Pastoral team
Reverend Patrick H. O’Connor
Head of Staff and Pastor
The Reverend Patrick Hugh O’Connor is a visionary faith leader, community developer, and nonprofit executive whose work has transformed communities through large-scale housing development, strategic coalition building, and holistic ministry innovation. As Lead Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, a vibrant multicultural congregation in New York City, Reverend O’Connor has led the church’s mission, expansion, and community impact since 1992, building over four decades of pastoral and nonprofit leadership experience.
Guided by First Presbyterian Church’s calling and legacy to “welcome All God’s Children and transform lives,” Reverend O’Connor has designed and implemented ministry initiatives that extend far beyond traditional congregational services. He serves as the architect and chief visionary behind multiple integrated community development programs that collectively serve thousands of residents and families throughout Queens.
His most significant achievement is the development of the Tree of Life, a $74 million mixed-income affordable housing initiative created in partnership with the Bluestone Organization. The project delivers 174 high-quality rental housing units while providing 9,500 square feet of community service space and a 15,000-square-foot Federally Qualified Health Center operated by Community Healthcare Network, expanding access to comprehensive healthcare services for underserved populations. The development also includes a Citibank branch that increases local financial accessibility, office space for Cornell University Cooperative Extension, and program partnerships with Queens Community House. Together, these services provide integrated housing, healthcare, financial services, education, and social support, establishing a nationally recognized model for faith-based community development.
Reverend O’Connor is widely respected as a strategic organizer who believes sustainable change requires mobilizing both people and financial resources to build lasting community power. As co-chair of Queens Power, he helped lead advocacy efforts that successfully secured the creation of approximately 2,000 new units of affordable housing on the Creedmoor Psychiatric Center campus, significantly expanding housing access and regional economic stability.
Beyond local congregational leadership, Reverend O’Connor plays a critical role in shaping economic development and housing policy initiatives across Queens. He serves as a director of the Greater Jamaica Development Corporation, Chairman of the First Jamaica Community and Urban Development Corporation, and Co-Chair of Queens Power within the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation network. Through these leadership roles, he has helped leverage public-private partnerships, attract multi-sector investment, and expand community infrastructure serving thousands of New York residents.
Reverend O’Connor received his formal education from the University of the West Indies, the United Theological College of the West Indies, and Yale University. He further strengthened his executive leadership expertise through Columbia Business School’s Institute for Not-for-Profit Management Executive Program and the Beeson Institute for Advanced Church Leadership.
Throughout his career, Reverend O’Connor has remained deeply committed to leadership development, community empowerment, and faith-rooted social transformation. He considers his greatest distinction to be his lifelong dedication to equipping individuals, strengthening institutions, and helping communities realize their full God-given potential.
Reverend Russell T. Marquis
Youth & Family Minister
The Reverend Russell T. Marquis is the fourth of five children born to the late Jennie and the late Rudolph B. Marquis in the Bronx, New York. He attended New York City public schools; was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Iona College, New Rochelle, New York; a Master of Divinity degree in Theology at Drew University Theological School, Madison, NJ. Because he demonstrated great potential to minister in a multicultural setting, he was awarded the prestigious Steele award while at Drew. Russell has also completed course work in Pastoral Counseling at Drew’s Doctor of Ministry program.
Russell was baptized at the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, Bronx, New York in April 1986. He served as an Associate Minister at Mount Carmel, under the pastorate of The Rev. Anthony Lowe, before going to The Concord Baptist Church of Christ, Brooklyn, NY. Reverend Marquis answered the call to the ministry in 1991; preached his trial sermon on January 14, 1996; and was fully ordained to the Gospel ministry July 26, 1998 by the United Missionary Baptist Association, National Baptist Convention.
In August 1996 Doctor Gary V Simpson, Senior Pastor of Concord invited Russell to serve as a student minister. He endeared himself to the people and was asked to stay on as an Associate Pastor, Youth Pastor and Administrative Pastor from 1998 - 2004.
In March 2004 The Shiloh Baptist Church of Jamaica, the oldest African-American Baptist congregation in Jamaica under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, extended the call to pastor to Russell. He accepted the call and was installed September 26, 2004, as the eighth pastor in 133 years of ministry. As pastor of The Shiloh Baptist Church of Jamaica, Pastor Marquis implemented several ministries and workshops to better serve the church: ordained deaconess to deacons and created a gender inclusive diaconate ministry, Youth Summit launched, embarked on a church wide 40 Days of Purpose campaign, Deacons and Trustees Leadership Retreat, Churchwide Leadership Workshop and a Strategic Planning Ministry Workshop. Under his leadership a wheelchair lift and a stair lift were installed for greater accessibility. A portable baptismal pool was acquired allowing baptism to take place in the sanctuary and the pews were refurbished. He has also organized several community health fairs for the congregation and Jamaica community. Pastor Marquis has partnered with several community-based organizations to host a community beautification project including cleaning several abandoned homes and sponsoring a mural of encouragement.
In 2003 Pastor Marquis received the Reverend Dr. Gardner C. Taylor Community Service Award. He is a contributor to Upscale Magazine. He also served as the Financial Secretary of the Brooklyn & Long Island Baptist Pastor and Churches Union. He was the Vice-President of Empowered Queens United in Action and Leadership (EQUAL), a local organizing group of Metro Industrial Areas Foundation consisting of several congregations in Jamaica & Sunnyside, NY. A former pastor in the Eastern Baptist Association of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. serving on the Advisory Council and Assistant Treasurer of the Board of Trustees.
After 12 years of service at Shiloh Baptist Church of Jamaica, Reverend Marquis resigned to seek another form of ministry. In 2015 he reentered New York State service and currently assists men and women recently released from prison reintegrate into the community.
In 2020, during the height of the COVID pandemic, Russell responded to the call back to a congregational setting. Lead Pastor, The Reverend Patrick H. O’Connor, of the notable First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, reached out to Russell to provide temporary online and limited contact assistance with the youth as the Family and Youth Minister at First Church. In answering the call, for what was only a temporary assignment has grown to pulpit supply, pastoral care, Bible study leader and worship leader. Russell serves not only the youth of First Church, but the full spectrum of members with great joy, enthusiasm and love.
He is blissfully married to Nakia Foster-Marquis. Their beautiful, blended family includes Julius, Riley and Raquel.