About Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Mission · Delray Beach, Florida
Our Lady Queen of Peace is a Catholic mission parish of the Diocese of Palm Beach located at 9600 West Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach, Florida. The parish is one of the most culturally diverse Catholic communities in Palm Beach County, celebrating Mass regularly in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with weekday 8:00 a.m. English Masses and a robust evening Spanish schedule. Beyond liturgical life, OLQP runs an unusually broad social-services outreach including free immigration consultations, low-cost medical and dental clinics, and other community care programs. The mission is pastored by Rev. Moacir Balen, C.S., and served by parochial vicar Fr. Hoang Pham, c.s. (Stephen) and Deacons Woodworth Draughon and Claudio Cruz.
- Patron
- Our Lady Queen of Peace (María Reina de la Paz / Nossa Senhora Rainha da Paz)
- Rector
- Rev. Moacir Balen, C.S.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
Our Lady Queen of Peace welcomes a true trilingual Catholic community in western Delray Beach, with Sunday Mass offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and confessions thirty minutes before every Mass. The mission surrounds its liturgical life with practical pastoral care — free immigration legal help, low-cost medical and dental clinics on site, a GROWTH/CRECIMIENTO faith formation program for children and teens ages 5–17, and active charisms like Emmaus men/women, Cursillos, Legion of Mary, and charismatic prayer groups. For a newcomer or migrant in Palm Beach County, OLQP is both a worshiping parish and a one-stop social-services mission grounded in Marian discipleship.
Mass times at Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Mission
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 30 minutes before each Mass (English, Spanish, and Portuguese)
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 a.m. – 6:50 p.m.
- First Friday of every month 7:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (after 7:00 p.m. Mass)
Welcome & Parish Identity
Our Lady Queen of Peace is presented on its own website as 'A Roman Catholic Parish of the Diocese of Palm Beach.' The parish identifies itself through a published mission statement: 'Following the example of Our Lady and her YES to God, we, the community of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, commit ourselves to: deepen our knowledge of the Catholic faith by promoting catechetical and biblical programs for children, youth and adults, with special attention to sacramental preparation; welcome the migrants and the newcomers; and share our God-given gifts and caring responsibility for those in need, becoming aware and involved in social issues and initiatives.' The parish intentionally frames itself as a welcoming mission to migrants — a vocation reinforced by the presence of the Scalabrinian Fathers (C.S. / c.s.) on staff.
- Patron: Our Lady Queen of Peace (Nuestra Señora Reina de la Paz / Nossa Senhora Rainha da Paz)
- Diocese of Palm Beach
- Trilingual community: English, Spanish, Portuguese
- Pastored by Scalabrianian priests (C.S.)
Clergy & Staff
The mission is pastored by Rev. Moacir Balen, C.S., a Scalabrinian Father, assisted by parochial vicar Rev. Hoang Pham, c.s. (Stephen), also of the Scalabrinians. Two deacons serve the parish community: Deacon Woodworth Draughon and Deacon Claudio Cruz. The Director of Religious Education and Youth Ministry is Hermana Mercedes Dominguez RMI, who can be reached at 561-499-6234 ext. 200.
- Pastor: Rev. Moacir Balen, C.S.
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Hoang Pham, c.s. (Stephen)
- Deacons: Woodworth Draughon, Claudio Cruz
- Director of Religious Education & Youth Ministry: Hermana Mercedes Dominguez RMI
Faith Formation (GROWTH / CRECIMIENTO)
OLQP's faith-formation program is called GROWTH in English and CRECIMIENTO in Spanish, and runs from September through May for children and youth ages 5 to 17. The program prepares students for the sacraments of Reconciliation, First Eucharist, and Confirmation. The catechetical office is open Tuesday through Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., and July registration is held on Sundays (e.g., 9:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. on designated dates). The bilingual coordinator is Hermana Mercedes Dominguez RMI.
- Ages 5–17
- September–May academic year
- Sacramental prep: Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation
- Office hours Tue–Fri 2:00–6:00 p.m.
Parish Ministries & Groups
The mission sustains a wide range of lay-led ministries in all three language communities. Spanish-language ministries include Ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers, Emmaus Men/Women, Charismatic Prayer Group, Cursillos de Cristiandad, Legion of Mary, Young Adults, Family Ministry, and ushers. The Portuguese community runs a Communion ministry, a 'lojinhas' (small shops) team, prayer group (Silvana Couto), youth group (Edgar Alves), children's group (Juliana Cardoso), and events coordination (Cristiane Dutra). The English community works with lectors Nella Geer and José Toribio.
- Charismatic Prayer Group – Mary Romero & Miguelina Aguirre
- Cursillos de Cristiandad – Delia López
- Legion of Mary – Ever Barrera
- Young Adults – Dennis Reconco & Lorena Gallardo
- Family Ministry – Patricia & Juan Carlos Avila
- Ushers – Mario González
- Baptism coordination – Fr. Moacir & Angelo Pereira
- English Lectors – Nella Geer & José Toribio
- Portuguese groups led by Silvana Couto, Edgar Alves, Juliana Cardoso, Cristiane Dutra
Other Services — Medical, Dental & Immigration
In keeping with its mission to 'welcome the migrants and the newcomers' and 'share our God-given gifts for those in need,' OLQP runs an on-site medical and legal outreach program called 'Caring for our Community'/'Sirviendo a Nuestra Comunidad.' Immigration consultations are free; medical, dental, and optometric services are low-cost. Walk-ins are welcome, and staff speak English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Attorney Dr. Sara Coen offers consultations every first Monday of the month at 4:00 p.m.
- Immigration Assistance — free; Dr. Sara Coen, first Monday of the month, 4:00 p.m.
- General Medicine — Mon 8:30–5, Tue 8:30–5, Wed 8:30–2, Thu 8:30–5, Sat 7:30–2
- Dental Care — Cleanings Mon & Wed 7:00 a.m.; Fillings/Extractions Tue 8:00 a.m.; Mon & Thu 7:30 a.m.; Wed 4:30 p.m.; Sat 7:00 a.m. when possible. Call 561-637-2758
- Optometry & additional services
- Urgent care: fevers, colds, small injuries; vaccines; school physicals; EKGs; anemia/cholesterol blood tests; X-rays
Sacraments
OLQP prepares parishioners for the sacraments through its GROWTH/CRECIMIENTO program. Baptisms are celebrated in Spanish on Saturdays and Sundays after the designated Masses; a pre-baptismal class (charla) is required for parents and godparents. To register for baptism, parents must already be registered members of the parish for at least two months, and godparents must meet diocesan requirements. Reconciliation is available 30 minutes before every Mass; First Eucharist and Confirmation are prepared through faith formation.
- Baptism class (charla) required for parents and godparents
- 2-month parish registration prerequisite for parents
- Reconciliation before every Mass
- First Eucharist and Confirmation via GROWTH/CRECIMIENTO
Visiting & Contact
The parish office can be reached at 561-499-6234 ext. 100, fax 561-499-5513, or [email protected]. The mailing address is 9600 W Atlantic Ave, Delray Beach, FL 33446. Office hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed for lunch from 12:30 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The thrift store ('Lojinhas') runs Monday through Saturday. OLQP's official social media presence is on Facebook under 'OLQP Parish.'
- Parish Office: 561-499-6234 ext. 100
- Fax: 561-499-5513
- Email: [email protected]
- Facebook: OLQP Parish