St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, is one of the Diocese of Providence parishes where multiple credibly accused clergy members served over several decades. If you were abused at St. Joseph Church, or by a priest who served there, you are not alone, and what happened to you was not your fault. Rhode Island’s new law, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, has opened a path to civil justice that did not exist before. A sexual assault attorney at Sommers Schwartz can help you understand your rights and take the next step when you are ready.

Table of Contents

• What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Found About St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket
• Credibly Accused Priests Who Served at St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket
• How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Abuse at Woonsocket Parishes
• Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Window for St. Joseph Church Survivors
• Why Survivors of St. Joseph Church Abuse Should Contact Sommers Schwartz
• FAQs About St. Joseph Church Woonsocket Sexual Abuse Claims

What the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Report Found About St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket

A state investigation into sexual abuse within the Diocese of Providence found that multiple churches across Rhode Island were staffed over the decades by clergy later accused of abusing minors. The report, released on March 4, 2026, by the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office, reviewed more than 250,000 pages of records dating back to January 1, 1950.

Of the more than 115 parishes statewide, investigators found that 15 had five or more accused clergy assigned there during the period in question. St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket was among them. That places St. Joseph Church in a small group of Rhode Island parishes with the highest concentrations of credibly accused clergy during the review period.

Based on that investigation, officials identified 75 clergy they determined were credibly accused of sexually abusing children during the review period. The list includes various priests, deacons, and members of religious orders who served throughout the state. Many of the clergy listed were never prosecuted or convicted in court.

The Attorney General’s report documented a pattern that played out at St. Joseph Church and across other Woonsocket parishes. Accused clergy used their positions of authority and community trust to gain access to children. The report found that priests often sought prolonged contact with minors, allowed children to gather in rectories, and were excessively involved in children’s lives, all of which served as warning signs that were frequently ignored or concealed by church leadership.

The report notes that the locations listed reflect where clergy served during their careers, not necessarily where abuse was alleged to have occurred. Even so, the concentration of accused clergy at St. Joseph Church is significant and warrants serious attention from survivors who were connected to that parish.

Credibly Accused Priests Who Served at St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s credibly accused clergy list identifies several priests who served at St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket. Understanding who these individuals were, and when they served, can help survivors connect their own experiences to documented histories of abuse.

Father James Jackson served at St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket, from 1946 to 1951, and again from 1960 to 1973. According to the Rhode Island Attorney General’s Office credibly accused clergy records, he was born on May 12, 1913, ordained on May 18, 1940, and died on June 27, 1984. His decades-long presence at St. Joseph Church places him among the accused clergy with the longest assignment histories at a single Woonsocket parish.

Father Paul Tousignant served at St. Joseph Church, Woonsocket, from 1954 to 1955. He was ordained on May 19, 1951, and was later laicized on April 14, 1967. His assignment history also includes Precious Blood Church in Woonsocket and Our Lady of Consolation Church in Pawtucket.

Father Alfred Desrosiers, who was ordained on June 25, 1961, and suspended on April 2, 1993, served at Holy Family Church in Woonsocket from 1962 to 1971, and then at Our Lady of Victories Church in Woonsocket from 1978 to 1993. His long tenure across multiple Woonsocket parishes reflects the broader pattern the AG’s report documented. Father Francis Santilli is also identified in the Attorney General’s report as having reportedly sexually abused altar servers in rectories and sacristies in Providence and Woonsocket in the early 1980s.

Each of these men served within a community that trusted them. If you recognized any of these names, or if their presence in Woonsocket connects to something you experienced, please know that your memory and your experience matter. A sexual abuse lawyer at Sommers Schwartz can listen to your story in complete confidence.

How the Diocese of Providence Enabled Abuse at Woonsocket Parishes

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report accused the Catholic Diocese of Providence of a “well-worn pattern” of failing to remove dozens of priests accused of child sexual abuse and keeping the abuse secret over decades. That pattern directly affected parishes like St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket.

The investigation found that accused priests were repeatedly returned to ministry. Rather than removing credibly accused clergy from contact with children, the Diocese reassigned them to new parishes, giving them fresh access to new communities and new potential victims. St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket was part of that cycle.

The AG’s report described how warning signs were consistently present before abuse was reported. Priests sought frequent and prolonged contact with youth, allowed minors to congregate in and around parish rectories, and hired children to perform tasks around churches. These behaviors were documented across multiple parishes, including those in Woonsocket, yet church leadership failed to act.

The report also outlined how the Diocese allegedly concealed that abuse for decades. Concealment is not a passive failure. It is an active choice that protected abusers and silenced survivors. When an institution covers up abuse, it makes it harder for victims to come forward, harder for families to protect their children, and harder for the legal system to hold anyone accountable.

Rhode Island law now recognizes this. The new legislation passed in 2026 specifically targets institutions and supervisors who enabled or covered up sexual abuse. If the Diocese of Providence knew about abuse at St. Joseph Church and failed to act, that institution can be held legally responsible. Survivors do not have to limit their claims to the individual priest who harmed them.

Rhode Island’s New Child Sexual Abuse Law Opens a Window for St. Joseph Church Survivors

Rhode Island’s new law amends the statute of limitations for claims of sexual abuse of a child and creates a two-year window for victims to bring otherwise time-barred claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. Governor Dan McKee signed the legislation, known as H-7200a and S-2616a, on June 11, 2026. The new law takes effect on July 1, 2026.

The new law establishes a two-year civil revival window that opens from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2028. During this 24-month period, survivors can file civil suits even if the statute of limitations on their claims had previously expired. For survivors of abuse at St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket, this is a direct and meaningful opportunity.

In 2023, the Rhode Island Supreme Court ruled that a prior 2019 law only applied to suits against individual perpetrators, not the institutions or supervisors who enabled them. The 2026 law corrects that gap. It specifically allows survivors to pursue claims against the Diocese of Providence and other institutions that knew about abuse and failed to stop it.

Future claims must be filed by whichever date is later: either 35 years from the date of the abusive act or seven years from when the survivor first discovers or reasonably connects their adult injuries to the childhood abuse. For other survivors, the statute of limitations begins running when the survivor turns 18. These changes give survivors far more time than the old law allowed.

The revival window is open now, but it will close on June 30, 2028. That deadline is firm. If you believe your claim may have been time-barred under the old rules, this two-year window may be your only opportunity to act. Speaking with a sexual assault lawyer now gives you the best chance to understand your options before that window closes.

Why Survivors of St. Joseph Church Abuse Should Contact Sommers Schwartz

Coming forward is one of the hardest things a survivor can do. Many people who were abused at St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket have carried that experience for decades, often in silence. Shame, fear, and disbelief from others are common barriers, but none of them reflect the truth. The abuse was not your fault. The failure to protect you belonged entirely to the adults and the institution that were supposed to keep you safe.

Sommers Schwartz represents survivors of clergy sexual abuse across Rhode Island and multiple states. The firm’s attorneys understand the emotional weight of these cases and approach every client with care and respect. There is no pressure, no judgment, and no obligation when you reach out. The first conversation is simply a chance to be heard.

Civil claims against the Diocese of Providence and its parishes, including St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket, can seek to hold those institutions accountable for the harm they caused or allowed. A civil lawsuit is separate from any criminal process. You do not need a police report or a prior criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. What matters is your experience and the documented history of abuse at the parish where it occurred.

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report, the credibly accused clergy list, and the new 2026 law all work together to support survivors who are ready to take action. Sommers Schwartz has the resources and the commitment to build the strongest possible case on your behalf. The firm handles cases on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless your case is resolved in your favor.

If you or someone you love was abused at St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket, or by any priest who served in the Woonsocket area, reach out to Sommers Schwartz today. Time matters under the new law, and the attorneys at Sommers Schwartz are ready to help you move forward.

FAQs About St. Joseph Church Woonsocket Sexual Abuse Claims

How many credibly accused priests were assigned to St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket?

The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report identified St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket as one of only 15 parishes statewide where five or more credibly accused clergy served during the review period from 1950 onward. Named individuals with documented assignments there include Father James Jackson and Father Paul Tousignant, among others identified in the AG’s credibly accused clergy list. The report notes that these figures reflect assignment histories, not necessarily confirmed locations of abuse.

Can I still file a claim if the abuse happened decades ago?

Yes. Rhode Island’s new law, H-7200a/S-2616a, signed by Governor Dan McKee on June 11, 2026, and effective July 1, 2026, creates a two-year revival window for survivors to bring claims that were previously barred by the old statute of limitations. That window runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028. If you were abused as a child at St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket and believed your time had passed, this law may restore your right to file a civil claim.

Can I sue the Diocese of Providence, not just the individual priest?

Yes. The 2026 law specifically allows survivors to bring claims against institutions and supervisors accused of enabling or covering up sexual abuse. The Rhode Island Attorney General’s report documented that the Diocese of Providence repeatedly reassigned accused clergy rather than removing them, and allegedly concealed abuse for decades. That institutional conduct can form the basis of a civil claim against the Diocese itself, separate from any claim against an individual abuser.

Do I need to have reported the abuse to the police to file a civil lawsuit?

No. A civil lawsuit is entirely separate from the criminal justice process. You do not need a police report, a prior investigation, or a criminal conviction to pursue a civil claim. Civil cases use a different standard of proof than criminal cases, and many survivors who were never able to pursue criminal charges can still bring a successful civil claim. An attorney at Sommers Schwartz can review your situation and explain what evidence may be available to support your case.

What if I am not sure whether what happened to me counts as abuse?

You do not need to have a legal definition in mind before you call. Many survivors question their own experiences, especially when the abuse was committed by someone in a position of religious authority. If a priest, deacon, or other clergy member at St. Joseph Church in Woonsocket touched you inappropriately, exposed you to sexual material, or engaged in any sexual conduct with you as a child, that is abuse. The attorneys at Sommers Schwartz will listen to what happened without judgment and help you understand whether you have a claim, with no obligation to proceed.

More Resources About Parish & Diocesan Institution Locations

• St. Mary’s Church, Cranston
• Our Lady of Mercy, East Greenwich
• St. Aloysius Home, Smithfield
• Jesus Savior Church, Newport
• St. Matthew Church, Cranston
• St. Mary Church, Bristol
• Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, Providence
• St. Raphael Academy, Pawtucket
• St. Margaret Church, East Providence
• St. Anthony Church, North Providence
• Immaculate Conception Church, Cranston
• St. Jude’s Parish, Lincoln
• St. Michael Church, Providence
• Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Programs in Rhode Island