Historic St. Mary's Church Welcomes visitors today

Beautiful and historic Saint Mary's Church, home to Rhode Island's oldest Catholic parish, welcomes visitors daily this summer. Thanks to volunteer docents from the parish community, we can open the doors for prayer and visitation outside of regularly scheduled services.

The building and grounds will be open Monday through Friday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.  Please use the William Street side entrance, accessed from Spring Street.

Weekend Masses at St. Mary's are Saturday at 5:15 pm and Sunday at 8:00 am and 11:00 am, during which time the building will also be open. Beginning Memorial Day Weekend, a Sunday 9:30 am Mass will be added to the schedule.

Note: Funerals and weddings may impact full access to the church.

Brief History
The parish was established in 1828 to serve Newport's growing Catholic population, 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 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.

Visit our website for more information:  www.StMaryNewportRI.org
Parish Office Phone: (401) 847-0475,  email: StMaryNewport@gmail.com