About Epiphany (Holy Trinity Parish) · Longport, New Jersey
The Church of the Epiphany is the Longport worship site of Holy Trinity Parish, a consolidated Roman Catholic community in the Diocese of Camden that serves the Downbeach barrier-island towns of Margate, Longport, and Ventnor City. The original Epiphany parish began as a summer mission of Blessed Sacrament, Margate in 1955 and was formally established as its own parish in 1958; in May 2010 Bishop Joseph Galante merged it with St. James (Ventnor) and Blessed Sacrament (Margate) into today's unified Holy Trinity Parish, retaining all three church buildings — plus Trinity Chapel in Margate — as active worship sites. The parish seats about 2,900 families from three shore communities, offers daily and weekend Masses in English and Polish, runs Eucharistic Adoration, PREP religious education, OCIA, Pre-Cana, and a variety of lay ministries.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- Epiphany of the Lord (Church of the Epiphany) / Holy Trinity (consolidated parish)
- Rector
- Rev. Pawel Kryszkiewicz
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
Holy Trinity Parish is a barrier-island Catholic community that gathers three historic Downbeach congregations — including the Longport worship site at the Church of the Epiphany — under one roof of shared ministry. Weekenders and year-round residents come together for daily and Sunday Mass in English (and a Sunday Polish Mass at St. James), extended Eucharistic Adoration six days a week at St. James, OCIA, a summer PREP intensive for children, Pre-Cana marriage preparation, lay ministries (lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, acolytes), daily prayer groups, a Rosary for Vocations, and a live-streamed Sunday Mass for those who can't be there in person. Joining the parish means plugging into a community that, in the words of its founding pastor, seeks to 'enhance parish life, reach out to those who need our care, and be a community of God's people that reflects ever more faithfully the unity and inner life of love of the Trinity.'
Mass times at Epiphany (Holy Trinity Parish)
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 1st Saturday: 4:45–5:15 PM (Epiphany Church, Longport) and 3:15–3:45 PM (Blessed Sacrament, Margate)
- By appointment: 609-822-7105
- Mon–Sat: after the 8:00 AM Mass at St. James Church, Ventnor
Adoration times
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at St. James Church, Ventnor: Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon; Saturday 8:30 AM to 12:00 noon; Friday 8:30–9:30 AM (summer only)
Welcome to Holy Trinity Parish
Holy Trinity Parish is a Roman Catholic community of about 2,900 families in the Diocese of Camden, gathered from the Downbeach barrier-island towns of Margate, Longport and Ventnor City, New Jersey. The parish was formed by merging three older parishes in 2010 — St. James (Ventnor), Epiphany (Longport) and Blessed Sacrament (Margate) — and today worships at four sites across those three communities: the Church of the Epiphany in Longport, Blessed Sacrament Church in Margate, St. James Church in Ventnor, and Trinity Chapel on N. Jerome Avenue in Margate. The parish website invites visitors to 'come join us at our community of Catholic churches' and provides a separate Mass, confession and adoration schedule for each site.
- Pastor: Rev. Pawel Kryszkiewicz (ext. 104)
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Antony Savari Muthu (ext. 109)
- Office Hours: Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:00 PM; Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM
- Emergency line for the dying: 609-822-7105, ext. 104
Our Worship Sites (the Four Churches)
Although canonically one parish, Holy Trinity operates four worship buildings to keep Catholic life accessible across the island. Blessed Sacrament Church in Margate serves as the parish seat; St. James Church in Ventnor is the largest hub for daily Mass and Eucharistic Adoration; the Church of the Epiphany in Longport offers a Saturday evening and two Sunday Masses (including a 5:00 PM Sunday); and Trinity Chapel in Margate offers a single Sunday Mass at 9:30 AM.
- Church of the Epiphany — 2800 Ventnor Ave., Longport, NJ 08403 (Saturday 5:30 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM & 5:00 PM)
- St. James Church — 6415 Atlantic Ave., Ventnor City, NJ 08406 (Saturday 4:00 PM; Sunday 8:30, 10:30 [livestreamed] & 12:00 PM Polish)
- Blessed Sacrament Church — 8501 Ventnor Ave., Margate, NJ 08402
- Trinity Chapel — 12 N. Jerome Ave., Margate, NJ 08402 (Sunday 9:30 AM)
Our History
The Downbeach story begins with St. James Church in Ventnor, the first Catholic church on the island, started as a summer ministry of Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Atlantic City in 1914 and canonically established as its own parish in 1922. Blessed Sacrament in Margate followed in 1946, and the Church of the Epiphany in Longport started as a summer mission of Blessed Sacrament in 1955 and was erected as a parish in 1958. In September 2008 the Blessed Sacrament and St. James schools merged into Holy Family Regional School in Ventnor.
- 1914: St. James begun as a mission of Our Lady Star of the Sea, Atlantic City.
- 1922: St. James established as a parish in Ventnor.
- 1946: Blessed Sacrament established in Margate.
- 1955: Epiphany begun as a summer mission of Blessed Sacrament in Longport.
- 1958: Epiphany established as an independent parish.
- 2008: Blessed Sacrament and St. James schools merge into Holy Family Regional School.
- April 22, 2010: Bishop Joseph Galante issues decree uniting the three parishes.
- May 26, 2010: Holy Trinity Parish canonically established; Monsignor Peter M. Joyce named first pastor for six-year term.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Holy Trinity Parish describes 'lifelong faith formation' as the foundation of Catholic life, with formal programs for children, ongoing Scripture study for adults, and preparation for adults entering the Church. PREP (Parish Religious Education Program) is offered as a Summer Intensive rather than weekly Sunday classes, designed to fit the rhythm of shore-town family life and the Bishop's encouragement that 'members become parishioners at the local church in their geographical location.' Families must be year-round registered parishioners living in Longport, Margate or Ventnor to enroll.
- PREP Summer Intensive 2026 — Wed June 24 to Wed July 1, 7:45 AM–2:00 PM at St. James Hall, Ventnor
- Cost: $150 per child or $200 per family; checks payable to Holy Trinity Parish, 11 N Kenyon Ave., Margate, NJ 08402
- Religious Education Coordinator: Bernadette Southard (ext. 103)
- One adult per family must volunteer 3.5 hours during the PREP week
- Online Bible Study Programs
- Formed — Catholic digital formation platform
- OCIA (Becoming Catholic / RCIA) for unbaptized adults and Catholics wishing to update their faith
- Baptismal Preparation for parents of newborns
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all seven sacraments. First Holy Communion requires prior First Reconciliation and (for non-parish baptisms) a baptismal certificate. Baptism requires parents and godparents to attend a preparation class. Marriages are arranged directly through the pastor. The monthly Anointing Mass for the Sick is, at time of writing, suspended.
- Eucharist (First Holy Communion) — register with the parish; Coordinator: Bernadette Southard
- Baptism — register for preparation class with Maria Elena, 609-822-7105 ext. 102
- Matrimony — contact Fr. Pawel for paperwork, dates and arrangements
- Anointing of the Sick — monthly Anointing Mass (currently suspended)
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule
- OCIA for adults entering the Church
Lay Ministries & Prayer Groups
The parish invites members to share their time and talent as lay ministers at Mass and as part of the prayer life of the community. Lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion certifications are promoted through the Diocese of Camden on a regular basis. Daily prayer groups meet after the 8:00 AM Mass at St. James, and a Rosary for Vocations is prayed every Sunday before the 9:30 AM Mass.
- Acolytes
- Altar Servers
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Ushers
- Daily Prayer Groups (Mon–Sat after 8:00 AM Mass, St. James)
- Rosary for Vocations (Sundays before 9:30 AM Mass, St. James)
Music Ministry
Music ministry supports Sunday Masses, funerals, weddings and other liturgies across the parish's worship sites. The Choir Director is the main point of contact for scheduling parish musicians.
- Choir Director: Claire Collins — 609-703-2081
- Music provided for weddings, funerals and other liturgies by request
Parish Staff & Pastoral Council
The parish is led by its pastor and parochial vicar and supported by a team of religious sisters, administrative staff and parish councils. Day-to-day operations are coordinated through the parish office at 11 N. Kenyon Avenue in Margate.
- Pastor — Rev. Pawel Kryszkiewicz (ext. 104)
- Parochial Vicar — Rev. Antony Savari Muthu (ext. 109)
- Religious Education Coordinator & Safe Environment Chair — Bernadette Southard, BA (ext. 103)
- Bookkeeper — Barbara Herr (ext. 101)
- Administrative Assistant — Maria Elena Riccio (ext. 102)
- Parish Secretary — Edyta Piwowar (ext. 110)
- Trustees — Anton Canuso and Theresa Kelly
- Pastoral Council President — Dan Campbell
- Finance Council Chair — Kathleen Mullins
- Volunteer — Sister Sheila Holly, SSJ; In residence — Sisters Peg Conboy, Dot Urban, Connie Trainor and Sheila Murray, SSJ
Contact, Office & Parish Life
Parish Office is located at 11 N. Kenyon Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402 — not at any of the four churches — and is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and Friday 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Mass Intentions and Mass Cards can be requested by writing to Maria Elena at [email protected] (requests must be in the rectory at least two weeks before the desired date). The 10:30 AM Sunday Mass at St. James is live-streamed to the parish Facebook page for those unable to attend in person.
- Address: 11 N. Kenyon Avenue, Margate, NJ 08402
- Phone: 609-822-7105
- Emergency line for the dying: ext. 104
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: holytrinitydownbeach.org
- Live-stream: Facebook (Holy Trinity Parish Live Streaming)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Peter M. Joyce2010–c.2016
Priest Convener for the 2010 consolidation; named first pastor of Holy Trinity Parish for a six-year term.
- Rev. Joseph R. Ferrara
Predecessor pastor in the St. James/Downbeach succession that led into Holy Trinity Parish.
- Rev. Pawel Kryszkiewiczpresent
Current pastor of Holy Trinity Parish.