St. Mary’s Church in the city’s Knightsville section continues to celebrate its 100^th anniversary year with special events centered on faith and family.

This past Sunday, parishioners gathered outside the church after Palm Sunday mass to watch a special time capsule be buried so that pieces of the church’s past will be preserved for the future.

Bob Pirraglia, a trustee of the church, said that more than 50 people gathered in front of the church to watch the specially sealed capsule buried.  It is not to be opened until 2050 and contains more than 50 items including letters, a message from the pastor, photographs, religious medals and the history of the church.

Sharing St. Mary’s history is important, particularly during this special anniversary year, Pirraglia said.  It is a story of persistence and faith.

He recounted how the Italian immigrants who settled in the Knightsville section more than 100 years ago, repeatedly petitioned the Diocese or Providence to get permission to build a church where they could celebrate their faith in their language and with their customs.   They had been attending St. Ann’s church, but that parish consisted largely of families of Irish descent and most of the church services where in English.

There were limited masses in Italian, so the new Americans began their campaign to build a church they could call their own spiritual home. Most of them came from Itri, Italy and they also wanted their church to be a monument to their devotion to their patron saint, Santa Maria della Civita, he said.

At first their requests went unanswered, Pirraglia said, but after the families threatened to leave the diocese, they received permission in 1925 to build a new church of their own.

They wasted no time.  Families donated land, labor and funding, and St. Mary’s was built next door to St. Ann’s.   The red-brick church with limestone trim was built in Italian Renaissance style and has a large bell tower topped with a gold dome.

The time capsule was buried on the front lawn, and Pirraglia said it is near the spot where the parish plans to build a new monument honoring the Madonna.

He said it was a fitting day to preserve some memories for the future, since the original groundbreaking for the church was also on Palm Sunday.

Other activities honoring the church’s anniversary will be held throughout the remainder of the year, he said, including a special outdoor concert in the summer.  Details will be announced in advance, Pirraglia , said nothing that the church has worked to include the parish and the community in its anniversary celebrations.

“Ours is a story of deep faith,” he said, adding that even the weather cooperated this past weekend for the time capsule ceremony.  

It had been cold and rainy for days before Sunday’s Mass, but when the service ended and parishioners followed St Mary’s Pastor, the Rev. center with shovel), president.  Just then, Pirraglia said, the skies cleared.