Editor’s note: To help local readers get to know their new diocesan shepherd, Bishop-elect Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, this article (from October 2025) is reprinted with permission from The Tablet in the Diocese of Brooklyn.
CORONA, New York | In Corona, Queens, where parking spots are as scarce as miracles, Our Lady of Sorrows Church has transformed a daily challenge into a unique ministry.
The church, a spiritual hub drawing Hispanic Catholics from across the Diocese of Brooklyn and as far as New Jersey, Cownnecticut and Pennsylvania, sees lines of cars and people every Sunday, packing the pews for Mass.
A few years ago, Father Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, the pastor, recognized the need to address the constant parking lot disputes and disruptions.
In 2021, he launched the Parking Ministry, a volunteer effort to help drivers find spaces and keep the faith — and traffic — flowing smoothly.
“Our goal is to get the people in time for the Mass,” said Gilberto Perez, a member of the ministry. “Some people come late, running late. I tell them if you want to come early to the Mass to be on time, you’ve got to wake up early to get ready to come to Mass.”
Without the ministry, volunteer Denise Rivera described the situation as “chaos … total chaos.”
“Ever since Father Manuel installed the Parking Ministry, it has brought a lot of peace among the parishioners because parking in Corona is like hitting the lottery,” she told Currents News in Spanish. “Very slim … it is very slim, and I do this with a lot of love because I just want to make sure that everybody has a beautiful experience as they come here to receive Mass.”
Father Manuel emphasized the church’s role as a spiritual home for its diverse congregation. “Once you find the church that better fits your spiritual needs, you don’t give that up at all,” he explained. “You stick to that because there is what you feel is home.”
As the neighborhood grows more crowded, the Parking Ministry ensures there’s space for every soul, making the journey to worship a little easier for all.
For a video on this story, visit https://youtu.be/004hndvmYc8.
