About Our Lady Star of the Sea · New Smyrna Beach, Florida
Our Lady Star of the Sea is a Roman Catholic parish in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Orlando. Established on September 1, 1973, by Bishop William D. Borders, the parish serves a coastal community of permanent and seasonal residents along South Atlantic Avenue. It celebrates daily and weekend Masses, offers the Sacraments, supports a wide range of liturgical and outreach ministries, and streams Mass online through its YouTube channel.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- Our Lady Star of the Sea (Blessed Virgin Mary, Star of the Sea)
- Rector
- Father J. Patrick Quinn, TOR
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Our Lady Star of the Sea welcomes both permanent New Smyrna Beach residents and the many winter visitors who make the parish their seasonal spiritual home. The community gathers around the Eucharist and Reconciliation, then lives that faith outward through the Human Service Ministry, Ministers to the Sick, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Parish Nurse program, Griefshare, and a Ministry to Caregivers. Liturgical life is supported by a full Music Ministry, altar servers, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers and greeters, and an Arts and Environment committee — offering newcomers many ways to belong and serve.
Mass times at Our Lady Star of the Sea
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15pm–3:45pm (in the Reconciliation Room of the church)
- By appointment through the parish office
Parish History
Founded on September 1, 1973, Our Lady Star of the Sea grew from Masses in a school cafeteria to a vibrant parish with its own church, social hall, and ministries. The first Mass in the new church was celebrated on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1979, and the parish has continued to expand its physical plant, programs, and community service ever since. Four pastors have guided the parish through more than four decades of growth along the New Smyrna Beach coast.
- Established September 1, 1973 by Bishop William D. Borders (Diocese of Orlando)
- First pastor: Father Edward Condren (1973)
- First Mass in the new church: Feast of the Immaculate Conception, 1979
- Father Thomas Bergin Social Hall built in 1981
- Church addition completed in 1989 (doubled original size)
- Church renovated in 2009 — new altar pieces, pews, tile, and carpeting
- Alive in Christ campaign commitment of $675,000 (Diocesan goal was $505,000)
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father J. Patrick Quinn, TOR, a Franciscan Friar of the Third Order Regular, who arrived in 2013. He is supported by a small lay staff responsible for music and liturgy, parish administration, and facilities. Inquiries and appointments can be directed through the parish office at (386) 427-4530 or [email protected].
- Father J. Patrick Quinn, TOR — Pastor ([email protected])
- Alice Mikolajewski — Director of Music and Liturgy ([email protected])
- Daniela Mann — Office Administrator ([email protected])
- Michael Daley — Facilities Manager ([email protected])
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates the seven Catholic Sacraments. Faith Formation classes — including the 2nd-grade Sacramental Preparation class on Sundays — prepare children for First Communion, while adult formation is offered through RCIA. Families are asked to begin preparation well in advance for Baptism (2 months) and Holy Matrimony (6 months).
- Eucharist — First Communion through 2nd-grade Faith Formation
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 3:15–3:45pm or by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick — contact the parish office
- Baptism — schedule at least 2 months in advance
- Holy Matrimony — contact the parish office at least 6 months prior
Faith Formation & Becoming Catholic
Religious Education and Sacrament Preparation are coordinated through the parish office for children. For adults, the parish offers the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) each year, with weekly classes beginning in the fall and culminating in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at Easter. Returning Catholics and inquirers from other Christian traditions are warmly welcomed, with the parish pointing them to the Catholics Come Home resource and to the parish priests and catechists.
- RCIA — weekly classes each fall
- K–8 Religious Education / Sacrament Preparation (Sunday classes)
- Returning Catholics and inquirers welcome through Catholics Come Home
Liturgical Ministries
Worship at Our Lady Star of the Sea is supported by a robust set of liturgical ministries. Parishioners serve as lectors, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters, altar servers, sacristans, and members of the Music Ministry (including a junior choir). The Arts and Environment Ministry cares for the sacred space throughout the liturgical year.
- Altar Servers — coordinator: Patty Crouse
- Eucharistic Ministers & Readers — coordinator: Alice Mikolajewski
- Music Ministry — including junior choir
- Ushers & Greeters
- Sacristans
- Arts and Environment Ministry
Outreach & Pastoral Care
The parish's outreach ministries reflect its long-standing commitment to those in need, the frail and elderly, families, and the homeless — the same populations supported by the Human Service Ministry funded through the Alive in Christ campaign. Pastoral care is provided to the sick, caregivers, and the bereaved, and the Parish Nurse program offers health checks and chair yoga on parish grounds.
- Human Service Ministry — coordinator: Regis Sloan
- Ministers to the Sick — parish office
- Parish Nurse — Susanne Jones, RN (386-314-6047)
- Prayer Shawl Ministry — Lorraine Notte (386-427-9127)
- Ministry to Caregivers — Kathleen Siegle
- Griefshare — Alice Mikolajewski
Community Life & Other Programs
Beyond liturgy and outreach, the parish hosts a busy calendar of faith-enrichment and community-building events. Newcomers can sign up for ministries at the parish activities fair, and ongoing programs include AA meetings, Advent and Easter day retreats, Vespers, Bible study, parish missions, and youth and family activities.
- Parish Activities Fair for volunteer sign-up
- AA meetings on parish grounds
- Parish Advent and Easter day retreats
- Vespers
- Bible study and parish missions
- Youth Group
- Women's Guild
- Junior Choir
Visit, Contact & Online Mass
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, or email, or stop by during office hours. The office is closed on Fridays during the summer. For those unable to attend in person, weekend Mass is streamed live on the parish's YouTube channel, where it is also archived for later viewing.
- Address: 4000 S. Atlantic Avenue, New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
- Phone: (386) 427-4530
- Fax: (386) 427-1331
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9am–4pm; Fri 9am–12pm (closed Fridays in summer)
- Watch Mass online: youtube.com/channel/UCuQK2BYY2WGlKAP0vQ
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Edward Condren1973–1975
First pastor of the parish; celebrated weekend Masses at Coronado Elementary School cafeteria and daily Mass in the rectory on Oakwood Avenue.
- Father Thomas Bergin1975–2004
Selected the permanent parish site, led the capital campaign, and celebrated the first Mass in the new church on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception in 1979. The Father Thomas Bergin Social Hall was built in his honor in 1981. Retired and died in 2004.
- Father John Murray2004–2013
Strengthened the volunteer core, refurbished the social hall (2006), completed a full church renovation (2009), and led the parish's $675,000 participation in the diocesan Alive in Christ campaign.
- Father Patrick Quinn, TOR2013–present
Current pastor; a Franciscan Friar of the Third Order Regular (TOR). Expanded programming including youth group, junior choir, parish retreats, Vespers, and health programs.