PROVIDENCE — For the past 52 years, the Franciscan Friars have enjoyed a strong presence in the city’s downtown, where they have helped meet the spiritual and temporal needs of faith-filled people from all walks of life.
St. Francis Chapel and City Ministry Center opened in 1956 on Page Street, in a building that is now part of Johnson and Wales University. In 1994, the ministry center moved to 58 Weybosset St., in the heart of the financial district.
In July, 2007 a new chapel opened at 275 Westminster St., on the first floor of an office building. Because of a landlord agreement, there is no signage indicating the chapel’s newest location. The move was occasioned when the Weybosset Street site was purchased and is being converted into a hotel, slated to open in December.
The chapel continues to be “an oasis in the middle of the city,” said Franciscan Father Frank Sevola, pastor of St. Mary Church, Providence, and guardian of St. Francis Chapel and City Ministry Center. “We’re glad to be here.”
The priest added that while the friars conduct other ministries such as a sandwich program, food pantry and wellness center, most Rhode Islanders still associate the religious congregation with the chapel and ministry center. The friars also serve at St. Mary Church on Broadway, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and at the Poverello Center, all in Providence. The Poverello Center operates a food pantry and wellness program.
“This is an important part of what we do,” Father Sevola emphasized, noting that the downtown chapel fills up early in the morning with worshippers who attend morning Mass before going to work. “People can come here for quiet prayer. They are welcome at any time.”
The chapel is graced with four stained glass windows from their previous site on Weybosset Street. (Its other windows were installed in new worship spaces in New York and in an orphanage in Jamaica, West Indies.) Several statues, a large cross and the altar from the former chapel also adorn the new one.
Father Sevola said that while numerous loyal worshippers continue to attend services in the new chapel, others still try to locate the friars at the former site, and when they can’t find them, think that the Franciscans no longer minister in the downtown area.
In addition to their downtown chapel ministry, the friars also conduct the Bread and Blessings Sandwich Program, in cooperation with Beneficent Congregational Church on Weybosset Street, and distribute sandwiches, coffee and pastry every Sunday, Tuesday and Friday mornings at 6 a.m. Franciscan Father Brice Leavins coordinates the Bread and Blessings program.
“We can serve up to 300 people each time we’re there,” said Father Sevola, adding that the sandwich program is the one of few outreach ministries that feed those less fortunate on Sundays. Some people, struggling to make ends meet, stop by on weekdays for a bagged lunch before heading to work.
Phyllis Cicchetti, the city ministry center’s hospitality coordinator, said a large number of office workers and other professionals attend daily Mass before going to work, as do many elderly worshippers.
“I think that this is a nice worship space,” she said. “It’s warm and friendly. It just makes me feel good that I can sit and be with the Lord. No matter what craziness is happening outside, you come inside here and there is a peacefulness.”
Donna Miele, a parishioner of St. Mary Church, Cranston, works downtown and spends her morning break praying at the chapel.
“It just gives me peace and strength when I come here every day to visit and pray,” she said.
“ It’s a beautiful place to come.”
St. Francis Chapel at a glance
Staffed by six friars, the chapel opens mornings, Monday-Friday, at 6:30 a.m., and closes at 5 p.m. The sacrament of penance is offered from 7:20-7:50 a.m. and 11 a.m.-noon. Mass is celebrated at 7 and 8 a.m., and 12:10 p.m. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is offered from 11 a.m.-noon, and the hospitality desk, which offers Mass cards, spiritual bouquets and other items, is open from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The chapel follows a regular schedule on holy days and is closed on state and federal holidays and weekends.
St. Francis Chapel and City Ministry Center, in cooperation with the Poverello Center, will hold free cholesterol, diabetes and blood pressure screenings on the first Monday of the month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., in the chapel office. For more information, call 331-6510.
