About Us
St. Catherine of Siena Church
Our Driving Force
With eyes firmly fixed on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the community of St. Catherine of Siena Parish gathers to celebrate the Eucharist and worship God with joy and commitment. We welcome and reach out to those within our parish family and those beyond this community as we spread the Good News by offering hospitality, spirituality, ongoing faith formation, and support for those to whom we minister.
Quotes from our Patron Saint
St. Catherine of Siena
“Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”
“Proclaim the truth, and do not be silent through fear.”
“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”
“These tiny ants have proceeded from his thought just as much as I. It caused him just as much trouble to create the angels as these animals and the flowers on the trees.”
“The soul is in God and God is in the soul. God is closer to us than water is to a fish.”
St. Catherine of Siena Parish
History
On July 1, 2011, Rev. Angelito I. Anarcon was appointed the thirteenth (13th) and current pastor by Bishop David M. O’Connell. The parish marked its centennial in 2012 with a commemorative Mass, a historical booklet, and a parish celebration. Under Fr. Anarcon’s leadership, numerous new ministries were established, including the Parish Pastoral Council, Legion of Mary, Respect Life Committee, Liturgy Committee, Buildings and Grounds Committee, Men’s Prayer Group, and Knights of Columbus. Parish events, such as the annual picnic, Christmas Carol Festival, and Children’s Choir, have helped enrich community life.
In 2016, the original rectory on North Main Street, which generations of pastors had faithfully used, was sold, and Father Angelito Anarcon moved into a newly constructed priest’s residence on the church campus in January 2017. More than just an address change, this transition marked a meaningful chapter in the life of the parish. Nestled within the sacred grounds of St. Catherine of Siena Parish Center, the new residence became a visible sign of the pastor’s close and prayerful presence among his people. Under Father Angelito’s thoughtful and visionary leadership, the residence not only reflects the parish’s growth and stability but also reinforces the pastoral heart of our faith community, a home rooted in service, hospitality, and spiritual care.
Since his appointment as pastor in 2011, Rev. Angelito I. Anarcon has led St. Catherine of Siena Church with a clear and compassionate vision: to build a Eucharist-centered community that forms disciples and truly welcomes all. His leadership is marked by a deep commitment to his priestly ministry, servant leadership, faith formation, sound administration, and a desire to make the Church a spiritual home for every person.
At the heart of Father Angelito’s vision is the belief that formation is a lifelong journey. He has worked to strengthen religious education for children, youth, and families, expand adult faith formation, and cultivate opportunities for prayer, learning, and service across all generations. Whether someone is receiving a sacrament, returning to the Church, or seeking a deeper relationship with Christ, St. Catherine’s strives to meet them where they are.
St. Catherine of Siena Church proudly serves not only the borough of Farmingdale but also the surrounding communities of Howell and the wider area of Freehold, Wall, and Tinton Falls. Guided by this inclusive and missionary spirit, Father Angelito has introduced and continues to support numerous ministries that reflect the richness and diversity of parish life.
His ongoing goal is to foster a vibrant, prayerful, and unified parish where every person feels welcomed, spiritually nourished, and encouraged to grow in faith and purpose. Under his leadership, our parish continues to flourish as not just a place of worship, but a living Church family—faithful to the Gospel, open to all, and prepared for the journey ahead.
In 1995, plans were made to construct a larger Church and Parish Center. Built on the Asbury Road property acquired in 1968, the groundbreaking construction began in June 1996. Bishop John M. Smith dedicated the new St. Catherine of Siena Church and Parish Center on August 29, 1998. In 2000, the Parish Hall was added and was dedicated the following year. St. Catherine of Siena Church also initiated outreach and education initiatives at that time, including adopting a sister parish in Ripley, Mississippi, for a few years and establishing a nursery school in the Parish Center in 2002. The addition of a bell tower in 2007 enhanced the church grounds and continues to mark time and sacred moments with the ringing of three bells and tolling before each weekend Mass.
Fr. John Grabowski served briefly in 1972, followed by Rev. Michael F. Venutolo (1972–1987). In 1987, Rev. Michael S. Vona was appointed pastor. Under Fr. Vona’s leadership, the Chapel’s interior and basement were updated, and the grounds were landscaped. Due to rapid growth, Masses were held simultaneously in the church and televised in the basement.
Following Fr. Sullivan’s transfer in 1941, Rev. Joseph Donnelly was assigned as the second resident pastor and arrived on September 17, 1941. During his tenure, the parish added a second Sunday Mass to accommodate a growing congregation. He remained as pastor until 1947.
Rev. Joseph Brzozowski became pastor on June 10, 1947, and led the parish through a period of growth and revitalization. In 1951, the church underwent major renovations, including the installation of a new altar, statues, Stations of the Cross, a candelabra, and complete interior repainting. Improvements were also made to the basement social hall. Father Brzozowski founded the Rosary
Altar Society, the Holy Name Society, a Blessed Mother Sodality for young women, and launched Religious Education programs.
In response to post-war population growth, a mission church to St. Catherine’s, St. Mary of the Assumption, was established in the Freewood Acres section of Howell. Its cornerstone was laid in 1950, and it remained a mission of St. Catherine’s until 1962. Fr. Brzozowski was transferred in 1956 and was succeeded by Rev. James Coyle, who served both St. Catherine’s and the mission
church. In 1960, Rev. Mitchell Cetkowski was assigned and served until 1962. During that time, St. Veronica’s Parish was formed to serve the Freewood Acres area, and St. Mary’s became a mission of St. Veronica’s.
Rev. Stephen Bielen, serving as pastor, shepherded St. Catherine’s as it grew to a community of approximately 250 families. To accommodate this growth, he added a third weekend Mass to meet the spiritual needs of parishioners. In 1968, Rev. Raymond Griffin was appointed pastor, and through his forward-thinking leadership, the parish acquired 12¼ acres of land on Asbury Road in Howell for just $11,000—nearly half its market value at the time. This property would later become the home of our current Church and Parish Center, a lasting legacy of his vision and commitment to the future of the St. Catherine of Siena community.
Before 1872, Catholics living in the Farmingdale area traveled by horse-drawn wagon or on foot to attend Mass at St. Rose of Lima
Church in Freehold. That changed when Rev. Frederick Kivelitz of St. Rose of Lima Church began celebrating Masses in the local area. On September 9, 1872, the first recorded Mass in the area was offered in the home of John C. Mahoney on Asbury Road.
As the Catholic population grew, Masses were held in 1892 at Red Men’s Hall, where services continued for two decades. In 1904, St. Catherine’s became a mission of St. Dorothea Church in Eatontown under the guidance of Msgr.
Aloysius A. Quinlan. With the growing desire for a dedicated worship space, fundraising efforts began. By 1912, St. Catherine’s Church was incorporated, and the present-day Chapel at the corner of Main and North Main Streets—seating
140—was completed. Remarkably, St. Catherine’s Chapel was fully paid for upon completion, free of debt.
In 1913, St. Catherine’s Chapel became a mission of St. Denis Church in Manasquan, where Rev. James Gough served as pastor. In 1939, St. Catherine of Siena Church was officially established as an independent parish. Rev. Joseph A. Sullivan was the first resident pastor, and a nearby home on North Main Street was rented and later purchased to serve as the parish rectory. Additionally, the parish of St. Mary’s in Colts Neck, which was also once a mission of St. Dorothea’s, was made a mission of St. Catherine’s.
