JOHNSTON—The Our Lady of Providence seminary high school class of 1970 celebrated its 55th class reunion on June 8. Members of that class, along with former faculty, met at Taste of Italy restaurant in Johnston to commemorate the anniversary of their graduation.
“They were the four best years of our life. I think everyone here would say that,” said Jack Warren, one member of the OLP class of 1970.
“We had a first-rate education…I can’t think of anything that I would want to do differently than the way it played out for us in the four years. We’re so proud to be Our Lady of Providence graduates,” Warren continued, noting that the biggest lesson he learned from his time at OLP is to “keep God first, and make good decisions, and know the difference between right and wrong,” claiming that “civil and moral values” were at the core of OLP’s curriculum.
Warren, who is partly of Polish descent, went on to obtain dual American-Polish citizenship. He spends part of his time in Poland teaching English. Though Warren never pursued a vocation in the priesthood, he is still deeply involved in the Church, attending Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Cieplice, in southwestern Poland.
“It’s so nice to see so many people, a lot of people still actively involved in the Church,” said Don Labonte, another OLP alum and a parishioner of Christ the King Parish in West Warwick. Labonte noted that one of the biggest lessons that he learned during his time at OLP was “how important faith is and belief in Jesus and His Mission in life and being able to continue His work with the help of the Holy Spirit. That’s one of the things that you learn when you’re in seminary, and not just learn, but you appreciate the vital mission that we have as Roman Catholics.”
Our Lady of Providence seminary was established in 1938, and officially opened its doors in 1941, under the guidance and by decree of Bishop Francis P. Keough, the fourth bishop of Providence.
From the first moments of its operation, it had both a high school as well as a collegiate program. While the high school program came to an end with the graduation of its last class in 1989, the seminary high school served many of the youth of the Diocese of Providence for nearly 50 years, and in so doing played an integral role in the intellectual and spiritual development of its students.
Many present noted that their time at OLP was not only influential in their spiritual and intellectual formation, but also helped to forge bonds that would last for the rest of their life.
Such sentiments were expressed particularly poignantly by Steve Chianesi, the co-chair of the 55 Year Reunion Committee.
Chianesi entered into OLP seminary high school in the ninth grade with the intention of becoming a priest. After graduating high school, he studied philosophy for two years at the seminary college associated with OLP before attending Rhode Island College, where he received his degree in psychology and sociology.
It was during this time that he discerned his call to pursue a career in criminal justice, spending the next 30 years working various jobs at the Rhode Island court and prison system.
Chianesi remained active in his faith and is currently an organist at St. Anthony’s parish in Providence. He noted that his time at OLP underscored the Church’s communal nature, and the importance of friendship.
“Share, communicate with people, maintain friends over the years, and keep in touch with people,” Chianesi said when describing what he learned from his time at OLP.
Warren said that one of the defining qualities of his class was “the comradery of the guys that we went to school with.”
“There’s been a good spirit in the class. What’s amazed me over the years…[is that] it’s great to see so many still interested in the Church,” said Father Eugene McKenna, a senior priest of the Diocese of Providence who worked as an English and theology teacher at OLP for seven years.
“They’re a great group of guys,” said Ron L’Herault, a former biology teacher at OLP.
