About Mary Help of Christian · Parkland, Florida
Mary Help of Christians is a Roman Catholic parish in Parkland, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded in 1989 as the Archdiocese's 104th parish, it serves an ethnically diverse community with both English and Spanish Masses, runs a preschool and a K–8 elementary school, and is known for its distinctive Land Stewardship Committee and wooded, naturalistic church grounds. The parish is also remembered in the wider community for the role it played in consoling families after the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting.
- Established
- 1989
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title Mary Help of Christians
- Rector
- Rev. Harry Loubriel (Pastor)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Mary Help of Christians is a Christ-centered, Sacramental and Stewardship community that strives to show others the path to Jesus Christ through Catholic Christian example. It welcomes both English- and Spanish-speaking families with bilingual Masses and ministries, runs an accredited preschool and a K–8 Catholic school, and has a long reputation for reaching out to those in need through its St. Vincent de Paul conference, the We Care at Mary benevolence ministry, Knights of Columbus council, Respect Life group, youth and couples groups, and Emmaus communities for men and women. For anyone seeking a parish where traditional Catholic devotion, family faith formation, Marian spirituality and care for creation come together, MHOC offers a full parish life.
Mass times at Mary Help of Christian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Adoration times
- Thursday 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM
- Thursday 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM
- February 14 (annually) — Memorial Adoration for the victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting
Parish History
Established in 1989 as the 104th parish of the Archdiocese of Miami, Mary Help of Christians began life with Masses celebrated in portable school buildings. In 1993 the Archdiocese purchased 11.4 acres on North University Drive; a parish center was completed, dedicated and consecrated in 1996. From those early years the parish has been defined by its ethnic diversity and by a strong Marian identity that draws Spanish-speaking Catholics from many countries alongside its English-speaking community.
- 1989 — Founded as the Archdiocese of Miami's 104th parish
- 1993 — 11.4 acres purchased for the parish
- 1994 — Land Stewardship Committee formed
- 1995 — Grant from the National Council of Catholic Bishops for land stewardship
- 1996 — Parish center completed, dedicated and consecrated
- 1998 — Third place, Broward Beautiful Beautification Award
Land Stewardship & Natural Grounds
Soon after the Archdiocese bought the property, parishioners formed the Land Stewardship Committee (informally known as "the Dirty Dozen"). Members survey and care for the land, coordinate the landscape design, and have documented cypress trees more than 175 years old, as well as foxes, raccoons, opossums, tree frogs and non-venomous snakes. Their work earned the parish a national grant and a county beautification award, and inspired the unusual design of the church itself.
- Footpaths across the parish grounds
- Outdoor chapels, including one dedicated to St. Fiacre (patron saint of gardening)
- Land kept largely forested with cypress hammock and meadow
Architecture & Worship Space
In keeping with the parish's creation-care focus, the church was built without the colorful stained or faceted glass of most Catholic churches. A clear glass wall behind the chancel frames the wooded outdoors, and statuettes of Mary and Joseph are set against leafy murals. The result is a worship space where the natural beauty of the grounds is itself part of the liturgical environment.
Parish Ministries
An array of ministries reflects the parish's Christ-centered, sacramental and stewardship identity. Outreach to the poor is led by the St. Vincent de Paul conference and the We Care at Mary benevolence ministry, while spiritual life is supported by men's and women's Emmaus groups, rosary groups, a Respect Life group, a Knights of Columbus council, and youth and couples groups.
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- We Care at Mary (diapers, children's clothes, school supplies)
- Knights of Columbus
- Respect Life
- Men's and Women's Emmaus groups
- Youth Group and couples group
- Land Stewardship Committee
- Music Ministry
Marian Devotions & Rosary Groups
True to the parish's Marian name, members take part in several regular rosary groups, including a Rosary for Peace, a rosary of Our Lady Undoer of Knots, a prayer for children, and a weekly outdoor rosary at dawn on the parish grounds.
- Rosary for Peace
- Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
- Rosary for children
- Weekly outdoor rosary at dawn
Mary Help of Christians Catholic School
The parish campus includes both an accredited preschool (opened 1999, for children 18 months to 5 years; a Gold Seal Florida School) and an elementary school that opened in 2000 with just 12 students and now serves hundreds of pupils from kindergarten through eighth grade. The City of Parkland has publicly recognized the school during Catholic Schools Week.
- Preschool — 18 months to 5 years, accredited, Gold Seal Florida School
- Elementary school — K through 8th grade
- School office: (954) 323-8006
Faith Formation & Sacraments
Faith Formation is coordinated through the parish office and includes preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation, with other sacraments (Baptism, Marriage, etc.) arranged through the parish staff. The bilingual rhythm of parish life means many faith-formation resources are available to both English- and Spanish-speaking families.
Community Response After the 2018 Parkland Shooting
After the February 14, 2018 shooting at nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Mary Help of Christians opened its doors to grieving families and classmates, hosting rosaries and prayer services. Then-administrator Rev. Ireneusz Ekiert dedicated the parish's Stations of the Cross to the young victims, and the parish continues to mark the anniversary each February 14 with a memorial Mass and hour of Adoration.
- Parish-wide rosaries and prayer services held in 2018
- Stations of the Cross dedicated to the victims
- Annual memorial Mass and Adoration each February 14
Visiting, Contact & Practical Info
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (954) 323-8012 or by email at [email protected]; the office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A parish helpline is available at (954) 278-5614 for St. Vincent de Paul assistance. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin and maintains a Facebook page and a myParish app for news and online giving.
- Parish office: (954) 323-8012 — Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
- Email: [email protected]
- St. Vincent de Paul Helpline: (954) 278-5614
- Facebook: facebook.com/MHOCRC
- Online Giving and weekly bulletin via mhocrc.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Terence Hogan
Pastor referenced in a 2017 Archdiocese of Miami article about a City of Parkland proclamation honoring the school during Catholic Schools Week.
- Rev. Ireneusz Ekiertthrough 2018
Parish administrator at the time of the February 14, 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting; dedicated the parish's Stations of the Cross to the young victims.
- Rev. Harry Loubrielcurrent
Current pastor; listed as Director/President of Mary Help of Christians Catholic Parish in Parkland, Inc. and named in the current parish bulletin.