TIMELINE (to present)
1780-81
Mass celebrated for
the first time in Newport, Rhode Island.
1783
Restrictive franchise
against Catholics revoked by act of the assembly.
1789
December 8:First
Mass celebrated in Providence.
1812
In November, the
Sacrament of Confirmation was administered in Bristol by Bishop
Cheverus of Boston, when Marie Therese Maurice received this
Sacrament.
1813
Providence became
a station to be visited at regular intervals and Mass was celebrated
in an old wooden schoolhouse on Sheldon Street, near Benefit.
The building was blown down in the great gale of 1815.
1837
Parish of SS. Peter
and Paul, Providence was established.
1844
March 17, Rt. Rev.
William Tyler, D.D., consecrated first Bishop of Hartford with
residence at SS. Peter and Paul Church in Providence, Rhode Island.
1847
April 11: Consecration
of the "old" SS. Peter and Paul church, Providence
as a Cathedral following completion of additional wings.
1849
June 18: Bishop Tyler
dies.
1850
November 10: Rt Rev.
Bernard O'Reilly consecrated second Bishop of Hartford with residence
in Providence, Rhode Island.
1851
Bishop O'Reilly brings
the Sisters of Mercy into the diocese to staff the Cathedral
School.
1856
January: Bishop O'Reilly
perished at sea while returning to Providence from Europe.
1858
March 14: Rt. Rev.
Francis P. McFarland consecrated third Bishop of Hartford with
residence in Providence, Rhode Island.
1872
February 16: Providence
established as a diocese comprising the state of Rhode Island
and the Massachusetts counties of Bristol, Barnstable, Dukes
and Nantucket. Rt. Rev. Thomas F. Hendricken, D.D. was consecrated
first Bishop of Providence.
1878
Cornerstone laid
for present Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.
1886
June 11: Bishop Hendricken
dies. His Funeral Mass is the first Mass celebrated in the unfinished
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.
1887
Rt. Rev. Matthew
Harkins, D.D., consecrated as the second Bishop of Providence.
1889
Consecration of present
Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul.
1904
Present boundaries
of Diocese set when Diocese of Fall River was created from Massachusetts
counties and towns formerly located in the Diocese of Providence.
1915
April 28: Bishop
Thomas F. Doran, D.D., named Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop Matthew
Harkins, D.D. Died January 3, 1916.
1917
October 23: Bishop
Dennis M. Lowney, D.D., named Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop Matthew
Harkins, D.D. Died August 13, 1918.
1921
May 23: Bishop Harkins
dies. Bishop William A. Hickey, D.D., becomes the third Bishop
of Providence.
1933
October 4: Bishop
Hickey dies
1934
Bishop Francis P.
Keough, D.D., consecrated as the fourth Bishop of Providence.
1947
Bishop Francis P.
Keough, D.D., elevated to archbishop of the Archdiocese of Baltimore.
1948
July 14: Bishop Russell
J. McVinney, D.D., consecrated the fifth Bishop of Providence.
1953
Providence included
in establishment of the Hartford Province along with the Archdiocese
of Hartford and the Dioceses of Norwich and Bridgeport.
1960
May 11: Bishop Thomas
F. Maloney, D.D., named Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop Russell J.
McVinney, D.D.
1962
September 10: Bishop
Thomas F. Maloney dies.
1964
January 30: Bishop
Bernard M. Kelly, D.D., J.C.D., consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop
to Bishop Russell J. McVinney, D.D. Resigned: June 12, 1971.
1971
August 10: Bishop
Russell J. McVinney dies.
1972
January 26: Bishop
Louis E. Gelineau, D.D., consecrated the sixth Bishop of Providence.
1974
October 7: Bishop
Kenneth A. Angell, D.D., consecrated as Auxiliary Bishop to Bishop
Louis E. Gelineau, D.D.
1992
October 6: Auxiliary
Bishop Kenneth A. Angell, D.D., named Bishop of Burlington.
1995
February 7: Bishop
Robert E. Mulvee, D.D., J.C.D., named Coadjutor Bishop of Providence.
1997
Diocese celebrates
125th anniversary; Bishop Louis E. Gelineau celebrates 25th year
of episcopal ordination.
1998
June 11: Bishop Robert
E. Mulvee, D.D., J.C.D., named Bishop of Providence.
1999
February 22: Bishop
Robert J. McManus named Auxiliary Bishop of Providence.
2002
April 14: Bishop
Robert E. Mulvee, D.D., J.C.D., 25th anniversary of Episcopal
Ordination.
2004
May 14: Bishop Robert
J. McManus, named Bishop of Worcester.
2005
April 19: Bishop
Salvatore R. Matano was ordained the coadjutor bishop for the
Diocese of Burlington (VT).
May 31: Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, named eighth Bishop of Providence.
The Diocese of Providence
The Diocese of Providence
A history: 1872-1997
A history: 1872-1997
The Beginnings of Catholicism in Rhode Island
The Growth of Catholicism in Rhode Island: Bishop William Tyler
Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken and the growth of the diocese
Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken and the French Canadians
Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken and the immigrant church
Bishop Thomas F. Hendricken and the Cathedral
Bishop Matthew Harkins and the growth of the diocese
Bishop Matthew Harkins and the immigrant church
Bishop Matthew Harkins and the immigrant church (part 2)
Bishop Harkins and growth of Catholic social & charitable institutions
Bishop Matthew Harkins and Catholic education
Bishop William A. Hickey and Catholic education
Bishop William A. Hickey, Catholic charitable institutions and CCFA
Bishop William A. Hickey and The Sentinellists
Bishop Francis P. Keough: Seminary and schools
Bishop Francis P. Keough and the social ministry
Bishop Keough, the Legion of Decency & World War II
Bishop Russell J. McVinney and the growth of the diocese
Bishop Russell J. McVinney and social causes
Bishop Russell J. McVinney, Vatican II and a changing America
Bishop Louis E. Gelineau and the reorganization of the diocese
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