St. Gregory the Great Church

In September 1961, Bishop Russell J. McVinney announced the creation of a new parish in Warwick, Rhode Island to respond to overcrowding in the two parishes of St. Catherine’s in Warwick and Our Lady of Mercy in East Greenwich. It was a happy inspiration that induced Bishop McVinney to place this new church under the protection of St. Gregory the Great: a Roman magistrate, skilled administrator, diplomat, monk, missionary, inspired preacher, politica and military leader, and the 64th man to serve as Pope (from 590 to 604). Although Pope St. Gregory was one of the few saints honored with the title of “Great,” he preferred to call himself the “servant of the servants of God,” a title retained by all popes who followed him.

At the formal dedication of our church building on September 8, 1963 Reverend Monsignor Daniel P. Reilly, Chancellor of the Diocese, preached the dedicatory sermon at a Mass celebrated by Bishop McVinney. Monsignor Reilly said: “This church rises like a benediction over this spot in Warwick. —This is the ladder of grace on which the angels of God descend to minister to the tired and weary — and a temple of grace where the still small voice of God can be heard in the calm silence of prayer.” He concluded his homily with words that continue to inspire and motivate us today: “You now have your blessed and dedicated church; you have your dedicated pastor; you have at your disposal all the truth and all the grace of the Catholic Church. It is now for you to do with them great things for God, so that with the passing years you can say with truth: We belong to St. Gregory —-the GREAT church!”

In line with this appeal to do great things for God, our parish mission statement reads: “The mission of St. Gregory the Great Church is to respond faithfully to God’s call as a Catholic community through worship, fellowship, service, education, and social justice.” As members of a stewardship parish, we are encouraged to share what we have with others, to respect our neighbors as ourselves, and to assist those who are less fortunate within our community, state and nation, as well as parts of the world affected by poverty, natural disasters, and wars.

This call to Christian stewardship is a way to thank God for His kindness. It also helps us to fulfill our Baptismal promises and becomes the motivating strength behind our actions. In this way we are carrying out the mission entrusted to us by our patron, Pope St. Gregory the Great who offered a simple three-fold plan for life: studying the Word of God, acting upon it by ministering to those in need, and serving as missionaries of the Word.

When our parish was first formed, it consisted of 160 families. By 2011 our population increased to 2,240 families, and an overall total of 6,115 members. Throughout the years, St. Gregory’s parish has been known for its active liturgy and strong sense of community.