It is a currently active parish church within the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn, and masses are celebrated in English, Spanish, and Polish.
Prior to 1847, Rockaway Catholics had to journey to Jamaica, Queens, to attend Mass.
Anthony Farley of St. Monica's Church, Jamaica, was delegated to celebrate one Mass on Sundays.
[1] The first church building, built on Fairview Avenue (modern day Beach 84th Street) and Barry Place, near the Long Island Railroad, was 50 x 100 feet.
A small cul-de-sac in back of the Hammel project marks the site of the first building at present.