St. Rocco's Church sits on Atwood Avenue in Johnston, Rhode Island, just two hundred feet from Plainfield Street and surrounded by the wetlands that once marked the edge of Thornton. It is a Roman Catholic parish with deep Italian roots, founded by the Missionaries of St. Charles for immigrants who came north from the town of St. Rocco in Italy, and it remains a place where Italian, English, and more recently Spanish are spoken, prayed, and sung. Under the pastoral care of the Diocese of Providence and the Scalabrinians, the parish combines a century-old devotional tradition with a busy weekly schedule of Masses, a parish school, religious education for children and adults, and a small constellation of lay organizations that keep the building and grounds in constant use.
From a Wooden Church on Clemence Street to the Present Building
St. Rocco's was established in 1903 by the bishop of Providence and placed under the care of the Missionaries of St. Charles, the religious community founded by Blessed John Baptist Scalabrini in 1887 to serve migrants. The first church was a modest wooden structure at Clemence and Transit Streets that served Thornton's Italian community for nearly fifty years. A group of sisters, today known as the Apostles of the Sacred Heart, arrived in 1942 to assist with catechesis and the sacraments.
As the Catholic population in the surrounding area grew, a new site was chosen on Atwood Avenue. The present church was built there and dedicated by Bishop Russell McVinney on June 17, 1951. The school was added a decade later and welcomed its first students in 1963. After the Second Vatican Council, a reconciliation room was carved out of the former baptistery and a side entrance with restrooms was added so the building could be reached by those with mobility needs. The church was later fully air-conditioned and redecorated, and the entire parish plant was brought into compliance with state fire codes. The result is a building that has kept its original design while quietly adapting to every generation that has walked through its doors.
Scalabrini Fathers and a Mission Shaped by Migration
The Scalabrinians came to Rhode Island at the invitation of the bishop of Providence in 1889, first establishing Holy Ghost Church in Federal Hill before founding several other Italian parishes, including St. Rocco's in 1903. Their founder, Bishop John Baptist Scalabrini of Piacenza, was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1997; the parish keeps his memory alive through its Knights of Columbus council, which bears his name as Bishop John B. Scalabrini Council #03547.
From the start, the parish's chief work was to welcome newcomers. After more than a hundred years of serving Italian and English-speaking Catholics, the parish has, at the request of the diocese, opened its doors to Hispanic families who continue to arrive in growing numbers. The Scalabrinians and the parish staff see this as a continuation of what the parish has always done: making room for the next wave of arrivals and adding them to a Catholic community already being faithfully served. The words of Jesus, "I was a stranger and you welcomed me," remain a living description of the work at St. Rocco's.
Mass Schedule and the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday brings two Masses: a morning Mass at 8:00 a.m. that is also celebrated on legal holidays, and the Saturday vigil at 5:00 p.m. Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 a.m. in bilingual Italian and English, and at 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Weekday Mass is celebrated each morning at 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday. A weekly novena is prayed on Tuesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. On Holy Days of Obligation, the vigil is at 5:00 p.m. and Mass is offered at the school at 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Those unable to attend in person can watch Sunday through Friday Mass online through watchthemass.com.
Confessions are heard on Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to noon and again from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m., and can be arranged at any other time by appointment. The parish rectory office, staffed by the church secretary, is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
A School That Grew Up Beside the Church
St. Rocco's School opened its doors in 1963 and now serves students from Pre-K through eighth grade. Located on the same campus as the church and rectory, it is a Catholic school whose stated mission is to provide a quality education rooted in Catholic values and traditions. The school offers faith formation and service projects alongside its academic program and is described by its leadership as a safe and nurturing place that emphasizes faith, academic excellence, and respect for one another. Melissa D'Amico serves as principal and Marcia Montecalvo as assistant principal, with offices reached at 401-944-2993.
Religious Education, First Communion, and Confirmation
For children who attend public or private schools, the parish runs a sequential religious education program that follows grade levels and includes preparation for the sacraments. First Holy Communion preparation spans two years and Confirmation preparation runs four years, covering Bible, Christ and his mission and message, the Catholic Church, and the Apostles' Creed. The program also includes accommodations for children with developmental delays.
For adults, the parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA), a process through which those over the age of eighteen are received into the Catholic faith community or complete the sacraments of Baptism, First Holy Communion, First Penance, or Confirmation. There is no requirement of English fluency or literacy, and there is no upper age limit. Children older than the usual age but younger than eighteen who have not yet been fully initiated follow a parallel program called the Rite of Christian Initiation of Children, including those baptized in another denomination. Megan Reitz directs religious education from the CCD office at 931 Atwood Avenue, reachable at 401-944-6040.
Sacraments: Baptism, Weddings, Funerals
Infant baptisms are scheduled on the first Sunday of the month immediately after the 10:00 a.m. Mass. Parents and godparents attend a baptism class offered every other month at 7:00 p.m. in the school's music room. A baptismal application, a copy of the child's birth certificate, proof that parents and godparents attended the class, and sponsor forms from each godparent must be on file before a date is set.
Couples planning a wedding at St. Rocco's are asked to speak with a priest eight to twelve months in advance to reserve the date and schedule marriage preparation through the Diocese of Providence, including a required sexuality seminar. The parish provides a full set of guidelines covering documents, the civil license, music, flowers, photography, the rehearsal, and a $400 church offering that goes to the parish rather than to the priest. Music is led by the parish cantor and organist, with Christopher Caramello serving as music director; outside musicians are welcome with approval and a consultation.
The parish also offers traditional funeral services and helps families with planning. Funeral booking and music planning forms are available through the parish.
Parish Organizations: Holy Name Society, Women's Guild, Legion of Mary, and Knights of Columbus
The parish is anchored by four lay organizations that each carry a piece of its life. The Holy Name Society is an organization of men of the parish who are committed to their Catholic faith and respect for their country. They meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:00 p.m. in Café Rocco at the school, and they have long cared for the St. Francis Garden on the right side of the church as well as supporting the annual St. Rocco Feast. Membership is open to all men of the parish eighteen and older.
The Women's Guild gathers the women of the parish who wish to remain active in parish life. They meet on the second Wednesday of the month at 6:45 p.m. in the St. Rocco School Music Room and organize spiritual, educational, outreach, and social activities, including the annual Giving Tree. They, too, take part in the parish's annual St. Rocco Feast.
The Legion of Mary is open to men and women and meets each Friday morning at 8:00 a.m. in the conference room of the rectory. Members visit the sick and elderly of the parish at home, in the hospital, and in nursing homes, and they visit families as part of their apostolic work.
The Bishop John B. Scalabrini Council #03547 of the Knights of Columbus was formed on June 22, 1952, and meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. at 1231 Plainfield Street in Johnston. The council practices the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism that have defined the order since its founding.
Parish Outreach and the Food Pantry
Members of Parish Outreach serve parishioners and others who find themselves in spiritual or financial need. They maintain a food pantry on the church premises and prepare baskets of food and other necessities throughout the year. Anyone wishing to help with this corporal work of mercy is welcome to join them.
St. Francis Meditation Gardens
On the right side of the church sits the St. Francis Meditation Gardens, a Sacred Space with benches for meditating and a brick walkway of engraved bricks. The garden was envisioned and coordinated by the Holy Name Society and dedicated on November 2, 2003. Parishioners are invited to purchase a brick either in memory of a loved one or as a gift, with options at $50 and $75.
The People Who Lead the Parish
The Reverend Giacomo Capoverdi serves as pastor, with offices in the parish rectory. He is supported by Deacon Robert P. Troia, who also serves as spiritual director of the parish liturgical ministries. Stephanie C. Fava is the church secretary, Megan Reitz directs religious education, Melissa D'Amico is the school principal, Marcia Montecalvo is the assistant principal, and Christopher Caramello directs the parish choir and music program.
What Visitors Need to Know
St. Rocco's is located at 927 Atwood Avenue in Johnston, at the corner of Atwood Avenue and Plainfield Pike. From northern points, take I-295 South to Exit 4, turn left onto Plainfield Pike, and the church is about a mile and a half ahead on the left at the intersection. From southern points, take I-295 North to Exit 4, turn right onto Plainfield Pike, and follow the same route. The building is fully air-conditioned and accessible to those with mobility needs, with a side entrance and restrooms added for that purpose. The parish's Facebook page keeps the wider community connected to weekly news, and online giving is available through Parish Giving. The annual St. Rocco Feast, with its traditional foods, games, and live entertainment, remains one of the most anticipated gatherings on the parish calendar and a vivid reminder of how a church built for Italian immigrants a century ago continues to welcome new ones today.