Tucked into a quiet block of Skillman Avenue in Sunnyside, Queens, Queen of Angels Catholic Church has been a steady presence in one of New York's most diverse neighborhoods for nearly a century. The parish community worships in English and Spanish, gathers under the patronage of Mary as Queen of Angels, and traces its roots back to 1928, when a parish priest in neighboring Woodside first imagined a Catholic home for the Catholics of Sunnyside. Today the church stands on Skillman Avenue, the parish center sits next door, and the rhythms of daily Mass, the Sacraments, and a busy slate of ministries continue a tradition that has outlasted generations of change in the surrounding neighborhood.
From a Storefront Chapel to a Cornerstone Parish
The story of Queen of Angels begins on February 18, 1928, when Father Patrick J. Manton, pastor of St. Teresa's in Woodside, began advocating for the Catholics of Sunnyside. Within a year he received permission to rent a store at the corner of Skillman Avenue and 44th Street, where he created a chapel for the neighborhood's Catholic community. In August 1931, St. Teresa's purchased the chapel property from James and Mary Sullivan, giving Sunnyside its first permanent worship space.
For more than two decades the chapel was served by the priests of St. Teresa's. Then on October 1, 1953, Queen of Angels became an autonomous parish, with Father Joseph P. Denning as its first pastor. Growth came quickly: two early Sunday Masses were added within weeks of the parish's founding, the first children received First Holy Communion on May 16, 1954, and the first Confirmation was held in 1955. That same year the parish broke ground for a school, construction began on January 3, 1956, and the first Mass was celebrated in the new school auditorium at Midnight Mass on Christmas Day 1956.
In September 1957, five Sisters of Mercy arrived to staff the new school, opening a chapter in religious formation that would shape parish life for years. By 1959 the parish was debt-free, and Father Denning was named Auxiliary Bishop of Brooklyn - he administered Confirmation that same year at Queen of Angels as a bishop for the first time. The next pastor, Father Joseph X. Spellman, oversaw the building of the current church. Ground was broken on May 1, 1962, the cornerstone was laid on May 31, 1963, and Bishop Bryan J. McEntegar formally dedicated and blessed the new Queen of Angels Church on May 23, 1964.
The pastors who followed have continued that legacy: Father James M. Cavanagh (1974 to 1981), Father Matthew Sheridan (1981 to 1999), Father Vincent Daly (1999 to 2009), Father Brian P. Dowd (2009 to 2022), and the current pastor, Father Ambiorix D. Osorio, who began his ministry here in 2022. The parish's history is preserved and retold each year as a testament to the founders, benefactors, and ordinary members who built the church on Skillman Avenue.
Mass and Reconciliation: The Rhythm of the Week
The church opens its doors each day for Mass, with the week organized around a simple but generous schedule. The Saturday Vigil Mass is celebrated at 5:00 PM in English. On Sunday there are three Masses: 9:00 AM and 12:00 PM in English, and 10:30 AM in Spanish. Monday through Friday, daily Mass is offered at 9:00 AM, with the exception of a summer recess when the Wednesday morning Mass is suspended during July and August.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is heard on Saturdays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM, immediately before the Vigil Mass, so that parishioners can prepare for Sunday worship. Private confession can also be arranged at any other time by contacting the parish office.
The Mass itself follows the ordinary form of the Roman Rite, divided into the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist. During the first part the congregation hears readings from Old Testament, Psalms, New Testament, and Gospel, followed by the priest's homily and the recitation of the Nicene or Apostles' Creed. During the second part the priest consecrates bread and wine, which become the true Body and Blood of Christ through transubstantiation. Communion is distributed to properly disposed Catholics, while those who are not Catholic or not yet prepared to receive are invited to come forward for a blessing. The congregation kneels during the consecration to venerate Christ's real presence in the Eucharist.
The Seven Sacraments: A Full Sacramental Life
Queen of Angels celebrates and prepares parishioners for all seven Catholic sacraments, and the church building, the rectory, and the parish office each play a role in that work. Each sacrament is treated in depth on the parish's resources pages, and the practical steps to receive them are clearly spelled out.
Baptism is celebrated on the first Sunday of the month. Parents register for a baptismal instructional class at the rectory or online, and a personal interview with a priest is required, along with the child's birth certificate. The parish uses a form through its Tilma platform to begin the process. For children over the age of seven, the parish directs families toward the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children (RCIC), a multi-year journey that culminates in Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion. Adults preparing for Baptism ordinarily go through OCIA, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults.
Reconciliation is offered on Saturday afternoons, with the wider teaching that Catholics should seek this sacrament frequently and at least once a year. The parish emphasizes that those who are conscious of mortal sin should be reconciled before receiving Holy Communion.
Holy Eucharist is received at every Mass, and the parish teaches the real presence of Christ under the appearances of bread and wine. Catholics are obliged to attend Mass on Sundays and on the holy days of obligation: Christmas, the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God, the Ascension, the Assumption, All Saints' Day, and the Immaculate Conception. The parish recommends fasting for at least one hour before receiving Communion when possible.
Confirmation is received only once and is treated as a mature commitment that deepens the gifts of baptism. The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit - wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord - are central to the parish's teaching about this sacrament. Adults who were baptized in another Christian denomination are received into full communion through OCIA and typically celebrate Confirmation and First Communion together at the Easter Vigil.
Marriage at Queen of Angels is arranged at least six months in advance, with personal interviews with the priest and formal marriage instructions required for every couple. The parish follows the Church's standard teaching: a Catholic marrying another Catholic is married in the Catholic Church, while a Catholic marrying a non-Catholic may receive a dispensation to marry outside or to marry a non-Catholic in Church. The parish offers its own preparation materials and links to marriage enrichment resources.
Holy Orders is presented as a call that God gives to specific men, discerned in conversation with the bishop and the diocesan vocations office. The parish invites men considering the priesthood to pray daily and to reach out to the Diocese of Brooklyn's Vocations Office.
Anointing of the Sick is offered to anyone facing illness, distress, or the frailties of old age, not only those near death. Parishioners can call the rectory at (718) 392-0011 to arrange for a sick person to receive Holy Communion or the Anointing of the Sick at home. For those approaching death, the parish also offers viaticum, the Eucharist as food for the journey home.
The parish also schedules funerals as the Mass of Christian burial, walking families through the choice of readings and hymns, the role of loved ones as lectors, pallbearers, and gift bearers, and the dignified treatment of remains, including cremated remains placed in a Catholic cemetery niche or columbarium.
Faith Formation for Children and Teens
Faith Formation registration opens each year ahead of the fall season. First Communion classes meet on Saturdays from 10:00 to 11:30 AM, with classes beginning in late September. Confirmation preparation meets on Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 PM, also beginning in late September. The registration fee is $75, and families can contact the parish office for more information. The Coordinator of Faith Formation, Ms. Amanda Dos Santos, oversees this work alongside the priests.
Becoming Catholic: OCIA at Queen of Angels
For adults inquiring about the Catholic faith, the parish offers OCIA - the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults - through a series of weekly classes that explore Church teaching, the sacraments, and Sacred Scripture. The parish invites inquirers, returning Catholics, and those who simply feel a tug at their hearts to contact the parish office to learn more. Those who are unbaptized prepare to receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist together, typically at the Easter Vigil. Those already baptized in another Christian denomination prepare to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Each inquirer may choose a sponsor, or one can be provided, to walk alongside them through this journey.
Lay Ministries: Serving at the Altar and Beyond
The parish is supported by a handful of long-standing lay ministries that keep Sunday worship running smoothly and provide fellowship throughout the week.
- Altar Servers assist the priest at Mass, carrying the cross and candles, helping with the preparation of the altar, the washing of hands, and the bringing forth of the bread and wine. The General Instruction of the Roman Missal requires at least one altar server at every Mass, and Queen of Angels welcomes both young and adult servers. Historically a path toward discerning priesthood, this ministry has been open to women since the 1990s and is now open to anyone called to serve.
- Eucharistic Ministers distribute Holy Communion at Sunday and weekday Masses, bringing the Body and Blood of Christ to the congregation with reverence and care.
- Lectors proclaim the Word of God at Mass and other liturgical services, growing in a warm and loving knowledge of Scripture so that the readings can be heard clearly and meaningfully.
- Rosary Society gathers parishioners around the praying of the Rosary and hosts community events, such as the annual Communion Breakfast with guest speakers.
- Social Club offers fellowship and activities for adults, often meeting after the Wednesday morning Mass in the Parish Center for bingo, conversation, and music.
Parish Mission and Marian Identity
The parish describes itself as a Catholic family under the loving mantle of Mary, Blessed Mother and Queen. Drawing on Pope Francis's image of the Church as a mother with an open heart, the parish mission invites all to enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through worship, the celebration of the sacraments, participation in ministry, and the shared life of the parish. Rooted in the Catholic faith and tradition and serving Sunnyside since 1928, the community continues a legacy of faith, service, and unity. Parishioners are invited to pray, belong, and believe together, confident that the parish is here to welcome them.
Becoming a registered parishioner is encouraged so that the parish can keep records, send yearly tax receipts, and manage communication and giving preferences. Online registration is available through the parish's Tilma platform.
Supporting the Parish: Stewardship and the Annual Catholic Appeal
Queen of Angels sustains its mission through the generosity of its members. The parish participates in the Annual Catholic Appeal of the Diocese of Brooklyn, with proceeds supporting youth, the poor, the sick, the imprisoned, those discerning vocations, Catholic education, faith formation, and care for retired clergy. The parish also raises funds through a monthly 50/50 raffle ($10 per chance), which helps cover daily parish expenses.
Online giving is available through WeShare, and donations can be made by visiting the parish's WeShare page. Major projects, such as the multi-month refinishing of the church's pews by The Keck Group, are funded through the stewardship of the parish and its supporters.
Parish Team and Stewardship of the Building
The parish is led by Father Ambiorix D. Osorio, pastor, and Father Roy Thomas, priest in residence. Ms. Amanda Dos Santos serves as Coordinator of Faith Formation. The music ministry is led by Music Director Mr. Fernando Rojas and Organist Mr. Jose Escobar. Parish operations are supported by Parish Secretary Mrs. Yadira Tamayo. The parish office can be reached at (718) 392-0011.
Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 to 5:00 PM, and Saturday, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM. The parish complex includes the church at 44-04 Skillman Avenue and the Parish Center at 43-18 Skillman Avenue, both in Sunnyside, NY 11104. The church is currently undergoing a careful pew refinishing project, with each section being removed, transported to a workshop, and returned to preserve the beauty and integrity of the worship space.
Looking Outward: Formation, Vocations, and Community Ties
Queen of Angels works in close partnership with the Diocese of Brooklyn, including the diocesan Vocations Office for those discerning priesthood. The parish also maintains a relationship with St. Sebastian Catholic Academy, the parish school that grew from the school opened by the Sisters of Mercy in 1957. Bulletin announcements, weekly reflections, and a steady stream of formation resources round out the parish's outreach, including reflections on the meaning of the Eucharist, the beauty of a sacramental marriage, the gifts received at Confirmation, and the everyday practice of finding joy, building adult friendships, and praying through the long seasons of waiting. Sunday bulletins are posted online and can be downloaded from the parish's bulletins page.
For those who are grieving, discerning, or simply seeking a parish home, the parish invites them to attend Mass, request a prayer, schedule a meeting with a priest, or simply step into the church on Skillman Avenue and find a place to sit, pray, and be welcomed under Mary's mantle.