‘The root of my vocation is found in my parents’ home’”

Bishop-elect James Ruggieri

A Barrington native will serve as the next bishop of Portland, Maine. 

Last month, the Vatican announced that Father James Ruggieri has been named Bishop-elect for the Portland Diocese. He will be consecrated and installed as the 13th bishop of Portland in a Mass on May 7. The Mass will be celebrated in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He will succeed Bishop Robert Deeley, who has served the Portland Diocese for the last 10 years. 

The Barrington Times recently reached out to Bishop-elect Ruggieri to learn more about his new appointment.

Barrington Times: When did you hear the news that you had been named Bishop-elect of Portland, Maine? What was your first reaction to the news?

Bishop-elect Ruggieri: “My first reaction was of the nature, ‘Is this real?’ It was five minutes before the 4 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Feb. 3, when His Eminence Christophe Cardinal Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio (Ambassador of the Holy See) of the United States called. 

“I was in the parish office at St. Patrick Church in Providence doing something at the last minute before going upstairs to the sacristy to get ready for Mass. When the Cardinal said that the Holy Father had appointed me Bishop of Portland, Maine, I sat down, and I was somewhat stunned by the news. I have never felt such varied emotions as I did immediately after receiving that phone call.”

BT: How did your journey in faith first begin? When did you know you wanted to be a priest?

Bishop-elect Ruggieri: “Thoughts of the priesthood and being a priest began when I was around 8 years old. During a parish visit to our home on Waseca Avenue, representatives from my parish of Holy Angels in Barrington signed me up to be an altar server. At the time, Fr. Evans — now Bishop Robert Evans, retired Auxiliary Bishop of Providence — was the associate pastor. He trained me to be a server and it was during his brief time there that the Holy Spirit began to plant the seeds of the priestly vocation in my heart.  

“Over the course of my childhood and youth, I continued to serve Mass at Holy Angels and I also got involved in my parish in other ways. My two parish priests, Fr. Pasquale Rotondi and Fr. James Verdelotti, who were together for 13 years in my parish really helped to nurture my priestly vocation. Fr. Rotondi hired me to do custodial and maintenance work at the parish. Fr. Verdelotti gave me liturgical responsibilities that I loved, like serving the “big” Liturgies during Holy Week. In their own unique ways, they both mentored me and nurtured my vocation. I became involved in the parish youth group. All of this contributed to helping me open my heart to begin to try to understand what the Lord was doing.  

BT: What role did your family play in your decision to become a priest? 

Bishop-elect Ruggieri: “My home and family were very important to my vocational discernment. My parents, John and Irene Ruggieri, loved me, supported me, and encouraged me to pursue the desires of my heart. Their love was instrumental in the whole process. They provided a stable home and introduced me and nurtured me in the Catholic Faith. They protected me, challenged me, and nurtured me. My father modeled masculinity for me in such a healthy way. He would often say to me, when I was newly ordained, ‘Remember, I am the real ‘Father Ruggieri.’ No doubt, he was the real ‘Father Ruggieri,’ a man of honesty, integrity, and hard work, who grew noticeably in his faith as he aged. Along with my father, my mother, was always there for me in those early years. She helped keep our family united with her maternal care and nurturing. Overall, my parents never put any pressure on me to be or not be a priest. They allowed me the space to grow and listen.

“I also found stability and moral direction in my three older brothers, John, Paul, and Steven Ruggieri. They set unspoken standards in my house that were also important in my own human development. The root of my vocation is found in my parents’ home.

“Another factor in my vocational discernment was that I grew up regularly sharing in the lives of my maternal grandparents, Mary and John Paolino. My grandparents were also my neighbors. The many hours I spent with them in my formative and teenage years was a great blessing. Their faith was simple, yet strong. My grandparents loved me and my brothers so much. Their love gave me confidence and contributed to my ability to trust others due to their constancy.”

BT: What parishes have you served at? 

Bishop-elect Ruggieri: “As a priest, I have served as an assistant pastor at St. Matthew Church in Cranston (1995-1998), All Saints Parish in Woonsocket (1998-2001), and Holy Spirit Parish in Central Falls (2001-2003).  Also, I have served as administrator of St. Casimir Church in Providence and administrator pro-tem of St. John the Baptist Church in Pawtucket. I have served as pastor at St. Patrick Church in Providence (2003-present) and at St. Michael Church in Providence (2020-present).”

BT: How excited are you about your new role in the Catholic Church and in Maine?

Bishop-elect Ruggieri: “I have heard good things about the people and the Church of the Diocese of Portland.  The people whom I have in met in Maine are very kind. I am very excited about this new ministry with which Pope Francis has entrusted me. It is exciting and a little daunting at the same time. I have never been a bishop. I am simply a pastor. However, someone very wise said to me recently that if you know something about being a pastor, you can learn how to be a bishop. 

“My hope and prayer are that relying on the grace of the Holy Spirit, that I will be able to serve the people of Maine well.”