KINGSTON — Seventy-five years ago, a small parish was built out of necessity in the shadow of the University of Rhode Island campus. Today, it’s one of the most vibrant Catholic communities in the diocese in more ways than one.
That vibrancy was especially evident on Sunday, when droves of parishioners flooded Christ the King Church on Old North Road—and its parking lot—to hear from their new bishop, the Most Rev. Bruce Lewandowski, C.Ss.R, who was invited to celebrate the parish’s 75th anniversary Mass.
Since becoming Bishop of Providence in May, Lewandowski has visited many parishes to get a sense of the people he’s shepherding.
The choir performed a five-minute rendition of “John 1” following Holy Communion. After Mass, Bishop Lewandowski was still reeling from the beauty of the voices that he’d heard—and just how many people were actually singing along.
“Brothers and sisters, you’re celebrating here 75 years of collisions, 75 years of accidents,” Bishop Lewandowski said during the homily. “Here, collisions happen. Collisions with grace.”
As the story goes, this church was built in 1950 simply because St. Francis of Assisi in Wakefield was running out of space. Though it all started from humble beginnings, the culture that was built here began to flourish in a way that no one could have imagined. In fact, those who worship here show up regularly from more than 20 zip codes, some even coming from out of state.
Father Jared Costanza, who’s been pastor here for thirteen years, says that’s just how God’s providence works.
“Seventy-five years ago, friends, this was just an empty field. Look what God has raised up,” Father Costanza said to the congregation. “He has transformed this humble field into a place where heaven touches earth...making God’s love visible in a broken world.”
In the parish bulletin, Father Costanza admitted that he wasn’t convinced that the Christ the King community was right for him at the time, but that soon all changed.
“The bishop was patient,” he wrote, referring to Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Tobin. “But every good leader can tolerate only so much indecision. He convinced me to accept his appointment as pastor and my life was changed in a flash.”
“As we look back with gratitude and forward with hope, I simply want to say thank you—not only for letting me be myself, but for being yourselves. Thank you for building something honest, joyful, compassionate, and real.
“When history remembers us, let it be said that we never grew tired of doing good, that we never lost the joy of the Gospel, and that the most beautiful thing we offered the world was the gift of hearts open to God and hands open to our neighbors.”
Many of those parishioners have put their roots down here for many decades, including Tom Kendzia, who is celebrating 40 years as parish director of music.
“Before arriving in Kingston in 1986, I spent ten years serving in parishes across Connecticut, Arizona, and beyond,” Kendzia wrote in the bulletin. “Fresh out of college with a music degree and plenty of enthusiasm, I quickly learned that leading church music was about far more than performance. It was about prayer, community, and helping people lift their hearts to God.
“For forty years, I have witnessed how Christ the King Parish brings that love to life through song, service, and faith. Thank you for allowing me to share in this music of grace.”
The parish had even more to celebrate besides an anniversary. A newly ordained deacon from the parish read the gospel during the Mass as well. Just last Wednesday, Deacon Vincent “Jay” Zizza defended his thesis and was awarded an M.A. in Theology from St. John’s Seminary in Boston. He’s scheduled to be ordained a priest in June, and he received a hefty round of applause from hundreds of onlookers.
Other priests who served at the parish were also in attendance on Sunday, including Father Joseph Creedon, who spent 31 years building up the parish before Father Costanza took the helm.
“He made my job very easy coming in and very difficult coming in at the same time,” Father Costanza joked. “But we’re forever indebted to him for building this parish into what we see here today in this building.”
Father Costanza also gave a shoutout to Father Ryan Simas, the current chaplain of the URI Catholic Center next door to the church. The two collaborate often, helping to connect college students to the rest of the diocese.
“All of the students have jumped in,” Father Costanza said. “They have collided with Jesus and their relationship with God right here in this church.”
To additionally commemorate the 75th anniversary, the parish raised and donated $40,000 to the Kitchen Project at St. Martin de Porres Center.
“Your support is a true blessing to the mission of serving the elderly and vulnerable in the Providence community,” Lewandowski wrote in a thank-you letter. “St. Martin de Porres Center is a vital part of that outreach, and your contribution helps ensure that we can continue to provide nutritious meals and a welcome space for fellowship and care.”
To learn more about Christ the King Church and their many missions and initiatives, head to www.ctkri.org.
