About Mary Immaculate Catholic Church · West Palm Beach, Florida
Mary Immaculate Catholic Church is a Roman-Latin rite parish of the Diocese of Palm Beach, located at 390 South Sequoia Drive in West Palm Beach, Florida. Founded in August 1974 as a mission church of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, it is one of the older parishes serving the West Palm Beach Catholic community and now offers Mass in both English and Spanish. The parish is pastored by Father Tomasz Makowski (since 2002) under Bishop Manuel de Jesús Rodríguez, and it grounds its identity in prayer, fellowship, and charity under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- Established
- 1974
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (under the title of Mary Immaculate / the Immaculate Conception)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Tomasz Makowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach (parish transferred from the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to diocesan care on September 1, 1994)
Why belong here
Mary Immaculate offers a compact, multi-generational Catholic home in the Diocese of Palm Beach, with English and Spanish weekend Masses, daily weekday Masses in its chapel, and a robust sacramental and devotional life — including Saturday Reconciliation, weekly Eucharistic Adoration, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, the Legion of Mary Rosary, and Lenten Stations of the Cross. Active parish organizations such as the Knights of Columbus, parish fellowship gatherings with coffee and donuts, a Tuesday night bingo, and a Lenten fish fry give newcomers easy ways to plug in. Worship takes place in the dedicated 1982 church and the William G. Skaff Center, and the parish hall can be rented for sacramental celebrations like Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation.
Mass times at Mary Immaculate Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays at 3:15 PM
- Also by appointment — contact Father Tomasz at 561-686-8128
Adoration times
- Wednesdays, immediately after the 12:15 PM Mass, 12:45 PM – 3:00 PM (in the Chapel)
Parish History — From Mission to Diocesan Parish
Mary Immaculate was established in August 1974 as a mission church of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Father Michael Devaney, O.M.I., received his assignment from his provincial in Boston, and Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll of the Archdiocese of Miami approved the new mission with no financial support from St. John Fisher Parish or the archdiocese — it was expected to stand on its own. The first Mass was celebrated on September 26, 1974 at 10:00 AM with 56 people present, and daily Mass began at 7:30 AM (attended by just three people that first day). Within three weeks, the parish had outgrown the Cardinal Newman High School Chapel and moved into the school cafeteria. The first permanent rectory (237 Porter Place) was occupied in January 1977 with Father Devaney and Brother Henry Lemoncelli, and Oblate Father Joseph Pucci became the first associate pastor in fall 1977, when the parish already had more than 700 families.
- First Mass: September 26, 1974 at 10:00 AM, Cardinal Newman High School Chapel
- By 1977: more than 700 parish families; first associate pastor assigned
- Pastoral care transferred from the Oblates to the Diocese of Palm Beach on September 1, 1994
Building the Church — 1980 to 1982
In January 1980, Father Devaney launched a fundraising drive to build a permanent church. On December 8, 1980, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the grounds for the new church were blessed and broken. Holy Week services began in the new church on Holy Thursday, April 8, 1982, and on Easter Sunday more than 2,000 people celebrated Masses there. The new church was formally dedicated on October 9, 1982, the same year Father Devaney was succeeded by Father Joseph Gigante, O.M.I., who raised funds to build the parish hall — a new rectory and hall were completed in 1990.
- December 8, 1980 — grounds blessed on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
- Holy Thursday, April 8, 1982 — Holy Week services begin in the new church
- Easter 1982 — more than 2,000 worshippers at Masses
- October 9, 1982 — new church formally dedicated
Lenten & Holy Week Observances
Mary Immaculate observes the traditional Lenten devotions alongside parish fellowship. Stations of the Cross are prayed every Friday during Lent at 7:00 PM in the Church, hosted by Clara, Mala, and Leona. The Knights of Columbus host a Lenten Fish Fry Dinner each Friday of Lent from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Skaff Center, featuring fried cod or baked salmon with dessert included; a 50/50 prize drawing benefits the church.
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays during Lent, 7:00 PM, Church
- Lenten Fish Fry Dinner — Fridays during Lent, 5:00–7:00 PM, Skaff Center
- 50/50 Prize Drawing during Fish Fry dinners to benefit the church
Prayer Groups & Marian Devotion
Under the patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mary Immaculate hosts ongoing prayer groups. The Legion of Mary Rosary Devotion Group gathers every Tuesday immediately following the 12:15 PM Mass in the Chapel, hosted by Peg Rozzi (contact: 631-921-1276). The parish mission statement calls parishioners to live as committed disciples of Jesus Christ through prayer, fellowship, and charity.
- Legion of Mary Rosary Devotion Group — Tuesdays after 12:15 PM Mass, Chapel
- Hosted by Peg Rozzi — 631-921-1276
Parish Fellowship & Fundraisers
The parish nurtures community through regular fellowship events. After the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass, parishioners gather in the Skaff Center for coffee and donuts, with proceeds benefiting Mary Immaculate. Tuesday Night Bingo is a popular parish fundraiser with doors opening at 5:30 PM and the first round at 6:30 PM, featuring a progressive jackpot, 50/50, and a $100 Bullseye round on the last Tuesday of each month.
- Fellowship Coffee and Donuts — Sundays after 11:00 AM Mass, Skaff Center
- Tuesday Night Bingo — doors 5:30 PM; first round 6:30 PM
- Progressive jackpot, 50/50, monthly $100 Bullseye round
Religious Education & Sacramental Preparation
Mary Immaculate offers Religious Education / Faith Formation for parish families. Registration is done by scanning the parish's QR code or filling out the parish's Google Doc form, with baptismal certificates required. The Skaff Hall is available for rental for sacramental celebrations such as Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation. For sacramental emergencies, parishioners are asked to call the parish office at 561-686-8128 with 24 hours' notice.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation registration via QR code or Google Doc form
- Baptismal certificates required for enrollment
- Skaff Hall rentals available for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation
Organizations & Community Life
Mary Immaculate is home to an active Knights of Columbus council, which runs the Lenten Fish Fry and supports parish life. The parish community was recognized by the Diocese of Palm Beach in 2024 and 2025 when it hosted the Palm Beach Diocesan Council of Catholic Women's annual 'Take a Sister to Brunch,' honoring consecrated women religious serving throughout the diocese — with Father Tomasz Makowski and the parish Knights of Columbus praised for their hospitality.
- Knights of Columbus Council at Mary Immaculate (hosts Lenten Fish Fry)
- Hosted the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women's 'Take a Sister to Brunch' (Dec. 2024 and Dec. 2025)
Skaff Center — Parish Hub & Event Venue
The William G. Skaff Center (Skaff Hall) is the social and pastoral hub of Mary Immaculate. It hosts Sunday fellowship coffee and donuts, the Tuesday night bingo, the Lenten Fish Fry dinners, and the brunches that accompany diocesan events. The hall is fully equipped for parish needs and is also available for rent for personal sacramental celebrations such as Baptism, First Communion, or Confirmation. Pricing varies; interested parties should call 561-686-8128 or email [email protected].
- Hosts Sunday fellowship, Tuesday Night Bingo, and Lenten Fish Fry
- Available for rental for Baptisms, First Communions, and Confirmations
- Features a commercial kitchen used for parish dinners
- Inquire: 561-686-8128 or [email protected]
Visiting Mary Immaculate — Office, Contact, and Sacramental Emergencies
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone at 561-686-8128, by fax at 561-508-3862, or by email at [email protected]. Office hours are Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM; the office is closed on Mondays and Saturdays, and on Sundays is open only on the 1st and 3rd Sundays from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM. For sacramental emergencies, call the office at 561-686-8128 and please provide 24 hours' notice.
- Phone: 561-686-8128 — Fax: 561-508-3862
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Tue–Fri 9 AM–3 PM; Sun (1st & 3rd only) 9:30 AM–1 PM; closed Mon & Sat
- Sacramental Emergencies: 561-686-8128 (24 hours' notice requested)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Michael Devaney, O.M.I.1974–1982
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; founding pastor; received his assignment in May 1974 from his provincial in Boston; celebrated first Mass September 26, 1974 in Cardinal Newman High School Chapel; led the move into the new permanent church dedicated October 9, 1982.
- Father Joseph Gigante, O.M.I.1982 (brief tenure)
Replaced Father Devaney in fall 1982; raised funds to begin the parish hall; a new rectory and hall were completed in 1990 during this pastorate.
- Father Francis H. Reardon1991–c.1994
Blessed the parish with his arrival in 1991; established the first pastoral council with a small group of dedicated parishioners; the decision to transfer the parish from the Oblates to the Diocese of Palm Beach followed his tenure.
- Father Timothy Lynch1994–
First diocesan pastor, appointed September 1, 1994 when pastoral care of the parish was transferred from the Oblates to the Diocese of Palm Beach.
- Father Joseph Kuczborski
Served a brief period as parish administrator following Father Lynch.
- Father Tomasz Makowski2002–present
Appointed pastor on July 1, 2002; continues to serve as pastor at present.