About Holy Name of Jesus · West Palm Beach, Florida
Holy Name of Jesus is a Roman Catholic parish of the Diocese of Palm Beach located at 345 South Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Florida. Founded on March 24, 1954 by Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the St. Augustine Diocese, the parish grew from humble beginnings — its first Masses were said in a 40-seat retreat house — into a thriving bilingual community with multiple weekend Masses in English and Spanish, a K-8 Catholic school, and a wide range of ministries organized around the parish's long-standing commitment to Stewardship. Today the parish is served by a pastor and parochial vicar, two permanent deacons, and a large lay staff, and it welcomes a culturally diverse congregation in the southwestern part of the city.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- The Most Holy Name of Jesus
- Rector
- Rev. Yves Francois
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
Holy Name of Jesus offers the full rhythm of Catholic life for a diverse West Palm Beach family: weekday and weekend Masses in English and Spanish, Saturday confessions, Eucharistic Adoration, and a busy sacramental calendar. The parish runs a K-8 Catholic school on the same campus, a robust Faith Formation and Youth Ministry program, and roughly fifty active ministries — from Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes to the Legion of Mary, Carmelite Lay Community, Food Pantry, St. Vincent de Paul, Bereavement, Marriage Preparation, and a vibrant Hispanic ministry with multiple choirs, Cursillos, and a Charismatic Prayer Group. Rooted in a Total Stewardship tradition that goes back to its earliest days, Holy Name is a place where time, talent, and treasure are ways of belonging — not just paying dues.
Mass times at Holy Name of Jesus
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 pm (English)
- Saturday 6:30 pm (Spanish)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration / Adoración del Santísimo (announced Tuesdays during Lent and at other times, 6:30–7:30 pm — check the parish events calendar for current schedule)
History of Holy Name of Jesus Parish
Holy Name of Jesus was created on March 24, 1954 by Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the St. Augustine Diocese and has now been serving West Palm Beach Catholics for more than 70 years. The parish's first Masses were celebrated by founding pastor Msgr. John B. McNulty in the small retreat house of St. Ann's Parish, which seated just 40 people. The community soon outgrew that space, and the parish rented surplus military warehouses for its first church and school in 1956 — buildings that parishioners remember affectionately as 'the swamp.' A combination church and school was built on the present South Military Trail site in 1960, and the present-day church and rectory were dedicated in 1980, with Trinity Center following in 1990.
- Founded March 24, 1954 by Archbishop Joseph Hurley of the St. Augustine Diocese
- First Mass celebrated in the 40-seat retreat house of St. Ann's Parish
- First school opened in 1956 in surplus military warehouses (the parish's 'first church' too)
- Present church and rectory dedicated in 1980; Trinity Center dedicated in 1990
- First Spanish Mass celebrated May 5, 1984 by Fr. Seamus Murtagh
Parish Clergy and Staff
The parish is currently served by Pastor Rev. Yves Francois and Parochial Vicar Rev. Jude Okeke, with pastoral support from Deacon Peter Mazzella (Pastoral Associate) and Permanent Deacon Mark Hoch. Deacon Jack Hamilton also assists. A large lay staff keeps the parish running day to day, including the Director of Music Ministry, Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry, Bookkeeper/Office Manager, Operations Manager Emeritus, Head Sacristan, Parish Outreach coordinator, and maintenance team.
- Rev. Yves Francois — Pastor
- Rev. Jude Okeke — Parochial Vicar
- Peter Mazzella — Pastoral Associate / Deacon
- Mark Hoch — Permanent Deacon
- Deacon Jack Hamilton
- Markus Barrameda — Director of Music Ministry
- Mercedes Nodarse — Director of Faith Formation and Youth Ministry / Parish Cantor
- Barbara O'Shea — Bookkeeper/Office Manager
- Magdalena Hernandez — Secretary / Bulletin
- Martha Castellanos — Parish Outreach
- Ed Pelletier — Head Sacristan
- Kevin Flinn — Operations Manager Emeritus
- Josiane Lafond — Faith Formation Coordinator
- Wilgens Azor & Fredis Perez Reyes — Maintenance
Stewardship and Parish Identity
Total Stewardship is the through-line of Holy Name of Jesus's modern identity. The seed was planted in the parish's earliest years — when Fatima Hall was built in the 1960s with $8,000 in cash and the donated labor and materials of the parishioners — but the vision was articulated and the ministries organized by Fr. Seamus Murtagh beginning in 1983. Fr. Murtagh saw that parishioners were ready to 'band together to help, comfort and love one another and to care for outsiders,' and he created dozens of ministries as avenues for that way of 'doing church.' His successor Fr. Gavin Badway, who returned as pastor in 2006 after earlier service as parochial vicar, has continued the tradition, and the parish's roughly fifty active ministries still reflect that Stewardship way of life.
- Time, talent, and treasure as the three ways parishioners accept responsibility for parish life
- Stewardship vision formalized by Fr. Seamus Murtagh beginning in 1983
- Continued under Fr. Gavin Badway from 2006 onward
- Roughly 50 active ministries and groups today
Faith Formation, Youth, and School
Holy Name of Jesus runs a complete Faith Formation program for children and youth, a Youth Ministry, and a K-8 Catholic school on the same campus. Religious Education and Confirmation Preparation are coordinated by Mercedes Nodarse, who also serves as Parish Cantor. Adult sacramental preparation is offered through RCIA in both English and Spanish, and the parish also offers a School of Christian Formation and an Adult Confirmation Process.
- Religious Education (K-8) and Youth Ministry — Mercedes Nodarse
- Confirmation Preparation (Youth)
- Adult Confirmation Process
- RCIA / Christian Initiation (English and Spanish)
- School of Christian Formation
- Holy Name of Jesus Catholic School (K-8) on the same campus, opened 1956
Music and Liturgical Ministries
Music is a major part of parish life at Holy Name of Jesus. The English-language music ministry is led by Director of Music Ministry Markus Barrameda, with Mercedes Nodarse serving as Parish Cantor. The Hispanic community supports a particularly rich tradition of liturgical music, with several distinct choirs: Coro de Holy Name, Coro de Niños, Coro Heme Aquí, Coro Jóvenes, and Coro Litúrgico. The parish also runs Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors (English and Spanish), Sacristans, and Ushers in both languages.
- Markus Barrameda — Director of Music Ministry (English)
- Mercedes Nodarse — Parish Cantor
- Coro de Holy Name, Coro de Niños, Coro Heme Aquí, Coro Jóvenes, Coro Litúrgico (Spanish)
- Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers, Sacristans, Ushers (English and Spanish)
Hispanic Ministry
Hispanic ministry is woven throughout the life of Holy Name of Jesus and includes its own sacramental preparation, devotional, social, and liturgical groups. The parish celebrates Spanish Mass on Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon, and one bilingual Mass on Sunday morning, and Spanish-language reconciliation is offered before the Spanish Vigil Mass. Devotional groups include Grupo de Oración Carismática, Advocación, Sagrado Corazón, Camino de Nohemí, Ministerio de Consuelo, and Pastoral Familiar.
- Saturday Vigil 7:00 pm (Spanish) and Sunday 2:00 pm (Spanish); Sunday 12:00 pm Bilingual
- Confessions Saturday 6:30 pm in Spanish
- RCIA and Sacramental Preparation in Spanish
- Cursillos, Damas Católicas en Acción, Justicia Social
- Multiple liturgical choirs and prayer groups
Outreach, Charity, and Service
Outreach is central to the parish's Stewardship mission. A Food Pantry, a St. Vincent de Paul conference, Community Outreach, Communion to the Sick and Homebound, Bereavement Ministry, a Prayer Line, and Respect Life work are all active at the parish. Recovery and support groups (Overeaters Anonymous, Women's Al-Anon) also meet under the parish umbrella, and a Gift Shop on campus raises funds for parish projects.
- Food Pantry (Main Office)
- St. Vincent de Paul — Central Council (561-697-9699)
- Community Outreach / Parish Outreach (Martha Castellanos)
- Communion to the Sick / Homebound
- Bereavement Ministry (Deacon Peter Mazzella)
- Prayer Line ([email protected])
- Respect Life
- Gift Shop, Senior Luncheons
- Overeaters Anonymous and Women's Al-Anon meetings
Devotions, Prayer, and Small Communities
Beyond the Mass schedule, Holy Name of Jesus hosts a wide range of prayer groups, lay communities, and devotional opportunities for parishioners who want to deepen their spiritual lives. These include the Carmelite Lay Community, Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group (English) and Grupo de Oración Carismática (Spanish), the Men's Morning Prayer Group, Bible Studies, a Labyrinth ministry, and the Letters From Heaven correspondence outreach.
- Carmelite Lay Community (Jim Tuscano, 561-964-5572)
- Legion of Mary (Dee Crane)
- Charismatic Prayer Group / Grupo de Oración Carismática
- Men's Morning Prayer Group (Deacon Peter Mazzella)
- Bible Studies
- Labyrinth Ministry
- Letters From Heaven (Cathie Twiggs)
- Eucharistic Adoration on announced evenings
Sacraments
The parish prepares Catholics for and celebrates all seven sacraments, with programs available in both English and Spanish for Baptism, Marriage, and RCIA. Annulment assistance is available, and the parish also hosts wedding receptions on its campus. Faith Formation staff coordinate the religious education that supports First Communion and Confirmation preparation for children and youth.
- Baptismal Program (English and Spanish)
- First Communion and Confirmation preparation (youth and adult)
- Marriage Preparation (English and Spanish) and Wedding Receptions on campus
- RCIA / Christian Initiation (English and Spanish)
- Anointing of the Sick / Communion to the Homebound
- Annulment Assistance (English and Spanish)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. John B. McNulty1954–1955
Founding pastor; celebrated first Masses in the St. Ann's retreat house.
- Fr. Paul Manning1955–c. 1958
Sermons had to compete with the Palm Beach Kennel Club loudspeakers.
- Fr. Timothy Carr
Led construction of the 1960 combination church and school; school opened with 455 pupils.
- Fr. Frank McCann1964–1969
Fourth pastor; oversaw building of Fatima Hall with $8,000 plus parishioner labor — an early seed of Total Stewardship.
- Fr. Raymond Scully
Short tenure.
- Fr. Jerome Martin
Short tenure.
- Fr. Michael Keller1971–1983
Died in office; present church and rectory dedicated in 1980.
- Fr. Seamus Murtagh1983–1998
Eighth pastor; celebrated first Spanish Mass in 1984; dedicated Trinity Center in 1990; launched the parish's Stewardship way of life.
- Fr. Gavin Badway2006–
Returned as pastor in 2006 after earlier service as parochial vicar; continued the Stewardship tradition.