About St. Dominic · Miami, Florida
St. Dominic Catholic Parish is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Catholic parish located in the West Dade area of Miami, Florida, at 5909 NW 7th Street. Founded in 1962 and named in honor of Saint Dominic de Guzmán, the 13th-century founder of the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), the parish has been continuously staffed by Dominican friars since its inception — first by Spanish Dominican friars and, since 1980, by the friars of the Dominican Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres. Today it serves a primarily Hispanic community through a rich schedule of Masses in English, Spanish, and bilingual format, plus a vibrant array of lay movements and ministries.
- Established
- 1962
- Patron
- Saint Dominic de Guzmán (founder of the Order of Preachers)
- Rector
- Fr. Orlando Cardozo, O.P.
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami (West Dade Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Dominic is one of the few Catholic parishes in South Florida entrusted to the Dominican Order (Order of Preachers), offering parishioners a distinctively Dominican spirituality rooted in preaching, the rosary, and study. The community is genuinely bilingual and multicultural, with Masses in English, Spanish, and bilingual format, weekly confessions, and a robust calendar of lay movements — RCIA, Emaús, Cursillos de Cristiandad, Dominican Laity, Acción Católica, Legion of Mary, Charismatic Prayer Group, and youth and young-adult groups — so newcomers of any age or background can find a place to belong, serve, and grow in faith.
Mass times at St. Dominic
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM (English & Spanish, also bilingual per parish listings)
Adoration times
- First Friday of the month, 8:30 AM – 10:00 PM
Parish History
St. Dominic Catholic Parish was founded in 1962 in the newly created Archdiocese of Miami at the invitation of Bishop Coleman Carroll, who called on Spanish Dominican friars whose presence in Florida stretches back to the mid-1500s. The parish was named in honor of Saint Dominic de Guzmán, founder of the Order of Preachers. From its earliest days the community met in borrowed spaces — the Henry M. Flagler school auditorium, Fairlawn Elementary School, and a nearby Ukrainian church — before acquiring and renovating the former National Children's Cardiac Home in 1963 as a permanent rectory, classrooms, and worship space. In 1968 the closure of the downtown Miami Dominican Monastery brought its friars to St. Dominic, forming the current priory. In 1980 pastoral responsibility passed from the Spanish Dominicans to the newly formed Dominican Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres in the United States. A capital campaign launched in 1979 produced the larger church dedicated on March 15, 1981. Today St. Dominic is a primarily Hispanic, bilingual parish that traces over six decades of continuous Dominican ministry.
- 1962 — Parish founded by Spanish Dominican friars
- 1963 — First permanent site (former National Children's Cardiac Home) renovated and dedicated
- 1968 — Downtown Miami Dominican friars relocate to St. Dominic, forming the priory
- 1971 — Statue and shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary added
- 1979 — Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy lays cornerstone of new church
- 1981 — Larger church dedicated on March 15
- 1980 — Pastoral care transferred to Dominican Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres
- 2011 — Archbishop Thomas Wenski consecrates new stone altar
Dominican Identity & Heritage
St. Dominic is one of the few Catholic parishes in South Florida entrusted to the Order of Preachers (Dominicans). The parish is staffed by friars of the Dominican Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres, one of four Dominican provinces in the United States. Dominican spirituality — centered on preaching, the rosary, study, community, and the communion of saints — shapes the parish's devotional life, including the prominent Our Lady of the Rosary shrine and the active Dominican Laity fraternities in both English and Spanish.
- Only Catholic church in South Florida named for Saint Dominic de Guzmán
- Staffed by the Dominican Southern Province of St. Martin de Porres since 1980
- Active Dominican Laity (English) and Dominicos Laicos (Spanish) fraternities
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish runs an ongoing religious education program for children (CCD) and the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A. / Catecumenado) for those seeking to become Catholic or complete their sacraments. RCIA sessions begin with the 9:30 AM Sunday Mass, with the formation gathering from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM in the Parish Hall.
- CCD — religious education for children
- R.C.I.A. / Catecumenado — Sundays, beginning with 9:30 AM Mass; formation 11:00 AM–12:00 PM in the Parish Hall
- Sacramental preparation for First Communion, Confirmation, and adult initiation
Parish Groups, Movements & Lay Fraternities
St. Dominic hosts one of the most extensive lay-movement calendars in the Archdiocese of Miami, with most groups meeting in the 'Old Church' (Iglesia Vieja), the Parish Hall, or Classroom #1. The parish is home to the first Acción Católica group established in the United States.
- Youth Group (ages 13–17): Fridays 8:00 PM, Old Church
- Young Adults Group (18+): 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Sundays, 8:00 PM, Old Church
- Grupo de Emaús (women): Thursdays 8:00 PM, Old Church
- Grupo de Emaús (men): Thursdays 8:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Grupo de Oración Carismático: Tuesdays 8:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Legión de María: Fridays 8:00 AM — Rosary and Mass in the Chapel
- Grupo de Rosario Perpetuo: First Sunday of the month, 3:00 PM, Chapel
- Cursillos de Cristiandad: Tuesdays 8:00 PM, Classroom #1
- Horizontes de Cristiandad: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 10:15 AM–12:00 PM, Old Church
- Dominican Laity (English): 4th Saturday of the month, 10:00 AM, Classroom #1
- Dominicos Laicos (Spanish): 4th Saturday of the month, 4:00 PM, Classroom #1
- Acción Católica (aspirants and adults): Saturdays and Sundays, 10:00 AM–12:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Cenáculo de la Divina Misericordia: 2nd and 3rd Fridays, 8:00 PM, Chapel
- PAC — Por Amor a Cristo: Thursdays 7:00 PM
- Ministerio Juan XXIII: Last Sunday of the month, 2:15 PM, Chapel
Music Ministry & Liturgical Service
Music plays a central role in St. Dominic's worship life. The parish supports both traditional choral groups and 'show choirs' that lead congregational singing at weekend and feast-day Masses. Lay liturgical ministers — lectors (Ministers of the Word) and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Ministers of the Eucharist) — serve at every Mass.
- Choral and show-choir ensembles
- Ministers of the Word (Lectors)
- Ministers of the Eucharist (Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion)
Pastoral Staff
The parish is currently served by a team of Dominican friars. The Archdiocese of Miami directory lists three priests in residence: the pastor and two parochial vicars. The parish office is staffed Monday through Friday during business hours and can be reached by phone, fax, or email.
- Fr. Orlando Cardozo, O.P. — Pastor
- Fr. Mariano D. Veliz, O.P. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Andrew Carlos Del Valle, O.P. — Parochial Vicar
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–12:00 PM and 2:00 PM–5:00 PM
Visiting & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors and newcomers. The main office is open Monday through Friday, and Mass is celebrated throughout the week in English, Spanish, and bilingual format. The parish participates in the annual Archbishop's Charities & Development Drive (ACDD) of the Archdiocese of Miami.
- Address: 5909 NW 7th Street, Miami, FL 33126
- Phone: (305) 264-0181
- Email: [email protected]
- Archdiocese: Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami (West Dade Deanery)
- Map and directions available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Angel Viscarra, O.P.
First pastor of record (founding Dominican friars from Spain, 1962).
- Fr. Isidoro Vicente, O.P.
Early pastor during the Spanish Dominican era.
- Fr. Restituto Perez, O.P.
Early pastor during the Spanish Dominican era.
- Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, O.P.1986–1993
First pastor of the Southern Dominican Province era.
- Fr. Jorge Presmanez, O.P.1993–2003
- Fr. Alberto Rodriguez, O.P.2003–2015
Returned for a second term.
- Fr. Eduardo Logiste, O.P.2015–2025
- Fr. Orlando Cardozo, O.P.2025–present
Current pastor; succession of Dominican pastoral leadership continued.