Diocese to welcome two new priests

View Bishop Tobin's 2019 Ordination Homily

(PROVIDENCE RI) - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence will welcome two new priests on Saturday, June 8 at 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin will preside at the ordination of Deacons Brendan Rowley and Eric Silva. In preparation for the ordination, there will be a Holy Hour for priestly vocations at St. Rocco Church in Johnston on Friday, June 7 at 7:00 PM.  

Rowley, son of James and Deborah Rowley, of Narragansett, graduated from Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick and Rhode Island College where he received a B.A. degree in Elementary Education.  He entered seminary in 2013 and was assigned to St. John Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts for his formation for the priesthood. While a seminarian, his summer assignments included St. Joseph, Woonsocket; St. Luke, Barrington; St. Francis de Sales, North Kingstown; and St. Pius X, Westerly. After his diaconate ordination in 2018, Rowley served as a deacon at St. John Paul II Parish, Pawtucket before returning to the seminary to complete his formation for the priesthood. Father Rowley will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on June 9 at St. Thomas More Church in Narragansett at 5:00pm.

Silva, son of Antonio and Theresa Silva of Cranston, graduated from Bishop Hendricken High School, Warwick and University of Rhode Island where he received a B.A. degree in Communications. In 2013, he entered seminary and was assigned to St. John Seminary in Boston, Massachusetts for his formation for the priesthood.  As a seminarian, his summer assignments  included Our Lady of Mercy Parish, East Greenwich; Jesus Saviour Parish, Newport; St. John Paul II Parish, Pawtucket; and the Institute of Priestly Formation at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. After his diaconate ordination in 2018, Silva served as a deacon at St. Philip Parish, Greenville before returning to the seminary to complete his formation for the priesthood. Father Silva will celebrate his first Mass of Thanksgiving on June 9 at St. Mark Church in Cranston at 2:00pm.