely. Construction began in August 1848, and in July 1852, the building was dedicated to "The Holy Name of Mary, Our Lady of the Isle." Future president, John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Lee Bouvier, whose mother and stepfather summered in Newport, were married here on September 12, 1953. Saint Mary's was designated a National Historic Shrine in 1968 and it is was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008.

Today, Saint Mary's is a vibrant Catholic faith community of approximately 1,200 families led by Fr. Mark A. Sauriol, who is also pastor of nearby Saint Augustin's Parish. The parish will celebrate its Bicentennial anniversary in 2028.

Photo by Kyle Medeiros