A Trilingual Parish in the Heart of Long Island City
On 11th Street between 36th and 37th Avenues, just east of the busy commercial corridor that runs beneath the elevated tracks of the 7 train, stands Saint Rita Roman Catholic Church. The parish has anchored this corner of Long Island City for roughly a century and a quarter, and today it is one of the most visibly multilingual congregations in western Queens. Within a single weekend the same church hosts Mass in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, and the bulletin boards, devotional prayers, and prayer groups follow the same three languages. Saint Rita's is the kind of parish where a Brazilian mother praying the Rosary in Portuguese, a Mexican grandmother lighting candles before the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and an Irish-American family at the Sunday 9 a.m. Mass all share the same pews and the same pastor.
The parish belongs to the Diocese of Brooklyn and is led by Rev. Felix Sanchez as pastor. In 2025 the community gathered for its 125th anniversary gala, an event that doubled as a celebration of Father Felix's thirtieth year in priestly ministry.
125 Years on 11th Street
The parish traces its roots to the year 1900. Across the generations Saint Rita's has served successive waves of Long Island City residents, beginning with the neighborhood's original Catholic population and growing with every new immigrant community that has settled in western Queens. The 125th anniversary gala, held at Astoria World Manor in October 2025, gathered parishioners past and present to mark more than a century of continuous worship at the 11th Street church. Photographs from the parish's annual Brazilian June Festival, the Festa Junina, line the parish photo gallery and give a sense of how the cultural life of the parish has expanded over the decades.
Mass Schedule and Languages
The most distinctive feature of Saint Rita's is its three-language Sunday schedule. On Saturday evening, the vigil Mass is offered in English at 5:00 p.m. Sunday brings three Masses back to back: 9:00 a.m. in English, 10:30 a.m. in Spanish, and 12:00 p.m. in Portuguese. On weekdays the parish offers an 8:00 a.m. Mass in English Monday through Friday. In addition, a 7:00 p.m. Mass in Spanish is celebrated on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, and on the first Friday of each month a 7:30 p.m. Mass in Portuguese follows the morning schedule. Holy Days of Obligation are marked with an 8:00 a.m. Mass in English and a 7:00 p.m. vigil Mass in English the evening before.
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is offered every Thursday immediately after the 8:00 a.m. Mass, and on the first Friday of each month adoration continues from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is available by appointment; parishioners call the rectory at (718) 361-1884 to set up a time with one of the priests.
What to Expect at Mass
Saint Rita's describes its weekend liturgy as a place where individuals from all walks of life are welcomed to experience the transformative power of faith. The Mass follows the ordinary Roman rite and moves through the two great parts of every Catholic liturgy: the Liturgy of the Word and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.
Mass opens with the priest and altar servers processing into the sanctuary. The Penitential Rite and the Kyrie acknowledge the congregation's brokenness and ask for God's mercy. The Liturgy of the Word follows, with readings from the Old Testament, the Psalms, the New Testament, and the Gospel, usually followed by a homily. The congregation then stands to profess the Apostles' or the Nicene Creed and joins in the Prayer of the Faithful.
The second half of the Mass is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. The bread and wine are brought to the altar; the priest consecrates them, and the community kneels in reverence because of the Church's belief in transubstantiation, the real transformation of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. After the Lord's Prayer, Catholics in a state of grace are invited to receive Holy Communion. Visitors who are not Catholic, or who are not yet prepared to receive the Eucharist, are welcome to come forward for a blessing, indicated by placing one hand across the opposite shoulder.
The Seven Sacraments
Saint Rita's celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Eucharist (the sacraments of initiation); Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick (the sacraments of healing); and Marriage and Holy Orders (the sacraments of service). The parish teaches that a sacrament is a sign instituted by Christ that brings the faithful into a deeper relationship with Him and bestows grace.
Baptism
Infant baptisms are scheduled by appointment with the pastor. Parents meet with a priest, select a godmother and a godfather, and bring the child's birth certificate to the meeting. At least one godparent must be a practicing Catholic who has received the sacraments of initiation; the other may be a baptized Christian of any denomination. Children between the ages of seven and eighteen typically prepare through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Children, and unbaptized adults enter the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process.
First Communion, Confirmation, and OCIA
Catechetical preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is coordinated through the parish's Director of Religious Education, Ms. Helen Foster. Adults who wish to become Catholic, or baptized Christians from another denomination who wish to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church, follow the OCIA process, a period of weekly classes, prayer, and formation that usually culminates in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil.
Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick
Confessions are heard by appointment with one of the priests; the parish teaches that this sacrament restores the grace of baptism and is meant to be received frequently. The Anointing of the Sick can be requested by calling the rectory or by emailing the parish office. It is offered not only at the moment of death but also during serious illness, before surgery, or in times of emotional and spiritual distress. For those about to die, the Church offers viaticum, final Holy Communion as food for the journey home.
Marriage and Funerals
Couples wishing to marry at Saint Rita's, or parishioners planning a wedding elsewhere, are asked to call the rectory at least six months before the proposed date and to make an appointment with the pastor. The parish teaches that a Catholic marrying another Catholic must marry in the Catholic Church; mixed marriages can be celebrated in the Church with appropriate dispensations or may take place elsewhere with the bishop's permission. Funeral arrangements are made through the funeral director, who contacts the parish; family members are invited to serve as lectors, pallbearers, and gift bearers, and the parish encourages interment in a Catholic cemetery.
A Multilingual Ministry Map
Saint Rita's keeps more than fifteen active ministries and devotional groups running across the week. Several are explicitly bilingual or language-specific, and the parish intentionally builds community in three tongues.
Spanish-Language Groups
- Grupo Carismático meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and is led by Carla Perdomo.
- Grupo Guadalupano gathers every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. under the direction of Gerardo Quiñones, devoted to devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe.
- Movimiento de Cursillo de Cristiandad meets every Sunday at 9 a.m. Florecita Toribio coordinates the group.
- Nuestra Señora de Fátima meets on the third Sunday of each month after the Spanish Mass to pray the Rosary for world peace in honor of Our Lady of Fátima; Carolina Chin is the contact.
- Grupo Damas & Caballeros (Ladies and Gentlemen's Group) gathers on the first Sunday of each month and is coordinated by Gardenia Casado.
Portuguese-Language Groups
- Peregrinação de Nossa Senhora Rosa Mística gathers every Monday at 7:30 p.m. Maniha is the contact.
- Carismáticos Brasileiros meets every Friday at 7:30 p.m. under the coordination of Genoveva.
- Apostolado Brasileiro brings together Brazilian parishioners under the coordination of Nair Marques, who also helps organize the parish's annual Festa Junina, a beloved celebration of Brazilian June festival traditions with music, food, and dance.
Liturgical Ministries in English
- Altar Servers assist at Mass; servers must have already made their First Communion, and training classes meet on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. Parents must accompany children to the sessions and complete a consent form.
- Lectors proclaim the readings at Mass and are encouraged to read with clarity and warmth.
- Eucharistic Ministers assist the priests and deacons with the distribution of Holy Communion under both kinds.
- English Choir rehearses every Saturday at 1:00 p.m. under the direction of Kenneth St. Bernard, the parish Director of Music.
Children, Teens, and Families
Saint Rita's serves a large and growing population of young families. Beyond sacramental preparation, the parish offers several ongoing programs for children and youth.
Saint Rita's Youth Group meets on the first and third Saturday of each month at 11:00 a.m. Cleciane Furtado coordinates the parish's youth ministry.
Girl Scout Troop 6417 has been part of Saint Rita's for more than twenty years, having grown from a small group of dedicated girls and leaders into a multi-level troop of over a hundred girls from age three through age eighteen. The troop meets in Saint Rita's School Hall on Friday nights from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (entrants use the schoolyard door). Troop alumni have gone on to Marymount Manhattan College, CUNY Hunter, NYU, and the University of Buffalo, and some have received the Dr. Harry Brittenstool Scholarship award for academic excellence. The troop's longtime contact is Clare Doran.
Seniors Ministry
The Seniors Ministry provides ongoing faith formation, fellowship, and support to the older members of the parish. The group meets every Thursday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. in Msgr. Bennett's room. The parish emphasizes that the elders enrich Saint Rita's with their experience and presence.
Becoming Catholic at Saint Rita's
The parish welcomes those who are curious about the Catholic faith, those who were baptized Catholic as children and have not practiced in some time, and those baptized in another Christian denomination who feel drawn toward full communion with Rome. The recommended path is the parish's OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) program, a series of weekly classes where newcomers can bring their questions, break open the Scriptures, learn about the seven sacraments, and meet others on the same journey. OCIA typically culminates in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil. Inquirers are invited to contact the parish office to learn about the next schedule.
What the Parish Believes
Saint Rita's teaches the classical Catholic faith in plain language. The parish believes in one God in three divine persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Son, Jesus Christ, was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem, and is true God and true man. Through His death on the cross and His resurrection on the third day, Jesus reconciled humanity to the Father and conquered sin and death. At Pentecost the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles and gave birth to the Church, breaking down ethnic and linguistic barriers to make the Catholic Church a universal family - the word Catholic itself coming from the Greek katholikos, meaning universal. Today, the parish teaches, the Catholic Church is a family of more than 1.2 billion people united by a single mission: to love God and to love others.
The parish mission statement is concise and concrete: The mission of St. Rita's is to embody the teachings of St. Rita by serving our congregation and the broader community with compassion and humility. We aim to inspire those around us to deepen their faith and embrace the ideals of love and resilience, forging a path toward spiritual fulfillment for all.
Who Was Saint Rita?
Saint Rita of Cascia was an Italian Augustinian nun of the fifteenth century, widely known as the patron saint of impossible causes. She is remembered for her patience in suffering and her lifelong devotion to prayer, and her feast day, May 22, has long been honored at the parish that bears her name.
Parish Staff and Leadership
The parish staff reflects both its linguistic range and its long institutional memory.
- Rev. Felix Sanchez, Pastor
- Rev. Boniface Ramsey, Priest in Residence
- Anthony Perrelli and Alfonso Garcia, Trustees
- Helen Foster, Director of Religious Education
- Kenneth St. Bernard, Director of Music
- Marlene Kaselis, Bookkeeper
- Valeria Romanha, Secretary
- Nair Marques, Apostolado Brasileiro
- Cleciane Furtado, Youth Ministry
Saint Rita's also maintains an active English Choir under the direction of Kenneth St. Bernard, who can be reached by email at the parish address.
Faith Formation for Adults
Beyond sacramental preparation, the parish maintains an active adult formation calendar. A recent study was an eight-part Bible study called Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible, offered simultaneously in both Spanish (Friday evenings at 7:00 p.m.) and English (Saturday evenings at 6:00 p.m.), using a color-coded Bible Timeline Chart to help parishioners see the sweep of salvation history. The parish bulletin carries the current schedule of faith formation offerings, and a downloadable bulletin is available to keep parishioners current.
Connection to Saint Joseph Catholic Academy
Saint Rita's maintains an institutional relationship with Saint Joseph Catholic Academy, the parish school at 28-46 44th Street in Long Island City. Many parish children attend the academy, and parish facilities such as the school hall are used for parish activities, including the Friday night meetings of Girl Scout Troop 6417.
Visiting Saint Rita's
Location and Parking
The church is located at 36-25 11th Street, Long Island City, NY 11106, in the Diocese of Brooklyn. The parish recommends that visitors use Google Maps for driving directions; the address is searchable on map services as a place of worship.
Rectory and Office Hours
The rectory office is open Monday, Tuesday, and Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and on Saturdays by appointment. The office is closed on Sundays, holy days, and civic holidays. Visitors wishing to schedule a baptism, a wedding, a funeral, an anointing, or a confession may call (718) 361-1884 during office hours to make arrangements.
Registration and Giving
Parishioners are encouraged to register with the parish so that the office can keep records accurate and issue annual tax receipts. Giving is facilitated online through a secure portal at Give Central, where parishioners can set up recurring gifts, manage one-time donations, and support the parish's mission.
What to Wear
Parish guidance is informal: come as you are. Visitors and longtime parishioners alike are welcomed at every Mass.
Following the Parish Online
The parish maintains an active presence on Instagram at @stritalic, where announcements, photos of parish celebrations, and updates on Mass schedules are shared. Announcements, the weekly bulletin, and a calendar of upcoming events are posted regularly.
A Parish of Three Tongues and Three Generations
What makes Saint Rita's distinctive in the Diocese of Brooklyn is the way it has woven three Catholic cultures into one parish without losing any of them. The same building hosts a weekday English Mass and a Wednesday evening Spanish Mass within a few hours of each other; a Brazilian Festa Junina shares the summer calendar with a traditional feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe; a Portuguese-speaking charismatic group meets on Fridays while an English choir rehearses on Saturdays. For a parish that has stood at this corner of Long Island City since 1900, that trilingual rhythm is itself the clearest sign of who Saint Rita's is: a community that has stayed rooted in the neighborhood for more than a century by making room, again and again, for whoever has arrived.