About Little Flower · Hollywood, Florida
Little Flower Catholic Parish in Hollywood, Florida is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Miami, founded in 1924 as a mission of St. Anthony's Church in Fort Lauderdale during South Florida's first land boom. Named informally for the silver statue of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus ("the Little Flower") that founding missionary Fr. Michael Mullaly brought with him in a suitcase, the parish grew from plank-bench Masses celebrated on a converted packing-case altar into the present Mediterranean-style church on Pierce Street that today serves about 1,000 families — roughly half of them Hispanic — along with Little Flower Catholic School (founded 1949). The parish marks its identity around St. Thérèse's "little way" of simple charity, blends English and Spanish parish life, and is currently led by Fr. Javier Barreto as pastor and Fr. Marek Wiorkiewicz as parochial vicar.
- Established
- 1924
- Patron
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the "Little Flower")
- Rector
- Rev. Javier Barreto
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
People belong to or visit Little Flower because it is a century-old, family-sized parish in the heart of Hollywood with a tangible welcome to newcomers and a strong bilingual (English and Spanish) Catholic life. It offers the full rhythm of traditional parish practice — daily Mass, weekday adoration Monday through Friday, regular confession on Thursday and Saturday, a parish school with weekly Mass and monthly Euchar adoration, ministries like the Knights of Columbus, Respect Life, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference that feeds more than 500 people a month — and it carries the spiritual warmth of its patroness, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, whose "little way" of quiet, generous charity is woven into how the parish sees itself. Many parishioners are multi-generational: students who entered the Dominican-Sisters school in the 1950s and 60s still serve as lectors and extraordinary ministers today.
Mass times at Little Flower
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday 9:00–10:00 am
- Saturday 9:00–10:30 am
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Monday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Tuesday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Wednesday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Thursday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Friday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Twice a week (per Archdiocese centennial article — schedule above is the parish website listing)
History of Little Flower Parish
Little Flower traces its roots to 1924, when Father Michael Mullaly walked south from St. Anthony's Church in Fort Lauderdale with a suitcase of vestments, candles, a wooden chalice and a small silver statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Sunday Mass was celebrated on a packing-case altar while parishioners sat on plank benches. By 1925 the congregation worshipped at the Ritz and Diane theaters and the Olympia Building, and a small church was built in 1927 on Van Buren Street — relocated in 1929 a block to Pierce Street, where the present Mediterranean-style church was built in 1941. The parish school opened in 1949, was staffed by the Adrian Dominican Sisters, and quickly reached 1,000 students. Major trials and growth have marked every decade: the 1925 hurricane, the Depression (when pastor Fr. Dennis O'Keefe had to visit other parishes for meals), the WWII generation (which welcomed servicemen from the nearby port), the arson fire of 1980 that destroyed the altar and crucifix, the 26-year pastorate of Fr. Thomas O'Dwyer (1993–2019) that built the Spanish-style colonnade and the Chapel of Roses, and the 2022 appointment of Fr. Javier Barreto. The 100th anniversary was celebrated on October 1, 2024 — the feast of St. Thérèse — with a Mass concelebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski and 25 priests.
- 1924: founding as a mission of St. Anthony's, Fort Lauderdale, by Fr. Michael Mullaly
- 1925: Masses at Ritz and Diane theaters
- 1927: small church built on Van Buren Street
- 1929: church relocated one block north to Pierce Street
- 1941: present Mediterranean-style church built
- 1949: Little Flower Catholic School opened (Broward's second Catholic school)
- 1950s: capacity doubled to ~1,800; bell tower, air conditioning, cafeteria, auditorium added; coquina-rock entries installed
- 1980: arson fire; ten-month rebuild; 1,200-pipe organ installed
- 1993–2019: Fr. Thomas O'Dwyer — Spanish-style colonnade and Chapel of Roses added
- 2022: Fr. Javier Barreto named pastor
- Oct. 1, 2024: 100th anniversary Mass with Archbishop Wenski
Parish Staff
The parish is currently led by Fr. Javier Barreto (Pastor) and Fr. Marek Wiorkiewicz (Parochial Vicar), supported by a parish staff of Susan Wright (Bookkeeper), Marielena Marquez (Receptionist), and Rosalie Modzelewski (Director of Faith Formation & Pastoral Ministries). All volunteers are required to complete Virtus safe-environment training and submit a Criminal Background Check Form and fingerprinting before serving.
- Rev. Javier Barreto — Pastor
- Rev. Marek Wiorkiewicz — Parochial Vicar
- Susan Wright — Bookkeeper
- Marielena Marquez — Receptionist
- Rosalie Modzelewski — Faith Formation & Pastoral Ministries
Liturgical & Parish Ministries
Parish ministries are organized into Liturgical Ministries (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Lectors, Greeters/Hospitality) and Parish Ministries & Groups (Respect Life, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus and other service organizations referenced in the parish's own history). The St. Vincent de Paul conference is one of the largest in the Archdiocese of Miami, running a monthly food drive on the first weekend of every month and serving over 500 people each month. Volunteers must complete Virtus safe-environment training.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors
- Greeters / Hospitality
- Respect Life
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (1st weekend food drive; ~500 served monthly)
- Knights of Columbus
- Pre-marital preparation, youth and senior-citizen activities, and Emmaus retreats (parish history)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Little Flower's Religious Education Program serves children grades 1 through high school and supplements family faith formation at home. Sacramental Preparation for First Communion (typically in 2nd grade) and Confirmation (typically in 8th grade) each require two years of parish formation. Classes are held in both English and Spanish. The parish also runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) for adults and school-age children (age 7+) seeking baptism, First Communion or Confirmation.
- Religious Education — English: Wednesdays 4:30–6:00 pm
- Religious Education — Spanish: Sundays 11:00 am–12:30 pm
- Sacramental Prep: two-year formation required for First Communion and Confirmation
- OCIA — adult sessions on Sunday mornings + Mass dismissals; school-age OCIA integrated with Religious Education
- Director: Rosalie Modzelewski — [email protected] / (954) 922-3517
Little Flower Catholic School
Little Flower Catholic School is a parish school founded in 1949 — 25 years after the parish itself. It began under the Adrian Dominican Sisters, quickly reached 1,000 students by the mid-20th century, and has been continuously accredited since 1973. It is currently led by Principal Maria and offers a PreK-3 through 8th-grade Catholic education. The school was awarded the commendation of Excellent Catholic School by the Florida Catholic Conference and, in July 2014, received the Gold Seal Certification from the National Council of Private Schools. Students attend weekly Mass, monthly Eucharistic Adoration, retreats each year, and sacramental preparation in 2nd and 8th grades; the campus ministry team is currently from the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary (Sister Karla Icaza and Sister Maria Jose Socias). Eighth-grade graduates consistently matriculate to St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory, Archbishop McCarthy High School, Cardinal Gibbons High School, and Monsignor Pace High School.
- Founded 1949 (75th anniversary celebrated 2024)
- Originally staffed by the Adrian Dominican Sisters of Adrian, Michigan
- Accredited continuously since 1973
- Florida Catholic Conference 'Excellent Catholic School' commendation
- Gold Seal Certification from the National Council of Private Schools (2014)
- Weekly Mass (PreK–8th); monthly Eucharistic Adoration
- Sacramental prep: First Communion (2nd grade), Confirmation (8th grade)
- Campus Ministry by the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary
- Clubs: Student Council, National Junior Honor Society, Chess Club, Rosary Club, Science, Math, Luminous Leopards
- Current principal: Maria
Sacraments at Little Flower
Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage, Anointing of the Sick and Confession are all available at the parish. OCIA provides the formal pathway for unbaptized adults and for baptized Catholics needing First Communion or Confirmation. Marriage requires the standard pre-marital preparation program; couples should contact the parish office to begin. Confession is offered Thursday 9–10 am, Saturday 9:30–10:30 am (per the parish website: 9–10:30 am), and by appointment.
- Baptism (infant) — contact parish office
- First Holy Communion (2nd-grade sacramental preparation, 2-year formation)
- Confirmation (8th-grade sacramental preparation, 2-year formation)
- Marriage — pre-marital preparation required; contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- Confession — Thu 9:00–10:00 am; Sat 9:00–10:30 am; by appointment
- OCIA — adult and school-age
Devotions, Devotional Spaces & Architecture
The parish's spiritual identity is tightly bound to St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the "Little Flower," whose first-class relic rests in the wooden altar and whose statue — the same statue Fr. Mullaly brought in 1924 — gave the parish its informal name. The 1941 Mediterranean-style church features a wood-beamed ceiling; the 1950s remodel added the bell tower and air conditioning, and the post-1980-fire restoration brought in a 1,200-pipe organ. Fr. O'Dwyer's tenure added the Spanish-style colonnade and the Chapel of Roses, while the 2024 centennial refresh added a new marble floor in the sanctuary and earthen teal/red-brown wall paint behind the altar. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is now offered twice weekly (advertised as Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on the parish website).
- Wooden altar holding a first-class relic of St. Thérèse of Lisieux
- Original silver statue of St. Thérèse that named the parish (still preserved)
- Wood-beamed ceiling (1941)
- Coquina-rock entrance doors (1950s)
- Bell tower (1950s)
- 1,200-pipe organ (installed after the 1980 arson fire)
- Spanish-style colonnade (Fr. O'Dwyer era, 1993–2019)
- Chapel of Roses (Fr. O'Dwyer era)
- New marble floor in sanctuary; teal and reddish-brown paint behind the altar (centennial refresh, 2024)
Getting Involved & Visitor Information
Newcomers and visitors are warmly welcomed at Little Flower. Anyone interested in serving in a ministry must first complete a Virtus safe-environment training session online and submit a Criminal Background Check Form and fingerprints to the parish office. The parish office is open during regular weekday hours at 1805 Pierce Street, Hollywood, FL 33020; the main phone number is (954) 922-3517 and the general inbox is [email protected]. Weekly bulletins are published online through the parish website and via Discover Mass; print bulletins are also produced. Visitors touring the parish can see the 1941 Mediterranean-style church, the Chapel of Roses, the Spanish-style colonnade, the bell tower and the coquina-rock entries — all on a single downtown Hollywood block.
- Parish office: 1805 Pierce Street, Hollywood, FL 33020
- Phone: (954) 922-3517
- Email: [email protected]
- Weekly bulletins online + via Discover Mass email signup
- Volunteers: Virtus safe-environment training + background check + fingerprints required
- Contact for school inquiries: principal Maria; registrar available
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Michael Mullaly1924–c.1925
Founding missionary; arrived from St. Anthony's, Fort Lauderdale with a suitcase containing vestments, two candles, a wooden chalice and a small silver statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux. Celebrated Mass on a converted packing-case altar; parishioners sat on plank benches. He started the mission as 'St. Anthony's mission,' which became known as 'Little Flower.'
- Rev. Louis Buechlerc.1925–c.1928+
Minnesota native; served the fledgling mission more than three years and is identified by the parish and Archdiocese of Miami as its first pastor.
- Rev. Dennis O'Keefelate 1920s–1930s (Depression era)
Pastored during the Great Depression; parish history records that 'the roof leaked during Mass' and he 'had to visit other parishes just to get a meal.'
- Rev. Vincent Cashman1972–1993
Rebuilt the church after arsonists set fire to the sanctuary in 1980, destroying the altar and the large wooden crucifix and causing extensive smoke damage; ten months of fundraising and rebuilding added a 1,200-pipe organ.
- Rev. Thomas O'Dwyer1993–2019
Longest-tenured recent pastor (26 years). His tenure saw the addition of the Spanish-style colonnade and the Chapel of Roses and the firm establishment of Spanish-language ministry alongside the English community.
- Rev. Javier Barreto2022–present
Named pastor following the COVID-19 era; has focused on building the parish's spiritual legacy, welcoming newcomers, and reintroducing twice-weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Celebrated the parish's 100th anniversary Mass on Oct. 1, 2024.