NEW SHOREHAM — There is an eight mile-long island just a short ferry ride away that is home to one of the most unique parishes in the Diocese of Providence, if not the continental United States.
St. Andrew Church, located one block from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, is a Block Island treasure ministering to a small community in the winter that swells like a gigantic ocean wave in the summer.
St. Andrew is the only Catholic Church on the island. In the winter months, 100 families attend Mass in the parish center, located on Spring Street.
From Easter until November 1, Masses are celebrated in the Chapel Street church. During the summer months, four Masses are added because of the significant increase of tourists. More than 2,000 families attend Mass each weekend at St. Andrew while they vacation at the picturesque resort.
Block Island’s winter population, counted annually on Groundhog Day, typically numbers around 900 individuals, but on weekends in July
and August there can be as many as 20,000 people on the island.
“I am looking at a boat coming in from Point Judith,” said Father Joseph Protano, pastor of St. Andrew. “Everything revolves around a boat.”
Father Protano has served at the parish for five years and is beloved by the Block Island community.
“There are so many wonderful families on the island,” Father Protano observed. “My greatest joy of working with this parish is serving the island people, and of course, having a beachfront parish,” he added, smiling.
The priest explained that it takes a unique kind of person to live on an island.
“They come for the beauty, for the quiet, but also for the great community,” said Father Protano.
Erin Netro and Jason Leone traveled from Martha's Vineyard to baptize their infant son, Anthony Andrew Leone.
Jason Leone’s family owns Aldo’s, a family-run enterprise on Block Island that includes a restaurant, ice cream shop, bakery, and moped and bike rental center.
Leone grew up in the parish, and mentioned that he used to serve as an altar boy. He added that what he loves the most about St. Andrew Parish is its’ "small and quaint" atmosphere.
Father Protano greeted the guests at the baptism, many of whom he knew by first name, and waited for those who were just arriving from the Block Island ferry.
Maria Leone, who was at the baptism for her great-grandson, has been a parishioner of St. Andrew Church for more than fifty years.
“All of my grandchildren have been baptized here,” said Leone. “There have been many first communions, and many marriages. St. Andrews is a wonderful community.”
Anna Papa, the owner of Aldo’s, said that the restaurant is a popular place where parishioners flock to after Mass.
“In the summer the church is full,” said Papa. “The aromas from the restaurant draw them in after Mass, and they drift right to Father during Mass,” she said, laughing.
Father Protano mentioned that, over the years, he has been the pastor of one of the largest parishes and one of the smallest parishes in the diocese.
“It’s a small parish but a full parish,” said Father Protano. “There is nothing wrong with a small parish as long as the parish is exciting and interactive in the community. It’s the community that counts.”
The strong community of Block Island has much to do with the highly ecumenical spirit, Father Protano emphasized.
“All the youth of different faiths from local churches join together,” Father Protano said. “That’s how we operate. The ecumenical spirit here is fantastic. We all go to each other’s services and that works out very nicely. Good Friday was at St. Ann Episcopal Church. The Easter concert was held at the Baptist church and the Jewish community services are held at our parish center. It is a beautiful symbol or ecumenism.”
An avid reader, Father Protano also enjoys walking and seeing the sights on Block Island, mentioning that there are many activities on Block Island in the winter that most people do not know about.
“The tourist season may be slowed down in the winter, but the people are still active,” Father Protano revealed. “We keep busy here every single week. I love the assignment here, even in the winter. It is a very beautiful place to live and to serve. It is just one of those special places.”
