About Our Lady Queen of Martyrs · Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, belonging to the Archdiocese of Miami. It was canonically erected on September 29, 1956 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley and grew from 1,100 to 3,000 registered families in its early years. Today it continues as a combined parish and school community, offering Mass in English and Spanish, a Catholic elementary school, and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a food pantry, and an annual family festival.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Martyrs (Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Queen of Martyrs)
- Rector
- Rev. Juan Alberto Gomez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs is a bilingual parish family where newcomers are welcomed into a faith community that lives out the Gospel through many shared ministries — from the Music Ministry, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion and Altar Servers, to outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a parish food pantry, Respect Life work, and an annual Family Festival. With daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, weekly Confession and Eucharistic Adoration, a Catholic elementary school on site, and active sacramental preparation for Baptism, Marriage and First Communion, it is a parish that takes seriously both worship and service.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (bilingual, per Discover Mass; parish site lists 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. for the Sacrament of Reconciliation)
- By appointment — call the rectory at (954) 583-8725
Adoration times
- Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
- Friday 6:00 p.m. – 6:55 p.m. (First Fridays)
History of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs was canonically established on September 29, 1956 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of the Diocese of Saint Augustine on land presented by Monsignor John J. O'Looney of Saint Anthony Parish. While the new church was under construction, parishioners attended Mass at Central Catholic High School (now Saint Thomas Aquinas High School). The parish grew quickly from 1,100 to 3,000 registered families. The school was opened in 1957 and staffed first by the Sisters of Saint Joseph and ten lay teachers; the Adrian Dominican Sisters of Michigan took over in 1958 and remained until the last sister retired in 1996. In 1959 Bishop Fulton J. Sheen blessed what was then the largest parochial convent in South Florida. The parish was transferred to the new Archdiocese of Miami in 1959.
- Canonically erected September 29, 1956 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
- Land donated by Monsignor John J. O'Looney of Saint Anthony Parish
- First pastor: Father Jamar J. Genovar (resided at 1130 SW 27 Avenue)
- 1957: School and cafeteria complex dedicated (8 classrooms, cafeteria seating 1,100)
- 1958: Adrian Dominican Sisters of Michigan arrive
- November 1959: Bishop Fulton J. Sheen blesses the convent
- 1959: Parish transferred to the Archdiocese of Miami
- 1969: Ground broken for administration building (completed 1971)
- 1973: Priests' living quarters added
- 1974: East-side parking completed
- 1997: Fort Lauderdale mayor renames the street 'Happy Hoyer Street' for Father Michael 'Happy' Hoyer
Architecture of the Church
The church was designed by the Miami architectural firm Watson and Deutschmann. The exterior and interior share proportional harmony between pink brick and amber cathedral glass arranged with vertical accent. Inside, the sanctuary is carpeted gray and separated from the nave by a birch communion rail finished in dark natural stain with blue accents; blue Venetian glass tile serves as the backdrop for the altar, and a soft shade of blue accents the natural colors of brick, wood, glass and terrazzo floors.
- Architects: Watson and Deutschmann, Miami, Florida
- Pink brick exterior with amber cathedral glass in vertical accent
- Blue Venetian glass tile behind the altar
- Soft blue interior accents on brick, wood, glass and terrazzo
- Birch communion rail with dark natural stain and blue accents
- Gray-carpeted sanctuary
Liturgical Ministries
The parish describes itself as 'a living witness to the love of Christ by holding up the Gospel values and our baptismal promises in the world,' with each ministry seen as equally important in the communal and spiritual life of the parish. New parishioners are warmly invited to share their time and talent.
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — assist the priest at Mass, bring Communion to the sick and homebound, distribute ashes on Ash Wednesday and assist with the blessing of throats on the Feast of St. Blaise; must be at least 16, Confirmed, practicing Catholics, approved by the pastor.
- Ministry of Lector — proclaims the Word of God at Masses, Holy Days and special services; offers the Prayers of the Faithful when no deacon is present; usually scheduled twice in a five-week period; new lectors receive a short training session.
- Altar Servers — boys and girls who have received First Communion may assist the priest and deacon at the altar at weekend Masses and other liturgical celebrations.
- Music Ministry — supports and enhances the song of the whole assembly through choirs and instrumentalists, and provides special music for contemplation and inspiration ('those who sing pray twice' — St. Augustine).
Parish Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, the parish sustains a daily devotional rhythm with the weekday Rosary before daily Mass and seasonal sacramentals such as the blessing of throats on the Feast of St. Blaise and the distribution of ashes on Ash Wednesday, both assisted by Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion.
- Rosary: Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m. – 8:25 a.m.
- Blessing of Throats: Feast of St. Blaise
- Distribution of Ashes: Ash Wednesday
Sacraments
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs prepares parishioners for the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, Reconciliation, Marriage and Anointing of the Sick. Parents and godparents must attend a baptismal preparation class; couples preparing for marriage are required to attend the Archdiocese marriage preparation course and must be registered members of the parish.
- Baptism — 2nd Saturday of the month in English; 4th Saturday of the month in Spanish
- Reconciliation — Saturday afternoons or by appointment
- Eucharist / First Communion — through parish CCD
- Marriage — Archdiocese marriage preparation course required
- Anointing of the Sick — by appointment through the rectory
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic School
Since 1957 Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic School has served the residents of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County. Three Sisters of Saint Joseph welcomed the first students; in 1959 the Adrian Dominican Sisters of Michigan took over and shaped the school for decades until the last sister retired in 1996. Althea Mossop was appointed principal in 1996 and led the school for 28 years. The current pastoral and educational leadership team of Father Juan Alberto and Mrs. Karen St. Hilaire-Alfred continues the legacy of Catholic education at the school.
- Founded 1957 by the Sisters of Saint Joseph
- 1959: Adrian Dominican Sisters of Michigan begin leadership
- 1996: Last Adrian Dominican sister retires; Althea Mossop appointed principal
- Grades served: PreK-2 through 8th grade
- Current leadership: Father Juan Alberto (pastoral) and Mrs. Karen St. Hilaire-Alfred (educational)
- School website: olqmfl.com
Outreach and Parish Life
Parishioners at this bilingual parish participate in numerous outreach activities in addition to liturgical service, including a Respect Life ministry, a food pantry for the needy, and the Annual Family Festival — a spring carnival tradition that, in 1997, prompted the Fort Lauderdale mayor to rename the street in front of the church in honor of Father 'Happy' Hoyer.
- Saint Vincent de Paul Society
- Respect Life ministry
- Parish food pantry for the needy
- Annual Family Festival (spring carnival)
- Men's Club
- Ladies Guilds
- Youth Association (ages 13–18)
- Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops
Contact and Parish Office
Parish Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The rectory can be reached by phone, fax or email, and the parish publishes its weekly bulletin online.
- Address: 2731 SW 11th Court, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312
- Phone: (954) 583-8725
- Fax: (954) 583-9315
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: ourlqm.com
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
- Online bulletin: ourlqm.com/bulletin.pdf
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Jamar J. Genovar1956 (founding)
First pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs; lived at 1130 SW 27 Avenue with the front of the duplex serving as the parish office.
- Father Michael 'Happy' Hoyer
Pastor as of 1997; regularly delivered the invocation at Fort Lauderdale City Council meetings. Fort Lauderdale mayor renamed the street in front of the church 'Happy Hoyer Street' in his honor during the 1997 spring carnival.