About San Lazaro · Hialeah, Florida
San Lazaro Catholic Parish is a bilingual (Spanish/English) Roman Catholic parish located at 4400 W 18th Avenue in Hialeah, Florida, within the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded on January 20, 1982 by Archbishop Edward McCarthy and the late Msgr. Pedro Luis Pérez, the parish grew from humble beginnings — early Masses were celebrated at Vivian Villas and then the Apollo Theater — into a vibrant, mostly Cuban-heritage community of faith. Today the parish offers daily Mass in Spanish and English, an active CCD/faith formation program for some 300 children, Eucharistic Adoration on the last Saturday of each month, and a wide range of spiritual and outreach ministries (Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Cursillo, Emmaus, Neocatecumenal Way, Caballeros Católicos, choirs, and youth groups). Its mission statement reads: 'Our Mission is to embrace God's Loving Mercy, embracing our diversity with compassion as we serve the needs of others. Orémos Por Los Enfermos.'
- Established
- 1982
- Patron
- San Lázaro (Saint Lazarus)
- Rector
- Rev. Salvador Díaz-Guerra (Pastor since October 2023; ordained August 14, 2004 for the Diocese of Holguín, Cuba)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
San Lazaro is the spiritual heart of a predominantly Cuban-heritage Catholic community in Hialeah that takes December 17 — the feast of San Lázaro — and the wider liturgical year very seriously, with one of the richest Mass schedules in the area: three daily Masses Monday through Saturday, a Saturday Vigil at 7 PM, and five Sunday Masses (with four in Spanish and one in English). Beyond Mass, parishioners can join well-established ministries (Legion of Mary, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, Cursillo, Neocatecumenal Way, Emmaus retreats, charismatic prayer, choir, youth group, pro-life, Caballeros Católicos) and a CCD program serving roughly 300 children. Newcomers and inquirers are warmly welcomed into the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Inquiry sessions on Wednesday evenings, and the parish invites all to 'embrace God's Loving Mercy' together.
Mass times at San Lazaro
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM (or by appointment)
Adoration times
- Last Saturday of the month — Saturday 8:00 PM through Sunday 7:30 AM (Adoración Nocturna / Blessed Sacrament Exposition)
Parish History & Mission
San Lazaro was formally founded on January 20, 1982, when Archbishop of Miami Edward McCarthy assigned the Cuban-born Father Pedro Luis Pérez as founding pastor. The parish's stated mission is: 'Our Mission is to embrace God's Loving Mercy, embracing our diversity with compassion as we serve the needs of others.' The Spanish tagline on the homepage — 'Orémos Por Los Enfermos' — 'Let us pray for the sick' — reflects Saint Lazarus's traditional role as patron of the sick.
- Founded January 20, 1982
- Founding pastor: Msgr. Pedro Luis Pérez (administered 1982–1986; pastor 1986–July 1, 2009)
- Archdiocesan deanery: Northwest Dade
- Devotion to San Lázaro: deeply rooted Cuban-Catholic tradition; feast on December 17
Clergy & Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Salvador Díaz-Guerra, who has served as Pastor of St. Lazaro Parish since October 2023. He was born in Holguín, Cuba, on March 18, 1974, and was ordained for the Diocese of Holguín on August 14, 2004. He also holds a Licentiate in Psychology from the Pontificia Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) in Santo Domingo (2013) and has ministered in Cuba and the Dominican Republic before serving in the Archdiocese of Miami since 2014.
- Pastor: Rev. Salvador Díaz-Guerra (since October 2023)
- Office Administrator: Marlene Quintana
- Faith Formation: Maritza Bonachea
- Bookkeeper: Roberto Cortes
Mass & Service Schedule
San Lazaro operates one of the most active worship schedules in Hialeah, offering Mass in Spanish and English nearly every day of the week. Weekend Masses on Saturday and five times on Sunday are the main parish gathering times; three daily Masses Monday through Saturday (Wednesday and Friday also add a 7 PM Mass) sustain devotion for the working community. Confessions are heard before the Vigil Mass, and a monthly Eucharistic vigil of adoration is kept on the last Saturday overnight into Sunday morning.
- Sunday: 8 AM (Español), 9:30 AM (English), 11 AM (Español), 1 PM (Español), 7 PM (Español)
- Saturday Vigil: 7 PM
- Weekday Masses: Mon, Tue, Thu at 11 AM; Wed & Fri at 11 AM and 7 PM; Sat at 9 AM and 7 PM
- Confession: Saturdays 5–6 PM or by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: last Saturday of the month, 8 PM Saturday through 7:30 AM Sunday
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
Devotions, Feasts & Annual Celebrations
Special devotions include a monthly Mass in honor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, a periodic Mass of Reparation for the Nation, and a Mass with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The feast of San Lázaro (Saint Lazarus) on December 17 is the parish's largest devotional event, drawing hundreds of Cuban-heritage faithful to a procession around the church. The HistoryMiami Museum has documented how the devotees — mostly Cuban — pay tribute annually with pilgrimage and offerings, sometimes syncretized with the Yorùbá Orisha Babalú-Ayé.
- San Lázaro feast: December 17 — annual Mass and procession
- Monthly Mass in honor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
- Mass of Reparation for the Nation (Misa de Reparación por la Nación)
- Mass with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Sacramental Life
Information about the seven Catholic sacraments is supported through the parish Faith Formation office and the Adult Formation (OCIA) program. Baptisms, First Communion (with a recurring retreat — most recently scheduled at 2:00 PM), Confirmation (including for adults through OCIA), marriage, Anointing of the Sick (offered to homebound parishioners and those at Palm Springs Hospital) and Reconciliation (Saturday 5–6 PM) are part of the parish's regular sacramental program.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 5–6 PM or by appointment
- OCIA (Adult Initiation): Inquiry sessions Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM
- First Communion Retreat held annually at the church
- Eucharistic Ministry to residents at Vivian Villas, Epworth, and Waterfall
Faith Formation & Religious Education
San Lazaro runs an extensive faith formation program serving approximately 300 children in CCD classes. The 2024–2025 Faith Formation Registration is open, and a yearly First Communion Retreat is hosted at the church grounds. For adults interested in becoming Catholic (or completing their sacraments), the parish offers the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) with weekly Inquiry sessions on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 to 9:00 PM. The Catechumenate phase is typically about a year long, with Sunday-morning sessions reflecting on Scripture and Church teaching, culminating in the reception of Baptism, Confirmation and/or Eucharist at Easter.
- Faith Formation Director: Maritza Bonachea
- CCD enrollment: ~300 children
- OCIA Inquiry: Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM
- Catechumenate: meets on Sunday mornings
- First Communion Retreat held at the church (announced each year)
Parish Ministries & Groups
The parish supports a wide range of lay spiritual movements and apostolates. Long-standing groups include the Legion of Mary, a youth group, and Knights of Columbus (Caballeros Católicos); newer additions include the Caballeros Católicos charismatic prayer group, the choir ministry, the Neocatecumenal Way, and a pro-life group. Cursillo, Catholic Nights, the Apostolate of Prayer, and Emmaus retreats round out the parish's spiritual-renewal offerings. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul distributes non-perishable food monthly to the needy.
- Legion of Mary
- Knights of Columbus / Caballeros Católicos
- St. Vincent de Paul (monthly food distribution)
- Cursillo Movement
- Catholic Nights
- Apostolate of Prayer
- Emmaus Retreats
- Charismatic Prayer Group
- Parish Choir
- Neocatecumenal Way
- Pro-Life Group
- Youth Group
Outreach & Charity
Parish outreach pairs sacramental service with practical charity. St. Vincent de Paul members distribute non-perishable food monthly to the needy; an annual parish festival raises additional resources for outreach efforts including Cursillo, Catholic Nights, and the Knights of Columbus. Eucharistic Ministers bring Communion to elderly and sick residents at Vivian Villas, Epworth, and Waterfall, and other volunteers visit the sick at Palm Springs Hospital.
- Monthly food distribution through St. Vincent de Paul
- Eucharistic Ministry at Vivian Villas, Epworth, and Waterfall
- Visits to Palm Springs Hospital
- Annual parish festival fundraiser
Visit Us & Contact
Visitors are warmly welcomed to all weekend and weekday Masses, with the Sunday services at 8 AM, 9:30 AM, 11 AM, 1 PM, and 7 PM forming the centerpiece. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM, and the main line is (305) 556-1717. Mass intentions and online giving are available through the parish website.
- Address: 4400 W 18th Avenue, Hialeah, FL 33012
- Phone: (305) 556-1717
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9 AM – 5 PM
- Online giving and Mass intentions available via the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Pedro Luis PérezJanuary 1982 – July 1, 2009 (founding pastor; died June 8, age 85; made Monsignor July 31, 2007 by Pope Benedict XVI)
Cuban-born priest, ordained April 20, 1952; led the parish from its founding to retirement; remembered for devotion to Our Lady of Charity and for founding the parish in 1982