About Mother of Christ · Miami, Florida
Mother of Christ Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish in the Westchester/University of Miami Lakes area of west Miami-Dade, Florida, founded June 15, 1983 and entrusted to the pastoral care of the Archdiocese of Miami (West Dade Deanery). From its humble beginnings with Mass celebrated in private homes and the cafeteria of Bent Tree Elementary School, it has grown into a busy parish community with a Pre-K through 8th-grade elementary school, a Learning Center serving children 18 months and older, an active adoration chapel, more than 20 apostolate ministries/groups, a Retreat House, and banquet-hall facilities. The parish is pastored by Rev. Father Jorge A. Carvajal-Niño, appointed Parish Administrator by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective July 1, 2017.
- Established
- 1983
- Rector
- Rev. Father Jorge Arturo Carvajal-Niño
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (West Dade Deanery)
Why belong here
Mother of Christ is a bilingual Catholic parish in west Miami-Dade that welcomes families in both English and Spanish, with a daily Mass schedule (including a Saturday Vigil and five Sunday Masses), a dedicated adoration chapel open most days of the week, and bilingual Saturday confession. The parish supports an on-site Pre-K through 8th-grade Catholic elementary school plus a Learning Center for toddlers, all under the umbrella of the Archdiocese of Miami. With more than 20 active apostolate groups — including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a CCD/Faith Formation program, a youth group, a Women's Club, and a Stewardship ministry — parishioners of every age and language can find a way to pray, serve, and belong.
Mass times at Mother of Christ
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30–11:30 AM (Bilingual, no appointment needed)
- Monday–Friday by appointment
Adoration times
- Monday–Friday 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday 7:00 AM – 10:00 PM (Chapel)
- Sunday 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM (Chapel)
Parish History
Mother of Christ Catholic Church was founded on June 15, 1983 in Miami, Florida. In its earliest days, parishioners celebrated Mass — in both English and Spanish — in private homes and in the cafeteria of Bent Tree Elementary School. With the help of the Women's Club, the parish organized its first outreach group ministering to the needy. Other ministries quickly followed, including the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious-education program, and a youth group. In 1990 a new parish center was dedicated, providing meeting rooms and classrooms that allowed the growing parish to serve the community through many ministries. The Stewardship Program encouraged parishioners to share their time, treasure, and talents in support of the parish's mission.
- Founded June 15, 1983
- First Masses celebrated in private homes and Bent Tree Elementary cafeteria
- Parish center dedicated 1990
- Archdiocese of Miami parish in the West Dade Deanery
Our Pastor
Mother of Christ is pastored by Rev. Father Jorge Arturo Carvajal-Niño. Father Jorge was born in Bogotá, Colombia on June 8, 1953. He studied philosophy at the Universidad San Buenaventura in Bogotá and completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Bolivarian University in Medellín. He was ordained a priest on June 29, 1994, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Before coming to Miami, he served as Vicar of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves in Medellín, parochial vicar of Santa Cruz in north Bogotá, founding pastor of Santa María del Camino (1996) for fourteen years, parochial vicar of Santa Clara in Dallas, Texas, and parochial vicar of St. Brendan in Miami from March 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017. Archbishop Thomas Wenski named him Parish Administrator of Mother of Christ effective July 1, 2017.
- Born Bogotá, Colombia — June 8, 1953
- Ordained priest — June 29, 1994
- Named Parish Administrator at Mother of Christ — July 1, 2017
Mass & Worship Schedule
Mother of Christ offers a robust daily Mass schedule. Weekday Masses are celebrated in Spanish Monday through Friday at 8:00 AM in the Chapel and 7:00 PM in the Main Church, with an additional 8:00 AM Spanish Mass in the Chapel on Saturday. The Saturday Vigil Mass is at 6:00 PM (Spanish). On Sunday, Masses are offered at 8:30 AM and 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM (Spanish) and at 10:30 AM and 8:00 PM (English).
- Saturday Vigil — 6:00 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday — 8:30 AM Spanish; 10:30 AM English; 12:30 PM Spanish; 6:00 PM Spanish; 8:00 PM English
- Weekdays — 8:00 AM (Chapel, Spanish) and 7:00 PM (Main Church, Spanish)
Sacraments
Mother of Christ prepares and celebrates the Catholic sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation), Marriage, and Reconciliation. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Reconciliation is handled through the parish Office of Faith Formation and typically requires two years of formation; children must have reached the age of reason (age 7) for First Communion, and Confirmation preparation begins in seventh grade (age 12), per Archdiocese of Miami norms.
- Baptism — English & Spanish; godparent eligibility rules per Archdiocese of Miami
- First Holy Communion — via Office of Faith Formation; two-year preparation
- Confirmation — begins in 7th grade; two-year Archdiocese preparation
- Marriage — contact Angie Carbajosa, [email protected], 305-559-6111
- RCIA — for unbaptized adults, baptized Christians, and Catholics needing First Communion or Confirmation
Faith Formation & Religious Education (CCD / RCIA)
The parish Office of Faith Formation coordinates sacramental preparation and ongoing religious education for children and adults. First Communion and Reconciliation preparation typically begins in second grade (age 7), and Confirmation preparation begins in seventh grade (age 12), with the Archdiocese of Miami requiring two years of formation in each case. The RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) program serves catechumens, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics preparing for Confirmation or marriage; classes run from early September through May and Mass attendance is required of all participants.
- First Communion preparation — Grade 2 / age 7, two years
- Confirmation preparation — Grade 7 / age 12, two years
- RCIA — Catechumens, candidates for Eucharist/Confirmation, and those with prior marriages (case-by-case)
- Office of Faith Formation contact — Sylvia Lopez, 305-559-0163
Ministries & Apostolate Groups
From its early years, Mother of Christ has organized lay apostolates to serve the parish and surrounding community. The Women's Club was the parish's first outreach ministry, and was soon followed by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the CCD religious-education program, and a youth group. Today the parish counts more than 20 active apostolate groups — and more than 61 ministries/groups in total when campus-wide programs are included — supported through a parish Stewardship Program that invites parishioners to share their time, treasure, and talents.
- Women's Club (first outreach ministry)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- CCD / Faith Formation
- Youth Group
- Stewardship Program
- 20+ active apostolate groups
Mother of Christ Catholic School & Learning Center
The parish campus houses Mother of Christ Catholic School, a Catholic elementary school serving students from Pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade, alongside the Mother of Christ Catholic Learning Center, which offers daycare and pre-K education to children from 18 months to PK4 (licensed since 1993-12-02, capacity 150). The school's mission statement, published by the Learning Center, emphasizes each child's dignity as a gift from God, the prayerful use of Sacred Scripture, and the formation of self-respect, respect for others, and appreciation of the beauty of the created world.
- Catholic elementary school — Pre-K through 8th grade
- Learning Center — 18 months through PK4, licensed daycare
- Same address as parish: 14141 SW 26th St, Miami, FL 33175
Parish Facilities & Office
Beyond the main church and chapel, Mother of Christ maintains a parish center (dedicated 1990), a Retreat House, and banquet-hall facilities available to parish ministries and community events. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12 Noon and 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
- Parish Center (dedicated 1990)
- Retreat House
- Banquet-hall facilities
- Office hours — Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–12 Noon and 1:00–5:00 PM
Visit & Contact
Mother of Christ Catholic Church is located at 14141 SW 26th Street, Miami, FL 33175, in west Miami-Dade County. The main phone line is (305) 559-6111. The parish office can be reached in person Monday through Friday during office hours (9:00 AM–12 Noon, 1:00–5:00 PM).
- Address — 14141 SW 26th Street, Miami, FL 33175
- Phone — (305) 559-6111
- Website — http://www.motherofchrist.net/
- Parish email not publicly listed on official site
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Father Jorge Arturo Carvajal-Niño2017–present
Born in Bogotá, Colombia on June 8, 1953. Studied philosophy at Universidad San Buenaventura (Bogotá) and theology at the Pontifical Bolivarian University (Medellín). Ordained June 29, 1994 (Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul). Served as Vicar of Nuestra Señora de las Nieves parish in Medellín; parochial vicar of Santa Cruz in north Bogotá; first pastor of Santa María del Camino (founded 1996) for 14 years; parochial vicar of Santa Clara, Dallas, TX in 2010; parochial vicar of St. Brendan, Miami from March 1, 2015 to June 30, 2017. Named Parish Administrator at Mother of Christ by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective July 1, 2017.