St. Brendan the Navigator Parish

Please note that the 8AM Daily Mass will be celebrated on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Sacred Heart Church during January and February only. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday Daily 8AM Mass will continue to be held at St. Paul Church. Saturday 8AM Daily Mass will also continue to be held at Maris stella Church.

Please Watch

Over the Summer, we listened to several Gospels that were the Bread of Life Discourse.  Jesus is the Bread of Life.  With the summer crowds, there were many inconsistencies with the reception of Holy Communion.  In order for us all to be on the same page and to receive the Lord reverently, I ask that you take a few moments with your family to watch this short Eucharist 101 video from Busted Halo. 

Thanks~Fr. Kelly

Please be advised that presently there are rising cases of Covid 19 in Cape May County even in vaccinated persons. With large summer crowds in our churches, we encourage the wearing of masks. Of course, it is your choice. You will see the Ministers of the Eucharist wearing masks for your protection as well as theirs. Thank you for your understanding.

Attention St. Brendan the Navigator Parishioners:

If you have questions , comments, or concerns that you'd like to share with our parish council, please contact us at [email protected]

Please visit our Parish Facebook page by clicking on the image below.

Be sure to "like" us and "follow" us so that you will receive important parish notifications and news including notification of our Facebook LIVE broadcasts

The sacrament of Reconciliation is available on Saturdays:

at St. Pauls from 3:00-3:30PM,

at Maris Stella from 4:00-4:30PM

St. Paul Church and Sacred Heart churches will be open for private prayer Daily

 from 9:00AM to 3:00PM

Maris Stella open for private prayer Saturday only.

Please observe appropriate Physical Distancing

The History of St. Brendan the Navigator Parish

The communities of Stone Harbor and Avalon have had a very strong Roman Catholic presence on 7 Mile Island for many generations.

Saint Paul’s Parish in Stone Harbor was formed in 1911; Sacred Heart Mission was formed from Saint Paul's on July 1, 1928, the date the church on 25th Street and First Avenue was dedicated. The present Saint Paul's Church was built in 1953 by Monsignor Michael Dalton, Pastor and Reverend John Flanagan, Administrator.

In 1959 Sacred Heart Hall (now Tierney) was first used for Masses in Avalon because Sacred Heart Church could not handle the increasing crowds. In 1961 Archbishop Damiano established the Maris Stella Parish in Avalon formerly Sacred Heart Mission. A church was built in Avalon in 1983 by Bishop James Schad. Quinn Hall was built in Stone Harbor in 2006 and the Hall in Avalon was renamed Tierney Hall in 2010.

As a result of decreasing numbers of active priests, Saint Paul and Maris Stella parishes were merged into Saint Brendan the Navigator Parish in 2010. Monsignor John Frey was the founding Pastor. Father Mark Cavagnaro was appointed Pastor in July 2016. Father William Kelly arrived July 15, 2020 as Pastor, replacing Father Mark who retired.

We are one parish with three worship sites! 

There are around 700 families in the parish year round with an increase to 1,000 families in the summer. With the assistance of many retired priests in the area, the parish offers 7 Masses in the off-season with an average attendance of 1150 people at the weekend Masses. There is an increase to 11 Masses in the summer season with attendance of 10,000 people.