St. Joseph’s Parish of Pascoag celebrates 125th anniversary
PASCOAG — For 125 years, St. Joseph’s Parish has been a testament to the faith of its founders.
It has survived financial hardships and challenges, the sudden loss of one of a beloved former pastor and even three fires — one of which destroyed the original church building in 1919 — and which threatened the Depression-era structure built to replace it in 1932.
On Nov. 22, the Feast of Christ the King, the congregation gathered to mark the parish’s 125th anniversary with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Ernest B. Boland, O.P., along with several priests, including the three surviving pastors of St. Joseph’s Church.
St. Joseph’s current pastor, Fr. Clifford J. Cabral, a Tiverton native, has been at the helm here for the past 13-and-a-half years.
“It’s been a wonderful experience,” Fr. Cabral says. “It’s a blessing because you get to know your parishioners well.”
It is the strong support he gets from many dedicated volunteers from the among the parish’s 700 families that makes his job easier, he insists.
He often feels nostalgic walking the halls of the church rectory, built in 1898, and through the church, reflecting on the accomplishments of the 12 pastors who’ve served before him.
“I’m lucky 13,” Fr. Cabral says. “I’m so proud to be able to walk these hallowed halls. I’m so proud to be pastor. God is here, he’s always here.”
Fr. Paul Laporte, the 12th pastor, served at the parish from 1991-1996.
“The people here are very generous; they have a great deal of courage,” Fr. Laporte said, reflecting on his five years here as he marveled at a wax museum display created by students of the adjacent Fr. Holland Catholic School following the Mass. The students dressed as pastors and sisters who served at St. Joseph’s through the years.
“The church is beautiful, and the people are twice as beautiful,” he added, noting his feelings on returning to St. Joseph’s for its historic celebration.
Fr. Thomas L. Keenan, who served as pastor from 1979-1991, was also in attendance for the Mass.
Other celebrants included former St. Joseph Parish priests Fr. Farrell E. McLaughlin and Fr. Francis V. DeLellis. Deacon Anthony E. Muscatelli and Deacon Raymond L. Riccio also assisted at the Mass. Altar servers were Genna & Lindsey Rogers, Kevin Baillargeon, Lauren and Jillian Caduto and Kristy Poisson. Lectors were Lillian Plouffe and James Hoppe.
The first structure to be called St. Joseph’s Church was built in 1880 by Fr. John Maguire, the pastor of St. Patrick Church in Harrisville, at a cost of $13,000. For its first four years, it was a mission church of St. Patrick, but separated when it was assigned its first pastor, Fr. Daniel Driscoll, in 1884.
Ensuing financial difficulties led to St. Joseph’s administration reverting back to St. Patrick Church before it became independent once again in 1893.
The next hardship to befall St. Joseph’s would be a devastating fire in 1919 that totally destroyed the original church building.
Despite the onset of the Great Depression, St. Joseph’s Church would rise from the ashes in a new structure completed in 1932. In 1948, this new church would also be touched by fire, but it was only partially gutted this time, and was rebuilt in just one year.
While each of St. Joseph’s pastors has left a unique imprint on the parish, it is Fr. Daniel Holland who has left the largest legacy so far.
A tuberculosis survivor who once received treatment over the course of seven years at the nearby Wallum Lake Sanitorium, now the Zambarano Unit of Eleanor Slater Hospital, he was released in 1946, becoming first the curate of St. Joseph’s, then the pastor in 1959. Fr. Holland retired in 1973, but returned to St. Joseph’s in 1981 to celebrate his 50th anniversary as a priest. Following the celebration, he went next door to the rectory to spend the night, but died in his sleep. He is buried directly across the street from the church on a green in front of the Catholic elementary school that bears his name.
In 2006, St. Joseph’s parishioners pledged $508,000 for external repairs at the church and rectory, especially for the church tower, as well as for upgrading the fire codes at the school.
“I’ve been involved with the parish for 39 years, says Laurie Roberts, who attended the Mass along with her son, Jacob, 8, a second-grader at the Fr. Holland School.
“Everyone here is so supportive of each other. Fr. Cabral has given us so much.”
State Rep. Ed Pacheco, a St. Joseph’s parishioner who represents the area in the legislature, presented a citation to Fr. Cabral to mark the historic anniversary. He says he and his family are always made to feel welcome here, and credits Fr. Cabral’s leadership with inspiring people to get involved in their church.
“The doors are always open,” Rep. Pacheco said.
A joyful noise: Alyssa Vitello and members of the St. Joseph Children’s Choir perform at the special 125th anniversary Mass on Nov. 22.
Photos: Rick Snizek
Photos: Rick Snizek
A time of reflection: Above left, the Knights of Columbus welcome retired St. Joseph’s pastors Fr. Paul Laporte, left, and Fr. Thomas L. Keenan and the other celebrants. Above, Aaron Aubin portrays Fr. Dennis Fullam, who served as pastor from 1936-1946. Below left, Fr. Clifford J. Cabral, and his alter ego in wax, played by Andrew Mandeville.
Email
Print
