Parish Celebrates 25 Years...Th e 25th Anniversary of our parish was a somewhat somber occasion since so many parishioners were serving in the military or supporting the family that was left behind. As they did throughout the country, the women of the parish went to work or supported the war eff ort in a variety of ways. Th e parish did celebrate with a party on April 16, 1943, at the Sheraton-Biltmore.

In the early 1940s, the overall concern was World War II. Th e war touched most families, and oft en two or three people from one family enlisted. Th oughts of these brave souls who served their country colored celebrations such as Th anksgiving and Christmas.

During the war six members of St. Pius parish gave their lives for their country: Lt. Robert Jergensen, PFC Richard D. Franklin, Lt. Leo F. Skenyon, Lt. Francis J. Hanley, Sgt. Howard M. Baker, and Lt. Francis M. Cusick. Th e plaque shown

above was hung in the church in their memory.

Information on the Honor Roll and some parish stories from World War II are in the � nal history � le.

In June of 1945 Fr. Mulvey had an experience that no pastor would want and had to send off a telegram to his provincial. Read the letter, to the right, that Fr. Mulvey wrote later that day to really capture the drama of the situation. While the damage could have been much worse, there was a need for signifi cant work. One can also assume that the altar servers received more training!

above was hung in the church in their memory.

Patrick James Conaty, O.P1947 - 1953

Aft er eleven years of service, in 1947, it was Fr. Mulvey’s time to leave. Fr. Patrick Conaty, O.P., became the pastor. Th e neighborhood continued to grow aft er the war. Th e construction of many new homes in the area meant that the parish also continued to enlarge.

In 1949, the Rosary Altar Confraternity held their 17th Annual Bridge and Social at

the Sheraton-Biltmore. Mrs. John Carney served as “general chairman.” Th is annual gathering was a very popular parish event, and much work went into the planning.

Pictured above with Fr. Conaty in a Visitor photo from April 1949 are, from left to right, Mrs. Edward Ryan, Mrs. John Carney, and Mrs. Joseph Langhorn.

Th e school principal, who was also the eighth-grade teacher, chose the young ladies who would serve as Candy Vendors for the event. In 1949 those chosen were Alice Hickey Rose, Eleanor Cahill Sherman, Sheila Davis, and Irene Armao Coletta.

As the 1950’s began, post-World War II peace did not last long. Th e Korean War, fought between 1950 and 1954, required thousands of US soldiers, sailors, and pilots to interrupt their lives once again to fi ght in a war half way around the world. Not nearly as many Saint Pius V parishioners fought in the Korean War as World War II, but scores did enlist or get called up and some parish World War II veterans returned to fi ght in the Korean confl ict.

By 1952 the issue of what to do with the original now vacant rectory needed addressing. Repairs would have meant a considerable expense for the parish, and so it was decided to demolish the building. Modern sensibilities fi nd it hard to understand the destruction of such a beautiful building but other thoughts and needs prevailed in the 1950s.

We feel rather confi dent that Fr. James Murray, O.P., enjoyed his stay at St. Pius. Th e parishioners certainly loved him.

Current Saint Pius V parishioner Dick St. Louis remembers landing in Inchon Korea in 1952 as a young army private. “Almost immediately, we were sent to the front lines. Our unit built bridges and crawled on our stomachs to neutralize landmines.” St. Louis spent 14 of his 15 months in Korea on the front lines, oft en thinking about his fi ancé Irene back in Connecticut, and wondering if he ever would enjoy a hot shower and cold fresh glass of milk again. “I thought that bitter cold winters were bad, but the rainy season was just as bad when you had to stand and walk in 14 inches of mud for days at a time. And, of course, the fi ghting was oft en intense. I went from a Private First Class to a Sergeant First Class in the space of six months because of casualties and attrition in our unit.”

Now retired from a career in machine and tool sales, Dick and his wife Irene live in Smithfi eld, and Dick keeps active in Korean War Veteran activities throughout the state. He is father to Wendy MacKenzie and grandfather to JR MacKenzie.

Gunner’s Mate Paul Degli Angeli served in the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1953 aboard the USS Albany during the Korean War era. Paul is the father of parishioner Lisa Brodeur. His wedding photo can be found six pages from here.

Saint Pius’ Boy Scout Troop 53 sets up camp on the parish grounds for Boy Scout Week. Th is area is near the present church’s main entrance. Th is photo is from the 1940s. We know the date range

since the War Memorial Grotto is not yet present across the street at Providence College and the fl ag has just 48 stars.

Note also the stone walls from the original farmland.

May Crownings were quite elaborate in 1945. Note

the veil and train that Sr. Catherine McDermott,

then an 8th grader at St. Pius, wears as she takes

part in this procession.

To the right is Sr. Catherine with

Sr. Blasius who was then Principal of the school.

Father Jordan Baeszler, O.P., succeeded Fr. Conaty as pastor in 1953 but his tenure was short-lived due to illness. He is shown here at the Rosary Altar Confraternity’s Annual Bridge and Social in 1954. Fr. Baeszler served until his death in 1955.

Planning for a New Church Begins...

In January of 1956, Fr. Kenneth C. Sullivan, O.P., was named the pastor. Soon after he arrived, Fr. Sullivan became acutely aware of his parishioners’ need and desire for a new church. Planning began almost immediately.

These photos show Jackie Kenny’s First Communion of 1958, as well as the First Communion procession of 1959.

The photos of the Rosary Processions are also from those two years. Many long-time parishioners remember these processions as important and exciting events.

Frederick Jordan Baeszler, O.P1953 - 1955

Kenneth Cyprian Sullivan, O.P1956 - 1965

In 1957, Jackie Kenny (right) and her first grade classmate, dressed for a school play.

Sr. Mary Ellenita, O.P. Principal

In 1957 Bishop McVinney changed the parish boundaries

due to the closure of Immaculate Conception Church. Father

Sullivan was hopeful that the old church would fill the needs of

these additional people.

8th Grade Candy Vendors at the annual Spring Dinner Dance: Here are some of the girls in 1957: Kathleen Edwards, Polly McGarry, Karen Larson, Rosalie Valente, Fr. James Murray, Fr. Sullivan, Cynthia Fortin, Beverly Beraducci, Patsy Reynolds, Kathleen Darby

Sr. Trinitas’ classroom in 1961

Fundraising for the church building campaign was a big part of parish life, especially from 1959 through 1961, as the plans for our new church became a reality. We owe a debt of gratitude to all who answered Father Sullivan’s call to help. Many of them are pictured on these next few pages.

Johnson’s Hummocks Restaurant was the scene of a celebration of the Building Fund efforts. Parishioners enjoyed their time together as they looked forward to the construction of their new, beautiful church.

Mary and Francis Garvey - 10/10/1956

Virginia and Joseph Morrissey - 10/8/1955

Evelyn and Paul Degli Angeli - 6/13/1959

Irene and Ulisse Coletta - 4/8/1961(arriving with her father)

A careful look at these wedding photos gives a great view of the current gym, entrance foyer and outside of our school.

A DREAM REALIZED...

St. Pius Church was designed by well-known Rhode Island architect and St. Pius parishioner Oresto DiSaia. A few of his designs include St. Rocco Church in Johnston, the Columbus Th eater on Broadway,

and Hanger No. 1 at T. F. Green Airport. Mr. DiSaia also designed St. Augustine’s Church in the early 1960s. Mr. DiSaia’s drawings above of the interior and exterior of the planned church show a very innovative design for the late 1950s. A capital campaign newsletter for the project used the interior illustration.

Sports have always had a prominent place in the lives of the youth of the parish. Here we see a photo from this 1959 article of Fr. Sullivan congratulating three young men. Pictured are Henry Gambardella, Norman Brothers, and James McGettrick. In 1960 the boys’ grammar team placed second in the City Finals. At this point, Armand Batastini had been coaching various basketball teams for almost ten years.

1960s. Mr. DiSaia’s drawings above of the interior and exterior of the planned

On May 18, 1960, Fr. Sullivan led a groundbreaking ceremony. Members of the parish, along with family and friends, stood in double rows for the occasion. Th e ceremony was completed rather quickly because of threatening skies. Th e rain held off until the ground was broken and, within minutes of the site being cleared of people, a bulldozer began work.

The landscape on Eaton Street changed considerably in the next few years as the activity of building and the related equipment descended on this quiet corner of the city. The excitement no doubt mounted with every new stage of construction.

Th e New St. Pius V ChurchBY THE NUMBERS

Th e ground plan for the main building measures 95 feet by 128 feet.

Th e belfry is 65 feet high and is surmounted with a solid stone cross

which is 12 feet high.

Th e main ceiling is 30 feet high.

Th e rear aisle ceiling is 22 feet high.

Th e fl oor in the main church slopes downward 1 foot towards

the sanctuary.

Th e church seats 1,000 people.

No seat is more than 55 feet from the sanctuary rail.

Th e Stations of the Cross are approximately 3/4 lifesize.

Th e reredos or altar backdrop is 11 feet high.

Th e crucifi x is 15 feet high and the fi gure of Christ is lifesize.

Th e altar is 11 feet wide.

Here is a photo of the First Rosary and Altar Society Bridge in the new Church Hall. Th e capacity is 1,000 and they may be close!

Our much-admired church was dedicated on September 9, 1962.

Th e Most Reverend Russell J. McVinney, Bishop of Providence, celebrated the dedication.

Th e accompanying articles recount the initial impressions and the joy of the parish.

Details about the church building and the original architect’s notes can be found on page 100 and following.

With grateful hearts, the parishioners of St. Pius gathered together in community and communion to joyfully celebrate this momentous occasion. Their long-awaited new church building was a reality.

This photo, taken from the nave, shows the new church’s baptistry and the first baptism that took place there, that of current parishioner Trish Carney Bartel.

Now that this beautiful church was a reality, Fr. Sullivan convinced Jon Carew, a former Rhode Island church musician to return to the state and take over the musical program at St. Pius. One of the first projects was the formation of a boys’ choir. The newspaper article from November 1963 on the opposite page shows the growth and professionalism of this choir.

In 1965 Fr. John A. McKeon, O.P., became the pastor and would lead the parish through its 50th Anniversary Celebrations three years later. Fr. McKeon worked with parishioners Dr. George Coleman, Marita McGowan, and others to found the Chad Brown Health Center. This center, shown to the right and founded in 1968, drew from neighborhood health care professionals to provide quality medical care to the residents of

the Chad Brown Neighborhood. It continues to operate today.

John Aedan McKeon, O.P1965 - 1971

June 19, 1960, was the occasion of the First Mass of Fr. Charles Duffy, O.P. These photos give a close up look at the sanctuary of the church school building. Fr. Duffy began teaching at Providence College in 1964 in the Political Science Department and taught there for most of his life. He died in 2006.

The photos below are from the original Church-School building.Our parish history continues! We hope you are enjoying these excerpts

from our Centennial Book.