About Saints Peter and Paul · Miami, Florida
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church is a historic bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in The Roads neighborhood of southwest Miami, Florida, part of the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded in 1938–1939 on land donated by Olive Brickell (widow of William Brickell II), the parish first worshipped in the air-conditioned Tower Theater before its 'romantic' style church was completed and dedicated in February 1940. Today it serves as a bicultural beacon of faith with five weekend Masses, daily Mass in two languages, a thriving K3–8 Catholic school (the Panthers), sacramental preparation, a Respect Life Ministry, and active outreach to its longstanding Cuban-American and broader Miami community.
- Established
- 1939
- Patron
- Saints Peter and Paul
- Rector
- Rev. Juan P. Hernández
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Saints Peter & Paul is one of Miami's oldest parishes, with a story reaching back to 1939 and a bicultural English/Spanish identity that has welcomed generations of Cuban and Cuban-American Catholics. The parish offers a full sacramental life — daily Mass in two languages, Saturday confessions, Infant Baptism, Marriage preparation, OCIA for adults, and a Religious Education program — along with a thriving PreK3–8 Catholic school (the Panthers) where faith formation, athletics, and academics meet in the All-Catholic Conference. A genuine place to belong, serve, and pass on the Faith in the heart of The Roads.
Mass times at Saints Peter and Paul
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM (English / Español)
- A priest may be available prior to all weekend Masses
- By appointment — call the Rectory
About Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church is a bicultural English/Spanish parish of the Archdiocese of Miami, located at 900 SW 26th Road in The Roads neighborhood of southwest Miami. It was created in December 1938 by the Diocese of Saint Augustine to serve the growing Catholic population southwest of downtown, and is now led by Pastor Rev. Juan P. Hernández with Parochial Vicar Fr. Darwin Ramirez. The parish's mission is 'to carry out and continue the work of Jesus Christ in our multicultural community, by proclaiming the Gospel, strengthening the faith of the Church, and moving forward in hope and love.'
- Bilingual parish (English & Spanish)
- Archdiocese of Miami
- Address: 900 SW 26th Road, Miami, FL 33129
- Phone: (305) 858-2621
- Website: sppmiami.org
Our History
The parish was created in December 1938, carved out of the downtown Gesu parish to serve Catholics in southwest Miami. Before the church was built, the founding community worshipped at the air-conditioned Tower Theater on SW 8th Street. In September 1939, Olive Brickell donated the present site for $10 in exchange for a ground-level church entrance; Father Robert P. Brennan, reassigned from Fort Myers, oversaw construction. On Christmas Eve 1939, more than 1,000 people attended Mass in a still-roofless church; the building was completed and dedicated in February 1940. A school opened in 1941, a high school in 1942, and the parish was transferred to the new Diocese of Miami in 1958 under Bishop Coleman F. Carroll. The Cuban influx of the 1960s doubled daily sessions and launched an enduring refugee outreach; Ronald Reagan visited in 1980.
- December 1938: Diocese of Saint Augustine creates the parish
- 1939: Worship at the Tower Theater ('air conditioned Catholics')
- September 1939: Olive Brickell donates the present site for $10
- Christmas Eve 1939: First Mass in the roofless church (1,000+ attendees)
- February 1940: Church completed and dedicated
- 1941: Elementary school opens (staffed by Sisters of Saint Joseph)
- 1942: First year of high school (grade added annually)
- 1944: Cafeteria and auditorium opened during WWII
- 1958: Transferred to the new Diocese of Miami under Bishop Coleman F. Carroll
- 1960s: Cuban influx doubles school sessions; refugee outreach launched
- 1980: Ronald Reagan visits the parish
- Father Juan M. López served as pastor from 1989
Our Patron Saints — Peter and Paul
The parish bears the name of Saints Peter and Paul, the two great apostles commemorated together on June 29. St. Peter, the first of the apostles, learned discipleship slowly, made many mistakes, and always experienced Jesus' forgiveness. St. Paul, originally Saul, was an educated Pharisee and Roman citizen who once persecuted Christians before being dramatically converted by a vision of Christ on the road to Damascus; he then devoted that same zeal to spreading the Gospel across the Roman Empire and was beheaded in Rome in 67 AD. Together, Peter and Paul represent two complementary paths to Christ — patient perseverance and fiery missionary zeal — that the parish holds up as a model for its own bicultural, multi-generational community.
- Feast Day: June 29
- St. Peter's conversion — slow, forgiven, persevering
- St. Paul's conversion — Acts 9:4 vision on the road to Damascus
- St. Paul martyred in Rome, 67 AD, by beheading
- Many of Paul's letters form the bulk of the New Testament
Architecture & Campus
The church is built in a 'romantic' Romanesque-revival style with grey brick walls, a Celtic cross, and a bell tower. The footprint sits at an unusual diagonal on the lot — a relic of the irregular Brickell-family property lines of old Roads land. The broader parish complex includes the church, rectory, athletic field, school, cafeteria/auditorium, and a former convent for the Sisters of Saint Joseph who once staffed the school.
- Romantic / Romanesque-revival style
- Grey brick walls, Celtic cross, bell tower
- Diagonal footprint toward the Conch Hill neighborhood
- Land donated by Olive Brickell, widow of William Brickell II
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates the seven sacraments with an emphasis on family and ongoing faith formation. Infant Baptisms are normally scheduled on Saturday mornings at 10:00 AM, alternating English and Spanish, and are arranged through Elvy Lengyel at the Parish Office. Marriage preparation requires at least six months of formation; the priest who will officiate walks the couple through the entire process. Sacramental preparation for First Communion and Confirmation is offered through the school and the Religious Education program.
- Infant Baptism — Saturdays 10:00 AM, alternating English/Spanish; contact Elvy Lengyel
- First Communion — preparation via school and Religious Education
- Confirmation — preparation via school and Religious Education
- Marriage — 6+ months of preparation, weekly Sunday Mass together
- Anointing of the Sick
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at Saints Peter & Paul includes a Saturday Religious Education (CCD) program for children, and OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes for those seeking to renew or enter the Faith. The Coordinator of Religious Education is Mrs. Liana Tommasi, reachable at [email protected] or (786) 427-0239. Registration for the 2025–2026 Religious Education year was held August 23 and September 13 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the school office, with classes beginning Saturday, September 20, 2025; a Baptism Certificate and $125 cash are required.
- Religious Education (CCD) — Saturday classes
- Coordinator: Mrs. Liana Tommasi ([email protected], 786-427-0239)
- OCIA — English 6:30–7:30 PM, Spanish 7:30–8:30 PM (in September)
Ministries & Groups
The parish invites parishioners to join its ministries as a way to build community and live out the Faith. The Respect Life Ministry is dedicated to defending human life from conception to natural death and hosts an annual Baby Shower to support the South Dade Pregnancy Help Center; contact Eduardo J. Serer ([email protected]). The Ministry of Altar Servers welcomes children and young people who have received First Communion, and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist with the distribution of the Eucharist at Mass.
- Respect Life Ministry — annual Baby Shower for South Dade Pregnancy Help Center
- Altar Servers (children and youth, after First Communion)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion
- Lectors (mentioned in Ministry Directory)
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School
Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School is a PreK3 through 8th-grade Catholic school in the All-Catholic Conference, sharing the parish campus and known for its 'Panthers' identity. Its mission is 'to empower and enable students spiritually and academically to live the Gospel message and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church while facing the challenges of the 21st Century.' The school is led by Principal Amanda Padierne Delgado, Ed.S., and current pastor Father Juan Pedro Hernandez-Alonso. The school sits at 1435 SW 12th Avenue, Miami, FL 33129, and its teams are called the Panthers.
- PreK3 through 8th grade
- Mascot: Panthers; Colors: blue and gold
- Member of the All-Catholic Conference
- Principal: Amanda Padierne Delgado, Ed.S.
- Pastor: Father Juan Pedro Hernandez-Alonso
- Phone: (305) 858-3722
Athletics at the School
Athletics at Sts. Peter & Paul is framed as 'an extension of our mission,' pursuing Excellence, Discipleship, and Scholarship as members of the All-Catholic Conference. The school offers an extensive slate of Primary, JV, and Varsity teams across many sports for both boys and girls.
- Boys & Girls Cross Country (Primary, JV, Varsity)
- Girls Volleyball (JV, Varsity)
- Boys & Girls Basketball (Primary, JV, Varsity)
- Boys & Girls Soccer (Primary, JV, Varsity)
- Boys & Girls Track and Field (Primary, JV, Varsity)
- Boys & Girls Flag Football (JV, Varsity)
- Baseball (Varsity)
- Softball (Varsity)
- Girls Golf (Varsity)
Visit, Register & Contact
The parish invites all — visitors, long-time residents, and newcomers — to register as parishioners. The parish office is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:30–1:30 PM, and closed Saturday and Sunday). The mailing address is 900 SW 26th Road, Miami, FL 33129, and the office phone is (305) 858-2621. Mass is broadcast on EWTN (English, 8 AM with repeats at 12 PM and 7 PM) for those unable to attend in person.
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:00 PM (closed 12:30–1:30 PM)
- Phone: (305) 858-2621
- Address: 900 SW 26th Road, Miami, FL 33129
- EWTN broadcast for English Mass
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Robert P. Brennan1939–
Founding pastor; Irish-born diocesan priest reassigned from Fort Myers; oversaw construction of the 'romantic' style church and the first Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve 1939.
- Fr. Juan M. López1989–
Long-serving pastor referenced in parish history and on Wikipedia; the current administration is led by Rev. Juan P. Hernández.