About Saint John XXIII · Miramar, Florida
Saint John XXIII Catholic Parish is a multicultural Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Miami located at 16800 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, Florida. Founded on July 1, 2002, the parish adopted its patron's motto from John 17:21: "That All May Be One," and currently celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole. The parish serves the Southwest Broward community with a wide range of ministries spanning youth, family, music, prayer groups, and sacramental preparation. Its current pastor is Reverend Julio De Jesus, assisted by parochial vicar Father Gustavo Santos and three permanent deacons.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- Saint John XXIII (Pope John XXIII, canonized 2014)
- Rector
- Rev. Julio De Jesus (Pastor)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Saint John XXIII is a deliberately multicultural parish where families from different countries and languages worship under one roof, and where newcomers can find ministries in English, Spanish, or Haitian Creole at almost any hour of the week — from Bible study and Emmaus groups to youth choir, Knights of Columbus, Legion of Mary, and a vibrant youth group. Daily and Sunday Mass is offered in three languages, with extended Eucharistic Adoration (Monday through Friday 9 AM to 9 PM and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM), weekly confession on Saturday afternoons, and devotions to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Divine Mercy, the Sacred Family, and the Vocation & Adoration Prayer Group. For a Catholic family moving into Miramar or the Southwest Broward corridor, it is a welcoming parish with full sacramental preparation, a religious education office, and dozens of prayer, formation, and fellowship communities already running.
Mass times at Saint John XXIII
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday afternoon: 3:45 PM to 4:45 PM, or by appointment with the parish office (954-392-5062)
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
History of Saint John XXIII Parish
Saint John XXIII Catholic Parish was founded on July 1, 2002 in Miramar, Florida by the Archdiocese of Miami to serve what was then the 8th fastest-growing city in the United States. The parish originally took the name 'Blessed John XXIII' and later became 'Saint John XXIII' after the canonization of Pope John XXIII. From its earliest days the parish described itself as multicultural, attracting Hispanic, Asian, Filipino, Haitian and Anglo worshipers, and adopted the motto 'That All May Be One' (John 17:21). It began without a church building, with weekend Mass first celebrated in a conference room at the Hilton Garden Inn in Miramar, then moving through Sunset Lake Elementary School and Everglades High School before the permanent church opened on Miramar Parkway in April 2009.
- Founded July 1, 2002 (originally Blessed John XXIII Parish)
- First administrator: Father Joseph Kottayil
- Early Mass locations: Hilton Garden Inn, Sunset Lake Elementary, Everglades High School
- Permanent church opened April 2009 at 16800 Miramar Parkway
- Patron: Saint John XXIII (Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli)
- Motto: 'That All May Be One' – John 17:21
Worship, Sacraments and Devotions
The parish celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole, with a full Sunday schedule of four English Masses plus a Spanish Mass and a monthly Haitian Creole Mass. Weekday Masses run Monday through Saturday morning, with evening Spanish and English Masses on Tuesday and Thursday, a first-Friday evening Mass, and regular Saturday confession before the Vigil. Eucharistic Adoration is offered more than 78 hours a week, and devotional prayer groups are scheduled throughout the week — including Our Lady of Perpetual Help, the Divine Mercy Vigil, Shalom's Spirit of Life, the Legion of Mary, and a Vocation & Adoration Prayer Group that prays in front of the Blessed Sacrament on Friday evenings.
- Sunday Mass: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 6:00 PM (English); 12:00 PM (Spanish); 4:00 PM Creole (2nd Sunday)
- Saturday Vigil: 5:00 PM English, 7:00 PM Spanish
- Saturday morning Mass: 8:00 AM English
- Weekday Masses Mon–Fri 8:00 AM English, plus Tuesday 7:00 PM Spanish and Thursday 8:00 AM Spanish / 7:00 PM English
- Confession: Saturdays 3:45–4:45 PM, or by appointment
- Adoration: Mon–Fri 9 AM–9 PM, Sat 9 AM–5 PM
- First Friday evening Mass at 7:00 PM
- Sacraments: Baptism (3-month notice), Marriage (9-month notice), Confirmation, First Communion, Anointing of the Sick
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Religious education at St. John XXIII is coordinated by Mrs. Mosi Del Aguila in a parish office open Monday through Thursday 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM. From the earliest days of the parish — when Mass was celebrated at the Hilton Garden Inn and then at elementary and high school auditoria — parishioners built faith formation for children and adults; by 2004 the parish had prepared 24 young adults for Confirmation and 66 children for First Communion. Today that catechetical work continues through Baptism and marriage preparation in English and Spanish, ongoing adult Bible study, sacramental preparation, and parish-based youth ministry.
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Mrs. Mosi Del Aguila
- English Bible Study – Wednesdays 9:00–11:15 AM in Room 4 with Janet Quijano
- Spanish Bible Study – Tuesdays 7:00–9:00 PM in Room 3 with Deacon Luis Verdecia
- Zoom Bible Study in Spanish
- Baptism preparation – 3 months' notice
- Marriage preparation – 9 months' notice
Parish Ministries, Prayer Groups and Music
The parish maintains a large and multilingual ministry calendar that fills nearly every weekday evening, organized by Director of Ministries Kathy Cabrisas. Ministries include Emmaus small-Christian communities for English-speaking men and women and a parallel Spanish-speaking Emaus for women, Marriage Encounter groups, the Knights of Columbus, a Women's Club, the Legion of Mary, a Rosary Maker Ministry, youth and young-adult groups, the Good Samaritan outreach, and four choirs: an English choir that rehearses Saturdays and Sundays, a Spanish Coro that rehearses on Wednesdays (and sings the second Wednesday in church), a Creole choir that rehearses Tuesdays, and a Youth Choir that rehearses Mondays.
- Director of Ministries: Mrs. Kathy Cabrisas
- Knights of Columbus (Men) – 2nd Wednesday 7:30–9:00 PM Room 3
- Women's Club English – 2nd Tuesday 6:00–7:00 PM Room 7
- Emmaus Men (English) – Thursdays 7:30–9:00 PM Room 3
- Emmaus Women (English) – Thursdays 7:30–9:00 PM Room 4
- Emaus Mujeres (Spanish) – Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM Room 4
- Libres Para Amar (Spanish) – Mondays 7:00–9:00 PM Room 3
- Duelo (Spanish bereavement) – 2nd & 4th Mondays 7:00–9:00 PM Room 4
- Matrimonios Comprometidos con Cristo – 1st & 3rd Fridays 7:00–9:00 PM
- Young Adults English – Fridays 7:30–9:00 PM Room 7
- Youth Group – Sundays 7:00 PM in church (1st, 3rd, 5th Sundays)
- English Choir – Saturdays 10:45 AM and Sundays 7:30 PM Room 8
- Coro Español – Wednesdays 7:30 PM Room 3 and church
- Choir – Creole – Tuesdays 7:30 PM Room 8
- Youth Choir – Mondays 7:00–9:00 PM Room 8
- Legion of Mary
- Rosary Maker Ministry – 2nd Saturday, 10:45 AM, Room 3
- The Good Samaritan in Aid of the Catholic Church
Clergy, Deacons and Staff
The parish is led by Reverend Julio De Jesus, Pastor, alongside Parochial Vicar Reverend Gustavo Santos. They are assisted by three permanent deacons — Victor Lopez, Ismar Martinez, and Luis Verdecia — and by lay staff headed by Mrs. Xiomara Valerio (Pastoral Assistant), Mrs. Mosi Del Aguila (Coordinator of Religious Education), Mrs. Kathy Cabrisas (Director of Ministries), Mrs. Catalina Pereda (Parish Secretary), and Mr. Marco Peredo (Bookkeeping/Human Resources). The first administrator of the parish, Father Joseph Kottayil (born 1959 in Kerala, India; ordained 1979), served from July 1, 2002 and has since returned to ministry as an in-house Spiritual Director at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.
- Pastor: Rev. Julio De Jesus
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Gustavo Santos
- Deacon: Victor Lopez
- Deacon: Ismar Martinez
- Deacon: Luis Verdecia
- Pastoral Assistant: Mrs. Xiomara Valerio
- Coordinator of Religious Education: Mrs. Mosi Del Aguila
- Director of Ministries: Mrs. Kathy Cabrisas
- Parish Secretary: Mrs. Catalina Pereda
- Bookkeeping/Human Resources: Mr. Marco Peredo
- First administrator: Rev. Joseph Kottayil (2002–c. 2008)
Visit, Contact and Office Hours
Saint John XXIII Catholic Parish is located at 16800 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, Florida 33027, directly across from the Miramar Regional Park in southwest Broward County. The parish office and Religious Education Office are open Monday–Friday with extended hours on Tuesday and Thursday, and visitors are welcome to step into the church for Eucharistic Adoration from Monday 9 AM through Saturday 5 PM. Confession is heard Saturday afternoons before the Vigil Mass, and the parish can be reached by phone at (954) 392-5062, by fax at (954) 392-5063, or by email at [email protected].
- Address: 16800 Miramar Parkway, Miramar, FL 33027
- Phone: (954) 392-5062
- Fax: (954) 392-5063
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.john23parish.org
- Parish Office: Mon, Wed, Fri 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Tue, Thu 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
- Religious Education Office: Mon–Thu 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Facebook page: Saint John XXIII Roman Catholic Church
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Joseph Kottayil2002 – c. 2008
First administrator/pastor of the newly-created Blessed John XXIII Parish from its founding July 1, 2002. After leaving St. John XXIII he became a permanent in-house Spiritual Director at St. John Vianney College Seminary in Miami.
- Rev. Julio De JesusCurrent
Current pastor; welcomed to the parish on the parish 'Pastor Corner' page; leads the current staff along with parochial vicar Fr. Gustavo Santos.