About St Brendan · Miami, Florida
St. Brendan Catholic Parish is a bilingual English/Spanish parish located at 8725 SW 32nd Street in the Westchester neighborhood of Miami, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami (West Dade Deanery). Founded on April 22, 1954, and named for the Irish Saint Brendan the Navigator — patron of the Diocese of Kerry and Clonfert in Ireland — the parish grew from 100 families meeting under a tent on Christmas Eve 1953 to a community of more than 2,000 families today, with an average weekend attendance of over 2,000. The parish runs St. Brendan Elementary School (Pre-K3 through 8th grade), maintains a 24-hour Perpetual Adoration Chapel, supports more than 88 ministries, and is well known in the Archdiocese as the site of the new Diocese of Miami's very first public function in 1958.
- Established
- 1954
- Patron
- Saint Brendan the Navigator (Patron of the Diocese of Kerry and Clonfert, Ireland)
- Rector
- Rev. Miguel A. Sepúlveda
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (West Dade Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Brendan offers a rare combination of Catholic tradition and multicultural warmth in the heart of Westchester. Daily Masses are offered in both English and Spanish, with eight weekend Masses (four in each language) and a School Family Mass one Sunday a month at 11:00 AM. The parish supports more than 88 ministries — including Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, Eucharistic Ministers to the homebound, Lectors, Music Ministry, OCIA (RCIA) for adults, Faith Formation for children and youth, and a senior day-care center — and runs a STREAM-accredited elementary school serving over 900 students from Pre-K3 through 8th grade. For a Catholic seeking a long-established, bilingual, mission-oriented parish rooted in the Eucharist, St. Brendan is a strong fit.
Mass times at St Brendan
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
- By appointment (call the parish office at 305-221-0881)
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at the Divine Mercy / Blessed Sacrament Chapel
- Chapel open hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 AM – 6:30 PM; Saturday 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM and 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM; Sunday closed; closed Thursdays for cleaning
Parish History & Founding Story
St. Brendan was officially founded on April 22, 1954, in what was then the Diocese of St. Augustine, with Father Thomas O'Donovan as its first pastor, appointed by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley. The community actually traces its roots to a Christmas Eve midnight Mass celebrated under a tent on Dr. Sena's ranch at SW 32nd Street and 102nd Avenue in December 1953, before later moving to West Miami Junior High School. The first Mass in the original church building was offered on Christmas Eve 1956 and the building was dedicated by Archbishop Hurley in February 1957.
- Founded April 22, 1954
- First pastor: Msgr. Thomas O'Donovan (1953–1964)
- First Mass: midnight, Christmas Eve 1953, under a tent
- First church Mass: Christmas Eve 1956; dedicated February 1957
- Original location: ranch at SW 32nd St. & 102nd Ave.
- Early Mass also celebrated at West Miami Junior High School
A Pivotal Role in the Diocese of Miami
When the Diocese of Miami was created in 1958 out of the Diocese of St. Augustine, the new Bishop, Coleman F. Carroll, chose St. Brendan for his very first public function in the new diocese — a Confirmation ceremony in the fall of 1958. This placed St. Brendan on the map of South Florida Catholicism from the earliest days of the local Church and continues to be a point of pride for the parish.
- New Diocese of Miami established 1958
- Bishop Coleman Carroll's first public function: Confirmation at St. Brendan, Fall 1958
Building the Church and Campus
After three decades of growth, the parish broke ground on January 6, 1980 for a new, larger church. Archbishop Edward J. McCarthy dedicated the new St. Brendan Church on May 17, 1981, designed to seat 1,100 in the main church and 140 in the chapel. In 1988 a new Parish Center — with a cafeteria and five meeting rooms opening onto a plaza — was added thanks to the generosity of stewardship families.
- New church groundbreaking: January 6, 1980
- New church dedicated by Archbishop Edward J. McCarthy: May 17, 1981
- Main church seating: 1,100; chapel: 140
- Parish Center dedicated: September 11, 1988
Becoming a Bilingual, International Parish
Beginning with the arrival of Cuban refugees in the wake of the Castro takeover and continuing through waves of Caribbean, Central American, and South American immigrants, the parish gradually became the bilingual English/Spanish community it is today. By 2019 the parish reported more than 2,013 families and 4,762 registered members, with eight weekend Masses — four in English and four in Spanish — and an average weekend attendance of about 2,047.
- From 100 founding families to over 2,013 families and 4,762 members (2019)
- Eight weekend Masses: four English, four Spanish
- Average weekend attendance: ~2,047
- Cultural heritage: Cuban, Caribbean, Central and South American
Clergy & Staff Today
St. Brendan is currently served by its pastor and a parochial vicar, with one retired deacon.
- Fr. Miguel Sepúlveda — Pastor
- Fr. Pierre Listo Charles — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Mr. Bill Lannon — Deacon (Retired)
- Gerardo I. González, MAPT — Director of Faith Formation
- Janette Martinez — Faith Formation Office Assistant (305-221-2861)
Sacraments
The parish prepares and celebrates all the major sacraments for its members and offers sacraments to non-parishioners by arrangement.
- Baptism: 2nd Saturday of the month in English; 4th Saturday in Spanish; adults at the Easter Vigil
- Marriage: at least 6 months of preparation; contact the Wedding Coordinator at 305-221-0881
- First Communion and Confirmation: through the parish Faith Formation program
- OCIA (RCIA) for Adults: Saturdays 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM, September–May
Faith Formation
The parish runs an Office of Catechesis that provides ongoing Christian faith formation from 1st grade through 12th grade, including preparation for the Sacraments of Initiation (Baptism, Eucharist, Confirmation). The OCIA Children/Youth track serves children age 7 and older who are not yet baptized, with the sacraments received at the Easter Vigil. Classes meet on Saturdays from 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, September through May.
- Parish Faith Formation for Children and Youth (grades 1–12)
- OCIA Children/Youth for ages 7+ not yet baptized
- Saturday sessions 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM, September–May
- Director: Gerardo I. González, MAPT
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
Adults and young adults who have not been baptized, or were baptized but have not yet received Confirmation and Eucharist, are welcomed into the OCIA process to learn more about the Catholic faith and receive the Sacraments of Initiation.
- OCIA sessions: Saturdays 9:15 AM – 10:30 AM, September–May
- Adult baptisms and reception into the Church at the Easter Vigil
- Bilingual program
Parish Ministries & Outreach
The parish describes its ministry culture with the words: 'A ministry in the Catholic Church is an activity conducive to the salvation of souls.' More than 88 ministries serve the parish and surrounding community, ranging from liturgical roles to charity and outreach. A senior day-care center is one of the standout outreach programs. The parish's evening Sunday Mass has historically been radio-broadcast throughout South Florida.
- More than 88 active ministries
- Senior Day Care Center for elderly parishioners
- Music Ministry, Lectors, and Eucharistic Ministers (Mass and to the homebound)
- Sunday evening Mass radio broadcast across South Florida
St. Brendan Elementary School
St. Brendan Elementary School, located at 8755 SW 32nd Street (phone 305-221-2722), is the oldest Catholic school in the Westchester area. Opened in 1955 with 275 students and four Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth from Chicago, it has grown to serve around 930 students in Pre-K3 through 8th grade (43 teachers, 16 teacher assistants, 7 staff members). It is STREAM-certified, integrating science, technology, religion, engineering, arts, and mathematics, and offers innovative programs such as the St. Thomas Aquinas Accelerated Language Arts Program and the Felix Varela Program for students with special needs. Archbishop Thomas Wenski visited the school on September 3, 2025, to celebrate its 70th anniversary.
- Address: 8755 SW 32nd Street, Miami, FL 33165
- Phone: (305) 221-2722
- Opened September 1, 1955; dedicated by Archbishop Hurley on October 30, 1955
- Accredited May 9, 1975
- Originally staffed by Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth
- STREAM-certified (Science, Technology, Religion, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics)
- St. Thomas Aquinas Accelerated Language Arts Program
- Felix Varela Program for students with special needs
- Pre-K 3 through 8th grade, ~930 students (2024)
- 70th anniversary celebrated in 2025 with Archbishop Wenski visit
- After-school program started 1988; pre-K program started 1991/92
- School principal: Maria Capote (23 years)
Getting Involved
Parishioners are encouraged to register as members and to join one of the many ministries. Newcomers can become a member by contacting the parish office, and those interested in any ministry are invited to call the Parish Office at (305) 221-0881.
- Parish Office: (305) 221-0881
- Faith Formation Office: (305) 221-2861 — Janette Martinez
- Baptism Coordinator: (305) 221-0881
- Wedding Coordinator: (305) 221-0881
- School Office: (305) 221-2722
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Thomas O'Donovan1953–1964
Founding pastor; appointed by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley; led parish and built the elementary school. Deceased.
- Msgr. Rowan T. Rastatter1964–1970
Second pastor. Deceased.
- Msgr. David E. Bushey1970–1981
Third pastor; oversaw construction of the new church dedicated in 1981. Deceased.
- Rev. Jose P. Nickse1981–2002
Fourth pastor. Deceased.
- Rev. Charles Peterman2002–2003
Parish Administrator. Deceased.
- Rev. Fernando E. Heria2003–2016
Sixth pastor.
- Rev. Miguel A. Sepúlveda2017–present
Current pastor.