By RUSS OLIVO

WOONSOCKET — The champagne and pomp will surely come later that night, but mayor-elect Leo T. Fontaine will kick off his inaugural ceremonies with something his administration may need more of in the days ahead — a prayer.

In what may be a first for an incoming mayor, Fontaine has arranged an  “Inaugural Mass” at Sacred Heart Church, his family parish on Olo Street,  hours before he is to take the oath of office Tuesday.
Fontaine will also break from longstanding tradition by holding swearing-in ceremonies at the Stadium Theatre instead of Woonsocket High School, the go-to turf of the biennial ritual for as long as anyone can remember.
“They've been there as long as I've been city clerk, and as long as I've been here at City Hall, which is in the neighborhood of 40 years,” says City Clerk Pauline Payeur.
Fontaine said he chose the Stadium not just to set a new tone for his administration, but also as a tribute to the late Mayor Francis L. Lanctot. Mayor  from 1989-1995, Lanctot became the driving force behind the rebirth of the neglected 1926 movie house after his political career was over. He endorsed Fontaine's mayoral bid two weeks before he died of cancer last month at the age of 76.
“I thought having it at the Stadium would be a very fitting thing,” said Fontaine. “I wanted to make some part of the dedication a tribute to Francis.”
A father of two, Fontaine, 40, succeeds Mayor Susan D. Menard, who stepped aside after a record seven terms in office. Fontaine, who has served 16 years on the City Council — most of them as its president - defeated former state representative and police sergeant Todd R. Brien in the general election to become mayor-elect.
Prayers may be part of the solution Fontaine turns to as he takes the helm of a city facing some of its most daunting financial challenges in years. Moody's Investor Service just downgraded the city's bond rating to Baa2, two notches above junk status, citing a string of budget deficits, vanishing cash reserves and increased short-term borrowing to shore up cash flow.
Moody's predicted the School Department could end up some $7 million in the red by the end of the fiscal year, forcing the city to pass a supplemental tax bill — a move the City Council narrowly averted in June.
Along with members of the City Council and School Committee, Fontaine will all be sworn in on the stage of the historic theater, but the officials might have to share the spotlight with some set pieces for “Scrooge: The Musical,” says Cathy Levesque, executive director the Stadium.
Levesque says she's like to hide all the props behind the curtain, but the stage might not be big enough to do that and still leave room for all the officials.
But Levesque said she's “honored” Fontaine chose the Stadium for the inauguration ceremonies. She says visitors will see the theater decked out in full holiday regalia, offering those who may have never been to Stadium Theatre before a jaw-droppingly impressive look at the city's elegant side.
“The theater will be absolutely stunning and for all those who haven't been here in a while all the Christmas decorations will be up,” she said. “They're going to be pleasantly surprised at the beautiful gem we have here.”
The inaugural is just another first for the Stadium. People tend to pay attention when the headliners pass through — Liza Minelli gave her latest national  tour a sold-out test run at the Stadium about a year ago — but Levesque says the Stadium isn't always glitz and glamour. Recently the Greater Woonsocket Dental Society held a gathering there. So did the Samaritans, the suicide prevention volunteers.
As with all events, the Stadium will sell popcorn and other refreshments during the inauguration, and the bar will be open, said Levesque. A brief reception will take place in the lobby after the swearing-in is complete.
A former chairman of the Rhode Island Republican Central Committee, Fontaine said Gov. Donald Carcieri will be among the dignitaries who will be guests during the inauguration. There may be other members of the governor's inner circle, though Fontaine said he isn't sure who will come. Like the Inaugural Mass, Fontaine said the inauguration is open to the public and everyone who lives in the city is invited. The Stadium has a seating capacity of roughly 1,100.
The Inaugural Mass is scheduled to begin at Sacred Heart parish at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday. Located in the blue-collar Fairmount neighborhood, where Fontaine grew up, Sacred Heart has been the Fontaine's family's home parish for years. Fontaine, who comes from a family of musicians, said he became the church organist when he was about 12 years old — and still is. The swearing in will follow the mass at 8 p.m. The officials will be sworn-in by Payeur.
For the record, Fontaine says he doesn't mind sharing the stage with props from “Scrooge,” if he has to. In fact, it might be fitting, he says half-jokingly, because some of his constituents might be reminded of the fabled skinflint when he starts trying to balance the budget.