Blessed Trinity to Welcome Father Falce on June 30

By Katie McFadden

On June 1, Father Michael Falce celebrated his fifth anniversary as a priest and by the end of the month, he’ll begin his second assignment. Father Falce will join as Parochial Vicar of Blessed Trinity Parish.

Starting June 30, Father Falce will be joining Father Michael Gelfant, helping him oversee the three churches of Breezy Point and Roxbury under Blessed Trinity—St. Thomas More, St. Edmund and St. Genevieve. Father Falce will be moving on from St. Patrick’s Church, in Bay Ridge, where he’s served since 2019.

Born and raised in Glendale, Queens and growing up in a religious family, Falce and his family frequented St. Pancras Church, where he also went to elementary school. Falce became a dedicated member of the parish as an altar server. “I just loved the example of the priests in the parish while growing up. I loved being involved in the parish and loved being around people and seeing how fulfilled they were,” he said.

By sixth grade, Falce knew he wanted to be a part of the Catholic Church in a big way, by dedicating his life to God as a priest. How did he know it was the path he wanted to take? “A vocation gives that feeling, like when a man and woman decide to get married, through dating they realize that’s the right person and they feel so fulfilled and feel a lot of joy, and when it comes to a priestly vocation, you feel so much joy and fulfillment from being close to the church. Through prayer, of course you feel this connection and you’re encouraged by other priests as you discuss this with them, and one day another priest might say you should be called to the priesthood,” Falce said. “As you explore it more, as you feel such happiness and joy from it, it just feels right, and you want to continue with it.”

So he did. Falce went on to attend Cathedral Prep Seminary in Elmhurst for high school. He graduated in 2010, and then went to Pennsylvania to study at St. Charles Borromeo seminary in Philadelphia before finishing his studies at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. He served his diaconate year at Mary Queen of Heaven in Mill Basin. At age 27 on June 1, 2019, Father Falce was ordained into the priesthood. He served his first Mass of thanksgiving the following day at St. Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, where he’s been ever since. In addition to serving as Parochial Vicar there, Falce has been heavily involved in liturgy and music at St. Patrick’s.

But after five years, Father Falce is moving on to his next assignment. About St. Patrick’s in Brooklyn, Father Falce said, “I’ve had some wonderful experiences. We have an amazing school, awesome families and really faithful parishioners. It’s an active parish.” That’s what makes moving on difficult, but he’s looking forward to what’s next. “Of course, it’s bittersweet to leave a place you’ve called home for five years. You become very connected with not only the parish, but the local community. Bay Ridge is a wonderful, close-knit community that really gives that smalltown feel within the big city of New York,” he said.

After leading many Masses, weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies, his parishioners at St. Patrick’s will also miss him. “They’re sad but happy for me. They knew that after five years, I’d be moving on, but they’ve felt a closeness to me from my years of service here.” Luckily, he isn’t going too far and Falce says he’ll even see some familiar faces around Blessed Trinity. “There’s a big connection between Bay Ride and Breezy Point and many from Brooklyn summer in Breezy Point or go to the surf clubs there, and many have moved out to Bay Ridge to Breezy Point. So although I’ll be meeting many new people and I’m excited to meet all of the new families, there will be many familiar faces I’ll be seeing in Breezy Point as well,” he said.

Father Falce is no stranger to the peninsula himself. “I do have some familiarity with the area. Growing up, my family and I would go to Riis Park. That was our beach,” he said. He also has a good friendship with the priests at Belle Harbor’s St. Francis de Sales, including Father Jim Cunningham, Father Bill Sweeney and Monsignor John Bracken.

So he’s looking forward to this new opportunity. “It’s exciting,” he said. “Blessed Trinity is a wonderful parish and Father Gelfant is an amazing pastor and I’m looking forward to working with him. It will be a nice change being down at the beach. It’s something different. There’s no other parish really like this in the Diocese of Brooklyn, so it’ll be a nice experience. The diocese told me that this is an active parish with a lot of families and it’s busy. I thrive in a place that has activity.”

Falce is most excited about meeting his new parishioners starting June 30. “I love people and getting to know them. I look forward to meeting so many new families and parishioners. It’s exciting to meet new people and walk with them as they journey together with Christ,” he said. And he encourages all to introduce themselves. “Come say hello!” he said. Whether it’s at St. Thomas More, St. Edmund or St. Genevieve, or, on the beach. “I love the beach,” Father Falce said. “I love the sun. I love the ocean.  I love walking outdoors so I’m very much planning on being out there.”