About St. Virgilius [St. Camillus-St. Virgilius Parish] · Broad Channel, New York
St. Camillus-St. Virgilius Parish is a Roman Catholic community rooted on Broad Channel, the only inhabited island in Jamaica Bay. For more than a century the parish has served the families of Broad Channel—often called "The Venice of New York"—through the Eucharist, sacraments, and parish life. Today it carries the legacy of St. Virgilius Church and the nearby St. Camillus tradition as a home of faith for roughly 900 local families. It remains a tight-knit, island parish within the Diocese of Brooklyn.
- Established
- 1915
- Patron
- St. Virgilius of Salzburg
- Rector
- Richard J. Ahlemeyer
- Diocese
- Diocese of Brooklyn
History
St. Virgilius Roman Catholic Church and its predecessor missions have served Broad Channel for over 100 years. Broad Channel was founded in 1875 and was originally a summer community before becoming a year-round home. Around 1905 a visiting Passionist priest from Jersey City, Fr. Hilliary, celebrated Mass in relatives' homes; in 1912 Fr. James Bennett, pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Rockaway, arranged for a priest to offer Mass regularly, first in the dining room of Chris Hoob's hotel. A formal mission was built on the southwest corner of Church and 8 Road, and the first St. Virgilius Mission Church was dedicated on July 4, 1915.
Patron Saint
St. Virgilius of Salzburg (also known as Virgil) was an Irish bishop, abbot, and scholar. Born in Ireland, he became abbot of St. Peter's in Salzburg and was later consecrated bishop. He is remembered for his missionary work among the Alpine Slavs and his defense of orthodox teaching on baptism.