Father Jim Stachacz, Pastor
Welcome to St. Ignatius Loyola’s website. We hope you enjoy your exploration and we hope that you come worship with us someday.
Fr. James (Jim) Stachacz has been Pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish since June 2011, when he succeeded Msgr. Donald T. Bennett who had led the parish for 12 years. Fr. Jim is a native of Dickson City, Pennsylvania (near Scranton). He graduated from King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, PA) in May 1991. He then came to Long Island and the Diocese of Rockville Centre that same year where he began his preparation for priestly ministry at the Immaculate Conception Residence, Douglaston and St. John’s University. Fr. Jim went on to be ordained and receive a Masters of Divinity (M.Div) from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington on June 13,1998.
Fr. Jim sees himself as the spiritual leader for approximately 2500 families that make up the St. Ignatius Loyola parish family. He aspires to bring the people of God to a deeper commitment to Christ as disciples, to create a welcoming community of believers, to encourage all believers to pray and serve together no matter one’s cultural/national background, to encourage lay people to live out their baptismal call in serving and building their parish, to encourage families to know and live out their faith and to reach out to the poor, homeless, the sick and those who have no voice in our society.
Fr. Jim recognizes that there is a priority for reaching the unchurched and that we all have a responsibility in helping them feel connected to our parish. Each of us are called to live out our faith every day, not only on Sunday. Fr. Jim believes that the pastor is called upon to be the bearer of the parish vision and the initiator of change. In addition to his priestly ministry for Jesus, Fr. Jim loves to travel, bike ride, workout at the gym and walk, when possible.
Welcome to St. Ignatius Loyola’s website. We hope you enjoy your exploration and we hope that you come worship with us someday.
Fr. James (Jim) Stachacz has been Pastor of St. Ignatius Loyola Parish since June 2011, when he succeeded Msgr. Donald T. Bennett who had led the parish for 12 years. Fr. Jim is a native of Dickson City, Pennsylvania (near Scranton). He graduated from King’s College (Wilkes-Barre, PA) in May 1991. He then came to Long Island and the Diocese of Rockville Centre that same year where he began his preparation for priestly ministry at the Immaculate Conception Residence, Douglaston and St. John’s University. Fr. Jim went on to be ordained and receive a Masters of Divinity (M.Div) from the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington on June 13,1998.
Fr. Jim sees himself as the spiritual leader for approximately 2500 families that make up the St. Ignatius Loyola parish family. He aspires to bring the people of God to a deeper commitment to Christ as disciples, to create a welcoming community of believers, to encourage all believers to pray and serve together no matter one’s cultural/national background, to encourage lay people to live out their baptismal call in serving and building their parish, to encourage families to know and live out their faith and to reach out to the poor, homeless, the sick and those who have no voice in our society.
Fr. Jim recognizes that there is a priority for reaching the unchurched and that we all have a responsibility in helping them feel connected to our parish. Each of us are called to live out our faith every day, not only on Sunday. Fr. Jim believes that the pastor is called upon to be the bearer of the parish vision and the initiator of change. In addition to his priestly ministry for Jesus, Fr. Jim loves to travel, bike ride, workout at the gym and walk, when possible.
Fr. Benjamin Uchenna Uzuegbunam
Rev. Fr. Benjamin Uchenna Uzuegbunam was born and brought up in the South East of Nigeria in West Africa - the part of Nigeria (known as Igbo land) with almost 90% Catholic population. Thanks to the Irish missionaries who brought the catholic faith to the Igbo people in 1885. Fr. Benjamin was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Nnewi on July 3rd 1992. Before coming to the United States, Fr. Benjamin worked as a pastor in different parishes in Nigeria (with other diocesan pastoral assignment) for twelve years. Fr. Benjamin had both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Counseling and Pastoral studies in the United States of America. Fr. Benjamin is a Board Certified Chaplain and presently works as the Hospital chaplain at the Plainview Hospital in Nassau County. Fr. Benjamin became part of the St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Parish (family) in June 2013. Fr. Ben likes reading, music, dancing and sports.
Rev. Fr. Benjamin Uchenna Uzuegbunam was born and brought up in the South East of Nigeria in West Africa - the part of Nigeria (known as Igbo land) with almost 90% Catholic population. Thanks to the Irish missionaries who brought the catholic faith to the Igbo people in 1885. Fr. Benjamin was ordained a Catholic priest for the Diocese of Nnewi on July 3rd 1992. Before coming to the United States, Fr. Benjamin worked as a pastor in different parishes in Nigeria (with other diocesan pastoral assignment) for twelve years. Fr. Benjamin had both his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Counseling and Pastoral studies in the United States of America. Fr. Benjamin is a Board Certified Chaplain and presently works as the Hospital chaplain at the Plainview Hospital in Nassau County. Fr. Benjamin became part of the St. Ignatius Loyola Catholic Parish (family) in June 2013. Fr. Ben likes reading, music, dancing and sports.
Father Andres Fernandez
We welcome Fr. Andres Fernandez to St. Ignatius Loyola parish. We would like to tell you a little bit about him.
From February, 2016, he was at Our Lady of Lourdes in Malverne and served as Chaplain at Mercy Hospital. Before that he was at St. Bernard’s in Levittown. While there, he covered for the Chaplain at St Joseph’s Hospital for three months. Father Andres was ordained in 2004 in the Diocese of Madrid, Spain. He has a BA in History and a Masters in Information and Documentation. He has served as Associate Pastor at several parishes in Madrid, Spain. He also served as Associate Pastor at St. Gabriel Parish Church in New Rochelle for three years and in 2014, served at St. Bridget’s in Leesburg, Virginia.
Father Andres likes music (he plays the organ) and traveling– he has traveled through many countries throughout Europe. We are glad to welcome him.
We welcome Fr. Andres Fernandez to St. Ignatius Loyola parish. We would like to tell you a little bit about him.
From February, 2016, he was at Our Lady of Lourdes in Malverne and served as Chaplain at Mercy Hospital. Before that he was at St. Bernard’s in Levittown. While there, he covered for the Chaplain at St Joseph’s Hospital for three months. Father Andres was ordained in 2004 in the Diocese of Madrid, Spain. He has a BA in History and a Masters in Information and Documentation. He has served as Associate Pastor at several parishes in Madrid, Spain. He also served as Associate Pastor at St. Gabriel Parish Church in New Rochelle for three years and in 2014, served at St. Bridget’s in Leesburg, Virginia.
Father Andres likes music (he plays the organ) and traveling– he has traveled through many countries throughout Europe. We are glad to welcome him.
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Debrah was born on November 14, 1963 in Ghana, Africa. He was ordained Priest on August 17, 1997. Fr. Emmanuel has served in various capacities - as chaplain, associate pastor and pastor, for a number of years in his home Country, Ghana.
Fr. Emmanuel first came to America in the summer of 2005 and served at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY, as chaplain.
He returned to the U.S. in 2013 as a summer extern for two months at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Rocky Point NY.
At the end of the summer that year, he was appointed as a chaplain to Nassau Medical Center in East Meadow, NY, with residence, first at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary parish in Roosevelt, NY, and then to St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in 2014.
He found a home at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, as the pastor and the entire parishioners cordially welcomed Fr. Emmanuel into the parish.
He has been allowed to participate in parish ministry, assisting with Masses, wake services, confession, taking duty days, and administering other sacraments, although his main assignment is hospital chaplaincy.
Fr. Emmanuel owes great deal of gratitude and appreciation to the pastor and parishioners for their warm welcome, hospitality and boundless love, care and generosity.
Fr. Emmanuel's hobbies are jogging, singing, playing table tennis.
Fr. Emmanuel first came to America in the summer of 2005 and served at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY, as chaplain.
He returned to the U.S. in 2013 as a summer extern for two months at the Church of St. Anthony of Padua in Rocky Point NY.
At the end of the summer that year, he was appointed as a chaplain to Nassau Medical Center in East Meadow, NY, with residence, first at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary parish in Roosevelt, NY, and then to St. Ignatius Loyola Parish in 2014.
He found a home at St. Ignatius of Loyola Parish, as the pastor and the entire parishioners cordially welcomed Fr. Emmanuel into the parish.
He has been allowed to participate in parish ministry, assisting with Masses, wake services, confession, taking duty days, and administering other sacraments, although his main assignment is hospital chaplaincy.
Fr. Emmanuel owes great deal of gratitude and appreciation to the pastor and parishioners for their warm welcome, hospitality and boundless love, care and generosity.
Fr. Emmanuel's hobbies are jogging, singing, playing table tennis.