St. Rose of Lima

Welcome & Parish Mission

St. Rose of Lima describes itself as a warm, loving family nourished by the Eucharist in the celebration of Holy Mass and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As a multi-cultural people, parishioners say they 'form an icon of Jesus to the Rockaway community,' supporting and challenging one another to live lives of faith, hope, and charity, and witnessing the Gospel through words and actions. The parish explicitly invites newcomers to be part of the St. Rose of Lima family.

Parish History

The parish's roots go back to 1847, when the first Mass on the Rockaway peninsula was celebrated at a Far Rockaway hotel. By 1884 the local Catholic community was large enough to seek its own pastor, and on August 30, 1886, founding pastor Rev. Edward J. O'Connell celebrated the first Mass in the original 50-by-100-foot church on Fairview Avenue. Twenty years later, groundbreaking for the present church took place on July 1, 1906, and the new Ingle-designed Romanesque Revival building was dedicated on September 27, 1907. Major milestones include the 1910 dedication of the Bibolotti statue, the 1929 installation of the bell and clock, the 1966 dedication of the new rectory, convent, and school, and the start of perpetual adoration in 1994 under Father Peter D. Gillen.

• First Rockaway Mass: 1847, William Caffrey's Hotel, Far Rockaway
• First Mass in original church: August 30, 1886
• Original church cost $6,000 and seated 500
• Current church groundbreaking: July 1, 1906; dedication September 27, 1907
• Construction cost of current church: $125,000; seating capacity 800
• Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament statue dedicated December 11, 1910
• Combination bell and clock installed in towers December 18, 1929
• New rectory, convent, and school dedicated May 15, 1966
• Perpetual adoration of the Eucharist began September 10, 1994

The Current Church Building

The church parishioners worship in today was designed by architect John W. Ingle in the Romanesque style. Construction was completed in 1907 at a cost of $125,000 and the building holds 800 worshippers. Among its artistic treasures are stained-glass windows — including a 'Good Shepherd' window that came from Germany — and the famous five-foot white marble statue of Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament by Italian sculptor Anotona Bibolotti, which took six months to carve and was the first of its kind installed in any church in the world.

• Architect: John W. Ingle
• Style: Romanesque Revival
• Seating capacity: 800
• Construction cost: $125,000
• Notable window: 'Good Shepherd', imported from Germany
• Notable statue: Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament by Anotona Bibolotti (1910)

Our Team

The parish is led by a pastor and supported by a parochial vicar, a part-time parochial vicar, and a priest in residence, along with a lay team overseeing faith formation, music, youth ministry, and parish business.

• Pastor: Father James Rodriguez
• Parochial Vicar: Father Wojciech Stachura
• Part-Time Parochial Vicar: Father Daniel K. Rajski
• In Residence: Father Chux Okochi
• Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Bridget Murphy ([email protected])
• Youth Minister: Ms. Sally Flores
• Business Manager: Ms. Luz Rivera
• Music Ministry: Mr. Antoni Wilga, Mr. Kevin Faughey, Mr. Ramon Morillo
• Administrative Assistant & Bulletin Editor: Mrs. Erin Romain-Mohammed

Faith Formation & Religious Education

The parish's Office of Faith Formation, directed by Mrs. Bridget Murphy, runs the Religious Education School for children from Kindergarten through Grade 8. The program emphasizes building a personal relationship with Jesus through Catholic knowledge, and prepares students to receive the sacraments of initiation.

• Director of Religious Education: Mrs. Bridget Murphy ([email protected])
• Grades served: Kindergarten through Grade 8
• Emphasis on personal relationship with Jesus and the sacraments of initiation

RCIA & Adult Confirmation

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is offered for non-Catholics considering becoming Catholic and for Catholics who wish to learn more about their faith. The program begins with a period of instruction, deepens into Catholic life, and culminates in the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist) usually at Easter. Classes are held in English and Spanish and meet weekly from September through Easter. A separate Adult Confirmation Preparation program is offered for already-Baptized Catholics, running once a week from January onward.

• RCIA meets weekly September through Easter
• Classes in English and Spanish
• Includes Baptism (for unbaptized or other denominations), Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist
• Adult Confirmation Preparation for already-Baptized Catholics, January through spring
• Contact: Mrs. Bridget Murphy

Youth Ministry

The parish employs a dedicated Youth Minister to walk with young people in the parish community.

• Youth Minister: Ms. Sally Flores

Music Ministry

Music at St. Rose of Lima is led by a team of three musicians who support liturgy across the parish's English, Spanish, and Polish Masses.

• Music Ministry: Mr. Antoni Wilga
• Music Ministry: Mr. Kevin Faughey
• Music Ministry: Mr. Ramon Morillo

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy

Adjacent to the church on Beach 84th Street is St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy, the parish school. Originally opened by the Presentation Sisters in September 1966 under first principal Sister Eleanor O'Donnell, the school graduated its first class on June 20, 1970. It was renamed St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy on September 1, 2013, and now serves Nursery (3K) through Grade 8 with a diverse student body reflecting the Rockaway community.

• Founded as St. Rose of Lima School in 1966 by the Presentation Sisters
• Renamed St. Rose of Lima Catholic Academy September 1, 2013
• Grades: Nursery (3K) through 8
• Address: 154 Beach 84th Street, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693
• School phone: (718) 474-7079; fax (718) 634-0524
• First principal: Sister Eleanor O'Donnell
• First graduation: June 20, 1970
• Teacher with 35 years of service; many faculty hold Master's degrees
• Students perform at or above Diocese of Brooklyn levels on NYS tests

Contact & Office Hours

Parishioners can reach the rectory by phone, email, or in person during the published office hours.

• Address: 130 Beach 84th Street, Rockaway Beach, NY 11693
• Phone: 718-634-7394
• Email: [email protected]
• Office Hours: Tuesday & Friday 9 am – 4 pm; Wednesday & Thursday 9 am – 1 pm; closed Saturday, Sunday, Monday

Spanish-language Resources

The parish maintains a Spanish-language version of its RCIA page, and a weekly Sunday Mass is celebrated in Spanish (Domingo 9:30 am). RCIA classes are held in both English and Spanish.

• Sunday Mass in Spanish: 9:30 am
• RICA (RCIA en español) offered
• Faith Formation Director: Mrs. Bridget Murphy