Mass attendance at Ashaway parish drops to 71 before merger

The Diocese of Providence merged Our Lady of Victory Parish in Ashaway into St. Joseph Parish in Hope Valley, a move driven by a steady drop in worshipper numbers. Average Sunday Mass attendance at the Ashaway church fell to 71 by July 2026, down from approximately 90 in 2024. This decline in revenue and participation prompted the consolidation of two financial and administrative units into a single entity.

The merger followed a pattern of consolidation across the diocese earlier this year. In May, St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Warren merged into St. Mary of the Bay Parish. Also in May, St. Brendan and St. Martha parishes in East Providence combined to form Saints Brendan and Martha Parish. In each case, the diocese sought to pool resources to maintain operational viability.

Bishop Bruce A. Lewandowski approved the decree after consulting with the diocesan Council of Priests. The request originated from the pastors, trustees, and finance councils of both communities. The bishop stated that the goal is to create a stronger parish capable of sustaining the Church's mission with adequate resources.

Our Lady of Victory, located at 169 Main Street in Ashaway, reported no baptisms or marriages in 2024. That year, it recorded only three First Communions and five confirmations. The parish had approximately 154 registered individuals as of May 2026. In contrast, St. Joseph, at 1105 Main Street in Hope Valley, maintained more stable attendance and sacramental activity. Both churches remain within Hopkinton.

The two parishes have shared a pastor since 2019. They also currently share a bookkeeper, a secretary, and a religious education director. The merger formalizes this shared structure. The Rev. Francesco Francese, pastor of St. Joseph and administrator of Our Lady of Victory, noted that the proposal followed consultation with parish leadership and diocesan representatives. He stated that strengthening the relationship between the two sites benefits the Church's mission.

Pastoral life will continue at both locations. The diocese announced the change at weekend Masses when the decree took effect. Francese described the enlarged parish as encompassing both worship sites. He said pastoral life will continue at both locations according to the parish's means.

Sacramental records for Our Lady of Victory will be maintained at St. Joseph Parish. The diocese continues to review parish strength and long-term planning across the region. The consolidation aims to ensure that remaining parishes have the financial and personnel capacity to operate effectively.