About Immaculate Conception · Melbourne Beach, Florida
Immaculate Conception Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Melbourne Beach, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Orlando and served by the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.). Founded on May 28, 1977 as the fourth new parish carved from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Melbourne, it grew to serve the barrier-island Catholic community between Franklyn Avenue in Indialantic and Sebastian Inlet. The current church was completed in April 1980 and dedicated on December 8, 1980, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and the physical plant has grown steadily since with a Parish Center (1987), Rectory (1991), and Parish Office (1994). Today the parish is led by Rev. Benjamin Berinti, C.PP.S. as Pastor, with Fr. Raymond Kaele, C.PP.S. as Parochial Vicar and Deacon Michael J. Biennas assisting.
- Established
- 1977
- Patron
- Immaculate Conception (of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
- Rector
- Rev. Benjamin Berinti, C.PP.S.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Orlando
Why belong here
Immaculate Conception offers a complete Catholic life on a small scale: a full weekly Mass schedule (nine Masses a week including a Vigil and three Sunday options), Saturday-morning Confession, communal Anointing of the Sick on most First Fridays, and a vibrant sacramental ministry. The parish supports families and seekers through RCIA (Becoming Catholic), Adult Formation, and Youth Religious Education, with a Director of Liturgical Music (Manfred Dreilich) and a Ladies Guild that supports the parish fabric. It also reaches outward through a Food Pantry Weekend supporting Daily Bread and the South Brevard Sharing Center, and gives parishioners a way to follow along via the myParish app and Fr. Ben's 'Beachside' homilies — all set in a barrier-island community that the parish describes as literally living out the Eucharistic Prayer between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.
Mass times at Immaculate Conception
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 am – 10:00 am (regular weekly schedule)
- By appointment — approach a priest at any time, or call the Parish Office (321) 725-0552 to request the Sacrament outside the scheduled times.
Adoration times
- Adoration is offered (see parish bulletin / website calendar for the current schedule).
Parish History
Immaculate Conception Parish was formally established on May 28, 1977, the fourth new parish to be formed from Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Melbourne — a sign, the parish notes, of the dramatic growth of the Catholic Church in Brevard County. Its boundaries stretched from Franklyn Avenue in Indialantic on the north to Sebastian Inlet on the south. Father John S. Murray was assigned as the founding pastor and oversaw construction of a new church on Diocesan-owned land about four miles south of the town of Melbourne Beach. While the church was being built, Sunday Masses were held in the cafeteria of Gemini Elementary School, and the Saturday Vigil was hosted by the rector of St. Sebastian's By The Sea Episcopal Church. The first Parish Mass was celebrated at St. Sebastian's at 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 25, 1977.
- Parish established: May 28, 1977
- Founding pastor: Father John S. Murray
- First Parish Mass: Saturday, June 25, 1977 at 5:00 PM, St. Sebastian's By The Sea Episcopal Church
- Church completed: April 1980
- Church dedicated: December 8, 1980 (Feast of the Immaculate Conception)
- Parish Center built: 1987
- Rectory built: 1991
- Parish Office built: 1994
Clergy & Parish Staff
Immaculate Conception is a C.PP.S. (Missionaries of the Precious Blood) parish, and both the pastor and parochial vicar are professed members of that congregation. The clergy and staff are a small, close-knit team that also runs the parish office, liturgical music program, and property.
- Rev. Benjamin Berinti, C.PP.S. — Pastor ([email protected])
- Rev. Raymond Kaele, C.PP.S. — Parochial Vicar ([email protected])
- Deacon Michael J. Biennas
- Donna Furfaro — Secretary for Parish & Financial Services ([email protected])
- Manfred Dreilich — Director of Liturgical Music ([email protected])
- Tim Foster — Property Manager ([email protected])
Sacraments
The parish's Sacraments page lays out Penance and the Anointing of the Sick in detail. Other sacraments (Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Eucharist) are coordinated through the Parish Office, with preparation programs advertised through the parish and the bulletin.
- Penance & Reconciliation: Saturday 9:00–10:00 am, plus by appointment
- Anointing of the Sick: by request via the Parish Office; communal celebrations 2–3 times per year and on most First Fridays at the 8:00 am Mass
- Confirmation: preparation through the parish (contact the Parish Office)
- Baptism, Marriage, First Eucharist: preparation programs via the Parish Office
Faith Formation & Becoming Catholic
The parish runs a full formation program for seekers, adults, and youth — a small-parish reflection of the larger sacramental life. RCIA (called 'Becoming Catholic' on the parish site) is the entry point for unbaptized adults and those coming into full communion with the Catholic Church.
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic
- Adult Faith Formation
- Youth Religious Education
Parish Ministries & Groups
Beyond formation, the parish sustains a range of lay ministries that keep the church running week to week. Music, care of the sick, and the Ladies Guild are all visible on the parish website, and the Food Pantry Weekend is a major twice-yearly outreach.
- Music Ministry (Director: Manfred Dreilich)
- Ministry to the Sick
- Ladies Guild
- Altar Linens
- Food Pantry Weekend (benefits Daily Bread and the South Brevard Sharing Center)
Outreach: Food Pantry Weekend
Twice a year the parish dedicates a weekend to collecting non-perishable food, toiletries, and monetary donations for two local charities: Daily Bread and the South Brevard Sharing Center, which serve homeless and low-income families in south Brevard. The parish frames the collection as a way of carrying the fruits of the Eucharist 'into a hungry and thirsty world' and 'becoming what we receive', echoing St. Augustine.
- Beneficiaries: Daily Bread and South Brevard Sharing Center
- Accepted donations: non-perishable food, toiletries, and checks (made out to either charity)
Liturgy & Music
Manfred Dreilich serves as Director of Liturgical Music, overseeing the sung parts of the parish's nine weekly Masses. The parish also encourages the offering of Altar Flowers for special occasions or in memory of a loved one (no floral arrangements during Lent).
- Director of Liturgical Music: Manfred Dreilich
- Altar Flowers: available to be donated for a special intention (no flowers in the sanctuary during Lent)
Fr. Ben's 'Beachside' Homilies
Pastor Fr. Ben Berinti publishes his homilies on the parish website under the title 'Beachside' Homilies — a name that reflects both the parish's location on Melbourne Beach and the local custom of living the words of Eucharistic Prayer III between the Atlantic and the Indian River Lagoon.
- Published on the parish website under 'Fr. Ben's "Beachside" Homilies'
Stay Connected: myParish App
The parish promotes the myParish app as its main digital companion, putting the weekly schedule, bulletins, and events in parishioners' pockets.
- myParish App — promoted on the parish homepage for daily Mass times, Confession schedule, events, and bulletins
Visit & Contact
The parish office is open by phone and email at the address and contacts below. The church sits on South Highway A1A in Melbourne Beach, between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.
- Address: 3780 S. Highway A1A, Melbourne Beach, FL 32951
- Phone: (321) 725-0552
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Parochial Vicar email: [email protected]
- Website: http://icparishmb.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father John S. Murray1977 – founding pastor
Assigned as the first pastor; oversaw construction of the new church on Diocesan land ~4 miles south of Melbourne Beach; arranged interim Sunday Masses at Gemini Elementary School cafeteria and the Vigil Mass at St. Sebastian's By The Sea Episcopal Church.
- Rev. Benjamin Berinti, C.PP.S.present
Current Pastor; member of the Missionaries of the Precious Blood (C.PP.S.). Publishes 'Beachside' homilies on the parish website.
- Rev. Raymond Kaele, C.PP.S.present
Current Parochial Vicar; also a Missionaries of the Precious Blood priest.