About St. Bonaventure [St. Bonaventure-St. Benedict the Moor Parish] · Jamaica, New York
St. Bonaventure–St. Benedict the Moor is a merged Roman Catholic parish in Jamaica, Queens (New York), in the Diocese of Brooklyn. It operates across two worship sites: St. Bonaventure Church on 170th Street (founded 1930 as a territorial parish) and St. Benedict the Moor Church on 110th Avenue (founded 1932 by Servant of God Msgr. Bernard Quinn as a national parish for African American Catholics). The two parishes merged in 2009 to form today's unified community, whose diverse membership — Latino, African American, Caribbean American, and West African — is reflected in Masses offered in English, Spanish, and a drum-based Ghanaian liturgy. The parish is currently pastored by Father Krystian (Chris) J. Piasta, a Polish-born priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn who also serves as Catholic chaplain at JFK and LaGuardia Airports.
- Established
- 1930 (St. Bonaventure); 1932 (St. Benedict the Moor); merged 2009
- Patron
- St. Bonaventure (Doctor of the Church) and St. Benedict the Moor (Franciscan lay brother, patron of Black Catholics)
- Rector
- Rev. Krystian J. (Chris) Piasta
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn
Why belong here
St. Bonaventure–St. Benedict the Moor is one of the few parishes in Brooklyn/Queens where a single Sunday schedule offers a Spanish Mass, a drum-based Ghanaian Mass, and traditional English liturgies with full gospel choir — all under one roof of a unified parish. With active ministries for youth (Disciples in Motion 'DIM's'), young adults, the Rosary Society, faith formation (Sunday School and RCIA), Communion for the homebound, and a 'ministry of hospitality' aimed at bringing lapsed Catholics back to Mass, the parish is intentionally rebuilding itself as a center of Black Catholic and immigrant Catholic life in South Jamaica. Visitors are greeted with the parish's own invitation: 'Come hell or high water… we are trying to actually blast the message that the Catholics in this little, tiny church are not dead. We are viable. We are energetic.'
Mass times at St. Bonaventure [St. Bonaventure-St. Benedict the Moor Parish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM at St. Bonaventure
- First Friday of the Month: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM during Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (alternating sites)
- By appointment — call the Parish Office (718) 526-0040
Adoration times
- First Friday of the Month: 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament (sites alternate between St. Bonaventure and St. Benedict the Moor)
Welcome & Parish Identity
St. Bonaventure–St. Benedict the Moor describes itself as 'a vibrant and diverse community of faith that strives to put faith in practice by loving God and our neighbor.' Its membership draws from Latino, African American, Caribbean American, and West African Catholics, and the parish's worship calendar reflects that mix: a Spanish Mass, English Masses with gospel choir, and a drum-based Ghanaian Mass all share the same Sunday schedule. The parish's greeting to visitors ends: 'May Christ keep you joyful!' The two worship sites — St. Bonaventure on 170th Street and St. Benedict the Moor on 110th Avenue — operate as a single canonical parish, sharing one pastor, one staff, and one bulletin.
- Two worship sites, one parish (merged 2009)
- Welcomes new parishioners — register by calling the Parish Office at (718) 526-0040
History & Heritage
St. Bonaventure Church was established in 1930 by the Diocese of Brooklyn as a territorial parish serving South Jamaica. In 1932, Servant of God Msgr. Bernard Quinn founded St. Benedict the Moor a few blocks away as a national parish for Black Catholics in Queens, a companion to his earlier Brooklyn foundation, St. Peter Claver. The two parishes were merged in 2009 to form today's St. Bonaventure–St. Benedict the Moor Parish. St. Benedict the Moor developed a distinctive tradition of liturgical dance, organized in the 1960s through the St. Benedict School of Dance founded by longtime parishioner Frances Rhymes. Neither worship site ever operated a parochial school; parish records are kept at the parish office.
- 1930 — St. Bonaventure founded (territorial parish)
- 1932 — St. Benedict the Moor founded by Msgr. Bernard Quinn (national parish for Black Catholics)
- 2009 — Two parishes merged
- 1960s — St. Benedict School of Dance founded by Frances Rhymes
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the full sacramental life of the Church. Parents must attend a baptismal preparation class before a child is baptized; contact the Parish Office to register. Couples must contact the priest at least six months before a wedding. First Communion and Confirmation are received through the Faith Formation program. The parish also brings Communion to the homebound on request and runs RCIA for adults preparing to enter the Catholic Church.
- Baptism — parental instruction required
- Marriage — six months' notice
- RCIA — adults seeking initiation
- Communion for the Homebound — by request
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is coordinated by Warren Rolling, C.R.E. (Coordinator of Religious Education). The parish runs Sunday School for children and the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA) for adults preparing to become Catholic or complete their initiation. Father Krystian Piasta is listed as the contact for both programs, via [email protected] or (718) 526-0040.
- Sunday School for children
- RCIA for adults
- Coordinator: Warren Rolling, C.R.E.
- Contact: [email protected] or (718) 526-0040
Ministries & Groups
The parish supports a small but active portfolio of ministries organized around worship, formation, and outreach. Disciples in Motion ('DIM's') is the parish youth group, meeting on the first and last Saturday of each month from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. The Rosary Society gathers on the first Sunday after each Mass. The Young Adults Ministry describes itself as 'a collective group of passionate young individuals committed to igniting positive change within our church community.' The parish also supports the St. Benedict School of Dance (founded in the 1960s by Frances Rhymes), the gospel choir under music director Devin Olivas, and a 'Ministry of Hospitality' launched by Father Piasta to welcome back lapsed Catholics.
- Disciples in Motion (DIM's) Youth Group — 1st & last Saturday, 6:30–9:00 PM
- Rosary Society — 1st Sunday after each Mass
- Young Adults Ministry
- St. Benedict School of Dance (liturgical dance tradition)
- Gospel Choir — music director Devin Olivas
- Ministry of Hospitality — outreach initiative
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Father Krystian J. (Chris) Piasta, a priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn originally from Katowice, Poland, who was ordained in 1995 and appointed pastor of St. Bonaventure–St. Benedict the Moor in 2023 after serving as pastor of St. Joseph's in Jamaica. He also serves as the Catholic chaplain at JFK and LaGuardia Airports (Our Lady of the Skies Chapel, JFK Terminal 4) and is a Knight of Peter Claver. Warren Rolling serves as Coordinator of Religious Education (C.R.E.), and Kathleen Webb is the parish secretary.
- Rev. Krystian J. (Chris) Piasta — Pastor
- Warren Rolling — C.R.E.
- Kathleen Webb — Secretary
Contact & Visit
The Parish Office is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and closed Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The main phone line is (718) 526-0040; the fax line is (315) 257-5338. Email inquiries go to [email protected]. Visitors are welcomed at both worship sites: St. Bonaventure at 114-58 170th Street, Jamaica, NY 11434, and St. Benedict the Moor at 171-17 110th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11434. Driving directions are linked from the parish website.
- Office hours: Tuesday & Thursday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
- Phone: (718) 526-0040
- Fax: (315) 257-5338
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Bonaventure: 114-58 170th Street, Jamaica, NY 11434
- St. Benedict the Moor: 171-17 110th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11434
Outreach & Evangelization
Under Father Piasta's leadership, the parish has launched a 'Ministry of Hospitality' aimed at reclaiming Catholic presence in South Jamaica, a neighborhood densely packed with non-Catholic churches. Its flagship event is the multi-night 'Resurrection Revival,' first held April 8–10, 2023, which combined liturgical dance, gospel music, and preaching (Father Maurice Nutt served as the inaugural guest homilist). Father Piasta has publicly committed to revitalizing the parish through discipleship and 'outward expression,' while continuing the parish's historic mission as a center of Black, Caribbean, and West African Catholic life in Queens.
- Resurrection Revival — annual evangelization event
- Ministry of Hospitality — outreach to lapsed Catholics
- Gospel Choir and liturgical dance — central to parish worship
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Krystian J. (Chris) Piasta2023–present
Appointed pastor in 2023 after pastoring St. Joseph's, Jamaica; also Catholic chaplain at JFK and LaGuardia Airports; born in Katowice, Poland; ordained 1995; Knight of Peter Claver.