About Our Lady of the Lakes · Miami Lakes, Florida
Our Lady of the Lakes is a Roman Catholic parish in Miami Lakes, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami (Northwest Dade Deanery). Founded on April 5, 1967, it began humbly with Mass celebrated on a dairy farm and now serves over 4,500 multi-cultural families through its parish church, parochial school (PK2–8), religious education program, music ministries in English and Spanish, and dozens of parish groups. The parish is bilingual, with daily Masses offered in both English and Spanish, six weekend Masses, and a vibrant calendar of devotions including monthly First Friday Adoration and an annual Our Lady of Guadalupe novena and fiesta.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- Our Lady (Blessed Virgin Mary) under the title 'Our Lady of the Lakes,' honoring the area's many lakes
- Rector
- Father Ivan Rodriguez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Lakes is a bilingual English-Spanish parish with one of the most complete Mass schedules in the area — six Sunday Masses plus daily Masses in both languages — making it easy for any Catholic family in northwest Miami-Dade to find a service that fits. The parish combines a rich sacramental life (daily Mass, First Friday Adoration, Saturday confessions, RCIA for adults, religious education for children, infant baptism, and marriage preparation) with a strong parish school serving PK2 through 8th grade, all on one campus. Members are drawn into a multi-cultural community of more than 4,500 families with ministries for every age and devotion — from Our Lady of Guadalupe novena and fiesta, to adult faith formation, the music ministry, and active outreach — all grounded in a history of lay initiative that goes back to the founding families on the dairy farm in 1967.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Lakes
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM (bilingual; no appointment required)
- Also by appointment
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM, in the Chapel
History of Our Lady of the Lakes
Our Lady of the Lakes was founded on April 5, 1967, and is rooted in one of the most unusual parish origins in the Archdiocese of Miami: the first Mass was celebrated on a dairy farm at the Barn Theatre, attended by 321 parishioners. In its first year the parish worshipped in borrowed spaces — the Barn Theatre, the United Church of Christ, and outdoors at Christmas — before breaking ground in September 1968 on a multi-purpose hall, chapel, bell tower and rectory, dedicated by Bishop John Fitzpatrick on June 12, 1969. The parish then grew under Monsignor Francis Fazallaro (1970–1974) and Msgr. Edmond Whyte, who built the permanent church in 1984 and opened the parish school in 1984 (in the parish hall) and 1987 (new building). The current pastor is Father Ivan Rodriguez, named in June 2023, following Father Jose Alvarez and the brief administration of Father Flavio Montes; Father James P. Murphy preceded them with a 22-year pastorate that ended in 2011. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 2017.
- Founded April 5, 1967; first Mass April 9, 1967 at the Barn Theatre
- First Spanish Mass: November 12, 1967
- Chapel and original buildings dedicated June 12, 1969 by Bishop John Fitzpatrick
- Permanent church built 1984 under Msgr. Edmond Whyte
- School dedicated October 17, 1987 by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy
- Pastors: Fr. Miguel Goni (1967), Msgr. Francis Fazallaro (1970), Msgr. Edmond Whyte (1974), Fr. James P. Murphy (1989/1996), Fr. Jose Alvarez (2011), Fr. Flavio Montes (administrator), Fr. Ivan Rodriguez (2023)
Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School
Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic School (OLL) is a parish-supported Catholic elementary school serving PK2 through 8th grade at 6600 Miami Lakeway North, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 (phone 305-362-5315). The school was founded in 1984 under the leadership of Sister Mary Carol Koester, RSM, opening first in the parish hall with two kindergarten classes, a first grade, and a second grade. The first phase of the new two-story school building was completed in August 1987 and dedicated by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy on October 17, 1987. Phase two was completed in 1990 (also dedicated by Archbishop McCarthy), and phase three in 1997 added a gymnasium, music room, science lab, computer room, additional classrooms and a cafetorium. The school currently enrolls over 470 students with a 13:1 student-teacher ratio.
- Founded 1984 by Sr. Mary Carol Koester, RSM
- New building dedicated October 17, 1987
- PK2 through 8th grade; over 470 students; 13:1 student-teacher ratio
- Past principals: Sister Mary Carol Koester (founding, d. 1996), Alex Porto (interim), Virgil Rogers (1996–1997), Shelly Sweeney (1997–)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The parish Religious Education program, directed by Josefina Vazquez, MSW, serves children and adults in both English and Spanish. The children's program is structured over two years of catechesis for First Communion and Confirmation, with First Communion classes held Wednesdays 4:30 PM – 6:00 PM and Confirmation classes Wednesdays 6:15 PM – 7:45 PM. Saturday classes 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM serve Communion and Confirmation children. Adult Confirmation and RCIA classes run between 26–32 weeks in both languages and meet Saturdays 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM. The adult contribution is $200; students receive a Bible, catechism, lesson binder, and a robe (returned after the ceremony).
- Directress: Josefina Vazquez, MSW ([email protected], Ext. 625)
- Children: Wed 4:30 PM (Communion), Wed 6:15 PM (Confirmation); Sat 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
- Adults (RCIA / Adult Confirmation): Saturdays 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM
- Two-year catechesis program for children
- Adult registration $200; includes Bible, catechism, binder, robe
Sacraments at Our Lady of the Lakes
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments, with preparation programs for Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Matrimony, and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Infant Baptism is treated as one of the Sacraments of Initiation freeing the child from original sin. Marriage preparation is handled by Wedding Coordinator Marissa Olivares. For those married civilly or with prior marriages, Archdiocese-certified parish advocates (coordinated by Ivonne Rodriguez) assist with dispensation or annulment processes through the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese of Miami.
- Infant Baptism
- First Holy Communion (children & adults)
- Confirmation (children & adults)
- Marriage / Matrimony (Wedding Coordinator: Marissa Olivares, Ext. 621)
- Annullments (advocates coordinated by Ivonne Rodriguez)
- RCIA
- Anointing of the Sick by appointment
Music Ministry
Our Lady of the Lakes maintains two parallel music ministries, one for English-language Masses led by organist Ciro Fodere and one for Spanish-language Masses led by John Prats. The music ministry supports the parish's full bilingual Mass schedule and major feasts, including the annual Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration with mariachi.
- English Music Ministry: Ciro Fodere, Organist (Ext. 618)
- Spanish Music Ministry: John Prats (Ext. 619)
Parish Devotions & Annual Celebrations
Beyond the regular Mass schedule, Our Lady of the Lakes hosts several signature devotional events each year. The most prominent is the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebration in December, beginning with a nine-night novena (December 4–11) prayed by different parish ministries each night at 7:00 PM in the parish patio, and culminating on December 12 with a Rosary at 6:00 PM, Mass at 7:00 PM, and Mariachi in the patio from 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM. First Friday Adoration is held monthly from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the Chapel.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Novena: Dec 4–11, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM in the patio (by ministries)
- Our Lady of Guadalupe Day: Dec 12 — Rosary 6 PM, Mass 7 PM, Mariachi 8 PM – 9 PM
- First Friday Adoration: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM in the Chapel
- Christmas Midnight Mass (since 1967)
Parish Staff, Office & Gift Shop
The parish is led by Pastor Father Ivan Rodriguez, Parochial Vicar Father Cesar Betancourt, and Deacon Jakub Bereza (serving in a parochial vicar role). The pastoral and administrative team includes Josefina Vazquez, MSW (Directress of Religious Education & Faith Formation), Ivonne Rodriguez (Annulments / Sacristan Coordinator), Marlene Del Pozo (Business Manager), Marissa Olivares (Wedding Coordinator), Rosa Gangi (Gift Shop Manager), Maria Rodrigues-Millan (Gift Shop), Ciro Fodere (Music Ministry / Organist), John Prats (Spanish Music Ministry), and Ana Valeria Viales (Sponsorship Coordinator). The parish office is open Monday–Thursday 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM) and Friday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM; closed weekends. The Gift Shop is open Monday–Thursday 7:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Friday 7:00 AM – 12:00 PM, and before/after each Mass on weekends.
- Pastor: Fr. Ivan Rodriguez
- Parochial Vicars: Fr. Cesar Betancourt; Deacon Jakub Bereza
- Business Manager: Marlene Del Pozo (Ext. 637)
- Religious Education: Josefina Vazquez (Ext. 625); Assistant Rosa Diaz (Ext. 628)
- Wedding Coordinator: Marissa Olivares (Ext. 621)
- Annulments / Sacristan: Ivonne Rodriguez (Ext. 615)
- Gift Shop: Rosa Gangi & Maria Rodrigues-Millan (Ext. 671)
- Sponsorship: Ana Valeria Viales (Ext. 638)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Miguel Goni1967–c.1970
Founding pastor; celebrated the parish's first Mass at the Barn Theatre on April 9, 1967, and the first Spanish Mass on November 12, 1967.
- Monsignor Francis Fazallaro1970–1974
Shepherded the growing parish after the chapel and original buildings were dedicated.
- Father (later Monsignor) Edmond Whyte1974–1996
Oversaw construction of the permanent church (1984) and the organization and opening of the parish school (1984 in the hall, dedicated in the new building in 1987). Later reassigned to St. Mark to begin a new school; died 2017.
- Father James P. Murphy1989/1996–2011
Grew the parish 'to new dimensions' and led many outreach programs during a 22-year pastorate; retired in 2011.
- Father Jose Alvarez2011–c.2019
Continued the growth of the parish and school community after Father Murphy's retirement.
- Father Flavio Montesc.2019–2023
Served as parish administrator following Father Alvarez.
- Father Ivan RodriguezJune 2023–present
Named pastor in June 2023; current pastor.