About St. Agnes Cathedral · Rockville Centre, New York
The Cathedral of St. Agnes is the mother church and seat (cathedra) of the Diocese of Rockville Centre on Long Island, New York. Located in the Village of Rockville Centre in Nassau County, it serves both as the diocesan cathedral and as an active parish of roughly 4,000 families. The parish traces its origins to 1887, when six Catholic families gathered for Mass in a blacksmith's shop; it was elevated from parish church to cathedral on May 27, 1957, when Pope Pius XII erected the Diocese of Rockville Centre and named Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg its first ordinary. Today the cathedral is pastored by Very Rev. Michael F. Duffy, alongside a multi-cultural clergy team that includes a vibrant Spanish-language ministry, an associated Catholic elementary school, and a robust program of faith formation, outreach, music, and devotions such as weekly Eucharistic Adoration and the Miraculous Medal novena.
- Established
- 1887
- Patron
- St. Agnes (patroness of the parish)
- Rector
- Very Rev. Michael F. Duffy (Rector)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Rockville Centre
Why belong here
St. Agnes Cathedral offers the rare combination of a thriving parish community and a working diocesan cathedral, with multiple daily Masses (six days a week plus a robust Sunday schedule), a Spanish-language Mass each Saturday evening and a full Hispanic ministry program, and a packed calendar of devotions including weekly Wednesday Eucharistic Adoration (2:00–5:00 p.m.), daily Rosary, the Miraculous Medal Novena on Mondays, and Stations of the Cross during Lent. Families can send children to St. Agnes Cathedral School (K–8) right on parish grounds, adults can enter the Catholic Church or complete sacraments through the O.C.I.A. (formerly RCIA) program, and the parish's Outreach Center ministers to those in need across the Rockville Centre community. Liturgical music is anchored by a director and associate director, diocesan-wide ordinations and installations are celebrated here, and the FOCUS parish missionary keeps evangelization central to parish life.
Mass times at St. Agnes Cathedral
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday–Friday: following the 6:30 am Mass
- Saturday: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
- Sunday: 4:00 pm – 4:45 pm
- Tuesdays at 7:00 pm (before the 7:30 pm Mass)
Adoration times
- Wednesdays, 2:00 pm – 5:00 pm in the Cathedral (Eucharistic Adoration)
- First Tuesday of each month: Eucharistic Adoration in the Cathedral following the 7:30 pm Mass (Spanish community)
History of the Parish and Cathedral
The roots of the parish go back to 1887, when six Catholic families rented a blacksmith's shop in Rockville Centre for Sunday Mass. Successive pastors built up the community through Gildersleeve's Hall, a former Episcopal chapel at Observer Street and Village Avenue, and then the marble church dedicated June 11, 1905. Father Peter Quealy, the fourth pastor, led the parish for more than fifty years and began planning a much larger church to replace the marble one. That dream was realized in 1957 when Pope Pius XII established the Diocese of Rockville Centre and elevated St. Agnes to cathedral status. Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg was installed on May 27, 1957, in a ceremony attended by Cardinal Spellman and hundreds of clergy and religious.
- 1887 — first Mass in Walter Johnson's blacksmith shop
- 1888–1889 — Paulist Father Thomas Robinson ministers during sick leave
- 1890 — congregation moves to Gildersleeve's Hall
- 1904 — cornerstone of the marble church laid
- 1905 — marble church dedicated June 11
- 1905 — Father Peter Quealy becomes fourth pastor
- 1933 — Quealy begins planning a larger church
- May 25, 1957 — Pope Pius XII erects the Diocese of Rockville Centre; St. Agnes raised to Cathedral
- May 26, 1957 — Bishop Kellenberg's motorcade from the Bronx to Rockville Centre
- May 27, 1957 — installation of Bishop Kellenberg, presided over by Cardinal Spellman
- 1966 — Monsignor Edward L. Melton becomes Cathedral Administrator
- 1982 — major renovation completed and Cathedral rededicated
- January 31, 2017 — Bishop John O. Barres installed as fifth Bishop of Rockville Centre at St. Agnes
Clergy, Staff and Parish Leadership
St. Agnes Cathedral is pastored by Very Rev. Michael F. Duffy, supported by Associate Pastors Rev. Christopher P. Heller (also Diocesan Master of Ceremonies) and Rev. Michael Ngoka, C.M. Rev. Emmanuel Nwogu serves the Spanish Community on weekends, while Rev. Lachlan T. Cameron and Vicar General Rev. Eric Fasano, J.C.L., are in residence. The Most Reverend John Oliver Barres, fifth Bishop of Rockville Centre, was installed at the Cathedral on January 31, 2017. Lay staff lead Music Ministry (Michael Bower and Maura Goodwin), Outreach (Elizabeth Ramirez), Religious Education (Anne Nelson), and the Cathedral School (Principal Cecilia St. John, Assistant Principal Mary Brower), with Patrick O'Brien as Facilities Manager and Tara Lauderdale as FOCUS Parish Missionary.
- Rector: Very Rev. Michael F. Duffy
- Associate Pastors: Rev. Christopher P. Heller; Rev. Michael Ngoka, C.M.
- Spanish Community: Rev. Emmanuel Nwogu (Weekend Assistant)
- In Residence: Rev. Lachlan T. Cameron, S.T.L.; Rev. Eric Fasano, J.C.L.
- Weekend Assistants: Rev. Patrick Flanagan, C.M.; Very Rev. James Kuroly
- Bishop of Rockville Centre: Most Rev. John Oliver Barres
Becoming Catholic (O.C.I.A.)
The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) — formerly the RCIA — welcomes unbaptized adults, unbaptized children over age seven, and non-Catholic Christians seeking Full Communion with the Catholic Church. The process is ongoing and tailored to individual needs; inquiries may begin at any time of year. Prospective catechumens are invited to make an appointment with Father Chris Heller to begin the journey toward the Easter sacraments.
- O.C.I.A. for unbaptized adults
- O.C.I.A. for unbaptized children over age 7
- Full Communion process for already-baptized Christians
- Contact: Fr. Chris Heller
Religious Education and Family Faith Formation
Anne Nelson serves as Director of Religious Education at the Parish Ministry Building, coordinating faith formation for parish children not enrolled in the school. The office is open Tuesday through Thursday and offers in-person and online calendars, as well as a Parent Formation resource page to support families who are the primary educators of their children in the faith.
- Director of Religious Education: Anne Nelson — [email protected] — (516) 678-2306
- Office at 29 Quealy Place, Rockville Centre, NY 11570
- Office hours: Tue–Thu 10:00 am – 4:00 pm (closed Mon and Fri)
- Parent Formation resource page on parish website
St. Agnes Cathedral School
The parish's K–8 elementary school shares the Cathedral campus and works hand in hand with the parish clergy and music staff. Each grade is paired with a priest moderator who assists in planning the monthly school liturgies celebrated during parish Mass. The religion program — built on the Diocese of Rockville Centre curriculum — emphasizes scripture, prayer and worship, service, and peace and justice, complemented by school-wide retreats, sacramental preparation (with seventh-grade Confirmation candidates completing at least 25 service hours), and a K–8 Family Life program.
- Principal: Cecilia St. John
- Assistant Principal: Mary Brower
- Monthly school liturgies in the Cathedral with parish clergy
- School-wide annual retreat morning
- Confirmation service-hour requirement for seventh graders
- Holy Childhood Mission campaign during Lent
- Respect Life essay, poetry and art contest participation
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry supports the Cathedral's full liturgical life — from Sunday Masses to ordinations and diocesan ceremonies — under Director Michael Bower ([email protected], 516-764-9578) and Associate Director Maura Goodwin.
- Director of Music: Michael Bower
- Associate Director: Maura Goodwin
- Phone: (516) 764-9578
- Choirs serve parish and diocesan liturgies including ordinations and the Bishop's installation
Parish Outreach and Service
The Service Center/Outreach office is part of the parish's pastoral reach into the wider Rockville Centre community. Under Director Elizabeth Ramirez, the office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm in the Parish Ministry Building on the corner of Clinton Avenue and welcomes those in need of assistance.
- Outreach Director: Elizabeth Ramirez — (516) 678-1856
- Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
- Location: Parish Ministry Building, corner of Clinton Avenue
Hispanic Ministry / Comunidad Hispana
Spanish-speaking Catholics have been part of St. Agnes since 1968, when Father Edward G. Sullivan was sent to begin a pilot project for the diocese's Hispanic Catholics in the Freeport/Rockville Centre area. Today the Cathedral sustains a complete Spanish apostolate with a weekly Spanish Vigil Mass, monthly Spanish Eucharistic Adoration, Confesiones on Saturdays, and a Wednesday evening Charismatic Prayer Group (Oración Carismática) in the Lower Hall.
- Spanish Mass — Saturday 7:30 pm (Cathedral)
- Confesiones — Saturdays (see bulletin)
- Eucharistic Adoration — first Tuesday of each month after the 7:30 pm Mass
- Charismatic Prayer Group — Wednesdays 7:00 pm in the Lower Hall
- Apostolate gatherings — Wednesdays in the Lower Hall (per bulletin)
- Weekend Assistant for Spanish Community: Rev. Emmanuel Nwogu
FOCUS Parish Missionary
Tara Lauderdale began her role as the FOCUS Parish Missionary for St. Agnes Cathedral in September 2025. FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) missionaries partner with parishes to accompany them in evangelization, formation and outreach. Lauderdale previously served FOCUS as a Formation Specialist assisting the parish team before taking up her assignment at St. Agnes.
- FOCUS Parish Missionary: Tara Lauderdale
- Role began September 2025
Visiting and Hours
The Cathedral is open for personal prayer every day from 6:00 am to 8:00 pm. The Rectory serves parishioners Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am to 8:00 pm, Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and is closed Sunday (with emergencies answered any time). Visitors are warmly invited to pray before the Blessed Sacrament during Wednesday Adoration and to view the historic artifacts — the 1904 cornerstone and the 1887 blacksmith's anvil — that anchor the parish's long history on the same block.
- Cathedral open 6:00 am – 8:00 pm daily
- Rectory: M–Th 8:30 am–8:00 pm; Fri 8:30 am–4:00 pm; Sat 10:00 am–2:00 pm; Sun closed
- Outreach: M–F 9:00 am – 3:30 pm (Parish Ministry Building)
- Featured artifacts: 1904 cornerstone (SW corner); 1887 blacksmith's anvil (front lawn)
Diocesan Role and the Bishop's Chair
Because St. Agnes Cathedral is the cathedra (seat) of the Bishop of Rockville Centre, it serves a dual role as both an active parish and the ceremonial center of the diocese. Bishop Walter P. Kellenberg was installed there in 1957; subsequent bishops — including Bishop John R. McGann and the current Bishop John O. Barres (installed January 31, 2017) — have used the Cathedral for ordinations, Chrism Masses, ecumenical prayer services, and major diocesan celebrations. The Diocesan Master of Ceremonies is based here in the person of Associate Pastor Rev. Christopher P. Heller.
- Cathedra (seat) of the Bishop of Rockville Centre
- Site of 1957 installation of Bishop Kellenberg
- Site of 2017 installation of Bishop Barres
- Diocesan ordinations, Chrism Mass, ecumenical services and Confirmations are celebrated here
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. E. J. Connell1887–c.1888
First priest assigned to visit Rockville Centre from Rockaway Beach, celebrating occasional Sunday Mass.
- Rev. Thomas Robinson (Paulist)Summer 1888 – fall 1889
Ministered zealously to the fledgling community from the Paulist house during a sick leave.
- Rev. Peter McGuirec.1889 onward
Came from Hewlett every Sunday to celebrate Mass at Gildersleeve's Hall.
- Rev. Patrick M. Fitzgerald1890s
Second pastor, following Fr. Carroll's move to St. Brigid's, Ridgewood.
- Rev. James J. Floodthrough 1905
Third pastor; cleared the $2,000 parish debt, purchased land, and laid the 1904 cornerstone of the marble church, dedicated 1905.
- Rev. Peter Quealy (later Monsignor)1905 – 1959
Fourth pastor; led the parish for over 50 years; the marble-church replacement and the Cathedral dream were realized under his watch; Quealy Place was named for him in 1957.
- Monsignor Williamsmid-1960s
Cathedral Administrator; died in office at age 51 after 25 years of service to St. Agnes.
- Monsignor Edward L. Meltonfrom 1966
Appointed Cathedral Administrator for a growing parish of over 4,000 families; introduced parish council, the CCD/Religious Education office, and commissioned the first Eucharistic Ministers.
- Most Rev. Walter P. Kellenberg1957 onward (resident bishop)
First Bishop of Rockville Centre; installed at St. Agnes May 27, 1957.
- Most Rev. John R. McGannAuxiliary from 1968
Former secretary to Bishop Kellenberg at the Cathedral; later second Bishop of Rockville Centre.
- Very Rev. Michael F. Duffycurrent (since c.2024–2025)
Current Rector; previously pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes, Malverne (from 2017); ordained June 2012; youngest pastor in DRVC history at his appointment.
