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Rev. Hormudas-Z. Sylvestre - Founding Pastor August 17, 1910 With still another wave of French-Canadian immigrants arriving into the Darlington area of Pawtucket, Bishop Matthew Harkins created from the overly-populated Our Lady of Consolation Parish, that of St. Cecilia's, appointing Rev. Hormisdas-Z. Sylvestre as its founding pastor. His main responsibility was to purchase land and buildings for the newly formed parish, which he did, on and along Newport and Central Avenues. At the time of the founding of the parish, it consisted of about 168 families. October 28, 1910 The first Mass of the Parish was celebrated at Halliday's Hall on Central Avenue. Seventy-five years later on the same weekend, Mass was celebrated in the present church to give thanks to God for blessing us throughout these many years. October 14, 1912 The first parish school was opened to educate the children of the parish. 116 students divided into three classrooms commenced, under the direction of the religious Sisters of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts (S.U.S.C.), with Sister Genevieve Marie as the school's first Principal, and Sisters Honorine and Johanna Marie as teachers. 1912 - 1922 The parish grew rapidly, outgrowing its existing chapel and school. The school enrollment tripled to 369 students with eight teaching sisters. Present need and future foresight imposed on St. Cecilia's the need for a new begining. December 16, 1922
Bishop William A. Hickey appointed Rev. Mathias A. Hebert as the parish's second pastor, giving him the task of the reorganization of St. Cecilia's. Calling upon the goodwill and generosity of the parishioners, he began the project of rebuilding, which was to be completely realized in just 37 years. 1920 - 1930's The parish purchased additional lots along Newport and Central Avenues, and with a minimum of expenses, acquired in a short time the magnificent land necessary to build upon. April 15, 1923 At a parish meeting, a decision was reached to begin construction of a new church. From plans drawn up by Woonsocket architect, Walter F. Fountaine, work began on the new structure almost immediately. On May 11, 1924, Bishop Hickey blessed the new church's cornerstone, and by August 30, 1925, the parish met for worship in the newly-completed church basement. September 20, 1925 On the occasion of the parish's 15th anniversary, 1,000 parishioners turned out for the Mass and banquet, which followed in the church hall, to celebrate the parish's success in this new endeavor. That year, too, the school enrollment had grown to 823 students, soon to surpass 1,000. December 9, 1928 The first bell, weighing 5,000 lbs. and specially made in France, was blessed and installed. October 29, 1929 The Great Depression interrupted the construction on the church and all other parish projects. Suspended for seven years, work began anew in April of 1935. December 25, 1935 Celebrating that Christmas three coinciding events: the parish's 25th anniversary, Fr. Hebert's 33rd anniversary of Ordination, and the Feast of Christmas, St. Cecilia's Church was officially opened and blessed for worship. September 21, 1938 With the onslaught of the 1938 hurricane, the roof of the parish school was literally lifted off the edifice and blown across Central Avenue onto the now existing rectory property. It was miraculous that no one was injured. damages to the property amounted to over $100,000. Because of the heavy enrollment in the parish school, the City of Pawtucket offered St. Cecilia's the use of the Central Avenue School and Goff Junior High School, until repairs could be completed. September 8, 1940 After a year of construction, the new school was finally opened. June 9, 1941 Arrival of the Sister Servants of Our Lady, Queen of the Clergy, who replaced the retired housekeeper-cook at the rectory. November 22, 1942 A solemn High Pontifical Mass was celebrated by Bishop Jean-Louis Collignon, O.M.I. He was the first native parishioner to be ordained a priest, and had been recently chosen to become Bishop of Cayes in Haiti. Spring 1946 Under the personal direction of architect Joseph M. Mosher of Providence, and thanks to the services of distinguished artist from New York, there began the last and most considerable job to finish, that of the church interior. Most of the church furnishings were donated by individuals, families, parish and national organizations, and even from the parish children. November 23, 1948 The parish celebrated Fr. Herbert's 50th anniversary of Priestly Ordination. 1954 The church's bell tower was finally finished, becoming the highest point in all of the Darlington area: 134 feet high. December 19, 1954 Bishop Russell J. McVinney blessed two new bells from Holland for the tower. May 11, 1958 Bishop McVinney arrived at the parish again to bless the new convent built on Calder Street to house the Sisters of the Holy Union. By 1958 The number of the parish's families grew to more than 1,100. There existed at the time, many spiritual and social organizations in the parish, which kept it quite active. Among them were the Holy Name Society, the Ladies of Ste-Anne, the Children of Mary, the Children's Choir, Scouting programs and C.Y.O.
October 9-11, 1960 The parish celebrated over this weekend its 50th anniversary. November 30, 1967 Rev. Albert Leveille was appointed the third pastor of St. Cecilia's Parish. Having done much for the parish by encouraging the school in the education of our youth and starting the parish's Senior Citizens organizations. Having served ten years as our Pastor, Father Leveille was eligible to retire from administration and so became the first Pastor in the Parish's history to tetire from his duties as Pastor. He thus became "Pastor Emeritus" of Saint Cecilia Parish. Father Leveille continued to serve faithfully as a parish priest in Woonsocket from the time of his retirement to the time of his death on November 20, 1985. His Funeral Mass was celebrated in Saint Cecilia Church. June 20, 1976 The Ordination to the Diaconate of Rev. Mr. Maurice St. Pierre, the parish's first permanent deacon. Thanks to his initial efforts, the parish's religious education program became a model for that of the entire Diocese. September 1977 Rev. George L. Allard was appointed the fourth pastor of St. Cecilia's parish by Bishop Gelineau. Under Father Allard's leadership and along with his Assistant, Father Raymond Theroux, the parish continued to flourish, boasting countless numbers of organization, societies, groups, and activities. The late 1970's and early 1980's found the parish involved in all sorts of events, sponsored by such groups as the Third Order of Mary; the Social Committee; the Prayer Group; the Folk Music Ministry; Senior Citizens' Club; Women's Club; L'Union St.-Jean-Baptiste; Partents' Support Group and School Board; Scouting Program at all levels for both boys and girls; Alter Servers; Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers; Home Visitors to the Sick; Youth and Adult Choirs; programs of Religious Education and Formation. An able and astute administrator, Father Allard presided over the restoration of the School windows, soliciting pledges from the ever-generous parishioners of Saint Cecilia Parish. Father Allard was transferred to Christ the King Parish in West Warwick in 1990. October 27, 1985 Archbishop George Pearse was the main celebrant of the parish's 75th anniversary Mass, held on this day in the church, and followed by a banquet in the church hall, which thanks to many parishioners, was a huge success. July 1990
Bishop Gelineau appointed Father Roger L. Bacon from his pastorate at Our Lady of Grace Parish in Johnston to serve as the Fifth pastor of Saint Cecilia's. "To serve and not to be Served" was the motto that Father Roger had adopted for himself and his priesthood many years earlier and Saint Cecilia would come to see that he meant every word. His ministry to the Parish, school, young and old, married and single, in every organization and society and program, can be summed up in one word: SERVICE. No service was ever beneath him nor was he a stranger to hard work. Father Roger could be seen with his comrade, Richard Bricusse, painting, raking, shoveling snow, chopping ice, carrying boxes, setting up tables and chairs -- anything and everything that needed to be done -- Father Roger was there to help! The Children of the parish benefited from his sense of humor and his ability to relate so well with them, especially in his homilies at First Communion celebrations, School Masses, and other special events. Bishop Gelineau asked Father Roger to serve as Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Woonsocket in June of 1997. As in all things, Father said "YES , I will serve!" June 27, 1997
On Friday, June 27, 1997, Father Francis C. Santilli became the Sixth Pastor of Saint Cecilia Parish. Born and raised in Cranston, RI, Father Frank was graduated from Saint Matthew Elementary school and Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary High School; after spending two years at Providence College, he was transferred to and was graduated from the Seminary College of Our Lady of Providence in Warwick, RI. Assigned by Bishop Geineau to theological studies in Rome, Father Frank earned a Bachelor's degree in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) and a Master's degree in Pastoral Theology and Counseling from the Pontifical Gregorian University while residing at the Pontifical North American College, the seminary of the Bishops of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States. Father Frank served one year in deacon ministry with Father Joseph J. Lambert (a former Associate here at Saint Cecilia's with Father Hebert) at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Providence and was ordained to the priesthood in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence on Friday, June 27, 1980. After serving as Chaplain at Saint Joseph Hospital in Providence for three months, Father Frank's first parish assignment was in Woonsocket at Saint Charles Parish where he served for four years. In 1984, Father Frank was transferred to Saint Pius X Parish in Westerly. In 1987 he was assigned to serve in the Office of Vocations as its Associate Director, interviewing and encouraging young men for the priesthood. In 1988 Bishop Gelineau appointed Father Frank to serve as the Spiritual Director of Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Providence where he served part-time along with his chaplaincy ministry at Saint Raphael Academy. In 1991, Father Frank came to Saint Cecilia's as Part-time Associate Pastor while continuing as Part-time Chaplain of Saint Raphael Academy. On Friday, June 27, 1997, Father Francis C. Santilli became the Sixth Pastor of Saint Cecilia Parish. Father Frank had a special interest in service to the young. Under his pastorate the CYO and youth programs thrived. He also worked hard with principal, Ms. Simone Kennedy, to strengthen and build St. Cecilia's School into one of the largest and most successful elementary school in the Diocese of Providence. Father Frank was also busy about the temporal affairs of the parish. He led two capital campaigns to raise funds to construct a new elevator for the church and to do many other improvements on the parish property. He also steered the parish through needed repairs to the church bell tower following a lightning strike. July 1, 2004 On July 1, 2004 Father Frank was transferred by Bishop Robert Mulvee and became the pastor of St. Paul's Parish in Cranston, R.I. He was succeeded here at St. Cecilia's by Father Pierre Plante, the seventh pastor.
Father Plante grew up in North Providence, R.I. where he attended St. Lawrence elementary school. He then attended Our Lady of Providence Preparatory Seminary for high school and Our Lady of Providence College Seminary. He did his theological studies at St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Mass. where he earned an M.Th. degree in Pastoral Theology. Father Plante was ordained at St John the Baptist Church in Pawtucket on May 6, 1978 where he had served as a deacon for two years. His first priestly assignment was as assistant pastor at Holy Ghost Parish in Tiverton, R.I. After four years he was asked to become a chaplain at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, with residence at St. Martha Church in East Providence. After six years of hospital ministry he became assistant pastor at St. Mark's Parish in Cranston where he remained for nearly five years until he was named pastor at St. Ambrose Parish in Albion, R.I. During his term in Albion he also served as auditor of the Diocesan Marriage Tribunal and part-time chaplain at Bryant University. In July of 1997 Father Plante was named pastor of St. Benedict Church in Warwick, R.I. where he remained until becoming pastor of St. Cecilia's on July 1, 2004.
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