About St. Brendan the Navigator Community - St. Joseph · New London, Connecticut
St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community is a unified Catholic parish in New London and Waterford, Connecticut, formed in 2017 by the merger of three historic worship sites: St. Mary Star of the Sea Church (New London), St. Paul Church (Waterford), and St. Joseph Church (New London). A fourth mission, Our Lady of Grace Church on Fishers Island, New York, is also under the parish's pastoral care. The community belongs to the Diocese of Norwich and is served today by Pastor Father Mark D. O'Donnell, Parochial Vicars Father Tony DiMarco and Father Eric Hosmer, and Deacons Jesús Diez Canseco and Mario Ramos. The parish is home to St. Joseph School (founded 1937) and serves a richly multicultural congregation of Irish, Italian, Latin American, African American, and Haitian families, with Spanish-language Masses celebrated at St. Mary Star of the Sea.
- Established
- 1907 (St. Joseph Church); 2017 (unified parish)
- Patron
- St. Brendan the Navigator (parish patron); St. Joseph (patron of St. Joseph Church)
- Rector
- Rev. Mark D. O'Donnell
- Diocese
- Diocese of Norwich, Connecticut
Why belong here
St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community welcomes anyone seeking a parish home, whether returning to the faith, new to Catholicism, or simply visiting. The parish offers Mass in English, Spanish, and the Neo-catechumenal Way across its three worship sites, plus weekly Scripture Study and Faith Share groups, free access to the FORMED Catholic media library, and the sacrament of Reconciliation every Saturday at each church. With St. Joseph School (since 1937), an engaged Pastoral Council representing all three sites, and a multicultural congregation of Irish, Italian, Latin American, African American, and Haitian families, it is a living, diverse Catholic community in the heart of southeastern Connecticut.
Mass times at St. Brendan the Navigator Community - St. Joseph
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM (St. Joseph Church)
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (St. Mary Star of the Sea Church)
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:15 PM (St. Paul Church)
- By appointment — contact the parish office
Parish History
St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community was formed in 2017 when three long-standing parishes — St. Mary Star of the Sea (New London), St. Paul (Waterford), and St. Joseph (New London) — merged into one Catholic community. Each brings more than a century of faithful witness. St. Mary Star of the Sea dates to 1843 and is one of the oldest Catholic parishes in the region; St. Joseph was established in 1907 by Bishop Tierney to serve New London's growing Italian-American community; and St. Paul was created in the 1960s under Father Kenneth Flint to serve Catholics in Waterford. Our Lady of Grace on Fishers Island, New York, is also part of the community's pastoral care.
- 1843 — Father Fitton establishes first Catholic chapel in New London on Jay Street
- 1855 — St. Patrick Church built on Truman Street
- 1876 — St. Mary Star of the Sea dedicated by Bishop Galberry
- 1899 — Sisters of Mercy open parish school at St. Mary Star of the Sea
- 1907 — Bishop Tierney establishes St. Joseph as a separate parish
- 1910 — St. Joseph Church dedicated (Gothic granite, Spanish tile roof)
- 1911 — Iconic tower added at St. Mary Star of the Sea
- 1937 — St. Joseph School dedicated (Sisters of Mercy)
- 1964 — St. Paul in Chains Church completed (later renamed St. Paul Church)
- 1998 — 126-foot steeple and carillon installed at St. Paul
- 2017 — Three parishes unified as St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community
Our Patron — St. Brendan the Navigator
The parish takes its name from St. Brendan the Navigator, the patron saint of sailors, mariners, whales, travelers, and navigators — and the patron saint of County Kerry in Ireland. According to tradition, while on Mount Brandon in Ireland he had a vision of a far-off 'Isle of the Blessed,' and he and his crew set out across the Atlantic to seek it. His feast day is May 16.
- Feast day: May 16
- Patronage: sailors, mariners, whales, travelers, navigators
- Also patron of County Kerry, Ireland
Pastoral Leadership
Rev. Mark D. O'Donnell has served as pastor of St. Joseph since 2012 and now leads the unified St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community. He is assisted by two parochial vicars and two deacons. Father Mark is a Connecticut native, ordained in 1985 for the Diocese of Norwich, and brings decades of pastoral, educational, and vocational experience — including service as Director of Vocations, chaplain at St. Bernard High School, and pastor of St. Agnes in Niantic.
- Rev. Mark D. O'Donnell — Pastor
- Rev. Tony DiMarco — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Eric Hosmer — Parochial Vicar (newly ordained, appointed 2024)
- Deacon Jesús Diez Canseco
- Deacon Mario Ramos
- Sr. Xinia Rodriguez — Staff
St. Joseph School
St. Joseph School, located at 25 Squire Street, New London, has served Catholic families since September 1937, when it opened with 120 students in grades K–3 staffed by the Sisters of Mercy. The school is a vital part of St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community and is supported by all four worship sites. In 2025–26, the school celebrates its 88th year of Catholic education. Marianne Cote, the current principal, has served since 1988.
- Founded September 1937 by Father Denis A. O'Brien, third pastor of St. Joseph Parish
- Opened with 120 students in K–3, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy
- Originally a dream of founding pastor Father William Fitzsimons (parishioners donated 25 cents/week in the 1920s)
- Cornerstone laid May 30, 1937, before 800 parishioners
- First diocesan accreditation and state of CT approval received in early 1980s under Sister Susan Carlin, RSM
- Currently led by Principal Marianne Cote (since 1988)
- Address: 25 Squire Street, New London, CT 06320
- Phone: (860) 442-1720; Email: [email protected]
Faith Formation & Ministries
Beyond the sacraments and Mass, the parish offers ongoing formation for adults, including Scripture Study & Faith Share groups, free access to the FORMED online Catholic media platform, and a Hispanic ministry with Spanish-language Mass and outreach. The pastoral council represents each worship site.
- Scripture Study & Faith Share — weekly small-group study for all adults
- FORMED — free online Catholic platform with 4,000+ studies, movies, audio dramas, talks, e-books, and children's cartoons
- Pastoral Council — elected and appointed members from St. Joseph, St. Mary Star of the Sea, and St. Paul
- Hispanic Ministry — Spanish Mass at St. Mary Star of the Sea Sundays 12:00 PM and Thursdays 6:00 PM
- Neo-catechumenal Way community — Saturday Vigil 7:00 PM at St. Mary Star of the Sea
Parish Life & Annual Traditions
The parish cultivates a rich devotional life, anchored especially by the annual Feast of the Assumption celebration — a tradition that began with two Italian families (the Dipollina and D'Angelo families) and was observed for the 95th time on August 10, 2025, with Bishop Richard F. Reidy presiding. Other traditions include pilgrimages (past trips: World Youth Day 2000 Rome, two pilgrimages to Israel) and a parish missionary trip to Haiti.
- Feast of the Assumption — celebrated annually in August (95th anniversary in 2025)
- Procession with statue of Our Lady of the Assumption from St. Mary Star of the Sea to St. Joseph Church for Blessing of the Sick
- Crowning of the Virgin Mary statue while 'Ave Maria' is sung
- Parish picnic at St. Paul Church following the celebration
- Father Mark's police chaplaincy ministry with New London Police Department
Contact, Office & Visiting
The parish office is conveniently located at 37 Squire Street, New London, CT 06320, open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. St. Joseph Church sits at 149 Montauk Avenue. Visitors and new parishioners are warmly welcomed — registration can be done in person at the office, by mail, or (soon) online.
- Parish office: 37 Squire Street, New London, CT 06320
- Phone: 860-443-5393
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- St. Joseph Church: 149 Montauk Avenue, New London, CT 06320
- Parking: lot behind church, side lot on Montauk Ave, or Squire Street; handicap spaces in rear lot
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Fitzsimons1907–1934
Founding pastor of St. Joseph Church; rented 151 Montauk Ave, then purchased 17 Squire St; oversaw building of Gothic granite church dedicated 1910; died in office.
- Rev. James Vincent Hussion1934–1936
Second pastor of St. Joseph; died before school could be built.
- Rev. Denis A. O'Brien1936–1944
Third pastor; a renowned scholar/educator (Mount St. Charles, Maryland; studied in France/Germany); dedicated St. Joseph School in September 1937.
- Rev. John Carey1944–1960s
Long-serving pastor.
- Msgr. Paul St. Onge1962–1988
Reorganized school grades; champion of Catholic education.
- Rev. Joseph Castaldi1988–2012
Continued strong support for St. Joseph School; retired January 2012.
- Rev. Mark D. O'Donnell2012–present
Pastor of St. Joseph (2012) and St. Mary Star of the Sea (2016) and St. Paul (2018); leads unified St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Community.