PROVIDENCE – Two local Catholic churches were recently honored by the Providence Preservation Society for having a positive impact on the architectural heritage of Providence through preservation projects and new design.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church, located at 791 Potters Avenue in the city’s West End, received the 2007 Preservation Award for Institutional Restoration, Community Involvement and Stewardship, while Blessed Sacrament Church, located at 179 Academy Avenue, was honored with the 2007 Preservation Award for Institutional Restoration and Stewardship.
The awards were presented January 17 during the PPS’s 50th annual meeting, held at the historic Columbus Theater on Broadway. Accepting the award for Assumption Parish were Father Daniel Trainor, recently retired as pastor of the parish, and Mark Petri of the Diocesan Building Commission.
Steve Lerner, representing the architectural firm Lerner, Ladds and Bartels, accepted the award for Blessed Sacrament Parish.
“It is hard not to be astounded when you walk into Assumption Church on Potters Avenue. Beautiful murals cover the walls, gleaming in the light that pours though the amazing stained glass windows,” stated the citation read at the awards ceremony. “When awed by this overwhelming beauty, it is hard to believe that only a few years ago, the interior was in ruins. Water damage had destroyed much of the painting in the sanctuary and nave, and persistent leaks presented a threat to the structure and lighting.
“Rev. (Daniel) Trainor and Rev. (Gildardo) Suarez inspired their parishioners to give what they could – and they did, even though the parish is one of the poorest in Providence The painting was executed by Robert Bove and his crew at Warwick Painting, and the interior lighting was completely rewired, cleaned and re-lamped by Tom Henderson of Henderson Electric. The hard work of every parishioner lives in the surfaces of the incredible building. Inspired by their love for this amazing place, they gave what they had so that others would be inspired as well. And we are – not only by the beauty of the church building, but by the generosity and kindness of its community.”
“I am very happy that we got this award,” said Father Trainor. “I see the renovations of the church linking the refugees of old who built the church, and the refugees who must now sustain it, and all those in between.”
The priest noted that a capital campaign to pay for the extensive repairs was very successful and raised $450,000 for the renovations.
‘I’m very proud of the parishioners’ dedication and their willingness to be wonderful Christians and conscience of the need to support the buildings that are part of their lives,” Father Trainor added, noting that many of Assumption’s parishioners are recent immigrants who struggle to pay their bills and buy food yet they support the parish.
“They are poor people,” he observed.
He noted that several former parishioners who have moved away also generously supported the capital campaign.
The award citation presented to Blessed Sacrament Church stated, “Designed to be an ‘ideal’ Catholic Church by Heins and LeFarge, the Church of the Blessed Sacrament had fallen victim to neglect and harsh weather. The bell tower had suffered significant structural damage while external masonry had been weathered over the years. In addition, the interior of the church was in need of new lighting and fire alarm systems. Lerner, Ladds and Bartels executed an interior and exterior renovation of the structure with help from Graham Builders, Frank Shatz and Co., and E.F. O’Donnell and Sons.
“The restoration of the bell tower and other exterior surfaces saved Blessed Sacrament from severe structural damage, while a new fire-prevention system brought the building up to current fire codes. However, it is the sensitive restoration of the interior that truly highlights the amazing historic fabric of the space. The new lighting is spectacular without being ostentatious and invasive – rather than drawing attention to itself, the fiber optic lighting highlights the inherent beauty of the structure, architectural details and numerous murals, making it seem to glow from within. Its grandeur restored, Blessed Sacrament now stands as one of the visually stunning spaces in Providence.”
“The church is more beautiful, it’s brighter,” said Father Angelo Carusi, who became pastor of the historic church seven months ago. “You can appreciate the architecture and the art work.”
Father Carusi said one of the highlights of the renovation was that several murals, parts of which had been covered with white paint, were delicately restored to their original beauty.
“The whole church has been cleaned,” he acknowledged. Father Carusi said that the year-long restoration project was implemented about four years ago.
“The parishioners should be commended for raising the money for restoring the church,” he concluded.
