Most Reverend John Oliver Barres, S.T.D., J.C.L., D.D.
Bishop
On December 9, 2016, Pope Francis named Most Reverend John Oliver Barres the fifth bishop of Rockville Centre. Bishop Barres came from the Diocese of Allentown in Pennsylvania, where on May 27, 2009, he was named the fourth Bishop for the diocese by Pope Benedict XVI. His installation in the Diocese of Rockville Centre on January 31, 2017 was celebrated in the Cathedral of Saint Agnes, Rockville Centre, New York. His Episcopal motto “Holiness and Mission” comes from Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptoris Missio which emphasizes the universal call to holiness and mission in the Catholic Church.
Parish Clergy
Very Rev. Michael Duffy
Rector
Prior to this appointment, Father Duffy has served as the pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, Malverne, since June 2017. At the time of that appointment, Father Duffy was the youngest pastor in the history of the Diocese of Rockville Centre. From 2016-2019, Father Duffy served as the Catholic Chaplain of Long Island University at Post in Brookville. Ordained in June 2012, Father Duffy was first assigned as an associate pastor of Saint Kilian, Farmingdale.
Father Duffy graduated from MacArthur High School in Levittown. He attended Fordham University where he studied at the Rose Hill Campus, earning a Bachelor’s degree with a major in Philosophy and a minor in Theology. He then entered the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington where he earned a Master’s degree in Divinity as well as a Master’s degree in Theology. Father Duffy recently completed a Master’s degree in Ecclesiastical Administration from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
Rev. Christopher P. Heller
Associate Pastor
Father Christopher Heller was born in Mineola, NY and was baptized at Our Lady of Mercy Parish in Hicksville, NY. He lived most of his childhood in Syosset and worshipped at Saint Edward’s Parish, where he received his early religious formation and first felt drawn to the priesthood. Father Heller went to public school in Syosset until the end of eighth grade, whereafter he attended Chaminade High School in Mineola, NY. After graduating from Chaminade in 2013, Father Heller began studies at the Catholic University of America. After earning a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in theology and philosophy in 2017, Father Heller began priestly formation and theology studies at Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, NY. Father Heller graduated from Saint Joseph’s Seminary with a Master of Divinity (MDiv.), a Bachelor’s in Sacred Theology (S.T.B.), and a Master’s in Theology (M.A.). On June 18, 2022, Father Heller was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre at Saint Agnes Cathedral in Rockville Centre, NY. He was assigned by Bishop John O. Barres to serve as associate pastor of Saint Dominic Church in Oyster Bay, NY. As parochial vicar at Saint Dominic’s, Father Heller also served as the chaplain of Saint Dominic High School. In June of 2024, Father Heller was assigned by Bishop Barres to the Cathedral of Saint Agnes in Rockville Centre, where he currently serves as the Associate Pastor and as the Diocesan Master of Ceremonies.
Rev. Michael Ngoka
Associate Pastor
Fr. Michael Chukwudi Ngoka, CM, was ordained as a priest for the Congregation of the Mission (the Vincentians) on July 27, 1997. Born and raised in Nigeria, he began his priestly ministry as an assistant pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Ankpa, Nigeria. In the fall of 1999, Fr. Ngoka moved to the United States to pursue graduate studies at St. John’s University in Queens, earning a Master’s degree in Theology.
Upon returning to Nigeria in June 2002, he was assigned to teach Theology at St. Joseph Seminary in Ikot Ekpene. Later, he was appointed provincial superior of the Vincentians in Nigeria, a role he held for nine years. During his tenure, he also served as president of both the Conference of Vincentian Superiors in Africa and the Conference of Major Superiors of Men in Nigeria.
After completing his term as provincial superior, Fr. Ngoka became the pastor of St. Kizito Church in Abuja, Nigeria. In June 2018, he was sent as a fidei donum priest to the Diocese of Rockville Centre, where Bishop Barres assigned him as assistant pastor at St. Barnabas the Apostle Church in Bellmore. After serving six years in Bellmore, in June 2024, he was assigned to the Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre as assistant pastor.
Rev. Emmanuel Nwogu
Weekend Assistant – Spanish Community
In Residence
Rev. Eric Fasano, J.C.L.
Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia
Fr. Fasano is originally from Sacred Heart Parish in North Merrick. Following his ordination, Fr. Fasano was assigned to St. William the Abbot Parish in Seaford where he was an Associate Pastor for 6 years. In 2008, Bishop Murphy asked him to study Canon Law in Rome where he earned his Licentiate of Canon Law. Upon his return, Fr. Fasano was assigned to the Diocesan Tribunal with residence at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Inwood.
In December of 2017, Fr. Fasano was named Co-Chancellor and Secretary to Bishop Barres. Bishop Barres in February of 2019 named Fr. Fasano as Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia. Fr. Fasano will continue to reside at the Bishop’s Residence on the Cathedral grounds.
Rev. Lachlan T. Cameron, S.T.L.
Vicar for Clergy
FOCUS Parish Missionary
Tara Lauderdale
Tara Lauderdale is from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She attended Bishop Kelley High School in Tulsa and went on to receive her BA in History from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Upon graduation, Tara became a FOCUS missionary and was sent to her first university campus, Towson University in Towson, MD. After completing her first year as a missionary, she became a Team Director, leading a team of four missionaries to evangelize at MIT in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tara remained at MIT for 2 years before returning to her hometown to serve as a parish missionary with FOCUS for three more years at Christ the King Parish. During that time, Tara earned her Master’s Degree in Theology with a Concentration in Sacred Scripture from the Augustine Institute. After three years at Christ the King, Tara responded to a call from the Lord to move to New York to evangelize. At this time, she remained with FOCUS and joined their Formation Department where she worked remotely as a Formation Specialist assisting the FOCUS parish team specifically. In September 2025, Tara officially began her role as the FOCUS Parish Missionary for St. Agnes Cathedral.
Saint Agnes Cathedral School
Mrs. Cecilia St. John
Principal
Mrs. Cecilia St. John became principal of St. Agnes Cathedral School in September of 2016. Prior to joining St. Agnes, Mrs. St. John was principal for 7 years at St. Dominic Elementary School in Oyster Bay. Prior to St. Dominic’s she taught Social Studies, Reading and Language Arts at St. Thomas the Apostle School in West Hempstead. In addition to undergraduate and graduate degrees in Elementary and Secondary Education, Mrs. St. John has a graduate degree in Educational Leadership and Technology. She is certified by New York State in Elementary and Secondary Educatoin as well as School Building Leadership.
Mrs. Mary Brower
Vice-Principal
Mary Brower is the Assistant Principal at St. Agnes Cathedral School, where she has dedicated the past 19 years. Born in Morristown, New Jersey, and raised in Roslyn, New York, Mary’s passion for Catholic education was sparked by her experiences at St. Peter of Alcantara Elementary School in Port Washington and St. Dominic’s High School in Oyster Bay. She earned her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Manhattan College, a master’s degree from Hofstra University, and an advanced certificate in Instructional Leadership from Molloy University. Mary began her career at St. Agnes in 2006 as a computer teacher, later becoming the Technology Coordinator, before stepping into the role of Assistant Principal in 2021. In addition to her work at St. Agnes, she has been an adjunct professor in Molloy University’s Educational Technology Department for over 14 years and serves as Assistant Curriculum Lead of Technology for the Diocese of Rockville Centre. Outside of work, Mary enjoys family adventures with her husband, Brian, and their daughter, Emma. To Mary, St. Agnes is more than a school—it’s a community of faith and love that continues to inspire her daily.
70 Clinton Avenue Rockville Centre, New York 11570
Phone: 516-678-5550 | Fax 516-678-0437
https://www.stagnes-school.org
Service Center/Outreach
Elizabeth Ramirez
Director
516 678-1856
Music Ministry
Mr. Michael Bower
Director
mbower@stagnescathedral.org
516-764-9578
Michael C. Bower, a native of Floyd, Virginia, began formal piano lessons at age 6 and was playing for Sunday school services in his home church by 12. He began teaching himself to play the organ at age 13 and held his first position as church organist in a German Lutheran church at age 15.
Mr. Bower received his Bachelor’s degree in Sacred Music and Organ Performance from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, where he studied organ with Donald McDonald, harpsichord with Mark Brombaugh, and conduction with Joseph Flummerfelt. During his undergraduate years, Mr. Bower pursued additional organ study with Marilyn Keiser of Indiana University and boys choir training with James Litton, director of the American Boys Choir, Princeton and Gerre Hancock, St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York. He was also a member of Donald Allured’s Concert Handbell Choir.
In 1985 he was appointed Associate Director of Music for St. Agnes Cathedral. At this time, he assisted in the development of a professional music program, including multiple choirs. He founded the Cathedral Girls Choir and directed the probationer group of the Boys Choir.
In 1987, he continued specialized studies in organ and boys choir training with Stephen Cleobury at Kings College, Cambridge and conducting with John Rutter at Clare College, Cambridge, England.
Michael earned his Master’s Degree in Organ Performance from Manhattan School of Music in 1992 where he studied organ with John Walker, baroque continuo with Kenneth Cooper, and conducting with Amy Keiser. He has performed organ recitals on the East Coast, the Mid-West, Germany, Austria, Italy, and France. He is a regular concert organ soloist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York and guest organist for the Long Island Choral Society of Garden City. Mr. Bower also performed Ned Rorem’s “Quaker Reader” in concert at Columbia University as part of a festival celebrating the composer’s 75th birthday in 1998. He has been a regional workshop clinician in choral vocal production, boys choirs, and organ performance.
Michael’s duties at St. Agnes Cathedral include directing the 105 voice Choir of Men and Boys, the 80 voice Cathedral Chorale (Adult), and the Schola Cantorum (16 voice a cappella ensemble). He has prepared and conducted the Cathedral Choirs and Orchestra in performances of many choral masterworks including Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Mass in C, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse, and Mozart’s Regina Coeli (K 127).
He has also toured with the Choir of Men and Boys to sing at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center, St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York City, The White House, and the Cathedral Basilica of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. In 1998, he prepared the Cathedral Chorale for a performance at Carnegie Hall conducted by John Rutter. In 2000, Michael prepared the Chorale and other Rockville Centre choral singers for a millennium performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony.
Michael is the Dean of the Nassau County Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, and a member of the International Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians and the Diocesan Liturgy Commission of Rockville Centre.
His hobbies include: gardening, vintage house restoration, interior decoration and house design, collecting and restoring antique furniture and objects d’art, painting, travel, water skiing, fishing, hunting, biking and singing!
Ms. Maura Goodwin
Associate Director
Ms. Maura Goodwin has accepted the position on our staff as the Associate Director of Music. Maura is a graduate of Kellenberg Memorial High School and Franciscan University in Steubenville. She received a Masters Degree in Sacred Music from Duquesne University and previously has been the Assistant Music Director at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish in Carnegie, Pennsylvania near Pittsburgh.