About San Roberto Belarmino · Miami, Florida
Mission San Roberto Belarmino is a Spanish-language Catholic mission church located at 3405 NW 27th Avenue in the Allapattah neighborhood of Miami, Florida. Originally established in 1968 as an independent parish carved from territory belonging to Corpus Christi Church, it was closed on October 1, 2009 as part of the Archdiocese of Miami's consolidation of 13 parishes lacking the resources to sustain themselves. Archbishop Thomas Wenski reopened St. Robert Bellarmine as a mission of Corpus Christi shortly after taking office, and today the mission serves a predominantly Hispanic community of Caribbean, Central and South American heritage with a weekly Sunday Mass in Spanish.
- Established
- 1968
- Patron
- St. Robert Bellarmine (Cardinal, Bishop, and Doctor of the Church)
- Rector
- Father Jose Luis (administrator, of Corpus Christi parish — pastor of the parent parish who oversees the mission)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Mission San Roberto Belarmino offers a tightly knit, Spanish-speaking Catholic community in the heart of Allapattah, with a weekly Sunday Mass, a Thursday-night choir rehearsal that invites anyone who wants to 'sing the greatness of the Lord,' and outreach to the surrounding Hispanic neighborhoods through bilingual Bible study, prayer groups, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and visits to elderly parishioners. It is a reborn community — gathered back together after the 2009 closure by Archbishop Wenski — whose Mission Coordinator, Consuelo Velásquez, keeps the doors open for families across the Archdiocese of Miami.
Mass times at San Roberto Belarmino
Weekly Mass schedule
History of Mission San Roberto Bellarmino
St. Robert Bellarmine was established on May 29, 1968 as a parish carved out of Corpus Christi territory in Allapattah, founded by Father Eugenio Del Busto. A succession of pastors — Fathers Luis Perez and Nelson Fernandez (who served seventeen years) — preceded Father Omar Huesca in 1990, who led the 1992 renovation. Archbishop Favalora closed the parish on October 1, 2009, and Archbishop Wenski reopened it as a Corpus Christi mission on September 24, 2010 with Bishop John Noonan presiding.
- Founded 1968
- Closed 2009 by Archbishop Favalora
- Reopened 2010 by Archbishop Wenski
- Fifth mission of Corpus Christi parish
Why a Mission, and Who Are the Sectors?
In Corpus Christi's organization, the Allapattah-area parishes were reorganized into 'sectors' so that the pastoral work of the parent parish can be brought closer to outlying neighborhoods through smaller chapels. San Roberto Bellarmino is one of those five sector missions, alongside La Milagrosa, San Juan Bautista, Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, and San Francisco y Santa Clara.
- Mother Church: Corpus Christi
- La Milagrosa
- San Juan Bautista
- Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia
- San Francisco y Santa Clara
Reopening (2010) and the Francisca "Panchita" Story
The first mission coordinator, Francisca Gracia — known as "Panchita" — preserved the memory of the 2009 closure and the difficult reopening. With the help of the St. John Vianey Seminary, the community cleaned the chapel, and the procession of September 24, 2010 — featuring Our Lady of Mercy, the image of St. Robert Bellarmine, and the parish arriving by fire truck — has become the symbolic birth of the modern mission.
- Francisca Gracia "Panchita" — first mission coordinator
- St. John Vianey Seminary helped with cleanup
- Reopening procession by fire truck
- Bishop John Noonan as reopening celebrant
Mass and Schedule
Mission San Roberto Bellarmino celebrates a single weekly Mass on Sunday at 12:30 PM in Spanish. It is the smallest, most prayerful weeknight-to-weekend rhythm of the five Corpus Christi missions; sacramental records and additional services are handled through the parent Corpus Christi parish.
- Sunday 12:30 PM — Spanish
- Sacramental records handled by Corpus Christi
Music Ministry
The mission's Music Ministry invites all parishioners to join the choir. Rehearsals take place in the mission every Thursday at 8:00 PM with the invitation: "Come and let us sing together the greatness of the Lord!"
- Choir rehearsals every Thursday at 8:00 PM at the mission
- Music Ministry open to new members
Community Outreach and Faith Formation
Faithful to its long history (the Archdiocese of Miami notes parishioners' bilingual Bible study, prayer groups, religious education for adults and children, and the 1992 renovation that added seven classrooms, a kitchen, and a playground), the mission continues to serve the surrounding Hispanic community. The St. Vincent de Paul Society, senior visits, and outreach to those in need remain central.
- Bilingual Bible study
- Prayer groups
- Religious education (children and adults)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Outreach to the area's needy
- Visits and activities for senior citizens
Mission Coordinator and Staff
The mission's day-to-day coordination rests with Consuelo Velásquez, named on the official mission page as Mission Coordinator. Pastoral oversight comes from Father Jose Luis, the administrator of the parent Corpus Christi parish who led the 2010 reopening effort.
- Consuelo Velásquez — Mission Coordinator
- Father Jose Luis — Administrator (Corpus Christi)
Patron: St. Robert Bellarmine
The mission's name honors St. Robert Bellarmine (1542–1621), the Italian Jesuit cardinal and Doctor of the Church whose feast is celebrated on September 17. The mission's own page reflects on the name's meaning: 'Roberto' — 'he who comes from his own fame' — and 'Belarmino' — 'well-armed warrior.' Bellarmine is one of the patron saints of catechists and catechumens.
- Italian Jesuit, cardinal, Doctor of the Church
- Feast day September 17
- Patron of catechists and catechumens
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Visitors are welcome to Sunday Mass at 12:30 PM or to Thursday-night choir rehearsals at 8:00 PM. For baptisms, marriages, and other sacramental records, parishioners are directed to the parent parish, Corpus Christi Catholic Church. Phone and email reach the mission through Corpus Christi's main office.
- Address: 3405 NW 27th Ave., Miami, FL 33142
- Phone: (305) 635-1331
- Email: [email protected]
- Web: corpuschristimiami.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Eugenio Del Busto1968–c.1970
Founding pastor; served for two years.
- Father Luis Perez
Succeeded Father Del Busto.
- Father Nelson Fernandez
Served the parish for seventeen years.
- Father Omar Huesca1990 – August 25, 2009
Oversaw the 1992 renovation of the church and additions (parish hall, classrooms, kitchen, playground).
- Father Jose Luis2009–present
Assumed as administrator in 2009; led the reopening of St. Robert Bellarmine as a Corpus Christi mission in 2010.