About Holy Redeemer · Miami, Florida
Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish is a historically African-American Roman Catholic parish located at 1301 NW 71st Street in the Liberty City neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Founded December 10, 1950, by the Archdiocese of St. Augustine (now the Archdiocese of Miami), it is the spiritual successor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Overtown — long considered the 'Mother Church' for Black Catholics in Miami — and was built so families moving into Liberty City would no longer need to ride the jitney to Mass in Overtown. From its earliest years the parish stretched its influence far beyond Liberty City: the founding pastor helped seed St. Philip Neri in Opa-Locka, St. Augustine in Coconut Grove, and Christ the King in Richmond Heights, opened the first Catholic school for Black children in Liberty City (1952–1990), and hosted a Mercy Hospital neighborhood clinic. Today the parish remains a beacon of community life for Liberty City and is served by Father Emmanuel John Essiet, installed as pastor by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at the 75th anniversary Mass on December 14, 2025.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- The Most Holy Redeemer (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Emmanuel John Essiet
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Holy Redeemer is the historic Catholic heart of Liberty City — a parish that has served African-American Miami since 1950 and remains a true 'beacon of light and witness to hope' in the words of Archbishop Wenski. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic looking for a welcoming, spirit-filled Sunday Mass at 9:00 AM, an adult seeking RCIA, or a family wanting your children prepared through the Sunday School/CCD program under Bernadette Poitier, the parish opens its doors to all. It also offers a long tradition of active lay ministry — Music, Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, Ushers & Greeters, Liturgical Decorators, Pastoral and Finance Councils — so newcomers can quickly find a way to serve alongside a parish that has continually reached beyond its walls (founding three other parishes, running its own school for 38 years, and hosting a Mercy Hospital clinic for the poor).
Mass times at Holy Redeemer
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM
Adoration times
- Eucharist Adoration: Last Wednesday of each month, after the 8:30 AM morning Mass
History & Heritage of Holy Redeemer Parish
Holy Redeemer was born in the early 1940s out of a single laywoman's determination. Mrs. Helen Kelly, who had organized the Sunday school at St. Francis Xavier in Overtown, gathered Liberty City families into a Catholic interest group and petitioned Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of the Diocese of St. Augustine for a church of their own. For five years the group met in homes and the James E. Scott Community Center, sponsoring baby contests, raffles, and Saturday sandwich sales to raise money. The Archdiocese bought land at NW 71st Street in 1945; Father Joseph Cronin, SSJ, broke ground in late 1949; and Archbishop Hurley dedicated the new church on December 10, 1950, naming Rev. Joseph DeVaney the first pastor. Under DeVaney, Holy Redeemer immediately became a missionary parish — planting St. Philip Neri (Opa-Locka, 1954), St. Augustine (Coconut Grove, 1956), and Christ the King (Richmond Heights, 1957) — and opened the first Catholic school for Black children in Liberty City in 1952.
- 1940s: Mrs. Helen Kelly forms Catholic interest group in Liberty City
- 1945: Archdiocese of St. Augustine purchases land at NW 71st Street
- 1949: Father Joseph Cronin breaks ground
- December 10, 1950: Church dedicated by Archbishop Hurley; Rev. Joseph DeVaney named first pastor
- 1952: Holy Redeemer School opens (first Catholic school for Black children in Liberty City)
- 1954: St. Philip Neri (Opa-Locka) mission founded by Father DeVaney
- 1956: St. Augustine (Coconut Grove) mission founded
- 1957: Christ the King (Richmond Heights) mission founded
- 2000: 50th anniversary celebrated
- 2010: 60th anniversary celebrated
- December 14, 2025: 75th anniversary ('Diamond Jubilee') Mass; Archbishop Wenski installs Fr. Emmanuel Essiet as pastor
Parish Milestones — A Timeline of Growth
Beyond its founding, Holy Redeemer's campus grew steadily over three quarters of a century. The social hall was completed in 1952, the school moved into its two-story building in 1954 and was dedicated in 1955, the rectory was completed in 1961, and the church was first renovated and enlarged in 1962. A parish library was dedicated in 1969, a kindergarten added in 1981, and the church underwent a complete renovation in 1982, with a supplemental renovation in 1995. After the school closed in 1990, Catholic Charities opened a day-care center in the former school building; that building itself was renovated again in 2005, and the social hall was renamed the M. Athalie Range Hall in 2008.
- 1952 — Social Hall completed
- 1954 — Holy Redeemer School completed and opened (150 students)
- 1955 — School dedicated
- 1960 — Josephite Society assumes administration
- 1961 — Rectory completed
- 1962 — Church renovated and enlarged
- 1969 — Parish library dedicated
- 1979 — School 25th anniversary
- 1981 — Kindergarten built
- 1982 — Complete church renovation
- 1988 — School 35th anniversary
- 1990 — School closed; Catholic Charities opens day-care center; Oblates arrive
- 1995 — Supplemental renovation
- 2000 — 50th anniversary
- 2005 — School building renovation
- 2008 — Social hall renamed M. Athalie Range Hall
- 2009 — Closing of St. Philip Neri and St. Francis Xavier (mother parish)
- 2010 — 60th anniversary
- 2015 — Dr. Earl E. Allen Scholarship initiated
Father Emmanuel John Essiet — Pastor's Profile
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel John Essiet is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Aba, Nigeria, ordained in 2002 after philosophical studies (1994–1998) and theological studies (1998–2002) in Nigeria. After roughly eighteen months of priestly ministry in the Diocese of Aba, he was sent to Rome for graduate work at the Pontifical Lateran University, where he earned the Licentiate in Canon and Civil Law in 2008 and the Doctorate in Canon and Civil Law in 2016. He subsequently served as pastor, assistant chancellor, and judicial vicar of the Diocese of Avezzano, Italy, before coming to Miami. In September 2019 he was accepted to serve as a judge on the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami. On May 20, 2024, Archbishop Thomas Wenski appointed him Administrator of Holy Redeemer Catholic Parish (effective June 17, 2024), and on the same date he was appointed Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Miami (effective July 1, 2024). Archbishop Wenski formally installed him as pastor at the parish's 75th-anniversary Mass on December 14, 2025. He is one of nine children from his Nigerian family.
Faith Formation & Religious Education (Sunday School / CCD)
Faith formation has been central to Holy Redeemer since its founding. Mrs. Helen Kelly ran the very first CCD classes in her own home in the early 1940s before the parish existed, eventually moving to the James E. Scott Community Center and a classroom at Dorsey High School. Today the Coordinator of Religious Education, Bernadette Poitier, assisted by Andrea Green, runs the Sunday School / CCD program, offering Catholic children and families a structured School of Religion that exposes them to a variety of Catholic spiritual traditions during the year. Families are encouraged to register their children for this integral faith-filled experience.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Bernadette Poitier
- Assistant: Andrea Green
- Sunday School / CCD program for children
- School of Religion curriculum covering Catholic spiritual traditions
RCIA — Becoming Catholic
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) at Holy Redeemer welcomes anyone who has expressed interest in becoming Catholic, as well as adults baptized as children who have not yet received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Candidates are prepared in the Catholic faith through the parish's RCIA process. Registration is by phone through the rectory office.
Parish Ministries
Ministry is, in the parish's own words, 'the heartbeat of the church.' Holy Redeemer's ministries include Music (adult choir, young adult choir, and cantors), Lector Ministry, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers & Greeters, Liturgical Decorators & Sacristans, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Finance Council, RCIA, Sunday School/CCD, the St. Margaret Mary's Guild (the women's society successor to Father DeVaney's original Women's Union), the Young Men Mentoring Program ('Distinguished Entrepreneurs of America,' since 2001), and the parish Youth Group.
- Music Ministry
- Lector Ministry
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Ushers & Greeters
- Liturgical Decorators & Sacristans
- Parish Pastoral Council
- Finance Council
- RCIA
- Sunday School / CCD
- St. Margaret Mary's Guild
- Distinguished Entrepreneurs of America (Young Men Mentoring Program)
- Youth Group
Music Ministry
The Music Ministry invites men, women, and youth to share the gift of song as cantors and choir members at Mass. The parish's choirs — adult and young adult — are described as 'an integral part of the ministry within the church.' The Director of Music is part of the parish staff, and at major celebrations the parish is joined by visiting choirs such as LifePage, the OCBM Choir, and the Visitation Mission Choir.
- Adult Choir
- Young Adult Choir
- Cantors
- Visiting choirs for anniversaries and special events
Pastoral Council & Finance Council
The Parish Pastoral Council assists the pastor in planning, organizing, initiating, promoting, coordinating, and reviewing the evangelization, worship, religious-education, and service activities of the parish. It is composed of both elected and appointed members of the parish. The Finance Council advises the pastor on parish financial administration and issues a detailed annual report to the parish, with an emphasis on stewardship of time, talent, and treasure.
- Pastoral Council — elected and appointed members
- Finance Council — issues detailed annual report
St. Margaret Mary's Guild & Parish Organizations
The parish women's society was founded by Father DeVaney as The Women's Union with Mrs. Irma Bodie as its first president, later renamed the Blessed Martin's Guild, and finally the St. Margaret Mary's Guild. Through the decades it has financed countless improvements to the parish — pews, kneelers, and seasonal needs — through bazaars, candy sales, thrift sales, baby contests, and contests between Circle I and Circle II. The Distinguished Entrepreneurs of America young-men mentoring program has been active in the parish since 2001, and the Youth Group has organized pilgrimages (e.g., the National Shrine of Our Lady of the Snows, Belleville, Illinois, 2000) and other events.
- St. Margaret Mary's Guild — successor to Women's Union / Blessed Martin's Guild
- Distinguished Entrepreneurs of America (Young Men Mentoring Program)
- Youth Group pilgrimages and outreach
Parish Staff
The current parish staff includes Fr. Emmanuel John Essiet (Pastor), a Secretary, a Director of Music, a Coordinator of Religious Education (Bernadette Poitier), and parish staff members Donna Blyden and A. Amandy Higgs. Together they support the parish office, music program, religious-education program, and pastoral operations.
- Rev. Fr. Emmanuel John Essiet — Pastor
- Donna Blyden — parish staff
- A. Amandy Higgs — parish staff
- Secretary
- Director of Music
- Bernadette Poitier — Coordinator of Religious Education
Holy Redeemer School (1952–1990) and Catholic Charities Day Care
Holy Redeemer School opened in 1952 as the first Catholic school for Black children in Liberty City, serving grades one through four with an initial enrollment of 35 students, taught first by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In 1954 the school moved into a two-story building with 150 students, was dedicated in 1955, and later welcomed the Oblate Sisters of Providence from Baltimore as its teachers. The school celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1979 and 35th in 1988, and the school building received a kindergarten addition in 1981. The school closed in 1990 due to high operating costs and declining enrollment; Catholic Charities now operates a day-care center for approximately 140 infants, toddlers, and preschoolers in the renovated former school building (renovated again in 2005).
- First Catholic school for Black children in Liberty City (1952)
- Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary — first teachers
- Oblate Sisters of Providence — later teachers
- Closed 1990; Catholic Charities day-care center now in former school building (c. 140 children)
Liberty City & the Wider Mission
Holy Redeemer's identity is inseparable from Liberty City and from the broader African-American Catholic community of Miami-Dade. The parish sits near Liberty Square, which opened in 1937 as the first public housing project for African Americans in the U.S. South. From its earliest years, Holy Redeemer extended its mission beyond Liberty City: Father DeVaney's outreach trips seeded St. Philip Neri in Opa-Locka (1954), St. Augustine in Coconut Grove (1956), and Christ the King in Richmond Heights (1957). Mercy Hospital set up a neighborhood medical clinic at the parish for the poor, with a nurse and doctor on site two days a week and a $1.00 fee covering medication. Archbishop Wenski, preaching at the 75th anniversary, called Holy Redeemer 'a beacon of light, a witness to hope,' that has weathered 'crisis, suffering, violence, inequality, and discrimination' for 75 years.
- Near Liberty Square (first public housing for African Americans in the U.S. South, opened 1937)
- Mothered three daughter parishes: St. Philip Neri, St. Augustine, Christ the King
- Hosted Mercy Hospital free clinic for the poor
- Historically African-American parish serving a diverse community today
Celebrating 75 Years — The Diamond Jubilee
Holy Redeemer's 75th-anniversary celebration, themed the 'Diamond Jubilee,' culminated on Sunday, December 14, 2025, with a special 9:00 AM Mass presided over by Archbishop Thomas Wenski and a joyful anniversary brunch following. The celebration featured performances by LifePage, the OCBM Choir, the Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Choir, the Visitation Mission Choir, and various soloists, alongside spiritual reflections and gratitude for 75 years of worship, love, and service. At the same Mass, Archbishop Wenski formally installed Father Emmanuel John Essiet as pastor of the parish.
- Theme: 'Diamond Jubilee'
- Date: Sunday, December 14, 2025
- Presider: Archbishop Thomas Wenski
- Installation of Father Emmanuel John Essiet as pastor
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph DeVaney1950 – c. 1960
First pastor of Holy Redeemer; organized the Women's Union (later Blessed Martin's Guild, then St. Margaret Mary's Guild); seeded missions that became St. Philip Neri (Opa-Locka, 1954), St. Augustine (Coconut Grove, 1956), and Christ the King (Richmond Heights, 1957); oversaw the opening of Holy Redeemer School in 1952.
- Rev. Thomas Sheedy, SSJ (Josephite)1960 –
Took over as pastor when the Josephite Society assumed administration of the parish in 1960; Oblate Sisters of Providence arrived to staff the school under his pastorate.
- Rev. Michael O'Hara, O.M.I. (Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate)1990 –
First Oblate pastor, arrived in 1990 the same year Holy Redeemer School closed and Catholic Charities opened a day-care center in the former school building.
- Rev. Alexander Ekechukwu, CSSp (Spiritan / Congregation of the Holy Spirit)2013 – 2024
Arrived in 2013 to lead the parish; remembered in Archbishop Wenski's 2025 homily as a 'Holy Ghost Father' who served faithfully before Father Essiet's appointment.
- Rev. Fr. Emmanuel John Essiet2024 – present
Nigerian-born priest ordained 2002 for the Diocese of Aba; Licentiate and Doctorate in Canon and Civil Law from the Pontifical Lateran University, Rome (2008, 2016); served in the Diocese of Avezzano, Italy; appointed Administrator of Holy Redeemer June 17, 2024; also named Judicial Vicar of the Archdiocese of Miami July 1, 2024; installed as Pastor December 14, 2025.