On the weekend of Feb. 24-25, Rhode Island Catholics will be asked to support the Priests' Retirement Fund. This fund provides for the basic needs for our senior priests, including for Father Nicholas J. Iacovacci, who, although retired from active administration, is still actively working priestly ministry.
Although Father Nicholas J. Iacovacci retired as pastor of St. Ann Parish in Providence in 1997, he did not retire from his dedication to serving the Catholics of Rhode Island. Like so many other senior priests, Father Iacovacci has remained extremly active throughout the community during the last 10 years.
Prior to his retirement, the Providence native served the Diocese of Providence for 46 years. After graduating from St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, Md., Father Iacovacci returned to Rhode Island where he was ordained in 1951 by Bishop Russell J. McVinney.
Father Iacovacci served the next 17 years as an assistant pastor of St. Ann Parish in Providence. He left St. Ann's for a period of eight years to serve as assistant pastor of Our Lady of Grace Parish in Johnston and then as pastor of St. William Parish in Warwick. He returned to St. Ann's in 1976 where he served for 21 years as pastor.
While serving as a pastor, Father Iacovacci was an active member in the North End Community Development organization, a founding member of the Northern Rhode Island Family Counseling Center, he was active in raising money for the Northern Rhode Island Heart Association and served as the president of the Priest Senate.
Since retiring 10 years ago, Father Iacovacci has spent much of his time living at and serving St. Peter Parish in Warwick, assisting long-time friend and pastor, Father Roger C. Gagne. Although he is quite busy at St. Peter's, Father Iacovacci also ministers to those at Harbor Side Nursing Home in Pawtucket and at Rhode Island Hospital, and he celebrates a weekly Mass at the Adult Correctional Institutions in Cranston.
"I am just one of many priests who have retired and are still doing a great deal of ministry because we have been blessed with good health," Father Iacovacci said
(This article originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)
