Holy Ghost Church, Providence

The Corporation of the Church of the Holy Ghost is located in the heart of Federal Hill, Providence, Rhode Island's "Little Italy". The church was established on September 22, 1889 be the Missionaries of Saint Charles Borromeo to serve the spiritual needs of the new Italian immigrants at the turn of the 19th century. Father Luigi Paroli, CS obtained permission by Bishop Matthew Harkins of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence and was installed as the first pastor of the parish. Initially, the community of Italian worshipers were hosted in the basement of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul before moving to Ivy Hall on Swiss Street in Providence. In 1901 the congregation grew too large for its current dwelling and a number of lots were purchased on the corner of Knight Street and Atwells Avenue at the west end of Federal Hill. A one level structure what today is the present church's basement served as the main place of worship for devotees until the triforium, edifice and campanile were constructed eight years later. On Pentecost Sunday, May 26, 1901 Blessed Giovanni Battista Scalabrini visited the parish on the feast day of its patron the Holy Ghost. On that day the founder of the Missionaries of St. Charles Borromeo celebrated multiple Masses and Confirmed nearly 1,200 Catholics that day. ()