About Christ the King · Perrine, Florida
Christ the King is a multicultural Catholic parish in the Perrine neighborhood of southwest Miami, Florida, founded in the late 1950s by and for Black veterans and their families and canonically established on July 10, 1961. Today the parish lives out its motto, 'Where love is international,' by celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole and serving its community through 37 outreach ministries. It belongs to the Archdiocese of Miami and is currently led by Administrator Father Joseph Jean-Louis, a Haitian-born Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate.
- Established
- 1961
- Patron
- Christ the King (Our Lord Jesus Christ the King)
- Rector
- Father Joseph Jean-Louis (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (South Dade Deanery)
Why belong here
Christ the King is a trilingual Catholic home where Mass is celebrated in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole every weekend, and where more than three dozen outreach ministries put the parish's motto — 'Where love is international' — into practice. Whether a family is seeking baptism, marriage preparation, RCIA, religious education for their children, or simply a place to belong across cultures, the parish welcomes them with a long-standing tradition of racial harmony, immigrant leadership, and rebuilding after hard times.
Mass times at Christ the King
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (English), or by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM, Chapel (open to the public)
- First Thursday of the month, 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Spanish) — per Discover Mass
- First Friday of the month, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Haitian Creole) — per Discover Mass
About Christ the King Parish
Christ the King is a Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Miami located at 16000 SW 112th Avenue in the Perrine area of southwest Miami. The parish community lives out its motto, 'Where love is international,' by welcoming multiple cultures and celebrating Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole every weekend. More than three dozen outreach ministries extend the parish's service to the surrounding community.
- Motto: 'Where love is international.'
- Deanery: South Dade (Archdiocese of Miami)
- Canonical founding: July 10, 1961
History & Heritage
Christ the King began in the late 1950s as a mission church in a southwest Miami neighborhood developed primarily for Black veterans and multi-ethnic families. Early Masses were celebrated in the cafeteria of Frank C. Martin public school until a permanent church was dedicated in 1962. The parish's origins trace even further back to 1957, when Holy Redeemer in Liberty City — under founding pastor Father Joseph DeVaney — sent mission Masses to the Richmond Heights area. Through the 1960s and 1970s the parish worked through significant racial and cultural stresses, and Caribbean West Indian families immigrating from Jamaica, Trinidad, Tobago, and Guyana soon became the parish's majority population. Hurricane Andrew in 1992 caused catastrophic damage to parish buildings, yet services resumed and the community rebuilt. Today the parish continues to welcome many ethnic cultures through 37 outreach ministries.
- Late 1950s: mission Masses begin at Frank C. Martin public school cafeteria
- 1957: Holy Redeemer (Father Joseph DeVaney) begins mission to Richmond Heights
- July 10, 1961: parish canonically established
- 1962: permanent church dedicated, built largely with parishioner volunteer labor
- 1960s–1970s: Caribbean West Indian families become the predominant influence
- 1992: Hurricane Andrew devastates parish buildings; community rebuilds
Clergy & Leadership
The parish is currently led by Father Joseph Jean-Louis, a Haitian-born Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate who was named Administrator by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective June 6, 2022. He joined the Archdiocese of Miami in 2012 and previously served as an associate pastor in several parishes; he was also chosen as one of the inaugural National Eucharistic Preachers for the National Eucharistic Revival. The parish staff also includes Deacon George Gibson.
- Father Joseph Jean-Louis — Administrator (since June 2022)
- Deacon George Gibson — parish deacon
- Parish office: (305) 238-2485
- Religious Education office: (305) 235-0293
Sacraments
Christ the King prepares parishioners for and celebrates the full range of Catholic sacraments in the language of their choice: English, Spanish, or French/Kreyol. Couples are asked to contact the parish office at least six months before a desired wedding date; parents seeking baptism should contact the Religious Education office.
- Baptism — English, Spanish, French/Kreyol (Religious Education: 305-235-0293)
- Marriage — at least 6 months' notice; appointment with the Pastor
- First Communion and Confirmation — preparation through the Religious Education program
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office for hospital or home visits
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4:00–4:45 PM or by appointment
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish's Religious Education office coordinates formation for children, teens, and adults preparing to enter or grow deeper in the Catholic faith. Programs are open in the parish's three working languages.
- CCD / Parish Religious Education Program for children in public and charter schools
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics seeking Confirmation/Eucharist)
- RCIA-C — Rite of Christian Initiation of Children (ages 7–17)
- Youth Group — catechesis and fellowship for parish teens
- Phone: (305) 235-0293 (Religious Education office)
Parish Life & Outreach
Christ the King's identity as a 'beacon for racial harmony' is lived out through 37 outreach ministries serving many ethnic cultures in the Perrine area. The parish also keeps its wider community connected through livestreamed Masses, online and text-to-give donations, and a multilingual parish registration process.
- 37 parish outreach ministries
- Live-streamed Masses (Spanish Saturday, English and Creole Sundays)
- Online and text-to-give giving (Text-to-Give 786-977-3327)
- Parish registration available in English, Spanish, and French/Kreyol
- Hospital/homebound Communion and Anointing visits on request
Becoming a Parishioner
New parishioners are invited to register online through the parish's enrollment forms (available in English, Spanish, and French/Kreyol) so they can be formally welcomed into the community and receive envelope support. Anyone wishing to celebrate a sacrament should contact the parish office or the Religious Education office directly.
- Parishioner registration forms in English, Spanish, and French/Kreyol
- Office phone: (305) 238-2485
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph DeVaney (of Holy Redeemer, Liberty City)1957–c.1961
Founder of the Christ the King mission from Holy Redeemer Parish; celebrated the first mission Masses in the Richmond Heights area that grew into the parish.
- Father Joseph Jean-LouisJune 2022–present
Appointed Administrator by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective June 6, 2022. A Haitian-born Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate, ordained in Haiti in 2003, he later served in Colombia and Bolivia and joined the Archdiocese of Miami in 2012 as an associate pastor.