Hundreds of St. Paul parishioners, alumni, and friends will celebrate 100 years of Catholic elementary education in Edgewood on Friday, September 15, 2023, at an Anniversary Gala, 6 p.m. to midnight at Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston.  The festive evening will feature dinner, music by Alfredo Travieso of Sound Force Unlimited, silent auction and more. All proceeds to benefit St. Paul School, a Pre-K through 8th grade school at 1789 Broad Street It’s Cranston’s oldest Catholic school.

     The sit-down meal includes a choice of Chicken Piccata, Baked Scrod, Eggplant Parmesan, Portabella Mushroom Stack or Chicken Tenders, along with tossed salad, penne, roasted red bliss potatoes, seasonal vegetables, ice cream, coffee and tea. Tickets are $100 each and can be purchased at www.saintpaulschoolcranston.org. Scroll down and click on “100th Anniversary Gala.”  Any questions regarding tickets should be directed to Jean O’Connor at joc217@hotmail.com. Ticket purchase deadline is Monday, August 28.

     St. Paul School graduated its first class in June 1923, after years of church bazaars and other fundraising by parishioners and its first Pastor, Rev. Michael McCabe, who established the parish in 1907. For several decades, the school was staffed by the religious Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, based in Immaculata, Pennsylvania. Representatives of the order will attend the event, staying at their former convent, now Edgewood Manor, at 232 Norwood Avenue,  courtesy of owner Andrew Lombardi.

   Dozens of other local businesses are supporting this fundraiser by donating auction items, purchasing advertising in a commemorative booklet, or contributing funds.

For more info, please contact Kathleen Duffy, kyduffy@cox.net, 401-781-9484.