St. Agnes Cathedral (Rockville Centre, New York)

St. Agnes Church Before 1887, there was no Catholic church in Rockville Centre. That same year, six Catholic families began gathering at a blacksmith shop in the town to celebrate mass whenever a priest was visiting. An anvil in shop was used as an altar; today, it is on display outside the current cathedral. In 1905, the parish replaced the school house with a white marble stone church on the same property. Five Dominican Sisters opened the St. Agnes Cathedral School in 1917. A high school for girls was completed on the campus in 1924 and a new convent in 1928. In 1935, the parish dedicated a new St. Agnes church. By 1942, the parish had 1400 families as members. == Cathedral interior ==

Altar The altar contains an wooden reliquary with relics of four saints: • Agnes of Rome – a 4th century Roman teenager executed for refusing to renounce Christianity • Elizabeth Ann Seton – a 19th century American nun who established schools for poor children around the country • Frances Xavier Cabrini – a 19th century American nun who established schools and orphanages for Italian immigrants • John Neumann – a 19th century American missionary and bishop In 2001, the diocese finally installed a new pipe organ from the Wicks Organ Company of Highland, Illinois, in the cathedral. == Cathedral exterior ==

Bell tower The cathedral has a high bell tower that contains the bell from the original St. Agnes Church. The tower is encircled by a stone cornice with an open stone tracery railing. It divides the square lower section of the tower from the octagonal upper section. Gargoyles are mounted on the corners of the tower. The tower is topped by a leaded-copper cupola with a cross. Walls The cathedral walls are constructed of buff-colored brick with limestone trimmings. The cathedral has a 30-foot arched tracery window divided into five lancets. The gable above this window is mounted by a stone cross. The facade has several arched recesses, with the middle one holding a statue of Agnes of Rome. Main entrance The main entrance to the cathedral has two sets of paneled oak doors. A tracery rose window is located above the doors, along with a stone statue of Christ the King. The cornerstone of the cathedral is located to the left of the main entrance. == Music ministries ==

As of 2026, St. Agnes Cathedral maintains seven choirs and two ensembles, all directed by Michael L. Bower: • Children's Choir • Junior Girls’ Choir • Senior Girls’ Choir • Choir of Men and Boys • Cathedral Chorale and Schola Cantorum • Spanish Choir • Contemporary Music Ensembles • Resurrection Choir ==Cathedral staff==

Current clergy The following are the cathedral clergy as of 2026: Bishop Most Reverend John Oliver Barres D.D., S.T.D., J.C.L., bishop of Rockville Centre Parish clergy • Very Reverend Michael F. Duffy, rector • Reverend Christopher P. Heller • Reverend Michael Ngoka Clergy in residence • Reverend Eric Fasano, J.C.L. • Very Reverend Lachlan Cameron, S.T.L., vicar for clergy Rectors and cathedral administrators • Monsignor Edward L. Melton (1967 to 1986) cathedral administrator • Monsignor Robert Mulligan (1986 to 1996) rector • Monsignor James Kelly (1997 to 2007) rector • Monsignor Robert Guglielmone (2007 to 2009) rector • Monsignor William Koenig (2009 to 2020) rector • Reverend Michael Duffy (2020 to present) rector == St. Agnes Cathedral School ==

The St. Agnes Elementary School, located on the cathedral campus, was founded by five Dominican sisters in 1917. It was built with ten classrooms to accommodate 60 students.. In 1957, the diocese purchased an unused school building from the Rockville Centre Public School District and renovated it, creating 32 classrooms. It became the St. Agnes Cathedral School. As of 2026, it was the largest K-8 school in the diocese. As of 2026, Cecilia St. John serves as principal and Mary Brower as assistant principal. ==See also==