About St. Joachim · Miami, Florida
St. Joachim Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in South Miami Heights, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami (South Dade Deanery). Founded on June 22, 1972, it serves a community that is approximately 80 percent Hispanic and 20 percent Caribbean, Anglo, and African American. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, with a full schedule of weekday and weekend Masses, plus weekday adoration and Saturday confessions. Today it is pastored by Msgr. Roberto Garza, with Fr. Gustavo Barros serving as Parochial Vicar.
- Established
- 1972
- Patron
- St. Joachim
- Rector
- Msgr. Roberto Garza
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (South Dade Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Joachim is a warm, bilingual parish family in South Miami Heights that welcomes Catholics of every background — about 80 percent Hispanic and 20 percent Caribbean, Anglo, and African American. It offers a full sacramental life (daily Mass in English and Spanish, Saturday confessions, weekday Eucharistic Adoration, RCIA, and a Children's Faith Formation program from age 4 through Confirmation), along with a rich network of lay groups such as the Sisters in Christ women's club, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Legion of Mary, EMMAUS men's and women's groups, Cursillo, prayer and praise, the Neocatechumenal Way, and a youth group. Families can also connect through the Guardian Angel pre-school and outreach to low-income families in south Miami-Dade.
Mass times at St. Joachim
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Bilingual)
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Friday 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
About St. Joachim Parish
Saint Joachim Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in South Miami Heights, Miami, Florida, in the South Dade Deanery of the Archdiocese of Miami. The parish's bilingual community gathers for Mass in English and Spanish and runs a wide variety of pastoral groups and outreach programs. Its current pastor is Msgr. Roberto Garza, with Fr. Gustavo Barros serving as Parochial Vicar.
- Founded June 22, 1972
- Archdiocese of Miami, South Dade Deanery
- Approximately 80% Hispanic and 20% Caribbean, Anglo and African American
- Pastor: Msgr. Roberto Garza
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Gustavo Barros
Parish History
St. Joachim was founded on June 22, 1972, when Father Emilio Martin and a small group of faithful began celebrating Mass in English and Spanish at Caribbean Elementary Public School and then in a nearby shopping center, gradually raising the funds to construct the present church. The parish has grown through five pastorates and has endured and rebuilt after major hardships such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
- 1972: Parish founded; Masses first in Caribbean Elementary Public School, then in a shopping center
- 1972–1992: Founding pastor Father Emilio Martin
- 1992–1995: Father Antonio Silio — opened church as a supply center after Hurricane Andrew; created 'Operation Hope'
- 1995–2001: Father Jesus Saldaña — expanded pastoral groups as the parish grew
- 2001–2010: Father Jesus Arias — opened Guardian Angel pre-school and programs for low-income families
- Current: Msgr. Roberto Garza (Pastor), Fr. Gustavo Barros (Parochial Vicar)
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Children's Faith Formation program welcomes all students aged 4 through the year of Confirmation. Students preparing for First Communion or Confirmation are required to be enrolled for two consecutive years prior to receiving the sacrament. Registration for the 2025–2026 school year opened online in advance of the September 2, 2025 start of classes, and continuing formation classes are available for children in 1st through 6th grade who are already baptized Catholics and have made their First Communion.
- Children's Faith Formation for ages 4 through Confirmation
- Continuing Faith Formation for 1st–6th graders (already baptized and in Communion)
- Two consecutive years of preparation required for First Communion and Confirmation
- Classes begin September 2, 2025
- Faith Formation office: 11740 SW 192nd St, Miami, FL 33177
RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
St. Joachim's RICA (Rito de la Iniciación Cristiana de Adultos) is the parish's process for welcoming adults into full sacramental life in the Catholic Church. The Spanish-language group meets on Monday evenings, beginning with Holy Mass, and is coordinated by Martha and Francisco García. The formation process begins each fall and culminates at the Easter Vigil, when candidates who have committed to becoming Catholic are initiated through Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist.
- RICA meets Monday evenings, starting with Holy Mass
- Contact: Martha or Francisco García, 305-233-1278
- Process begins in the fall each year
- Catechumens baptized, confirmed, and receive First Eucharist at the Easter Vigil
- Welcomes the unbaptized, Christians seeking full communion, Catholics baptized as infants needing Confirmation/Eucharist, and couples seeking sacramental marriage validation
Pastoral Groups & Ministries
St. Joachim's long-running pastoral groups form the heart of parish life for its Spanish- and English-speaking members. Programs span spiritual formation, men's and women's fellowship, charity, prayer, and evangelization.
- Sisters in Christ women's club
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Legion of Mary
- Youth group
- Prayer and Praise
- RCIA
- EMMAUS Women's
- EMMAUS Men's
- Cursillo
- Religious Education program
- Neocatechumenal Way
Outreach & Charitable Works
Outreach has been central to St. Joachim since Hurricane Andrew in 1992, when then-pastor Father Antonio Silio turned the church into a major supply center and founded 'Operation Hope' for pastoral and social services. Father Jesus Arias later launched the Guardian Angel pre-school and programs for low-income families that continue the parish's tradition of service to the South Miami Heights community.
- Operation Hope — pastoral and social services (founded after Hurricane Andrew)
- Guardian Angel pre-school
- Programs for low-income families
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and provides preparation for each. Reconciliation is available on Saturday afternoons; parishioners can contact the parish office for information on Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, Marriage preparation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.
- Baptism
- Communion
- Confirmation
- Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Matrimony
- Holy Orders
Visit & Contact
The parish welcomes visitors and new parishioners. The church's Parish Center is on SW 117th Avenue in the 33177 ZIP code, with a separate Parish Office on SW 192nd Street used in part for Faith Formation.
- Parish Center: 19150 SW 117th Ave, Miami, FL 33177 — (305) 233-1278
- Parish Office: 11740 SW 192 St, Miami, FL 33177
- Website: saintjoachimmiami.org
- Archdiocese parish page: miamiarch.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Emilio Martin1972–1992
Founding pastor; led the small, hard-working community that raised funds to build the church.
- Father Antonio Silio1992–1995
Opened the church as a supply center after Hurricane Andrew; created 'Operation Hope' for pastoral and social services.
- Father Jesus Saldaña1995–2001
Created more pastoral groups as the parish grew.
- Father Jesus Arias2001–2010
Developed more space for the growing community; founded the 'Guardian Angel' pre-school and programs for low-income families; reassigned to Good Shepherd, Miami, in October 2010.
- Msgr. Roberto Garza
Current pastor.