About St. Thomas More [Blessed Trinity Parish] · Rockaway Point, New York
Blessed Trinity Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Brooklyn serving the Rockaway Peninsula communities of Rockaway Point, Breezy Point, and Roxbury in Queens, New York. Formed in May 2008 by the merger of St. Thomas More–St. Edmund Parish and St. Genevieve Parish, it worships across three historic church buildings — St. Thomas More in Rockaway Point, St. Edmund in Breezy Point, and St. Genevieve in Roxbury — with the parish offices and main church at St. Thomas More. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Michael L. Gelfant since 2020, the parish continues a coastal-community Catholic tradition stretching back to 1924, marked by summer crowds, devotions like the annual Blessing of the Animals and Stations of the Cross procession, and resilience after Hurricane Sandy.
- Established
- 2008
- Patron
- Blessed Trinity (Holy Trinity)
- Rector
- Rev. Michael L. Gelfant
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn
Why belong here
Blessed Trinity Parish welcomes worshippers across three historic church buildings — St. Thomas More in Rockaway Point, St. Edmund in Breezy Point, and St. Genevieve in Roxbury — making it easy to find a Mass close to home or the beach. The parish runs a Religious Education school (CCD/First Sacraments/Confirmation) along with an Adult School of Religion in Advent and Lent, a Youth Ministry, and outreach including a Drug Awareness Program (since 2002) and a long-running hospital/homebound visiting ministry for the elderly on the Rockaway Peninsula. Distinctive community traditions include the annual Blessing of the Animals on the Feast of St. Francis, a Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession, a Feast of the Assumption beach Mass, a monthly Family Mass and Teen Mass with dedicated music by the parish Music Ministry, an annual parish fair, and even a doggie costume parade — a parish shaped by both shoreline life and resilience after Hurricane Sandy.
Mass times at St. Thomas More [Blessed Trinity Parish]
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday at 4:00 PM at St. Thomas More Church
- Anytime upon request
History of Blessed Trinity Parish
The parish traces its roots to a 1924 mission church in Roxbury dedicated to St. Genevieve and a 1937 mission church in Rockaway Point dedicated to St. Edmund — both originally attended from St. Francis de Sales Parish in Belle Harbor. Archbishop Thomas E. Molloy created the territorial parish in January 1937 and appointed Fr. Edward O'Reilly as its first pastor; he died after only six months and was succeeded by Fr. William O'Keefe, who recorded the parish's first Baptism (Maureen Ann Gifford, July 3, 1937) and first wedding (George Carmody and Emily Reidman, Feb. 10, 1938). In the 1950s, under Monsignor Francis Donnelly, a new larger church was built on the Point and, to end confusion caused by two St. Edmund churches, was dedicated to St. Thomas More on July 18, 1954. Monsignor Donnelly also built the Rectory and a Social Center with a gymnasium (dedicated 1957), leaving the parish debt-free with winter attendance near 2,000 and summer attendance near 7,000.
- 1924 – St. Genevieve mission church erected in Roxbury (mission of St. Francis de Sales)
- 1937 – St. Edmund Parish created for Rockaway Point; Fr. Edward O'Reilly named first pastor
- 1937 – Fr. William O'Keefe becomes pastor (1937–1945); first Baptism and wedding recorded
- 1953–54 – New church built; renamed St. Thomas More at dedication July 18, 1954 by Auxiliary Bishop Raymond Kearney
- 1957 – Rectory and Social Center (with gymnasium) dedicated
- 1987 – 50th anniversary celebrated with beach Mass and plaza reception for 1,000+
- May 18, 2008 – Blessed Trinity Parish formed by merger; Monsignor Michael Curran installed as first pastor by Bishop Frank Caggiano
- 2013 – Fr. Peter Rayder installed to lead post-Hurricane-Sandy recovery
- 2020 – Fr. Michael L. Gelfant named current pastor
Parish Clergy and Staff
Blessed Trinity is led by Pastor Rev. Michael L. Gelfant, with Rev. Msgr. Ronald A. Newland, P.A. (retired, Archdiocese of Newark) assisting on weekends. The parish is supported by a team including an Executive Assistant to the Pastor, a Financial Secretary / Director of Development, a Director of Religious Education, a Youth Minister, a Director of Music, a Parish Trustee, and a Maintenance lead. The parish also counts Monsignor Michael Curran among its Pastor Emeriti.
- Rev. Michael L. Gelfant – Pastor
- Rev. Msgr. Ronald A. Newland, P.A. – Weekend Assistant (retired, Archdiocese of Newark)
- Mrs. Julie Ratka – Executive Assistant to Fr. Gelfant / Parish Operations
- Mrs. Maureen McVeigh – Financial Secretary / Director of Development
- Ms. Carol Verdi, LCSW – Director of Religious Education (Religious Education School)
- Mrs. Brianne Ratka-Coyle – Youth Minister
- Mr. Richard Louis-Pierre – Director of Music / Music Ministry
- Mr. Patrick Regan – Maintenance
- Anthony Burti – Trustee
Sacraments
Information on the Sacraments is published on the parish website; parishioners are directed to contact the rectory for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, and Reconciliation arrangements. Confessions are heard every Saturday at 4:00 PM at St. Thomas More Church, and 'at any time convenient upon request.'
- Baptism – by arrangement with the rectory
- First Holy Communion / First Sacraments – through the parish Religious Education School
- Confirmation – CCD/Confirmation program
- Marriage – contact the rectory
- Reconciliation – Saturdays 4:00 PM at St. Thomas More Church, or by request
Religious Education and Faith Formation
Faith formation for children and youth is directed by Carol Verdi, LCSW, and continues a long parish tradition of CCD, First Sacraments, and Confirmation programs that grew from 69 children in 1983 (when Sister Joseph Amata became Religious Coordinator under Monsignor Connelly) to about 205 children today. Monsignor Connelly also established a School of Religion for Adults during Advent and Lent. The parish website also lists a separate page for St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy, the parish-sponsored Catholic school.
- Religious Education School (CCD, First Sacraments, Confirmation)
- Director of Religious Education: Ms. Carol Verdi, LCSW
- Adult School of Religion during Advent and Lent
- St. Francis de Sales Catholic Academy (sponsored by St. Francis de Sales Parish and Blessed Trinity Parish)
Youth and Music Ministry
Youth Ministry is led by Brianne Ratka-Coyle and is supported liturgically by a monthly Teen Mass added in 2006 under Monsignor Curran. The Music Ministry, directed by Richard Louis-Pierre, supports all parish liturgies including the monthly Family Mass and Teen Mass (Sister Mary Beata previously coordinated music liturgy for these special Masses).
- Youth Ministry – Mrs. Brianne Ratka-Coyle
- Monthly Teen Mass (since 2006)
- Monthly Family Mass
- Music Ministry – Mr. Richard Louis-Pierre, Director
Parish Devotions and Annual Traditions
The parish maintains a number of distinctive community devotions, most of them instituted under Monsignor Michael Curran after his 2005 return as pastor. They reflect the parish's coastal, family character — including outdoor processions, beach Masses, and a beloved Blessing of the Animals.
- Annual Good Friday Stations of the Cross procession (first held 2006)
- Feast of the Assumption (Aug. 15) evening Mass at the bay beach in front of Kennedy's restaurant (since 2006)
- Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4) Blessing of the Animals on the plaza
- Annual Parish Fair (begun Spring 2006)
- Annual Doggie Costume Parade (begun late summer 2006)
Outreach and Community Life
Blessed Trinity Parish maintains both pastoral outreach to the homebound and educational outreach on substance abuse, alongside long-standing community-building events such as the annual Parish Show (since 1988) and parish fair. The parish also runs a Parish Library, founded in 1996 and originally housed at St. Edmund's.
- Hospital and Homebound Visiting Ministry for elderly on the Rockaway Peninsula (organized under Monsignor Connelly and Fr. Vincent O'Connell; still active)
- Drug Awareness Program (since 2002) – lectures and group discussions for teens and adults with doctors, social workers, and recovering addicts
- Annual Parish Show (since 1988, last weekend in June)
- Parish Library (since 1996)
- Parish Pastoral Council (formed at the direction of Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio)
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the rectory at (718) 634-6357 (fax 718-634-6222) or by email at [email protected]. The parish office is located at St. Thomas More Church, 204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd., Rockaway Point, NY 11697. The website is www.btparish.org.
- Phone: (718) 634-6357
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.btparish.org
- Mailing address: 204-25 Rockaway Point Blvd., Rockaway Point, NY 11697
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Edward O'Reilly1937 (six months)
First pastor of St. Edmund Parish; died suddenly in office.
- Fr. William O'Keefe1937–1945
Established first Holy Name Society and altar boys; recorded first Baptism and first wedding.
- Fr. J. Emmett McDonald1950
First Administrator of St. Genevieve Parish in Roxbury (previously mission of St. Francis de Sales 1924–1950).
- Fr. John HessionSt. Genevieve era
- Fr. John Cullinane1996– (St. Genevieve)
- Fr. Cornelius Buckley1945 (St. Edmund)
- Msgr. Francis Donnelly1957
Canon Lawyer; oversaw construction of new St. Thomas More Church (dedicated 1954), Rectory and Social Center; elevated to Monsignor at the 1954 dedication.
- Fr. James Smyth1960
- Fr. John Sexton1967
- Fr. George Mihovich1971
Loved to travel; invited the Agape Movement to establish programs.
- Msgr. Michael Connelly1981–2005
Hired Sr. Joseph Amata as Religious Coordinator; oversaw CCD/Confirmation growth; 50th anniversary in 1987; Pastor Emeritus 2005–.
- Msgr. Michael Curran2005–2008 (St. Thomas More–St. Edmund); 2008–2013 (Blessed Trinity)
Returned from Rome studies; first pastor of merged Blessed Trinity; installed May 18, 2008 by Bishop Caggiano.
- Fr. Peter Rayder2013–2020
Installed as pastor by Bishop Caggiano in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy (2012).
- Fr. Michael L. Gelfant2020–present
Current pastor.