About Immaculate Conception · Jamaica, New York
Immaculate Conception Monastery Parish is a multicultural Catholic parish located in the Jamaica Estates neighborhood of Queens, New York, served since 1924 by the Passionist Fathers (Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ). The parish occupies a 16-acre hillside campus that includes the Passionist Monastery, the Bishop Molloy Retreat House, Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy, a grotto, and a private cemetery, all of which grew from the original 1910 Degnon mansion. Today the parish community worships in both English and Spanish, runs a Pre-K–8 Catholic academy, offers full sacramental preparation, and lives out what it calls its mission to be 'a people called in LOVE, rich in GIFTS, and one in GOD.'
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. James A. Price, C.P.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers a rare combination: the warmth of a multicultural, bilingual (English/Spanish) parish community, the spiritual depth of a Passionist monastery steeped in devotion to the Passion of Christ, and the convenience of an on-site Catholic academy (PreK–8) and a full sacramental and faith-formation program for children and adults. Whether you are drawn by the historic Romanesque church with its thirty-five stained-glass windows, the daily Mass followed by the Rosary, the Wednesday Novena livestream, or ministries that bring the Eucharist to the homebound and accompany families through every sacrament, ICC Jamaica is a place where a long Passionist tradition meets a changing Queens neighborhood.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM (English & Spanish)
- Monday–Friday at the Monastery: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month at the Monastery: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
About the Parish
Immaculate Conception Monastery Parish describes itself as 'a multicultural Catholic Parish called in LOVE, rich in GIFTS, and one in GOD.' Rooted in the Gospel, the Eucharist, and the Passionist charism, the parish seeks to welcome, respond to, and serve a diversity of people and needs in a changing community through the celebration of the sacraments, faith formation, and compassionate outreach. The parish and its Passionist community of about 32 men occupy a 16-acre campus above the busy streets of Jamaica, Queens — an oasis for prayer and reflection.
History
Founded in 1924 by the Passionists at Bishop Thomas E. Molloy's invitation, the parish grew from the 1910 Degnon mansion and 16-acre estate into a full Romanesque complex including a monastery, retreat house, and upper church. Through fires, expansions, and renovations — including a major 75th-anniversary renovation in 1999 and a façade restoration in 2008 — it has served Jamaica Estates for a century.
- 1923 — Bishop Molloy invites the Passionists to Jamaica, Queens.
- March 10, 1924 — Passionists purchase the 16-acre Degnon estate.
- July 5, 1924 — Fr. Chrysostom Smith, C.P., celebrates the first Mass in the mansion library.
- Nov. 9, 1924 — First public Mass in a temporary frame church on the grounds.
- 1929 — Basement church opened on Christmas Eve.
- April 23, 1930 — Monastery and Retreat House dedicated (Romanesque style).
- Sept. 12, 1936 — Mary Louis Academy opens (Sisters of St. Joseph).
- Sept. 12, 1938 — Parish school opens with 235 pupils and 5 grades.
- 1950 — School expanded (auditorium, gym, library, classrooms).
- 1952 — Retreat house wing added (100+ rooms); Degnon mansion demolished.
- 1954 — New convent built under Fr. Owen Doyle, C.P.
- Sept. 22, 1962 — Upper church dedicated by Bishop McEntegart.
- 1970 — 1926 parish hall destroyed by fire; new parish hall built.
- 1999 — 75th anniversary; church renovated and made handicap-accessible.
- 2007 — Fr. Jed Sumampong, C.P., installed as 10th pastor.
- 2008 — Church façade restored and enhanced.
Passionist Monastery
The Passionist Monastery of the Immaculate Conception is home to a community of 32 men who serve the Church in various ministries. Some work in the parish, others serve as hospital chaplains, assist in local parishes, or support Thomas Berry Place. Once a formation house for seminarians, it now includes a healthcare community. Guided by the charism of St. Paul of the Cross, the community proclaims hope in God's love through its ministries. The Monastery is also the Provincial offices of the Province of St. Paul of the Cross (Eastern Province) of the Passionist Congregation. All are welcome to the 11:00 AM weekday Mass at the Monastery, with priests available for reconciliation and spiritual guidance.
- Rector: Rev. William Murphy, C.P.
- Monastery phone: 718-739-6502
- Monastery gift-shop hours: 9 AM–6 PM Mon–Fri; 9 AM–2 PM Sat; 9:30 AM–1 PM Sun
- Province of St. Paul of the Cross provincialate: 718-739-1229
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments. Confirmation is celebrated yearly at the 8th-grade level per diocesan guidelines and includes classroom instruction, sponsor meetings, a retreat, and service requirements (contact: Mrs. Rodríguez).
- Baptism
- Reconciliation
- Holy Eucharist
- Confirmation (8th grade; contact Mrs. Rodríguez)
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy (ICCA)
Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy is a Catholic, co-educational elementary school on the parish's 16-acre campus at 179-14 Dalny Road, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432. Its primary mission is to teach the message of Jesus Christ while respecting the religious beliefs of non-Catholics. ICCA provides PreK–8 (including NYC's free 3-K for All and Pre-K for All programs, school code 29QACB), before- and after-school care, and a 7-week summer program, and it adheres to the guidelines of the Diocese of Brooklyn and the New York State Department of Education.
- Founded September 1938 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood; became Immaculate Conception Catholic Academy in 2015
- Principal: Dr. Cristina Tancredi Cruz
- Phone: 718-739-5933
- Extracurriculars: newspaper club, chorus, band, art, debate, dance, CYO sports
- Before-school care 7:00–7:30 AM; After-school care 2:45–6:00 PM
- 3-K for All and Pre-K for All (FREE, NYC DOE, code 29QACB)
- 7-week Summer Program (F.B.A.)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish's Faith Formation (CCD) program offers catechism classes for children in kindergarten through 8th grade and Confirmation preparation for students in 9th and 10th grade. Adult faith formation is offered through OCIA in both English (Ms. Barbara Maliszewski) and Spanish (Mrs. Mélida Díaz).
- Faith Formation / CCD — K through 8th grade
- Confirmation prep — 9th and 10th grade
- OCIA English (Ms. Barbara Maliszewski)
- OCIA Spanish / Adult Faith Formation (Mrs. Mélida Díaz)
- Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Ivonne Rodríguez (718-291-3080)
Ministries & Groups
Parish life at ICC centers on pastoral outreach to a diverse, multicultural community. Lay ministers and religious work side-by-side in funeral and liturgical ministry, music, youth ministry, care of the homebound, and Spanish-language pastoral accompaniment.
- Pastoral Associate for Funeral & Liturgical Ministers
- Pastoral Associate for English Adult Faith Formation (OCIA)
- Pastoral Associate for the Sick & Homebound (Mr. Derek DeSa)
- Pastoral Associate to the Spanish Community (Mrs. Joselina Tavarez)
- Pastoral Associate / Outreach (Mrs. Mireille Leys)
- Youth Ministry (Mr. Ian Tamayo)
- Director of Music / Organist Mr. Edward Burkard
Visiting, Contact & Hours
The parish office is open Monday–Friday 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 12:45 PM–4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–12:45 PM), and the staff can be reached by phone at 718-739-0880 or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 86-45 Edgerton Boulevard, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432
- Parish Office: 718-739-0880
- Religious Education Office: 718-291-3080
- Monastery: 718-739-6502
- Provincialate: 718-739-1229
- ICCA: 718-739-5933
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: www.iccjamaica.org
- Facebook: @ICCJamaica
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Chrysostom Smith, C.P.1924 (founding)
Celebrated the first Mass in the library of the Degnon mansion on July 5, 1924.
- Fr. Chrysostom Driscoll, C.P.added 1931
Organized the catechetical school with the Sisters of St. Joseph of Flushing.
- Fr. Roger Monson, C.P.by 1936
Fourth pastor; bought the Adikes property opposite the Monastery, later sold to the Sisters of St. Joseph for Mary Louis Academy.
- Fr. Owen Doyle, C.P.by 1954
Fifth pastor; built a new convent for the Sisters.
- Fr. Peter Quinn, C.P.seventh pastor
- Fr. Thomas Joyce, C.P.ninth pastor
Longest-serving pastor (25 years); oversaw the 75th-anniversary renovation and made the main church handicap-accessible.
- Fr. Jed Sumampong, C.P.installed October 2007 (10th pastor)
Restored and enhanced the church façade in July 2008.
- Fr. James A. Price, C.P.current (11th pastor)
Originally from Carbondale, PA; joined the Passionists in 1983, ordained 1994; previously served at this parish as Parochial Vicar (until 1997) and as Director of the Bishop Molloy Retreat House (2000–2006).