About Prince of Peace · Miami, Florida
Prince of Peace is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish in western Miami, established on June 17, 1987, by Archbishop Edward McCarthy as part of the Archdiocese of Miami. Its members come principally from the Caribbean islands and Central and South America, with about 500 registered families making it their spiritual home. The parish's motto, 'Prince of Peace: an oasis in the desert,' reflects a community that journeys in faith, celebrates the Eucharist in English and Spanish, and embraces hospitality so that all can feel at home.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- Prince of Peace (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Giovanni Peña
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Prince of Peace is a multicultural Catholic family where roughly 500 registered households from the Caribbean, Central America, South America and the U.S. worship side by side in English and Spanish. With daily Mass, bilingual confession on Saturdays, all-day daily Eucharistic Adoration, and vibrant groups like Cursillo, Emaús men's and women's retreats, Divine Mercy, and a St. Vincent de Paul conference serving needy families, there is a place to encounter Christ, be formed in faith, and put service into practice. The parish's welcoming motto — 'an oasis in the desert' — captures a community that genuinely wants every visitor to feel at home.
Mass times at Prince of Peace
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Bilingual English/Spanish)
Adoration times
- Daily 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Chapel)
History of Prince of Peace
Archbishop Edward McCarthy established Prince of Peace Catholic Parish on June 17, 1987, in the western neighborhoods of Miami. Father Luis Casabón, the founding administrator, celebrated the first two Masses in Spanish and English on September 20, 1987, in spaces generously provided by Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, where the parish worshipped for more than a decade. Cuban families such as Maggie and Carlos Pernas were among the earliest members and remain active in the parish community.
- Established June 17, 1987 by Archbishop Edward McCarthy
- First Masses: September 20, 1987 at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School
- Founding Administrator: Rev. Luis Casabón (1987–1993)
- Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Miami
Building the Parish Home
After more than ten years of celebrating Mass at Belen Jesuit, the community overcame significant neighborhood opposition — including a zoning meeting where parishioners wore custom T-shirts — and in March 1999 Archbishop McCarthy dedicated the parish's new multipurpose building at 12800 NW 6th Street. The structure was built following the architectural guidelines of Spanish colonial missions in California and features a bell tower and round arches at the entrance doors. Inside, Father Gerardo Díaz's handmade wooden altar (later covered in marble by Father Juan Torres in 2012) remains the focal point of the sanctuary.
- Construction began after surmounting zoning opposition
- Building dedicated March 1999 by Archbishop McCarthy
- Architecture: Spanish colonial California-mission style with bell tower and round arches
- Hand-built wooden altar by Father Gerardo Díaz, marble-covered in 2012
Parish Groups and Movements
The parish hosts several lay movements rooted in Spanish-language Catholic tradition, alongside ministries of service. Cursillo de Cristiandad offers a four-day weekend of encounter that introduces members to a lifetime of small-group friendship and evangelization. Emaús provides separate weekend retreats for men and for women (ages 21+) based on the Road-to-Emmaus passage from Luke 24. The Divine Mercy group and a Bereavement (Grupo de Duelo) ministry accompany parishioners through prayer and grief support.
- Cursillo de Cristiandad — four-day weekend movement
- Emaús — men's and women's weekend retreats (ages 21+)
- Divine Mercy group
- Bereavement / Grupo de Duelo
Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul
The Society of St. Vincent de Paul — Prince of Peace Conference is the parish's principal charitable arm, serving needy families of the parish and surrounding community. In its own words, the parish highlights 'the excellent work of the St. Vincent de Paul parish group, which serves the needy families of the parish.' The faithful also express solidarity through generous support of the missions, both within the Archdiocese of Miami and abroad.
- St. Vincent de Paul — Prince of Peace Conference (registered 501(c)(3))
- Serves needy families of the parish
- Parish also supports archdiocesan and foreign missions
Faith Formation and OCIA
Prince of Peace runs catechetical programs for children, youth, and adults. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) prepares unbaptized adults, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and Catholics completing their sacramental formation for initiation at the Easter Vigil. Children's faith formation supports families preparing for First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, while Youth Ministry walks teens in grades 6–12 toward the Sacrament of Confirmation. Long-time coordinator Giovanni Carlucci has served the parish community in catechesis for more than 40 years.
- OCIA / Christian Initiation of Adults
- Children's Faith Formation and First Eucharist prep
- Youth Ministry & Confirmation (grades 6-12)
- Catechesis coordinator: Vivian Lorenzo (11+ years)
Music and Liturgy
Music and choirs at Prince of Peace reflect the variety of cultures that make up the parish and enrich every liturgical celebration. Separate choirs serve the English Mass and the multiple Spanish Masses, with liturgical music adapted to the language and traditions of each community.
- Choirs for English and Spanish Masses
- Music reflects the multicultural makeup of the parish
Annual Hispanic Festival
Each year the parish gathers for the Hispanic Festival, a celebration of 'unity in the diversity' that the parish describes as 'a miracle that is only possible to live from the standpoint of the Christian message.' The festival is one of the parish's signature cultural events and reflects the predominantly Hispanic identity of the community.
- Held annually
- Theme: unity in diversity
Contact and Location
Prince of Peace Catholic Parish is located at 12800 NW 6th Street in western Miami, Florida, with parish phone lines at (305) 559-3171 and (305) 559-3172. Parish boundaries run from the North Line Canal in the north to SW 8th Street in the south, from Florida's Turnpike on the east to the Everglades on the west.
- Address: 12800 NW 6th Street, Miami, FL 33182
- Phone: (305) 559-3171 / (305) 559-3172
- Parish boundaries: North Line Canal (N), SW 8 St (S), Florida's Turnpike (E), Everglades (W)
- Official website: popmiami.net
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Luis CasabónJune 1987 – August 1993
Founding Administrator; celebrated the first two Masses (Spanish and English) on September 20, 1987, at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School.
- Rev. F. Gerardo DíazAugust 1993 – July 2012
Second pastor; known for his gift of carpentry, he hand-built the wooden altar that still sits in the church.
- Rev. Juan R. TorresJuly 2012 – March 2016
Added the marble cover to preserve the wooden altar in 2012.
- Rev. Giovanni PeñaMarch 2016 – Present
Colombian-born priest installed by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at the 30th anniversary Mass in June 2017; leads the community with an emphasis on expanding ministries, including outreach to the sick and elderly.