Monsignor John Rowan has been pastor of St. Lawrence Martyr Church since 1984.  A native of Baldwin, NY, he was educated at Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School and Cathedral College, Brooklyn, NY; the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, NY; Catholic University of America, Washington, DC; and St. John's University School of Law.  Monsignor Rowan was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Rockville Centre in June, 1961, and since ordination has been assigned to posts in parishes and schools in that diocese.  Greatly influenced by the teachings of the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), Monsignor Rowan believes that priests have as their "primary duty the proclamation of the gospel of God to all."  (Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests, #4)

Rev. Msgr. John Heinlein
Associate Pastor

Monsignor John T. Heinlein graduated from St. Brendan's grade school, Brooklyn, NY, St. Francis High School, then in Brooklyn, NY, Cathedral (Minor Seminary) College, Brooklyn, NY, and The Major Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington, NY, where "Father John" achieved a Bachelors degree on Philosophy in 1957, ordained to the Priesthood on June 3rd 1961, and earned a Master of Divinity Degree in 1982.
        Father John's first Diocesan assignment was to the Tribunal of the Diocese of Rockville Centre from 1961 to 1969 with residence at St. Aloysius, Great Neck, NY.  Father John then was Pastor at the Church of Saint Mary's in Aspen, Colorado, for two years, then an Assistant Pastor at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes in Massapequa, NY for eight years.  From 1980 to 1998 Father John was Pastor of the Church of Holy Spirit in New Hyde Park, NY.  Father John received Papal Honors (became Monsignor) in 1990.  For many years Father Heinlein has been on the Board of Trustees at St. George School of Medicine, Bay Shore, NY.
        "Father John" is most happy to be serving here at St. Lawrence the Martyr Church where he is able to focus on pastoral ministry with his Seminary Classmate and Pastor, Msgr. John Rowan.


Sr. Elaine Jahrsdoerfer, OP.

Sister Elaine Jahrsdoefer entered the Dominican Sisters of Amityville in 1964 and taught in the parochial school system until 1973, when she began working in Parish Ministry.  She holds an MA in Liturgy from the University of Notre Dame and has been part of the Pastoral Staff at St. Lawrence since 1986.  At St. Lawrence, Sister Elaine coordinates the various liturgical ministries, the music program, is involved in catechist formation, sacramental preparation and the preparation of the feasts and seasons of the church year.  Appointed by Bishop McGann to the Diocesan Liturgical Commission in 1978, Sister Elaine has been involved in many educational programs in liturgy and music throughout the diocese and is an instructor/mentor in the Pastoral Formation Institute.  Sister Elaine lives in Kings Park with another Dominican Sister.

Rev. Victor Kwesi Quagraine
Assisting Priest Visiting

Father Victor was born in Saltpond, Ghana in 1964.  He received his elementary school education in Saltpond, Ghana from 1971 to 1981.  Father Victor attended school in Elmina, Ghana from 1981 to 1988 for his Minor Seminary Education (Secondary School).  He attended St. Paul's Catholic Seminary in Sowutuom, Ghana from 1988 to 1989 for one year of Spiritual Formation.  He received two years of Philosophy Education at St. Paul's Catholic Seminary in Sowutuom, Ghana, from 1989 to 1991.  Father Victor attended St. Peter's Regional Seminary in Cape Coast, Ghana for four years of Theology education from 1991 to 1995.  He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Study of Religions in 1993 from the University of Ghana, in Legon, Ghana.  Father Victor was ordained to the Priesthood in 1995.  His first assignment was as Associate Pastor at St. John the Baptist Church in Assin Bereku, Ghana, from 1995 to 1997.  He then traveled to Maastricht, Holland (Europe) to work on a new Cathedral project with the firm Wiel Arets & Associates.  Father Victor then traveled to Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, where he received his Master of Architecture Degree in May of 2003,  and his Master of Construction Management Degree in August of 2003.