About St. Benedict · Hialeah, Florida
St. Benedict Catholic Church is a multicultural, bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Hialeah, Florida, established on October 2, 1973 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll and now part of the Archdiocese of Miami (Northwest Dade Deanery). It serves a majority-Spanish-speaking community at 701 West 77th Street, living out its Benedictine motto 'Ora et Labora' ('Work and Pray') through a rich schedule of daily and weekend Masses in both English and Spanish, 24/7 Eucharistic Adoration in its St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel, faith formation for children and adults, and an extensive network of ministries including the Legion of Mary, Cursillo, Emmaus, Knights of Columbus, and St. Vincent de Paul.
- Established
- 1973
- Patron
- St. Benedict of Nursia (abbot, father of Western monasticism, patron of Europe and students)
- Rector
- Fr. Yonhatan Londoño
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (Northwest Dade Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Benedict is a hard-working, multicultural Catholic family rooted in the Benedictine motto 'Ora et Labora' — work and pray. Worshippers can join daily Masses in English and Spanish, spend an hour in 24/7 Eucharolic Adoration in the St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel, grow in faith through ongoing CCD classes for children and teens, walk the RCIA journey as adults, and serve through ministries such as the Legion of Mary, Cursillo, Emmaus retreats, Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Charismatic Group 'Divine Grace.' It is a parish that lives its founding mission — Love, Pray and Serve — out loud in the heart of Hialeah.
Mass times at St. Benedict
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 6:00 PM
- Wednesday 6:00 PM
- Thursday 6:00 PM
- Friday 6:00 PM
- Saturday 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel
Parish Story & History
St. Benedict was established on October 2, 1973 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll, with Fr. Thomas E. Barry as its founding pastor. The first Masses were celebrated at Milam Elementary School and Palm Lakes Elementary School, and the parish met in four storefronts of the Malecon Shopping Plaza until a permanent church was built and dedicated by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy in March 1980. A parish center with a 500-seat auditorium, eight classrooms and four offices was added in 1986, and a worship-space addition in 1992–93 seated another 300 people. Since 2018 a wave of physical and spiritual renewal has transformed the campus: the St. Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel (2019), a renovated main altar with a relic of St. John Paul II (2020), an Our Lady of Lourdes grotto (2020), a relic of St. Benedict in the sanctuary wall, and the renewal of the parish offices, center, restrooms and gardens.
- October 2, 1973 — parish established by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll; Fr. Thomas E. Barry named first pastor
- 1973–1977 — first Masses at Milam Elementary School and Palm Lakes Elementary School; four storefronts in Malecon Shopping Plaza serve as interim parish center
- March 1980 — new church dedicated by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy (temple, chapel, hall, parish offices, kitchen)
- 1986 — Parish Center built (500-seat auditorium, 8 classrooms, 4 offices, kitchen)
- August 1986 — City of Hialeah names West 78th St. after Rev. José Luis Paniagua
- 1992–93 — worship-space addition seats 300 more parishioners
- June 2018 — Fr. José L. Hernando appointed Administrator
- March 2019 — Saint Joseph Perpetual Adoration Chapel opened (24/7 Adoration begins)
- April 2020 — new altar installed with a relic of St. John Paul II
- March–May 2020 — 'Jesus camina por las calles de Hialeah' pandemic procession
- June 2020 — Our Lady of Lourdes grotto built next to the Adoration Chapel
- 2023 — relic of St. Benedict added to the wall next to the altar
- October 28, 2023 — 50th anniversary Mass of thanksgiving and adoration concert
Parish Mission & Identity
The parish lives by a simple motto: 'Ora et Labora' — 'Work and Pray' — drawn from the Rule of St. Benedict. Its formal mission is 'Love, Pray and Serve,' and its vision is to 'welcome all to grow in Love, Prayer and Service, imitating the teachings of Jesus Christ.'
- Motto: Ora et Labora (Work and Pray)
- Mission: Love, Pray and Serve
- Vision: Welcome all to grow in Love, Prayer and Service imitating the teachings of Jesus Christ
- Bilingual (English/Spanish) multicultural community with a majority of Spanish-speaking worshipers
Clergy & Staff
St. Benedict is led by Fr. Yonhatan Londoño, the current pastor, who succeeded a line of pastors and administrators that began with founding pastor Fr. Thomas E. Barry in 1973 and includes Fr. Julio de Jesus, Fr. José Luis Paniagua (later honored by the City of Hialeah), and Fr. José L. Hernando (who led the 2018–2023 renewal). The pastoral team is complemented by two deacons and the parish's Religious Education director.
- Fr. Yonhatan Londoño — Pastor
- Rev. Mr. Henry Cardenas — Transitional Deacon
- Rev. Mr. Emilio Blanco — Permanent Deacon
- Mrs. Sori Govin — Director of Religious Education
- Mrs. Luisa Arguello — Perpetual Adoration coordinator (305-542-0210)
Religious Education & Faith Formation
The Religious Education program (CCD) provides ongoing lifelong faith formation for children and teens from 1st through 11th grade, with sacramental preparation for Baptism (ages 7–17), First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, and Confirmation (ages 13+). Classes follow the Archdiocese of Miami's Sacramental Guidelines of at least two consecutive years of catechesis before each sacrament. Classes meet Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in the Parish Center.
- Sundays 8:30 AM–9:45 AM — grades 1–10 in the Parish Center
- Tuesdays 6:00 PM–7:30 PM — grades 6–11 Ongoing Faith Formation and 1st-Year Confirmation
- Wednesdays 5:00 PM–6:30 PM — 1st Communion and Ongoing Faith Formation
- Religious Education Office: 305-557-2511
- Contact: Deacon Emilio Blanco (305-558-2150)
Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA)
RCIA is the parish's formation journey for adults who have not yet received the Sacraments of Initiation. It welcomes unbaptized adults seeking to become Catholic, Christians from other traditions seeking full communion, and already-baptized Catholics preparing for Confirmation and/or First Eucharist. Sessions meet weekly in the Parish Hall on Tuesdays from 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM.
- For unbaptized adults and children of catechetical age
- For Christians baptized in another tradition seeking full communion with Rome
- For baptized Catholics seeking Confirmation and Eucharist
- Tuesdays 8:00 PM–9:30 PM, Parish Hall
Parish Ministries & Groups
A wide range of lay-led ministries and small groups meet in the Parish Center throughout the week. Many follow the Benedictine rhythm of prayer and work and reach every age and stage of life — from children serving as altar servers, to teens and young adults, to men and women in retreat movements.
- Teens and Young Adults Group — Thursdays 8:00 PM, room #7
- Catholic Knight (young adults) — Thursdays 8:00 PM, room #7
- Family of Nazareth (men & women) — Wednesdays 8:00 PM, rooms #1 & #2
- Charismatic Group 'Divine Grace' — 4th Thursday 8:00 PM, rooms #4 & #5
- Legion of Mary
- Cursillo Movement (1st Group: Tuesdays 6:00 PM, room #1; 2nd Group: Thursdays 5:00 PM, rooms #1 & #2)
- Emmaus (Men & Women) — Tuesdays 7:30 PM, room #3
- Bilingual Bible Study (ongoing) — Thursdays 7:30 PM, room #7
- Knights of Columbus
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Respect Life
- Dad San José's Workshop
- Altar Servers (training provided; candidates must have received First Communion)
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for and celebrates all the standard Sacraments of Initiation, including a children's Baptism track (ages 7–17), First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, and Confirmation. RCIA serves adults. Couples are invited to contact the parish office for marriage preparation.
- Baptism (children ages 7–17 after two consecutive years of catechesis)
- First Reconciliation and First Eucharist (ages 7+)
- Confirmation (ages 13+)
- RCIA (adults)
- Marriage — contact parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Thomas E. Barry1973–
Founding pastor appointed by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll; celebrated the first Masses at Milam Elementary and Palm Lakes Elementary and used four storefronts in the Malecon Shopping Plaza as the interim parish center.
- Fr. Julio de Jesus
Appointed Administrator; oversaw the 1986 dedication of the parish center auditorium.
- Fr. José L. Hernando2018–
Appointed Administrator in June 2018; launched the 2018–2023 'renaissance' of physical and spiritual renewal.
- Fr. José Luis Paniagua
Former pastor honored by the City of Hialeah, which named a stretch of West 78th Street (between 7th and 8th Avenues) after him in August 1986.
- Fr. Yonhatan Londoño2023–present
Current pastor; presided over the 50th anniversary Mass of thanksgiving and adoration concert in October 2023.