Nathan Ricci follows faith into priesthood

Father Nathan Ricci didn’t consider entering the priesthood when he was younger.

“I wanted to be an architect, or a teacher, or a lawyer, or even a politician,” he said.

Father Ricci said his faith began during his time at Bishop Hendricken High School, although he wasn’t taking it seriously. It wasn’t until his time at Providence College that he began to feel as if he had an idea for his future.

“My faith really started and grew at Hendricken, but it was at PC that I knew the Lord was calling me to the priesthood,” he said.

He was ordained as a priest on June 25 at the Roman Catholic Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence. The next day, he held his first Mass. “I actually had two first Masses,” he said. “My first was at St. Dominic Chapel at Providence College the day after I was ordained.” Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian was in attendance.

The second Mass had a special meaning, as it was held at his hometown parish.

“On July 3, this past Sunday, I held Mass at St. Catherine’s Church [in Apponaug],” he said. “It was where I grew up, where I was baptized, where I had all my sacraments. It was very, very moving and it meant a lot to me.”

Even though Father Ricci grew up close to the church, he didn’t always consider it to be his future.

While he was doing a double major in political science and philosophy, he said, “God was always in the back of my mind.” In his junior year, he remained at Providence College for his studies, but began to live at Our Lady of Providence Seminary to prepare for the priesthood, which he did all the way up until he graduated with a bachelor’s of arts degree.

After Providence College, Father Ricci was assigned to the Pontifical North American College, a seminary for Americans in Rome. This is where he continued his work in the priesthood.

After four years, Father Ricci was ordained as a deacon in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on October 1, 2015. He held his first Mass as a Deacon the following day at the Altar of the Tomb of St. John Paul II. Now, he’s a priest.

“No, I didn’t see it coming,” said his father, Albert Ricci, about his son becoming a priest. “We thought politics; he was very active in model legislature.”

Ricci said his son was always active in the church as an altar boy and that they are proud of him for the path he chose. “He could’ve been anything he wanted because he is very, very bright,” he said. “And he is very happy with what he is doing.”

Father Ricci is already hard at work. His summer assignment is to work as the Catholic Chaplin at Rhode Island Hospital.

“You called at a good time. I just finished my first 24-hour shift,” he said on Wednesday morning. “The hospital is really big, there was actually five other priests on call. We visit the patients and take care of their spiritual health. Especially the Anointing of the Sick and Reconciliation.”

Father Ricci said these are two of the seven Catholic Sacraments. Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament of healing and is meant to provide healing for physical, mental, and spiritual sickness. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is the sacrament of mercy, and is meant to give God’s unconditional forgiveness.

Father Ricci will also assist at St. Ann’s Church in Providence, with Masses and anything the church needs from him.

And his work is not done; he still has more to learn in regards to Church (Ecclesiastical) Law.

“I’ll be returning to Rome in the fall to finish my degree in Canon Law,” he said.