About Santa Rosa De Lima · Clewiston, Florida
Santa Rosa de Lima Mission is a small Catholic mission church serving the farmworker community of Montura Ranch Estates, a small farming community in Hendry County roughly 15 miles south of Clewiston, Florida. Founded as a formal Mission of St. Margaret Parish in Clewiston in 2002, it was developed to serve the growing Catholic population in the rural ranchlands south of Lake Okeechobee. Today it serves about 100 families and its Mass is celebrated entirely in Spanish. The Mission is part of the Diocese of Venice in Florida and is administered together with St. Margaret Parish in Clewiston.
- Established
- 2002
- Patron
- Santa Rosa de Lima (St. Rose of Lima)
- Rector
- Rev. Jean Woady Louis
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Santa Rosa de Lima Mission is a small, close-knit Catholic community where Spanish-speaking farmworker families in Montura Ranch Estates come together for worship, devotions to its patron saint, and joyful multicultural celebrations. The Mission is faithfully served by a Catholic priest and by women religious from the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Light (MHML), who support the religious education and Hispanic ministry of the wider Clewiston cluster of parishes. For anyone in Hendry County seeking a Spanish-language Catholic Mass, the patronal feast of Santa Rosa de Lima, and a real sense of family-style parish life, this Mission is the spiritual home.
Mass times at Santa Rosa De Lima
Weekly Mass schedule
History of Santa Rosa de Lima Mission
Santa Rosa de Lima Mission was developed for the growing Catholic community in Montura Ranch Estates, just south of Clewiston, Florida. In its earliest days the community was administered by priests serving at St. Margaret and Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish in LaBelle; Mass was first celebrated in a barn and then a community center before a permanent sanctuary was purchased in 2002. It was at that time Santa Rosa de Lima became a formal Mission of St. Margaret Parish, where it has remained ever since.
- Pre-2002: Mass first celebrated in a barn, then in a community center
- 2002: Permanent sanctuary purchased on North Mayoral Street; formally established as a Mission of St. Margaret Parish
- Today: Serves about 100 families, Mass celebrated only in Spanish
- Located in Montura Ranch Estates, ~15 miles south of Clewiston, in Hendry County
Clergy and Pastoral Leadership
The Mission is currently served by Father Jean Woady Louis, who is Pastor of both St. Margaret Parish and Santa Rosa de Lima Mission. Father Woady was installed as Pastor on Feb. 9, 2025 by Bishop Frank J. Dewane. The Mission is also supported by women religious from the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Light (MHML), who serve in religious education and Hispanic ministry roles throughout the Clewiston parish cluster.
- Rev. Jean Woady Louis — Pastor (installed Feb. 9, 2025)
- Sister Soledad Tun, MHML — Director of Religious Education (St. Margaret Parish)
- Sister Yuri Margarita Peña Sansores, MHML — Hispanic Ministry (St. Margaret Parish)
- Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Light (MHML) — women religious serving the Mission
Former Priests Who Served the Mission
Several priests have ministered at Santa Rosa de Lima Mission since its founding, while also serving nearby parishes in the Diocese of Venice. Two former Mission priests were present at the August 2023 Feast Day celebration.
- Rev. Marcial Garcia — previously served the Mission; in 2023 was Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven
- Rev. Jiobani Batista — previously served the Mission; in 2023 was Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish in LaBelle
Patron Saint: Santa Rosa de Lima
The Mission takes its name from Saint Rose of Lima (Santa Rosa de Lima), born Isabel Flores de Oliva on April 20, 1586 in Lima, Peru. A Dominican tertiary, she was the first person born in the Americas to be canonized (April 12, 1671, by Pope Clement X) and is the patroness of Latin America, Peru, the Philippines, gardeners, florists, and embroiderers. Her liturgical feast is celebrated on August 23 in the General Roman Calendar (and August 30 in Peru and some Latin American countries).
- Born April 20, 1586 in Lima, Peru
- Died August 24, 1617 at age 31
- First saint born in the Americas; canonized 1671 by Pope Clement X
- Patroness of Latin America, Peru, the Philippines, gardeners, florists, embroiderers
- Feast day: August 23 (general), August 30 (Peru/Latin America)
Feast Day and Bishop's Visit (August 27, 2023)
On Aug. 27, 2023, Santa Rosa de Lima Mission celebrated its patronal Feast Day with a special Mass celebrated by Bishop Frank J. Dewane of the Diocese of Venice. A temporary shrine of roses with a statue of Santa Rosa de Lima was displayed in front of the chapel and was incensed by the Bishop during Mass. The celebration continued with a multicultural potluck banquet under tents, featuring cuisine from Mexico, Peru, Cuba and elsewhere — even as a driving rainstorm swept through the ranch community.
- Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated Mass
- Father Marcial Garcia and Father Jiobani Batista concelebrated / attended
- Shrine of roses with statue of Santa Rosa de Lima
- Multicultural potluck: Mexican, Peruvian, Cuban and other cuisine
Ministries and Community Life
Although Santa Rosa de Lima Mission is a small mission church, its community life is anchored in the ministries of the wider St. Margaret Parish cluster. Faith formation is led by Sister Soledad Tun of the Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Light (MHML), and Hispanic ministry is led by Sister Yuri Margarita Peña Sansores, also of MHML. The Mission itself is known for its warm, multicultural celebrations — especially its annual Feast Day of Santa Rosa de Lima.
- Religious Education / Faith Formation (Sister Soledad Tun, MHML)
- Hispanic Ministry (Sister Yuri Margarita Peña Sansores, MHML)
- Annual Feast Day of Santa Rosa de Lima celebration
- Multicultural parish banquets
Diocese and Deanery
Santa Rosa de Lima Mission belongs to the Diocese of Venice in Florida (the Roman Catholic diocese covering the southwestern part of Florida) and is part of the Eastern Deanery. As a formal Mission of St. Margaret Parish in Clewiston, it shares its pastor and pastoral staff with the parent parish.
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
- Eastern Deanery
- Formally a Mission of St. Margaret Parish, Clewiston
Contact and Visiting Information
Santa Rosa de Lima Mission can be reached through the St. Margaret Parish office in Clewiston. The physical address of the Mission is on North Mayoral Street in Montura Ranch Estates, while the mailing address is on East Osceola Avenue in Clewiston proper.
- Address: 835 N. Mayoral St., Montura Ranch Estates, Clewiston, FL 33440
- Mailing Address: 318 E. Osceola Ave., Clewiston, FL 33440
- Phone: (863) 983-8585
- Fax: (863) 983-9673
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Jean Woady Louis2022–present
Administrator, then installed as Pastor of St. Margaret Parish and Santa Rosa de Lima Mission by Bishop Frank J. Dewane on Feb. 9, 2025.
- Rev. Marcial GarciaBefore 2023
Previously served Santa Rosa de Lima Mission; in 2023 was Pastor of St. Joseph the Worker Parish in Moore Haven and concelebrated the 2023 Feast Day Mass.
- Rev. Jiobani BatistaBefore 2023
Previously served the Mission; in 2023 was Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Heaven Parish in LaBelle and joined the 2023 Feast Day banquet.