PROVIDENCE — At the 1906 dedication of Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Providence Bishop Matthew Harkins refused to celebrate Mass because of tensions with the church's first pastor, Father Antonio M. Serpa.
But 125 years later, Bishop Thomas J. Tobin said he was all too happy to celebrate the anniversary Mass for Rhode Island's first Portuguese parish, which remains vibrant in its ethnic identity and faith life.
"Today is a perfect day to reminisce about all those who have been part of the parish community through the years... The parish continues to do wonderful things for our church and for our community," Bishop Tobin said during the Oct. 9 anniversary Mass, which he concelebrated with Father Joseph A. Escobar, the current pastor, and a group of more than 20 priests invited to take part in the commemoration.
"You have a good mixture of first, second and third-generation Portuguese-Americans in this church," said Father Jack Oliveira, the pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in New Bedford, Mass., the first Portuguese parish in North America which shares a special link with Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
In 1877, Father Antonio Freitas, then-pastor of St. John the Baptist, which was founded six years earlier to minister to Portuguese immigrants who arrived in New Bedford aboard whaling vessels, traveled to Providence on most Sundays to celebrate Mass for the large Portuguese community that had grown there, according to an official history of Our Lady of the Rosary Church.
Recognizing the new Portuguese community's need for its own parish, then-Providence Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken purchased an old Protestant church on Wickenden Street in the city's Fox Point neighborhood. After spending several years under the care of St. Joseph's parish on Hope Street, the Diocese of Providence formally established Our Lady of the Rosary Church on Feb. 18, 1886. Father Serpa, the former assistant pastor of St. John the Baptist Church in New Bedford, was named the new parish's first pastor.
A disagreement about constructing and developing the new parish - Father Serpa had ambitious plans while Bishop Harkins favored a cautious approach - resulted in Bishop Henrique R. Silva traveling from Portugal to preside at the 1906 dedication of the current church building. Dignitaries and representatives of the Portuguese community traveled from across New England to attend the Mass.
"From the beginning, Our Lady of the Rosary Church was considered one of the largest and most beautiful Portuguese Catholic churches in America," according to the official parish history.
Despite shifting demographics and assimilation of the Portuguese community into American life, Our Lady of the Rosary continues to maintain a unique Portuguese identity, which it expresses in feasts, the parish Holy Ghost Society,Ghost Society, the Holy Rosary Band, and other ministries and social activities.
"It's very important for us to keep up the traditions," said Alda Medeiros, a parish lector. "When we bring our kids here, you feel that rejuvenation, that pride."
Joseph and Natalia Lima were married 25 years ago at Our Lady of the Rosary, where they continue to attend Mass and volunteer in the church ministries.
"You have to keep the traditions alive," said Natalia Lima, who enjoyed the anniversary Mass.
"It was very beautiful. To see the presence of all the priests there was very touching," she said.
In his homily, Bishop Tobin reflected on the parish's patron saint, and urged the large gathering of worshippers to use the occasion to renew their devotion to the Rosary.
"Mary is with you whenever you pray the Rosary," said Bishop Tobin, who described the devotion as a summary of the Gospel and a powerful prayer of intercession.
The anniversary Mass, celebrated in English and Portuguese, also featured a blessing of a new chalice and ciborium. Father Escobar presented the bishop with a commemorative plate, which many parishioners also received at a dinner later that night.
Meanwhile, Bishop Tobin urged the parish community to "keep up the good work that you're doing," and joked that, unlike his predecessor 125 years ago, he was pleased to celebrate the occasion with them.
