PROVIDENCE – Father John Soares, a familiar and popular figure on the Unversity of Rhode Island campus in Kingston for nearly 12 years, has been appointed pastor of St. Thomas Church on Fruit Hill in Providence, announced Bishop Thomas J. Tobin.
Fr. Soares, a Warwick native, has also served during those years as assistant pastor at Christ the King Church, Kingston.
“I’ve been here for 12 years, and it’s about time to make the move,” Fr.
Soares said in a telephone interview last week. “St. Thomas is a wonderful parish, but I go with mixed feelings, because I’m going to miss the people here.”
St. Thomas parish has a family membership of 1,100. It also has a school that serves more than 200 students in grades K-8.
Fr. Soares has worked for several years at URI’s Catholic Center with Carol Maddock, who is retiring in June. Fr. Soares, who leaves for his new assignment July 1, said when his replacement is named he wants to help with the transition “as much as possible.”
A Warwick native, Fr. Soares is the son of Rosemary D. Richardson and the late John F. Soares. He attended Oakland Beach Elementary School, Lockwood Junior High School, and Warwick Veterans Memorial High School. He is a graduate of Rhode Island College and Providence College, and attended seminary at the American College in Louvain, Belgium. Fr. Soares was ordained a priest on June 13, 1992.
Previous assignments as a priest in the Diocese of Providence include associate pastor, St. Francis Xavier, East Providence, from 1992-1996; chaplain, East Providence Knights of Columbus, 1992-1996; and chaplain for Diocesan scouting. He also served on the Council of Priests and the Catholic Committee on Scouting. He is presently director of Campus Ministry for the diocese.
Fr. Soares is the recipient of the Bronze Pelican Award in 1998 for his outstanding service to scouting.
Fr. Soares will be moving to Providence with his mixed-breed dog Dusty Rose, whom he adopted recently from the West Greenwich Animal Rescue.
