On a leafy stretch of Fourth Avenue in Bay Ridge, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church has long served as a Sunday morning gathering place and a daily anchor for Catholics across southwest Brooklyn. Part of the Diocese of Brooklyn, the parish combines a busy schedule of Masses with weekly Eucharistic Adoration, an active faith formation program for children and adults, a K-8 Catholic Academy, and a St. Vincent de Paul Society whose food pantry reaches neighbors in need.
Mass Times and the Sunday Rhythm
The parish keeps an extensive schedule of Masses so that working families, students, and retirees can find a time to worship. On the weekend, the Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 4:30 pm, and four Sunday Masses are offered at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 noon, and 5:00 pm. A Saturday Mass at 12 noon rounds out the weekend. On weekdays, Mass is offered Monday through Friday at 8:15 am and 12 noon, with the noon Mass the only liturgy scheduled on federal holidays. Holy Days bring their own pattern: a 4:30 pm vigil Mass and three additional Masses at 8:15 am, 12 noon, and 7:00 pm.
The Mass follows the structure of the Roman rite, divided into the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Readings from the Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospel are proclaimed by lectors, followed by a homily and the recitation of the Apostles' or Nicene Creed. In the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the priest consecrates bread and wine, which through transubstantiation become the true Body and Blood of Christ, and the faithful come forward to receive Holy Communion. Catholics who are not properly disposed are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation first; non-Catholics and those not yet prepared to receive Communion are invited to come forward for a blessing by crossing one hand over the opposite shoulder.
Reconciliation is offered every Saturday at 12:30 pm. Baptisms are celebrated on the second Saturday of each month at 2:00 pm, with an instruction class held on the Wednesday before each baptism.
Eucharistic Adoration on Sundays
Following the noon Mass on Sundays, the Blessed Sacrament is exposed on the altar for Adoration, concluding with Benediction at 4:30 pm. The parish draws on a familiar line from St. Padre Pio to describe the practice: a Holy Hour spent before the Blessed Sacrament is worth more than a thousand years of human glory. Eucharistic Adorers are parishioners who take responsibility for ensuring that Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is never left alone during these hours. Anyone with one hour a week to spend in prayer is invited to sign up through the parish office.
The Seven Sacraments at St. Patrick's
The parish walks Catholics through all seven sacraments of the Church. Baptism welcomes new Catholics into the Body of Christ, washing away original sin; it is received only once and is celebrated on the second Saturday of each month. Reconciliation, also known as Confession or Penance, restores the baptized to the state of grace lost through sin and is offered every Saturday at 12:30 pm. The Holy Eucharist is received at Mass as the true Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ under the appearance of bread and wine. Confirmation seals the baptized with the gift of the Holy Spirit and equips the confirmand to be a witness for Christ; Catholics baptized in another Christian tradition enter full communion with the Church and receive Confirmation and the Eucharist together after the Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA or OCIA).
Marriage preparation at St. Patrick's begins at least nine months before the ceremony. A Catholic marrying another Catholic must marry in the Catholic Church; a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic may marry in the Church or, with appropriate dispensations from the bishop, outside it. Holy Orders sets men apart for priestly ministry, and the parish directs men discerning a vocation to the Diocese of Brooklyn's Vocations Office. Anointing of the Sick, once reserved for those at the point of death and known as Last Rites or Extreme Unction, is now offered to anyone facing serious illness, advanced age, or significant medical procedures, and is repeated when conditions worsen. Viaticum, the final reception of the Eucharist, accompanies this sacrament at the end of life.
The Parish School of Religion
The Parish School of Religion, known as PSR, is the parish's religious education program for children whose families worship at St. Patrick's. Its stated mission is to proclaim the Catholic Faith through the spiritual teachings of St. Patrick, the parish's patron, bringing youth, young adults, and adult members into a profound understanding of and encounter with Christ. The Catechist Team is made up of lay parishioners trained as catechists and youth leaders who serve as what the parish describes as echoes of the Gospel. The PSR office handles registrations, fees, online homework, and devotions, and is always looking for new catechists to volunteer. Adults interested in becoming Catholic are pointed toward OCIA classes, where they study the sacraments, Sacred Scripture, and Church teaching before receiving Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist, typically at the Easter Vigil.
St. Patrick Catholic Academy
St. Patrick Catholic Academy is the parish school serving families in Bay Ridge and the surrounding neighborhoods. The academy operates as a separate institution under the parish umbrella, offering K-8 education rooted in the faith. A youth sports program associated with the parish is also active in the community and provides athletics for children and teens. Together with the Parish School of Religion, the academy helps the parish accompany children from the early years through the reception of the sacraments.
Liturgical Ministries: Lectors, Altar Servers, and Choir
Parishioners serve at Mass in several long-standing liturgical roles. Ministers of the Word, or lectors, proclaim the Hebrew and Christian Scriptures at Mass and at other prayer services; they are contacted through Fr. Falce at the rectory. Altar Servers assist the priest at the altar during Mass and must be baptized, have received First Holy Communion, attend weekly Mass, and be open to children in grades 5 through 12. Training is provided.
The Parish Choir sings at the noon Mass every Sunday under the direction of James Siranovich, the Director of Music, and welcomes new members. The choir is one of the cornerstones of the parish's traditional Catholic worship.
Devotional and Pastoral Ministries
Beyond the liturgy, the parish hosts a variety of devotional groups. The Legion of Mary meets every Friday at 10:15 am in the Rectory Archway Room, working for the glory of God through prayer and active cooperation in the work of Mary and the Church. Members visit families, the sick at home and in hospitals, and assist in the parish's apostolic undertakings. New members are always welcome; the contact is Rosemary DeLorenzo.
Eucharistic Adorers, described above, commit to a weekly hour of prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. Ministers of the Word proclaim the readings at Mass. The Baptismal Team has a long history at St. Patrick's and works in pairs to walk families through the preparation process, offering hospitality and practical support one or two Saturdays a year. The team welcomes new members willing to share in this work.
Crafting with Seniors meets on Monday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:00 pm in the Msgr. Parks Center (rear entrance), led by facilitator Eileen Bolger. The program provides a regular social and creative outlet for older parishioners.
Outreach Through the St. Vincent de Paul Society
The parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, facilitated by James Lamond, is the primary outreach arm of St. Patrick's. Inspired by Gospel values and following the example of its founder Blessed Frédéric Ozanam and patron St. Vincent de Paul, the society serves those who are needy and suffering in the tradition of person-to-person charity. Services include a weekly food pantry, bi-annual clothing drives, quarterly food drives, and dinner baskets distributed at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Parishioners called to this ministry are asked to leave their name and phone number at the rectory.
What a First-Time Visitor Should Know
St. Patrick's is a traditional Catholic parish that welcomes visitors warmly at every liturgy. Mass is celebrated in English throughout the week. There is no dress code beyond the general expectation of respectful attire, and families with children of all ages are welcome. The parish livestreams Mass on NET TV and on YouTube for those who are homebound or traveling, and Sunday Masses can be watched at 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12 noon, 1:30 pm, and 3:00 pm; weekday livestreams are offered at 8:00 am and 9:00 am. A weekly bulletin is published online, and online giving is available through the parish's giving page. Office hours at the rectory are Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, and the staff can be reached at 718-238-2600 for scheduling baptisms, weddings, and funerals, requesting Mass intentions, or inquiring about any of the parish's ministries.
Planned Giving and Parish Life
The parish has partnered with the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens to offer FreeWill, a free and secure will-writing tool that allows parishioners to plan their estate, care for loved ones, and optionally leave a gift to St. Patrick's Church. The completed will can be created in about twenty minutes and is offered at no cost to the user. Donations to the parish are accepted online through the giving page, and the parish participates annually in the Annual Catholic Appeal of the Diocese of Brooklyn. The parish also runs periodic 50/50 raffles that have become a community tradition; the recent Spring into Summer Raffle produced a payout of more than $5,000.
A Parish Rooted in Bay Ridge
With its broad schedule of Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, complete sacramental life, school, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church offers the fullness of Catholic parish life to Bay Ridge and the surrounding neighborhoods. Fr. Randy Nguyen serves as pastor, and Fr. Falce assists in the ministry; James Siranovich leads music and the choir; and lay faithful carry the parish's mission into the wider community through the Legion of Mary, the Baptismal Team, the Crafting with Seniors program, and the food pantry. From a noon weekday Mass to Sunday's late afternoon liturgy and Benediction, the parish keeps its doors open and its sacraments available throughout the week.