About Miami International Airport · Miami, Florida
The Catholic ministry at Miami International Airport (MIA) is a chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Miami that brings the Sunday Mass and the sacraments to the more than 50 million passengers, airport workers, and flight crews who pass through the airport each year. A weekly vigil Mass has been celebrated at the airport chapel — an interdenominational prayer room on the lower level of Concourse D — every Saturday evening since August 18, 2012, fulfilling the Sunday obligation for travelers and shift workers who would otherwise struggle to attend Mass. The ministry is administered from Blessed Trinity Parish in nearby Virginia Gardens, with Father Roberto Cid as chaplain/director, and is complemented by an active team of deacons and lay volunteers.
- Established
- 2012
- Rector
- Father Roberto Cid
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
This ministry exists for one practical and deeply Catholic reason: many people at MIA — passengers with tight connections, flight crew on layovers, and the tens of thousands of men and women who work the terminals, tarmac, and concessions every day — cannot easily make it to a parish church on a Sunday morning or weekday evening. The Saturday 7 p.m. vigil Mass, celebrated in the airport chapel on Concourse D, lets them fulfill their Sunday obligation without leaving the airport, and the priests remain available for confession afterward. For Catholics passing through Miami, it is also a rare Jubilee Year indulgence site — making the chapel not only a convenient stop but, in 2025, a designated pilgrimage destination.
Mass times at Miami International Airport
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Available from the priest(s) who celebrate the 7 p.m. Saturday vigil Mass at the airport chapel.
About the Airport Chapel Ministry
The Catholic presence at Miami International Airport is a chaplaincy of the Archdiocese of Miami, established to bring the Mass and the sacraments to travelers, flight crews, and the thousands of men and women who work at MIA. Its home is the airport's interdenominational chapel — a small prayer room maintained by Miami-Dade Aviation Department on Level 1 of Concourse D, between the International Arrivals Hall and Baggage Carousel 22. Because the chapel is shared across faith traditions, the Catholic team brings in everything needed for the liturgy each week. The mailing address and operational home of the ministry is Blessed Trinity Parish in Virginia Gardens, the parish that physically sits closest to the airport.
- Operates under the Archdiocese of Miami
- Chapel located on Concourse D, Level 1, North Terminal (between International Arrivals and Carousel 22)
- Mailing address: c/o Blessed Trinity Parish, 4020 Curtiss Parkway, Virginia Gardens, FL 33166
- Phone: (305) 871-5780
History
The first Catholic Mass at MIA was celebrated on Saturday, August 18, 2012, by Father Roberto Cid, with Deacon Dennis Jordan (Blessed Trinity Parish) and Deacon Tony Perez (Corpus Christi Parish) assisting and cantor Salvatore Rendina on portable keyboard. About thirteen people attended that inaugural vigil Mass, including travelers stranded by flight delays and archdiocesan faithful who came specifically to support the new initiative. Father Cid preached an abbreviated homily so workers on meal breaks and travelers racing to flights could still take part, and the Mass was publicized over the airport public-address system and through emails to airport employees, airlines, and concession partners.
- First Mass: Saturday, August 18, 2012, 7:00 p.m.
- Celebrant: Father Roberto Cid
- Assistants: Deacon Dennis Jordan, Deacon Tony Perez
- Cantor: Salvatore Rendina (Blessed Trinity)
- Initial attendance: ~13 people
Jubilee Year 2025 Pilgrimage Site
For the Jubilee Year 2025 declared by Pope Francis, the chapel at Miami International Airport has been designated as a Jubilee pilgrimage site by the Holy See. Catholics who attend Mass there during the jubilee year and fulfill the usual conditions may obtain a plenary indulgence — an extraordinary spiritual opportunity for travelers, employees, and local faithful alike.
- Chapel designated as a Jubilee pilgrimage site for 2025
- Plenary indulgence available to those who attend Mass and complete the usual conditions
- Indulgence conditions: be in the state of grace; complete detachment from sin; sacramental confession (within ~20 days); receive Holy Eucharist; pray for the Pope's intentions; pray before a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Our Father, Creed, Hail Mary, or Litany of Our Lady of Loreto)
Clergy & Volunteers
The airport ministry is led by Father Roberto Cid, who serves as chaplain/director while also pastoring St. Patrick Parish in Miami Beach and serving as general director of Radio Paz, the archdiocesan radio station. Father Peter Lin serves alongside him as a chaplain; he is also the port chaplain at Port Everglades through the Apostleship of the Sea (Seafarers' House). A small team of deacons and lay volunteers assists with the Saturday vigil Mass.
- Father Roberto Cid — Chaplain/Director
- Father Peter Lin — Chaplain
- Deacon Mario Ganuza — Volunteer
- Deacon Clyde McFarland — Volunteer
- Deacon Scott Joiner — Volunteer
Christian Services at the Chapel (Non-Catholic)
Because the chapel on Concourse D is interdenominational, additional Christian prayer services are also offered throughout the week, including services in English and Spanish. These are organized separately from the Catholic chaplaincy and are listed by Miami International Airport as part of its services and amenities.
- Christian service — Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m.
- Christian service — 1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 12:00 p.m. (English)
- Christian service — 2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 12:30 p.m. (Spanish)
Connection to the Wider Archdiocese
The airport ministry is one of several 'travelers' apostolates run by the Archdiocese of Miami, alongside the Apostleship of the Sea ministry at Port Everglades. Father Roberto Cid's role as general director of Radio Paz gives the airport chaplaincy a natural media channel for evangelization, and the close ties to Blessed Trinity Parish — physically the parish closest to MIA — provide a stable liturgical, deacon, and volunteer home for the work.
- One of two Archdiocese of Miami traveler ministries (alongside Port Everglades)
- Operationally based at Blessed Trinity Parish, Virginia Gardens
- Media partnership with Radio Paz (archdiocesan radio)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Deacon Dennis Jordanprior to Aug. 18, 2012 – present
Chaplain at Miami International Airport; assigned to Blessed Trinity Parish, Miami Springs. Assisted Father Roberto Cid at the inaugural Mass on August 18, 2012.
- Deacon Tony Perezas of 2012
Served at Corpus Christi Parish, Miami; assisted at the first Mass at MIA.
- Father Roberto CidAug. 18, 2012 – present
Celebrated the first weekly Mass at MIA and currently listed as Chaplain/Director of the airport ministry; also general director of Radio Paz (archdiocesan radio) and pastor of St. Patrick Parish, Miami Beach.