In 1922, Reverend Cesare Schettini began leading two masses in the basement of the original St. Ann’s Church in Cranston. By 1925, Bishop William A. Hickey officially formed a separate parish for these Italian-speaking Catholics. With Father Schettini officially in charge of the new parish, Saint Mary’s was placed under the patronage of Santa Maria della Civita.
Father Schettini worked tirelessly to establish the parish and lay the foundation for the St. Mary’s School, convent, and the church itself. For almost 100 years, Saint Mary’s Church stands as a reminder of Father Schettini’s crowning achievement in his career. Today, Father Ledoux oversees Saint Mary’s and the parishioners of all ages. The team at Saint Mary’s Church of Cranston is our new Expert of the Month because they make it their mission to share their vibrant faith and help others in their community.
Office manager Donna DiTraglia feels that their biggest accomplishment is that they strongly believe in the power of community and coming together. She loves knowing that the parish members have a place where they can gather, share their stories, learn, and grow together. At Saint Mary’s, the parish members have a place where they know they belong. The staff finds joy in helping the members with whatever they need when they come through the door.
Saint Mary’s also holds several fundraising events to help make a difference in the lives of people in the community. One of their recent fundraising events was the “Lunch Bag Mission,” where members of the parish donated items, packed lunchboxes, and then donated them to surrounding shelters.
Saint Mary’s Church in Cranston
When asked what they liked about working with us, Donna had no complaints! Donna told us that “from the beginning when I met Paul at the first meeting, I knew SNECS was what we wanted and that everything was going to be very organized.” She continued, “I like everything from creating the ticket and then having the response from a technician. The most important thing is that the team is ready to fix any problems.”
To see a schedule of mass times or to learn more about Saint Mary’s and the sacraments they offer, visit their website www.saintmarycranston.org/. The team at Saint Mary’s invites everyone to join one of their masses and meet the deacon or priests after the service! You can also email office@saintmarycranston.org or call 401-942-1492 and they’ll answer any questions you may have!