About Holy Trinity · Whitestone, New York
Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church is a territorial parish of the Diocese of Brooklyn serving the Whitestone neighborhood of northeastern Queens, New York. Established in 1965, the parish celebrates Mass in English daily and on weekends from its church at 14-51 143rd Street. Best known regionally for its monthly Special Needs Mass — often signed by an ASL interpreter and followed by hospitality — Holy Trinity is a multi-generational community anchored by faith formation, music ministry, and a steady procession of resident priests who have shaped its six decades of parish life.
- Established
- 1965
- Patron
- Holy Trinity (the Most Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Rev. James King
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn
Why belong here
Holy Trinity offers the rhythm of a classic Northeastern-Queens parish — daily 8:45 AM Mass, three weekend Sunday Masses plus a Saturday vigil, and a vibrant music program led by a full-time director who has produced nationally heard recordings. What truly sets it apart is its monthly Special Needs Mass, where families of children and adults with disabilities gather together with an ASL interpreter and hospitality, embodying the parish's longstanding welcome. With faith formation directed by a religious sister, on-site parish staff easily reachable by phone or email, and a five-decade history of diocesan-recognized pastoral care, Holy Trinity is both rooted and reaching out.
Mass times at Holy Trinity
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish History and Jubilee
Holy Trinity was established in 1965 as a new territorial parish of the Diocese of Brooklyn to serve Whitestone in northeastern Queens. The parish marked its Golden Jubilee on Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015, with a Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by then-pastor Father Joseph Gibino and a gala luncheon at Marina Del Rey. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio wrote to the parish praising 'fifty years' of 'outstanding ministry' through 'good works in education and faith formation' and 'endless charitable endeavors.' The parish continues to be led from the same 14-51 143rd Street address where it was first built.
- Founded: 1965
- Diocese: Brooklyn (territorial parish)
- Golden Jubilee: Pentecost Sunday, May 24, 2015
Parish Staff
The parish is staffed by a small, accessible team. Father James King serves as pastor (ext. 204) and Father Vincent Daly is in residence. Sister Mary-Ann Afiakwah, SMMC directs Faith Formation and Religious Education (ext. 203). Michael Zabrocki is the Director of Music Ministries and also serves as the parish's Web Developer and Video Ministry lead. Mrs. Josephine Herman is the parish secretary.
- Father James King — Pastor (ext. 204; [email protected])
- Father Vincent Daly — In Residence
- Sr. Mary-Ann Afiakwah, SMMC — Faith Formation / Religious Education Director (ext. 203; [email protected])
- Michael Zabrocki — Director of Music Ministries / Web Developer / Video Ministry ([email protected])
- Mrs. Josephine Herman — Parish Secretary
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at Holy Trinity is coordinated by Sister Mary-Ann Afiakwah, SMMC, working with families to prepare children and youth for the sacraments and to nurture ongoing religious education. The parish has a long history of lay involvement in formation; parishioner Andrea M. Albisano was among the lay ministers commissioned in a diocesan Lay Ministry program coordinated across the Brooklyn–Queens deaneries. Pastoral staff and sister-led direction keep families well supported.
- Director: Sr. Mary-Ann Afiakwah, SMMC
- Faith Formation email: [email protected]
- Parish phone: 718-746-7730 ext. 203
- Parish participates in the diocesan Lay Ministry formation program
Music Ministries
Music at Holy Trinity is directed by Michael Zabrocki, who leads both the traditional Choir Mass (Sundays at 11:00 AM) and the Contemporary Music Mass (Sundays at 6:00 PM). Zabrocki also serves the parish as Web Developer and Video Ministry lead. He recorded an album of music marking the 350th anniversary of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, and presented a closing Jubilee concert in the parish church on the Feast of the Sacred Heart — a project Father James King actively encouraged.
- Director: Michael Zabrocki
- Choir Mass: Sundays 11:00 AM
- Contemporary Music Mass: Sundays 6:00 PM
- Recording project: 350th Jubilee of the apparitions of the Sacred Heart
- Closing Jubilee concert held at Holy Trinity on the Feast of the Sacred Heart
Sacraments and Devotions
Alongside the regular Mass schedule, Holy Trinity coordinates preparation for the sacraments of initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation) through its Faith Formation office and prepares couples for the Sacrament of Marriage through the parish. The parish also publishes liturgical resources for parishioners (for example, a page reflecting on the symbols used in the Funeral Mass). The monthly Special Needs Mass is a distinctive liturgical devotion open to all families seeking an accessible, welcoming celebration of the Eucharist.
- Faith Formation / Sacramental preparation
- Marriage preparation (contact parish office)
- Funeral-liturgy resources published on the parish website
- Monthly Special Needs Mass with ASL interpreter
Parish Life and Community Events
Community life at Holy Trinity is marked by annual traditions like the Parish Barbecue, seasonal feast-day concerts (such as the Sacred Heart concert series), and the Golden Jubilee celebration at Marina Del Rey in 2015. The parish has also been recognized by other institutions — for instance, Father James King was previously honored as 'Person of the Year' by a parish-affiliated organization — and remains a welcoming home for retirees and families in Whitestone and College Point.
- Annual Parish Barbecue (June fundraiser)
- Seasonal feast-day concerts in the church
- 50th Anniversary Jubilee Mass and gala (2015)
- Lay-led ministries and small groups coordinated through the parish office
Contact and Visit
Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory by phone, fax, or email and are warmly invited to attend the next daily Mass or weekend liturgy. The church is conveniently located at 14-51 143rd Street in Whitestone, with the rectory and parish offices on-site. The pastor and staff make themselves available both in person and through dedicated pastoral and formation email addresses published on the parish website.
- Address: 14-51 143rd Street, Whitestone, NY 11357
- Phone: 718-746-7730
- Fax: 718-767-1368
- Parish Office Email: [email protected]
- Pastor's Email: [email protected]
- Faith Formation Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.holytrinityrcparish.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas J. Sheridan1965–1973
Founding pastor of the newly established territorial parish.
- Monsignor James J. Haggarty1973–1990
Longest-tenured pastor in parish history (17 years).
- Father Marcello Latona1990–2005
- Father John Costello2005–2008
Returned for the 50th anniversary Jubilee Mass in 2015.
- Father Joseph R. Gibino2008–
Pastor during the 2015 Golden Jubilee; also diocesan coordinator of the secretariat for evangelization and catechesis.
- Father James King
Current pastor; previously parochial vicar at St. Bernard, Mill Basin (2001–2003) and pastor of Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Brooklyn Heights.