About St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish - Church of the Resurrection · Marmora, New Jersey
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Camden, headquartered at the Church of the Resurrection at 200 Tuckahoe Road in Marmora, New Jersey. The parish was formally established on December 14, 2011 by Bishop Joseph Galante through the consolidation of three worship communities: the Church of the Resurrection (Marmora), St. Casimir Church (Woodbine), and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission (Goshen). Today it serves roughly 2,200 households across Cape May and Cumberland counties, with Sunday Mass celebrated in Marmora and a summer-only Mass at the historic St. Casimir Church in Woodbine.
- Established
- 2011
- Patron
- St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Rector
- Rev. Piotr Szamocki
- Diocese
- Diocese of Camden
Why belong here
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish is a close-knit South Jersey faith community that, while spread across rural Cape May and Cumberland counties, gathers around the same altars — most often the Church of the Resurrection in Marmora — for daily Mass, Sunday liturgy (livestreamed at 10 a.m. for the homebound), weekly Confession, First Friday Adoration, and a year-round slate of ministries for every age and stage of life. Parishioners of all kinds find a place here: Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Parish Nurses, Music Ministry, Respect for Life, St. Vincent de Paul, Parish 12-Step (AA), Young Adult Ministry, Confirmation, PREP religious education, plus food pantries and thrift shops in both Marmora and Woodbine that serve neighbors from Beesley's Point to Belleplain. Newcomers, visitors, and long-time parishioners are warmly welcomed to attend any Mass and 'be sure to greet us when you do.'
Mass times at St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish - Church of the Resurrection
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00pm (Church of the Resurrection)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday 8:30am–1:00pm with Benediction at closing (Church of the Resurrection)
History of St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish traces its origin to a diocesan-wide reconfiguration ordered by Bishop Joseph A. Galante of the Diocese of Camden. After more than a year of deanery-level study weighing population, Mass attendance, and the number of priests available for ministry, the bishop issued a formal decree on Nov. 11, 2011 (published in the Catholic Star Herald), creating the new parish effective Dec. 14, 2011. It merged three South Jersey worship communities: the Church of the Resurrection in Marmora (itself founded in 1975), St. Casimir Church in Woodbine, and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission in Goshen. Msgr. Peter M. Joyce was named the founding pastor for a six-year term. The first anniversary Mass on Aug. 12, 2012 — the feast of the parish's patron — drew more than 400 parishioners and concluded with the blessing of a Kolbe sculpture and a new parish logo. The chosen patron, St. Maximilian Kolbe, was a Polish Conventual Franciscan who volunteered to die in place of a stranger at Auschwitz on Aug. 14, 1941; Pope John Paul II canonized him in 1982, calling him the 'patron saint of our difficult century.' In 2019, Bishop Dennis Sullivan presided at the groundbreaking for the long-planned Parish/Community Center, with Msgr. Joyce describing it as 'a way for us to make an investment in the life and future of our parish and its people.' The parish was then formally handed to its second pastor, Fr. Piotr Szamocki, at an installation Mass on Sept. 16, 2023.
- Decree issued Nov. 11, 2011; parish effective Dec. 14, 2011
- Formed by merger of Church of the Resurrection (Marmora), St. Casimir (Woodbine), and St. Elizabeth of Hungary Mission (Goshen)
- Serves ~2,200 households in Cape May and Cumberland counties
- Founding pastor: Msgr. Peter M. Joyce (2011–2023)
- Second pastor (current): Rev. Piotr Szamocki, installed Sept. 16, 2023
- Parish/Community Center groundbreaking presided over by Bishop Sullivan, July 14, 2019
Parish Staff & Clergy
Saint Maximilian Kolbe Parish is led by its pastor, Rev. Piotr Szamocki (installed Sept. 16, 2023 by Bishop Dennis Sullivan). The pastoral team is rounded out by Rev. Leonard Peterson (retired associate), Rev. Jose Ainikkal, C.M.I. (in residence at St. Casimir Church), and Deacon Lawrence P. Schnepp. Lay staff keep the parish running: Agnes Bross (Business Manager), Sister Connie Trainor (staff support), Cathy Kornberg (Social Media / Marketing Manager and Parish Liaison to Autumn Lake), Sara Bartleson (Administrative Assistant), Barbara Herr (Maintenance Supervisor), and David Wurtz (PREP Director, 609-390-2203, [email protected]), among others.
- Pastor: Rev. Piotr Szamocki
- Retired Associate: Rev. Leonard Peterson
- In Residence (St. Casimir): Rev. Jose Ainikkal, C.M.I.
- Deacon: Lawrence P. Schnepp
- Business Manager: Agnes Bross
- Administrative Assistant: Sara Bartleson
- Social Media / Marketing Manager & Parish Liaison to Autumn Lake: Cathy Kornberg
- Maintenance Supervisor: Barbara Herr
- PREP Director: David Wurtz — [email protected] — 609-390-2203
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Parish Religious Education Program (PREP), directed by David Wurtz, is the parish's catechetical engine for children and teens, with a phone line (609-390-2203) and dedicated email ([email protected]) for families. The parish actively invites parishioners to serve as catechists or aides — 'the only requirements are a love of your faith and children, and a willingness to share your faith with our Parish children,' the parish says. Youth Ministry serves teens, and a separate Young Adult Ministry is available for that age cohort; Confirmation preparation is supported through the parish as well.
- PREP (Parish Religious Education Program)
- Youth Ministry (Teens)
- Young Adult Ministry
- Confirmation preparation
- Catechist and aide recruitment — contact Agnes, 609-390-2203
Liturgical Ministries
Lay parishioners serve at the altar and ambo every Mass at St. Maximilian Kolbe. Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors are listed as standing ministries; the parish specifically seeks altar servers — 'Contact Cathy in the Parish Office, 609-390-0664, to set an appointment with Father Piotr if you would like to be an Altar Server.' Music Ministry supports the sung liturgy, and Parish Nurses assist with health-related needs during and around parish events.
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Lectors
- Altar Servers
- Music Ministry
- Parish Nurses
Outreach, Charity & Social Ministries
Outreach is a central pillar of parish life and is organized through several distinct ministries. Two food pantries (Church of the Resurrection in Upper Township and St. Casimir in Woodbine) and a thrift shop keep direct-service charity running, while the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Respect for Life Ministry carry forward the Church's social teachings. Saint Maximilian's Helpers is a newer, all-purpose 'helping-hands' ministry providing transportation, friendly visits, occasional meals, help with grocery shopping and errands, respite for caregivers, nursing-home visits, and telephone wellness checks for any adult parishioner (18+) across the entire parish footprint, from Beesley's Point to Belleplain — call Lisa at 609-861-0198 for assistance. A Life & Justice Ministry provides a broader framework for the parish's social action.
- Church of the Resurrection Food Pantry — 1st & 3rd Wed 2–5pm, Upper Township families (drive-through style; stay in car)
- Saint Casimir Church Food Pantry — Tue/Thu/Sat 9:00am–12:00pm, Woodbine & Dennis Township families
- Saint Maximilian Kolbe Thrift Shop (Woodbine) — Tue–Sat 9:00am–1:00pm
- Saint Casimir Thrift Shop — Tue–Sat 9:00am–1:00pm
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Saint Maximilian's Helpers — Lisa, 609-861-0198
- Respect for Life Ministry
- Life & Justice Ministry
Parish Leadership & Councils
Lay leadership is exercised through the Parish Pastoral Council and the Parish Financial Council, in collaboration with the pastor and pastoral staff.
- Pastoral Council
- Pastoral Financial Council
Parish Community Center
A long-planned Parish/Community Center was broken ground on July 14, 2019, after Bishop Dennis Sullivan celebrated a 9:30am Mass at the Church of the Resurrection. Monsignor Peter Joyce told parishioners that the center was intended to be 'much more than a building and rooms in which we will gather,' including an all-purpose room for parish and community gatherings, two smaller meeting rooms for parish ministries, a kitchen to serve parish and community events, and a relocated parish-rectory office suite for easier access. Donations for the food pantry can be dropped in Immaculata Hall during office hours — that hall being a continuing gathering space for ministries and meetings.
- Groundbreaking presided by Bishop Sullivan, July 14, 2019
- Includes all-purpose room, two meeting rooms, and shared kitchen
- Relocated rectory/parish offices for easier community access
Locations, Directions & Hours
Parish office staff are available Monday–Thursday, 9:00am–3:00pm and Friday, 9:00am–12:00pm. The Church of the Resurrection sits at 200 Tuckahoe Road, Marmora, NJ 08223. St. Casimir Church is at 304 Clay Street (at Clay & Lincoln Streets), Woodbine, NJ 08270. The parish suggests using MapQuest, Google Maps, or a GPS for directions, or calling the office 9:00am–5:00pm weekdays at 609-390-0664. Drivers from the Garden State Parkway South take Exit 17 toward Sea Isle and follow signs toward Marmora.
- Parish Office — Mon–Thu 9:00am–3:00pm; Fri 9:00am–12:00pm
- Phone (main): 609-390-0664
- Fax: 609-390-8717
- Church of the Resurrection — 200 Tuckahoe Road, Marmora, NJ 08223
- St. Casimir Church — 304 Clay Street, Woodbine, NJ 08270
I'm New Here — Welcome & Registration
'Whether you are a newcomer, a visitor, or a long-time parishioner, we warmly welcome you to join us for Mass. Feel free to attend any of our Masses and be sure to greet us when you do!' The parish encourages visitors to register as parishioners and to become involved by contacting the office (609-390-0664) about any of the parish's many ministries, groups, and organizations.
- Map and directions provided on the 'I'm New Here' page
- Registration information available through the parish office
- Ministry interest — call 609-390-0664; a contact person will follow up
Bulletins & News
The parish publishes weekly bulletins with announcements and ministry updates; these are archived on the parish website under 'Bulletins.' The Sunday 10:00am Mass is livestreamed for those unable to attend in person, accessible through the parish homepage.
- Weekly bulletins posted on saintmaxkolbe.com/bulletins
- Livestream of Sunday 10:00am Mass on the parish homepage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Peter M. Joyce2011–2023
Founding pastor; named by Bishop Galante when the parish was established by decree on Nov. 11, 2011 (effective Dec. 14, 2011). Ordained May 16, 1992; held a licentiate in canon law from the Pontifical University in Rome; previously pastor of Holy Trinity, Margate / St. James, Ventnor / Epiphany, Longport (2010) and Incarnation, Mantua (2006–2009); served the diocese as Chancellor, vice chancellor, diocesan judge, adjutant judicial vicar, and vicar for canonical affairs. Presided over groundbreaking of the parish/community center in 2019.
- Rev. Piotr Szamocki2023–present
Installed as pastor by Bishop Dennis Sullivan on Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, in the parish's first pastor installation of its second pastorate.