Spring Street & Memorial Blvd. West, Newport, RI 02840

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 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd&nbsp;
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 56th 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, <a href="https://www.discovernewport.org/events/christmas-in-newport/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">click HERE</a>.
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 <a href="mailto:stmarysecretary12@gmail.com" target="_blank">stmarysecretary12@gmail.com</a> 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<a href="https://fortadams.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener"> Fort Adams</a>. The congregation soon outgrew its first two buildings, which were located at <a href="https://newportirishhistory.org/press/newports-early-irish-community-where-it-all-began/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Barney &amp; Mt. Vernon Streets</a>,
 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 <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Keely" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Patrick C. Keely</a>. 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 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 <a href="https://www.staugustinnewport.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Saint Augustin's Parish</a>. The parish will celebrate its Bicentennial anniversary in 2028.
Photo by Kyle Medeiros

Local Event: Advent Evenings at Historic Saint Mary's Church

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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...

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Advent Evenings at Historic Saint Mary's Church

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Advent Evenings at Historic Saint Mary's Church

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Jamestown in the 18th Century