SMITHFIELD — Upon gaining legal entry into the United States via Ellis Island in 1908, a Sicilian émigré headed east, first to Bristol, Rhode Island, before eventually purchasing property on Old County Road in Smithfield. Conveniently for this devout Catholic, a small church had been established more than three decades earlier on nearby Homestead Avenue by other local immigrant communities, including those of largely French Canadian and Irish origin. Here, he could happily settle and plant new family roots—roots that would find fertile ground.
On September 28, 2025, the day prior to the feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, that man’s great-grandson, David D’Angelo, sits with his wife, Jan, in the relatively new St. Michael’s Church on Farnum Pike, built just up the road from the original and dedicated in December 1967 to accommodate a flourishing congregation. The church property abuts the D’Angelo family’s land, as close to home in proximity and in spirit as any practicing parishioner could desire. “My family has always been part of this. It is home,” David emphasizes.
He’s been worshiping at St. Michael’s for 75 years, a span that represents half the life of the parish itself. He fondly recalls the church’s transition from Homestead Avenue to Farnum Pike, its centennial in 1975, and myriad personal memories. “And it’s peaceful for me,” he continues, “because I remember my aunt sitting at the organ—she was the organist from the 1950s on—my mother and father coming and sitting with us and the rest of the family, aunts and uncles.”
This particular Sunday, David and Jan, herself a 25-year St. Michael’s communicant, have arrived customarily early to ensure themselves a seat in a church that frequently fills up, even on days when it isn’t commemorating its 150th anniversary. The 10th Bishop of Providence, Most Rev. Bruce A. Lewandowski, C.Ss.R., will be here as well, and the D’Angelos are eager to hear him preach. “He’s so personable,” remarks Jan. Yet, it’s St. Michael’s current pastor who keeps the D’Angelos coming back week after week.
Since 1991, Rev. Richard A. Valentine has been enriching the spiritual lives of people like David and Jan with what they describe as his uncommon humility and relatability. “He gives you peace,” adds Jan. “His homilies are about what’s happening today. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but today. It’s what we need at the end of a busy week. Peace.”
Ann Andrews agrees. As a child, she moved with her family from Providence to the Georgiaville area of Smithfield that St. Michael’s serves. Ann made most of her sacraments inside the original building during the 1960s, then got married in the current church in 1976. Today, she remains active as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, helping out at funerals, and doing her part for her church wherever needed.
“We’re all struggling to be better people, and Father Valentine includes himself in that. He puts himself in the boat with us,” Ann explains. “The parishioners love him. He’s very humble and always tells us that we’re the church. The people. And if it wasn’t for us, things wouldn’t happen in the church. It’s not the building, but the people inside.”
Those people now pack every pew. Younger families fill the rear cry room. The choir finishes warming up. Pastoral assistant Bill Bowden can finally take his seat after diligently seeing to every last detail of this auspicious occasion. All hear Bishop Lewandowski distill the day’s Gospel reading, about a rich man who later regrets ignoring the poor one at his doorstep.
“It could be said,” the bishop observes, “that the poor need us to make it through everyday life, but we need the poor to make it to eternal life. What does this have to do with our parish anniversary of 150 years? A lot, because this is where connections are made. Life-changing, life-altering, life-saving connections that connect us to God and each other. It’s been going on for 150 years. It’s here that soul-soothing, grace-giving, and church-making connections happen.
“How many people have met their future spouse in church? How many coming here in disgrace and shame have received forgiveness and compassion. How many, feeling far from God, have come to this place and, seeing these gorgeous windows, have felt closeness to the Lord? How many have lost a loved one and come to church to find hope in resurrection and the will to continue? When the world wants to divide us, here … we’re all the same, in need of God’s compassion, God’s mercy, and God’s love.”
Were they alive today, many of St. Michael’s first parishioners could give us first-hand accounts of life during the Civil War era. They might even recognize the fractious rhetoric that characterizes so much of our modern political culture. Their faith helped guide them into a new and more promising century, not unlike where the church’s current congregation now finds itself.
“Absolutely,” Ann concurs. “Our church continues to grow. If you come to Mass, you’ll see a lot of young families. The next generation is here. They’re bringing their children and they’re very involved.”
“Without a doubt. Yes, a lot of optimism,” says David, who jokes about the police officer directing traffic outside, “It says that the parking lot is too small!”
The people of St. Michael’s have dealt with such good problems before, building bigger and better. They just might do so again. A task, perhaps, for the next 150 years.
