About Saint Paul Church/St Brendan the Navigator Parish · Stone Harbor, New Jersey
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Camden that serves the barrier-island communities of Avalon and Stone Harbor on Seven Mile Island, New Jersey. It was formed in 2010 by the merger of St. Paul Parish (Stone Harbor) and Maris Stella Parish (Avalon), and today operates as one parish with three worship sites: St. Paul Church in Stone Harbor, Maris Stella Church in Avalon, and the historic Sacred Heart Church in Avalon. Year-round the parish counts roughly 700 registered families, swelling to about 1,000 families in summer, with weekend Mass attendance rising from around 1,150 in the off-season to about 10,000 during the summer season.
- Established
- 2010
- Patron
- St. Brendan the Navigator (St. Brendan of Clonfert, c. 484–c. 577)
- Rector
- Father Raymond Gormley
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
St. Brendan the Navigator is a vibrant Eucharistic community that welcomes both year-round residents and the large summer population of Seven Mile Island. With three historic worship sites and a worship schedule that expands from 7 weekend Masses in the off-season to 11 in the summer, parishioners can find a Mass that fits their week at any time of year. A team of retired priests and three deacons assists the pastor, supporting active family faith formation, sacramental preparation, and a strong parish office staff dedicated to walking with families through every stage of Catholic life.
Mass times at Saint Paul Church/St Brendan the Navigator Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday after 8:00 AM Mass at Maris Stella
- Saturday 3:30–4:00 PM at Maris Stella
About St. Brendan the Navigator Parish
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish is the Catholic community serving Avalon and Stone Harbor on Seven Mile Island, NJ. The parish was canonically established on August 4, 2010, by Bishop Joseph Galante of the Diocese of Camden through the merger of Maris Stella Parish in Avalon and St. Paul Parish in Stone Harbor. It now operates as one parish with three worship sites — St. Paul Church (Stone Harbor), Maris Stella Church (Avalon), and Sacred Heart Church (Avalon) — supported by a central Parish Office at 5012 Dune Drive, Avalon. The parish seat is Maris Stella Church in Avalon.
- Year-round: ~700 families
- Summer: ~1,000 families
- Three worship sites
- Seat of the parish: Maris Stella Church, Avalon
Our Story — From St. Paul's (1911) to St. Brendan's (2010)
Catholic life on Seven Mile Island stretches back more than a century. St. Paul's Parish in Stone Harbor was formed in 1911 and canonically established as a parish in 1913, having previously been a mission of St. Ann in Wildwood. As Avalon developed, Sacred Heart Mission was carved from St. Paul's on July 1, 1928, the date the small Avalon church at 25th Street and 1st Avenue was dedicated. By the late 1950s the Avalon community had outgrown that church; Sacred Heart Hall (now Tierney Hall) was pressed into service for Masses in 1959. In 1961 Archbishop Damiano erected Maris Stella Parish, and a new Maris Stella Church was built in 1983 under Bishop James Schad.
- 1911 — St. Paul's Parish founded in Stone Harbor
- 1928 — Sacred Heart Mission established in Avalon
- 1953 — Present St. Paul's Church built (Pastor: Msgr. Michael Dalton)
- 1959 — Sacred Heart Hall (now Tierney) first used for Masses
- 1961 — Maris Stella Parish erected by Archbishop Damiano
- 1983 — Maris Stella Church built under Bishop James Schad
- 2006 — Quinn Hall built in Stone Harbor
- 2010 — Maris Stella and St. Paul merged into St. Brendan the Navigator Parish
Who Is St. Brendan the Navigator?
The parish's patron is St. Brendan of Clonfert (c. 484 – c. 577), an Irish-born monastic from County Kerry. According to medieval tradition, he set out with fellow monks in a small boat on a seven-year missionary voyage across the Atlantic to a chain of small islands. He is also known as 'the Navigator,' 'the Voyager,' and 'the Bold,' and is now the patron saint of sailors, navigators and travelers — a fitting patron for a parish serving a barrier-island shore community. His feast day, May 16, is the feast day of St. Brendan the Navigator Parish.
- Patron of sailors, navigators and travelers
- Feast day: May 16
Clergy & Staff
The pastor is supported by a team of retired priests who assist with Masses — Msgr. Liam Quinn, Father James Betz, Father John O'Leary, Father John Kelly, and Father Steve Curry — together with three deacons: Deacon John Kirk, Deacon Bob Dooley, and Deacon Charlie Devlin. Rev. Daniel Rocco is also featured in the parish's 'Meet the Clergy' video series. Parish staff includes an Administrative Assistant (Maria Leonard), a Wedding Coordinator (Michelle Dooley), a Bookkeeper (Linda DiSabatino, with Eileen Barrett), a Coordinator of Family Faith Formation, Charlie Devlin, and Bob Biernbaum as Maintenance and Facility Steward.
- Pastor: Father Raymond Gormley
- Retired priests assisting: Msgr. Liam Quinn, Fr. James Betz, Fr. John O'Leary, Fr. John Kelly, Fr. Steve Curry
- Deacons: Deacon John Kirk, Deacon Bob Dooley, Deacon Charlie Devlin
- Parish staff: Maria Leonard, Michelle Dooley, Linda DiSabatino, Eileen Barrett, Bob Biernbaum
Places of Worship
The parish family worships at three sites on Seven Mile Island. St. Paul Church in Stone Harbor (built 1953) hosts most of the parish's Monday/Wednesday/Friday daily Masses and two weekend Masses. Maris Stella Church in Avalon (built 1983) is the parish seat and hosts the Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday daily Masses plus Saturday 5 PM and three Sunday Masses. Sacred Heart Church in Avalon, the 1928 mission chapel at 25th Street and 1st Avenue, remains part of the parish's heritage and is used as a worship site.
- St. Paul Church — 9910 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor, NJ 08202
- Maris Stella Church — 252 50th Street, Avalon, NJ 08202
- Sacred Heart Church — 25th Street & 1st Avenue, Avalon, NJ 08202
- Parish Office — 5012 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202
Family Faith Formation & Sacraments
The parish runs a Family Faith Formation program staffed by a coordinator, supporting religious education for children and sacramental preparation. Sacraments celebrated include Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Matrimony — Michelle Dooley serves as Wedding Coordinator and the parish office staff assist couples in preparation.
- Family Faith Formation
- Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation preparation
- Wedding coordination (Michelle Dooley)
Mission & Vision
St. Brendan the Navigator Parish describes itself as committed to 'implementing, following, and spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ.' The parish invites, welcomes, and encourages each member of the community — and visitors — to actively participate in the Catholic faith, joyfully celebrating the Eucharist and the sacraments, recognizing God in one another, and serving those in need. The parish statement affirms: 'We remember and believe that we are all brothers and sisters, the children of our all-loving heavenly Father.'
- Active participation in Catholic faith
- Celebration of the Eucharist and the sacraments
- Recognizing God in one another
- Service to those in need
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at 5012 Dune Drive, Avalon, NJ 08202, by phone at 609-967-3746, or by email at [email protected]. The full calendar of Masses and events is published on the parish website. The parish hosts a 'Meet the Clergy' video series introducing its priests and deacons.
- Phone: 609-967-3746
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stbrendanavalon.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor John T. Frey2010–2016
Founding pastor; previously served as Priest Convener for the consolidation.
- Father Mark Cavagnaro2016–2020
Appointed pastor July 2016.
- Father William Kelly2020–2024
Arrived July 15, 2020; retired early on doctor's advice (heart health).
- Father Raymond Gormley2024–present
Began July 1, 2024; formally installed Oct. 6, 2024 at Maris Stella Church.