About San Pedro · Tavernier, Florida
San Pedro Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic community in Tavernier, Florida, located on Plantation Key in the Florida Keys. Founded in 1955 as a mission and elevated to parish status in 1959, it is named for St. Peter, the fisherman, and reflects its Spanish colonial heritage. The parish thrives on the faith, participation, and generosity of its members and welcomes all to join in worship and service. It is part of the Archdiocese of Miami and offers Masses in English and Spanish, along with various ministries and sacraments.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- St. Peter
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Join a prayerful, unified community deeply committed to Jesus Christ and loving service. Experience the loving presence of Almighty God through regular Masses, sacraments, and ministries that foster faith, participation, and generosity among members.
Mass times at San Pedro
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Friday: 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
- Saturday: 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
- Sunday: 8:00 – 8:45 a.m.
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month 9-10:00 a.m.
History of Our Parish
In August 1940, Joseph Patrick Hurley was appointed the sixth Bishop of St. Augustine, Florida, by Pope Pius XII. Bishop Hurley was tasked with building the Catholic Church in Florida. At the time, there were about two million people in Florida, of which some 60,000 were Roman Catholics. Bishop Hurley was known to climb into a small plane, fly over vast tracts of undeveloped Florida, then point out where he wanted new parishes established. On land he’d identify sites from the seat of a Pontiac, which he drove back and forth, and up and down the state. In all, Hurley established about 100 parishes. One was created on a 15-acre site at mile marker 89.5 on Plantation Key, south of Key Largo, in the Florida Keys. This is our San Pedro Catholic Church. According to Florida Keys historian, Jerry Wilkinson, “The architect was Thomas Maddens Jr. and the builder William Stalcup. the bins at the main entrance are built from ballast stone from the wreck of the San Pedro with solid mahogany doors with sculptured panels by Richard Carrol. The communion bell was once used in a small Mexican Chapel and the tower bell was cast in 1917. Many of the lighting fixtures are copies of the famous Majano lanterns of Rome.” Wilkinson reports, “the church was dedicated in February 1955 [by Bishop Hurley] as the Mission de San Pedro Roman Catholic Church recalling that the first churches in Florida were erected by Spanish Settlers.” The mission was designated a parish in 1959 with Father Luis Altonaga as the first local pastor. Fittingly named for St. Peter, a fisherman, our small parish thrives on the faith, participation and generosity of our members. With open hearts we invite you to join us to celebrate mass.