About Maris Stella Church /St. Brendan the Navigator Parish · Avalon, New Jersey
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Camden serving the barrier-island communities of Avalon and Stone Harbor on New Jersey's Seven Mile Island. Formed in 2010 by the merger of Maris Stella Parish (Avalon) and St. Paul Parish (Stone Harbor), it operates across three worship sites: Maris Stella Church, St. Paul Church, and the historic Sacred Heart Mission Church. The parish has about 700 registered year-round families, swelling to roughly 1,000 families in summer, when weekend Mass attendance can reach 10,000 worshippers across 11 Masses. It is currently pastored by Father Raymond P. Gormley, who was installed on October 6, 2024.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- St. Brendan the Navigator
- Rector
- Rev. Raymond P. Gormley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
St. Brendan the Navigator is a welcoming year-round parish that flexes with the rhythms of a unique shore community — gathering roughly 1,150 worshippers in the off-season and around 10,000 in summer across eleven weekend Masses. Members can grow in faith through RCIA, Family Faith Formation (with Religious Education classes for school-age children and Confirmation preparation in 8th grade), a Walking with Purpose women's Bible study, the Stained Glass Squares Quilting Ministry, a summer High School Youth Group, and parish missions and retreats. It is a vibrant, multigenerational Catholic home on beautiful Seven Mile Island where seasonal and year-round parishioners worship side by side at Maris Stella, St. Paul, or Sacred Heart Church.
Mass times at Maris Stella Church /St. Brendan the Navigator Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday after the 8:00 AM Mass at Maris Stella Church
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM at Maris Stella Church (before vigil Masses)
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:30–10:00 AM (Maris Stella Church)
History of the Parish
Catholic life on Seven Mile Island stretches back more than a century. Saint Paul's Parish in Stone Harbor was formed in 1911 (continuing as a mission of St. Ann, Wildwood, until 1936). In 1928 the Sacred Heart Mission in Avalon was dedicated; by 1959 it could no longer accommodate summer crowds. Archbishop Damiano established Maris Stella Parish in Avalon in 1961, and the present Maris Stella Church was built under Bishop James Schad in 1983. The current St. Paul Church was built in 1953 by Monsignor Michael Dalton and Fr. John Flanagan. On July 2, 2010, Bishop Joseph Galante formally decreed the merger of Maris Stella and Saint Paul parishes into Saint Brendan the Navigator Parish, effective August 4, 2010, with Monsignor John T. Frey as founding pastor. Father Mark Cavagnaro succeeded him in July 2016, and Father William J. Kelly, V.F., arrived July 15, 2020. Father Kelly retired in summer 2024 on health advice, and Father Raymond P. Gormley was installed as pastor on October 6, 2024.
- Saint Paul's Parish, Stone Harbor — founded 1911
- Sacred Heart Mission, Avalon — dedicated July 1, 1928
- Maris Stella Parish established — 1961 by Archbishop Damiano
- Present Maris Stella Church built — 1983 under Bishop James Schad
- St. Paul Church building constructed — 1953
- Quinn Hall, Stone Harbor — built 2006
- Tierney Hall (formerly Avalon hall) — renamed 2010
- St. Brendan the Navigator Parish established — August 4, 2010 by Bishop Galante
- Founding pastor: Msgr. John T. Frey (2010–2016)
- Father Mark Cavagnaro (2016–2020)
- Father William J. Kelly, V.F. (2020–2024)
- Father Raymond P. Gormley installed Oct. 6, 2024
Places of Worship
St. Brendan the Navigator operates as one parish at three distinct worship sites in Avalon and Stone Harbor. Maris Stella Church is the parish seat and the site of the pastor's installation; St. Paul Church is retained as a worship site across the island; and Sacred Heart Church preserves the historical 1928 mission identity.
- Maris Stella Church — 252 50th Street, Avalon, NJ 08202 (parish seat)
- St. Paul Church — 9910 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ 08202
- Sacred Heart Church — 25th Street & 1st Avenue, Avalon, NJ 08202 (historic 1928 mission)
- Parish Office — 5012 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202 (phone 609-967-3746)
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Raymond P. Gormley, installed as the third pastor on October 6, 2024 by Bishop Dennis Sullivan. Two permanent deacons — Deacon Bob Dooley and Deacon Charles Devlin — assist with liturgical and sacramental ministry, along with Deacon John Kirk. With the help of several retired priests who winter or summer on the island, the parish keeps a robust Mass schedule. Office staff include administrative assistant Maria Leonard, wedding coordinator Michelle Dooley, bookkeeper Linda DiSabatino, bulletin editor Michelle Vidal, maintenance supervisor Bob Biernbaum, and music director Kathi Getka. A series of short videos, 'Meet the Clergy,' introduces each priest and deacon on the parish website.
- Pastor: Father Raymond P. Gormley
- Deacon Bob Dooley (RCIA and baptism contact, 609-287-9205)
- Deacon Charles Devlin
- Deacon John Kirk
- Retired assisting: Msgr. Liam Quinn, Fr. James Betz, Fr. John O'Leary, Fr. John Kelly (Archdiocese of Philadelphia), Fr. Steve Curry, OSA
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Family Faith Formation at the parish is coordinated by Eileen Barrett (609-967-3017). Children are prepared for First Communion typically in second grade through the Parish Religious Education Program (PREP). Confirmation is normally received in 8th grade after a two-year preparation. Adults seeking Baptism, Eucharist, or Confirmation join the parish RCIA process through Deacon Bob Dooley. Catechetical Sunday each September commissions parish catechists at the 10:00 AM Mass at St. Paul Church, with religious education classes beginning the following Sunday.
- Coordinator of Family Faith Formation: Eileen Barrett (609-967-3017)
- Parish Religious Education Program (PREP) — sacramental prep for children
- Confirmation — 8th grade, 2-year prep
- RCIA — adults and older children, via Deacon Bob Dooley
- Catechetical Sunday — commissioning each September
Youth & Young Adult Ministry
Beyond Religious Education, the parish offers age-specific programs for teens and young adults. A summer High School Youth Group meets Thursday evenings at 7 PM in Quinn Hall (next to St. Paul Church), led by Auburn University student Ava Hneleski. Our Lady of the Angels Parish Youth Ministry invites 8th and 9th graders, offering service-hour opportunities. In summer, FOCUS college missionary George Murphy hosts a young adult Bible study at the 88th Street beach pavilion in Stone Harbor on Tuesdays at 10 AM.
- High School Youth Group (summer, Thursdays 7 PM, Quinn Hall)
- Our Lady of the Angels Youth Ministry (8th & 9th grade)
- Young Adult Beach Bible Study (Tuesdays 10 AM, 88th Street pavilion, Stone Harbor)
Bible Studies & Adult Faith
Walking with Purpose, a Catholic women's Bible study, meets Tuesday mornings 9:40–11:30 AM at Quinn Hall, next to St. Paul Church in Stone Harbor (contact Noreen at 908-872-0428). The parish also hosts periodic parish missions such as the 'Jubilee Year of Hope' evenings with evangelist Dan Palmieri of JMJ Missions, including talks on the Shroud of Turin and conversion stories, followed by Eucharistic Adoration.
- Walking with Purpose — women's Bible study (Quinn Hall, Tuesdays 9:40–11:30 AM)
- Parish Mission talks — e.g., JMJ Missions with Dan Palmieri
- Tuesday Bible Study meetings
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the sacraments of Christian initiation — Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation — both for children and for adults in the RCIA process. Baptisms are typically celebrated after the last Sunday Mass at Maris Stella or St. Paul, with Sacred Heart Church also available; first-time parents attend a Pre-Jordan preparation class. First Communion is prepared through PREP (typically 2nd grade), and Confirmation is received in 8th grade after two years of preparation. Holy Communion can be brought to the sick and homebound on request.
- Baptism (Pre-Jordan class for first-time parents)
- Eucharist / First Communion (2nd grade via PREP)
- Confirmation (8th grade, 2-year preparation)
- RCIA for adults and older children
- Holy Communion to the homebound
Outreach & Parish Life
Beyond worship and formation, the parish nurtures community through groups such as the Stained Glass Squares Quilting Ministry — which handcrafts quilts for those facing illness or hardship — and through Coffee with Father fellowship gatherings. The parish publishes a Weekly Blast newsletter covering ministry news, Mass intentions, and upcoming events.
- Stained Glass Squares Quilting Ministry (handmade quilts for those in need)
- Coffee with Father (fellowship)
- Weekly Blast newsletter
- Online giving — credit/debit, text-to-give, QR code, recurring gifts
- Bulletin Editor: Michelle Vidal
Why Saint Brendan the Navigator?
When the merging parishes sought a name in 2010, parishioners of both Maris Stella and St. Paul submitted suggestions. Bishop Galante chose St. Brendan the Navigator — known also as 'the Navigator,' 'the Voyager,' and 'the Bold.' St. Brendan of Clonfert (c. 484–c. 577) was an Irish monastic from County Kerry whose medieval legend tells of a seven-year Atlantic missionary voyage with fellow monks in a small boat. Now the patron of sailors, navigators, and travelers, St. Brendan's feast day, May 16, is the parish's feast day — fitting for a shore community built around the sea and summer travel.
- Patron: St. Brendan of Clonfert (c. 484 – c. 577)
- Origin: County Kerry, Ireland
- Epithets: 'the Navigator,' 'the Voyager,' 'the Bold'
- Patronage: sailors, navigators, travelers
- Feast day: May 16
Visiting Avalon & Stone Harbor
The parish welcomes thousands of seasonal residents and visitors each summer. Year-round contact runs through the Parish Office at 5012 Dune Drive (phone 609-967-3746), open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM–4:30 PM with a noon–1 PM lunch closure, and Friday 9:00 AM to noon. Summer Mass attendance across the three sites climbs to roughly 10,000 people per weekend — including one summer season where the priest saw the parking lots full and the church packed even on the July 4th holiday, calling it 'a beautiful testament to people's faith.'
- Parish Office: 5012 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202
- Phone: 609-967-3746 · Fax: 609-967-8172
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9 AM–4:30 PM (closed noon–1 PM), Fri 9 AM–noon
- Summer weekend Mass attendance: ~10,000 people (11 Masses)
- Off-season weekend Mass attendance: ~1,150 people (7 Masses)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John T. Frey2010–2016
Founding pastor of the merged parish; led the Core Team that gathered name suggestions; named pastor for a six-year term by Bishop Galante.
- Fr. Mark CavagnaroJuly 2016–2020
Appointed pastor in July 2016; retired in 2020.
- Fr. William J. Kelly, V.F.July 15, 2020–summer 2024
Arrived July 15, 2020; also served as Vicar Forane (Dean) of Cape May and Cumberland Counties (Deanery 5) from July 2021. Retired on health advice after two open-heart surgeries.
- Fr. Raymond P. GormleyJuly 1, 2024–present
Installed as pastor on October 6, 2024 at Maris Stella Church by Bishop Dennis Sullivan. Previously pastor of Incarnation, Mantua.