The Most Reverend John O. Barres, STD, JCL is the fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (Long Island, NY). Previously, he served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Allentown (PA) from 2009 to 2016. He is a graduate of Phillips Academy (Andover), Princeton University and the New York University Graduate School of Business, and holds advanced theological degrees from the Catholic University of America and the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross in Rome. Bishop Barres serves on the Board of Trustees of the Catholic University of America. His Episcopal motto “Holiness and Mission” is taken from Pope St. John Paul II’s encyclical Redemptoris Missio which emphasizes the universal call to holiness and mission in the Catholic Church. It also expresses Bishop Barres’ commitment to Pope Francis’ emphasis on global Catholic missiology and evangelization and the call for a “missionary transformation” of Catholic parishes and every dimension of Catholic life and witness to the world.
Featured
Year of Ignatius Pastoral Letters and Reflections
- Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam — For the Greater Glory of God – English | Spanish
- Father Walter Ciszek, S.J. and The Divine Will – English
- Learning to Imitate Christ: The Conversion of St. Ignatius of Loyola – English | Spanish
- Long Island’s Historic Catholic Past Inisfada and the St. Ignatius Retreat House – English
- St. Ignatius of Loyola Surrender of the Soul to Christ – English
- The Ignatian Charism of Father John Courtney Murray, S.J. – English
Videos
Podcasts
Misc
Holiness and Mission
- April 2021 | Easter
- March 2021 | Rediscovering the Psalms
- February 2021 | St. André Bessette and the Year of St. Joseph
- November 2020 | The Legacy of Frank Sheed
- September 2020 | Bishop Barres’ Homily from the Diocese of Rockville Centre Baccalaureate Mass, Mass of The Holy Spirit St. Agnes Cathedral
- June/July/August 2020 | Celebrating the Centenary of the Birth of Saint John Paul II
- May 2020 | A Winged Foot Caddie Reflects on the 1929 U.S. Open and Grand-Slam Winner Bobby Jones’ Conversion to Catholicism
- April 2020 | Fellowship of Catholic University Students
- March 2020 | Tribute to Maryknoll Missionary Bishop William J. McNaughton, MM
- February 2020 | The Catholic Intellectual Foundation of Pope Francis’ Global Missiology and Evangelization
- January 2020 | Joe Lapchick Character Award Foundation Luncheon
- December 2019 | A Synthesis of the Gospel of Matthew
- November 2019 | Reflecting on Christ is Alive – An Apostolic Exhortation by Pope Francis
- October 2019 | Pastoral Letter – “Heart Speaks to Heart”
- September 2019 | Pastoral Letter – Ya Gotta Believe!
- June/July/August 2019 | Venerable Carlo Acutis
- May 2019 | Blessed Antoine-Frédéric Ozanam
- April 2019 | A Wink From God: An Epilogue to Apostolic Athletes
- March 2019 | Lenten Letter 2019
- February 2019 | Rejoice and Be Glad
- January 2019 | Bishop Barres’ Commentary on Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation
- December 2018 | Saints that Inspire and Motivate Young People
- November 2018 | The 100th Anniversary of St. Padre Pio Receiving the Stigmata of Jesus Christ and the Wounds of the Church in Our Day
- October 2018 | Archbishop Saint Oscar Romero: A Catholic Martyr Who Made the Holy Sacrifice of His Life While Celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
- September 2018 | Bishop Henning Ordination
- June/July/August 2018 | Avery Cardinal Dulles and the Future of Catholic Apologetics in America, St. Joseph’s Seminary Convocation Keynote Address
- May 2018 | March for Life
- April 2018 | Easter 2018
- March 2018 | Lent 2018
- February 2018 | A Tribute to My CYO Basketball Coach Joe Gallick – and to All CYO Coaches on Long Island
- January 2018 | “The Relationship between Catholic Sacramental Theology and Catholic Social Justice Teaching: The Sacrament of Penance in Service of ‘Welcoming the Stranger’. – Keynote Address – St. John’s University – Sept. 3, 2017
- December 2017 | Funeral for Deacon Patrick Logsdon – Homily by Bishop John Barres
- November 2017 | Keynote Meditation at the UN September 11, 2017 Prayer Service
- October 2017 | Seven Reasons to Celebrate our Catholic Faith on the 25th Anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church
- September 2017 | Priesthood Ordination
- July/August 2017 | A Catholic Spirituality of Commuter Delays
- June 2017 | Inspirational Phrases and Images of Pope Francis as Prophetic Catalysts of Dramatic Missionary Growth in the Church of Rockville Centre
- May 2017 | The 100th Anniversary of Our Lady of Fatima and Dramatic Missionary Growth in the Diocese of Rockville Centre
- April 2017 | Dramatic Missionary Growth – The Diocese of Rockville Centre’s Call to Dramatic Missionary Growth: The Power of Praying the Gospel, Resurrection Appearances of the Risen Christ in the Easter Season
Homilies
- Memorial of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal: “The Unity of the Feminine and the Masculine Genius in the Mission of the Church,” St. Agnes Cathedral, Homily of Bishop Barres (August 12, 2026)
- Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, Homily of Bishop Barres
St. Agnes Cathedral (July 29, 2026) - Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Model and Intercessor for the Contemplative Lectio Divina of St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Elizabeth of the Trinity and Us” Homily of Bishop John O. Barres, STD, JCL Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Order of Carmelites Middletown, New York (July 16, 2026)
- The 2025 Diocesan Eucharistic Congress (Pentecost Sunday – June 8, 2025) | English, Spanish
- Diocesan Memorial Mass for Pope Francis (April 28, 2025)
- Solemnity of the Holy Family inaugurating the 2025 Jubilee Year of Hope (December 29, 2024)
- Memorial of Pope St. Paul VI, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (May 29, 2024)
- 2024 Chrism Mass Homily, Most Reverend John O. Barres, Diocese of Rockville Centre, St. Agnes Cathedral (March 26, 2024)
- Memorial of St. Peter Damian, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (1007- 1072) Homily of Bishop Barres St. Agnes Cathedral (February 21, 2024)
- Ash Wednesday 2024, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (February 14, 2024)
- Memorial of St. John Bosco Catholic Schools Week 2024 Homily of Bishop Barres St. Agnes Cathedral (January 31, 2024)
- Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (January 10, 2024)
- Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (January 10, 2024)
- Midnight Mass, Christmas Homily (December 24, 2023)
- Memorial of St. Lucy, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (December 13, 2023)
- Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (November 21, 2023)
- Mass for Deceased Bishops and Priests, Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (November 8, 2023)
- Solemnity of All Saints, St. Agnes Cathedral, Homily of Bishop Barres (November 1, 2023)
- Religious Jubilee Mass Homily of Bishop Barres (24th Sunday in Ordinary Time) from the Cathedral of St. Agnes in Rockville Centre (September 17, 2023)
- Wednesday of the 22nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (September 6, 2023)
- Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Ann, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary (July 26, 2023)
- Wednesday of the 15th Week of Ordinary Time (July 19, 2023)
- Wednesday of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time (July 12, 2023)
- Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (May 31 2023)
- Bishop Barres 2023 Permanent Diaconate Ordination Remarks (May 20, 2023)
- Blessed Fr. Michael McGivney Homily for May 4, 2023 at St. Anthony Church, East Northport (May 4, 2023)
- Wednesday Second Week of Ordinary Time: Melchizedek, Homily of Bishop John Barres (January 18, 2023)
- Christmas Day Mass, Homily of Bishop John Barres (December 25, 2022)
- Christmas Midnight Mass, Homily of Bishop John Barres (December 25, 2022)
- Annunciation of the Lord, Homily of Bishop John Barres (December 20, 2022)
- Memorial of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor, Homily of Bishop John Barres (December 7, 2022)
- Memorial of St. Cecelia, Homily of Bishop John Barres (November 22, 2022)
- All Souls Day, Homily of Bishop John Barres (November 2, 2022)
- Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time: The Narrow Gate, Homily of Bishop John Barres (October 26, 2022)
- Memorial of St. Faustina Kowalska, Homily of Bishop John Barres (October 5, 2022)
- The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Homily of Bishop John Barres (September 14, 2022)
- Wednesday of the 23rd Week of Ordinary Time: Lucan Beatitudes Chapter 6, Homily of Bishop John Barres (September 7, 2022)
- Wednesday of the 22nd Week of Ordinary Time: Lucan Beatitudes Chapter 6, Homily of Bishop John Barres (August 31, 2022)
- Feast of St. Bartholomew, Apostle (Nathaniel), Homily of Bishop John Barres (August 24, 2022)
- Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Homily of Bishop John Barres (August 15, 2022)
- 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time C: Closing of the Year of St. Ignatius of Loyola, Homily of Bishop John Barres (July 31, 2022)
- Wednesday of the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time C, Treasure and Pearl, Homily of Bishop John Barres (July 27, 2022)
- 15th Wednesday in Ordinary Time (C): Trinitarian Indwelling and Prayer, Homily of Bishop John Barres (July 13, 2022)
- 5th Wednesday of Easter Season (C), Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (May 15, 2022)
- 105th Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions at Fatima, Homily of Bishop John Barres, Corpus Christi Church, Mineola (May 13, 2022)
- Good Shepherd Sunday 2022 (4th Sunday of Easter), Homily of Bishop Barres (May 7-8, 2022)
- Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (May 4, 2022)
- Easter Sunday 2022, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (April 17, 2022)
- Easter Vigil 2022, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (April 16, 2022)
- Easter Letter 2022, Bishop John Barres
- Chrism Mass 2022, Homily of Most Reverend John O. Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (April 12, 2022)
- Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, St. Agnes Cathedral (March 25, 2022)
- Friday of the Second Week of Lent Celebrating the March 12, 2022, 400th
- Anniversary of the Canonization of St. Ignatius of Loyola Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (March 11, 2022)
- Thursday of the Third Week of Advent, St. John the Baptist Homily (December 16, 2021)
-
(December 9, 2021)
- Thursday of the 1st Week of Advent, Homily of Bishop John Barres (December 2, 2021)
- Memorial of St. Leo the Great Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (November 10, 2021)
- Memorial of St. Martin de Porres – Mass in Remembrance of Deceased Bishops of the Diocese and the Priests who have died since November 2020, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (November 3, 3021)
- Wednesday of the 30th Week of Ordinary Time – the Holy Spirit teaches us to pray (mental prayer) Homily of Bishop Barres (Oct 27, 2021)
- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time(B) Respect Life Sunday Homily of Bishop Barres (October 2-3, 2021)
- Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels Homily of Bishop John Barres St. Agnes Cathedral (September 29, 2021)
- The Feast of St. Matthew Homily of Bishop Barres (September 21, 2021)
- Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows Homily of Bishop John Barres St. Agnes Cathedral (September 15, 2021)
- Homily – 20th Anniversary of September 11, 2001 (September 11, 2021)
- Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (September 8, 2021)
- Mass with Catechetical Leaders Homily of Bishop Barres Immaculate Conception Seminary (September 1, 2021)
- 22nd Tuesday in Ordinary Time, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (August 31, 2021)
- Memorials of St. Louis and St. Joseph Calasanz, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (August 25, 2021)
- Homily for the Memorial of Saint Clare of Assisi, Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (August 11, 2021)
- Memorial of St. John Vianney, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (August 4, 2021)
-
St. Agnes Cathedral (July 28, 2021)
- 16th Wednesday of Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (July 21, 2021)
- Bishop Barres’ Homily for the Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga and the Installation of Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy as President and Chief Executive Officer of Catholic Health (June 21, 2021)
- Memorial of St. Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor of the Church Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (June 9, 2021)
-
(June 1, 2021)
- Memorial of St. Philip Neri, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (May 26, 2021)
- Molloy College Commencement Homily from Bishop John O. Barres (May 16, 2021)
- Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, The Year of St. Joseph Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (May 1, 2021)
- Friday of the Third Week Easter Season, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (April 23, 2021)
- Bishop Barres’ Homily and Address to Hispanic Young Adults (April 18, 2021) English | Español
- Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter, Homily of Bishop John Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (April 14, 2021)
- Wednesday of Holy Week, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (March 31, 2021)
- Chrism Mass – 2021 English | Español
- Wednesday of the 5th Week of Lent Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral
(March 24, 2021) - Memorial of St. Patrick, Homily of Bishop Barres, St. Agnes Cathedral (March 17, 2021)
- Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Lent, Homily of Bishop Barres (March 10, 2021)
- Memorial of St. Katharine Drexel Homily of Bishop Barres (March 3, 2021)
Addresses and Reflections
- Marianist Province of Meribah Golden Jubilee Mass Remarks (8/15)
- Letters to Priests, Feast of Saint John Vianney (8/4/26)
- Priesthood Ordination Remarks 2026 (6/20/26)
- Bishop Barres and the Church of Rockville Centre Give God Thanks for the Beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (2/9/26)
- Statement on the Centennial of the Solemnity of Christ the King (11/23/25)
- Statement on the Declaration of St. John Henry Newman as Doctor of the Church and Patron of Catholic Education (11/1/25)
- Statement on the October 1, 2025 Memorial of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (10/1/25)
- Statement on the Election of Pope Leo XIV (5/8/25)
- Statement on the Death of Pope Francis (4/21/25) English | Spanish
- Statement on Sunday of the Word of God and the Jubilee Year of Hope (1/26/25)
- Priesthood Ordination Remarks 2024, St. Agnes Cathedral (6/8/24)
- Tomorrow’s Hope Remarks of Bishop Barres – The Stars for Students Gala – RXR Plaza (10/24/23)
- To the Catholic Youth Organization Coaches, Parents, Families and Players of Long Island (10/1/21)
- Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola (7/31/21)
- Priesthood Ordination Remarks 2021 (6/19/21)
Reflecting on 1969-70 New York Knicks Winning the NBA Championship (5/8/20) - Celebrating Centenary of the birth of Saint John Paul II (5/15/20)
- Statement on Comprehensive Immigration Reform (10/14/19)
- Joe Lapchick Character Award Foundation Luncheon (9/20/19)
- Newman Canonization Reflection, 2019 Catechetical Congress(9/14/19)
- Ordination 2019 Remarks (6/22/19)
- Avery Cardinal Dulles and the Future of Catholic Apologetics in America, St. Joseph’s Seminary Convocation Keynote Address (5/11/18)
- Keynote Meditation at the United Nations – September 11, 2017 Prayer Service (9/11/17)
- The Relationship between Catholic Sacramental Theology and Catholic Social Justice Teaching: The Sacrament of Penance in Service of ‘Welcoming the Stranger
- Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (6/23/17)
- Letter to Deacons on the Feast of Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr (8/10/26)
Pastoral Letters
- To Christ Alone I Give My Undivided Love (1/21/24)
- To Preach Nothing but Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ Eucharistic (8/2/23)
- Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul: Catholic Archaeology, Saints Peter and Paul, and a New Era and Horizon of Catholic Evangelization on Long Island and Beyond (6/29/23)
- St. Philip Neri, the Second Apostle of Rome and the Reformer of the Eternal City (5/26/23) – English | Spanish
- Quo Vadis, America? — A Pastoral Letter on the occasion of the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Dobbs v. Jackson (6/25/22)
- Our Holiness and Mission in the Changing World of Work: A Pastoral Letter Celebrating St. Joseph the Worker on Labor Day (9/1/21)
- Attentive to the Voice of Grace (1/4/21) English | Spanish
- Go to Joseph! (12/20) English | Spanish
- Evangelium Vitae: The Gospel of Life for Today (9/8/20) English | Spanish
- “Mediums” and the Catholic Faith (8/12/20) English | Spanish
- Bringing Christ to Campus(8/1/20)
- Divine Mercy Sunday 2020(4/19/20)
- The Great Week (3/20)
- Heart Speaks to Heart (10/19)
- Ya Gotta Believe! (9/19)
- Archbishop Saint Oscar Romero: A Catholic Martyr Who Made the Holy Sacrifice of His Life While Celebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass – A Pastoral Letter from Bishop John O. Barres to the People of God of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (8/14/18)
- The Supreme Gift: The Gift of Life – Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Pope Blessed Paul VI’s Encyclical Letter: Humanae Vitae – A Pastoral Letter from Bishop John O. Barres to the People of God of the Diocese of Rockville Centre (7/25/18)
- The Dream and Our Deepest, Truest Selves (April 2018)
- Miracle of the Sun, Fatima: 100 years – English & Spanish
- Centenary of Our Lady of Fatima asking for her intercession for a Dramatic Missionary Growth on Long Island – Spanish (5/20/17)