Bishop James T. Ruggieri

Bishop James Ruggieri

Bishop James Ruggieri will be ordained and installed as the 13th Bishop of Portland on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 307 Congress Street in Portland. The Mass will be celebrated by Séan Patrick Cardinal O'Malley in the presence of Christophe Cardinal Pierre, apostolic nuncio (ambassador of the Holy See) to the United States. Area bishops and priests from throughout the Diocese of Portland will also be in attendance for this celebratory occasion.

Appointment by Pope Francis

Pope Francis named Most Rev. James T. Ruggieri, pastor of Saint Michael the Archangel Parish and Saint Patrick Parish in Providence, Rhode Island, as the 13th Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland on February 13, 2024. 

On being informed of his appointment by the apostolic nuncio, Father Ruggieri said he did not hesitate in accepting the new responsibility in service of God and his Church.

“I am honored and humbled to have been chosen as the next Bishop of the Diocese of Portland by the Holy Father," he said. "I am very much look forward to diving right into getting to know all who make up the diocese, especially the priests and parishioners. I am grateful that Bishop Deeley will retire in Maine and provide me with valuable support.”

Upon Bishop Ruggieri's installation as bishop, Bishop Robert Deeley, who has led the Diocese of Portland for 10 years, will retire from active ministry. As per Church law, Bishop Deeley submitted his formal letter of resignation to Pope Francis in 2022 at the age of 75. He will continue to reside in Maine as Bishop Emeritus.

Bishop Ruggieri's Background

Bishop-elect Ruggieri has been the pastor of Saint Patrick Parish since 2003 and Saint Michael Parish since 2020. In 2009, he, along with parishioners and supporters, founded Saint Patrick Academy, a Catholic college-preparatory high school in Providence. Prior to St. Patrick Parish, Bishop-Elect Ruggieri was an assistant pastor at St. Matthew Church in Cranston, All Saints Parish in Woonsocket, and Holy Spirit Parish in Central Falls.

He received a Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies from Providence College and a Master of Divinity from St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, MD. A native of Rhode Island, he was ordained a priest in 1995 in the Diocese of Providence at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul.

Can I attend the ordination Mass?

Due to space limitations, attendance at the ordination and installation Mass is by invitation only. Pastors, however, will receive some tickets for distribution. 

Will the ordination Mass be livestreamed?

The Mass of Ordination & Installation on Tuesday, May 7 at 2:00 p.m. will be live streamed and broadcast via CatholicTV. There are multiple ways that viewers can access this broadcast, including:

How can I meet Bishop Ruggieri?

The best opportunity to meet the new bishop will be at a public reception that will be held following the ordination Mass at the Italian Heritage Center, 40 Westland Avenue in Portland. The reception will begin at approximately 4:30 p.m. and run until 6:30 p.m.

Questions about the event can be directed to [email protected] or 207-321-7884.