About St. John the Apostle · Hialeah, Florida
St. John the Apostle is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Hialeah, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded in 1945 to serve the growing Hialeah–Miami Springs community, the parish has long identified with the Beloved Disciple and the Mother of the Savior, leading all to Christ and proclaiming the Good News. Since August 2023 the parish has been served by the Piarist Fathers (Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of Pious Schools), with Rev. Luis A. Cruz, Sch.P. as pastor and Rev. Felix Ganuza, Sch.P. as parochial vicar. It runs a K-8 Catholic school, a robust religious education program (CCD and OCIA/RCIA), and a wide directory of Spanish- and English-language ministries serving a predominantly Cuban-American flock.
- Established
- 1945
- Patron
- St. John the Apostle (the Beloved Disciple)
- Rector
- Rev. Luis A. Cruz, Sch.P.
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. John the Apostle welcomes newcomers in both English and Spanish and is deeply rooted in nearly 80 years of Catholic life in Hialeah. A parishioner can grow here through a strong CCD program, OCIA/RCIA for adults, a Catholic school, dozens of prayer groups (charismatic prayer, Divine Mercy Cenacle, Cursillos, Rosary, Caballeros Católicos, Damas de Santa Teresa), and concrete service through the St. Vincent de Paul food distribution and a Pro-Life ministry. With daily Mass, extended Eucharistic Adoration, and a tight-knit Cuban-American and multicultural community that calls itself 'One Heart, One Faith, One Church,' it is a parish where families can pray, learn, serve and belong across generations.
Mass times at St. John the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday, 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM — Bilingual, in the Parish Office (by appointment)
- Saturday, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM — Bilingual, in the Chapel
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 7:30 PM — Chapel
- Saturday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM — Chapel
- Second Saturday of the month, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM — Spanish Church (prayers, songs, praise)
Our Parish
St. John the Apostle is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Hialeah, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami. Its stated mission is to proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ together, deepening its relationship with God and one another through prayer, the Eucharist, Scripture study, education, and community life. The parish describes itself as 'a welcoming and loving community rooted in the gospels,' valuing every human being with dignity and self-worth, and inviting all to become registered members. Its motto — 'One Heart, One Faith, One Church' — reflects its aspiration to lead all to Christ and proclaim the Good News, following the example of the Beloved Disciple from whom the parish takes its name.
- Parish Staff: Rev. Luis A. Cruz, Sch.P. (Pastor); Rev. Felix Ganuza, Sch.P. (Parochial Vicar); Ms. Hilda Bonet (Accounting); Mrs. María de la Caridad Sánchez (Parish Secretary); Mr. Henry Mariña (Bulletin and Webmaster)
- Patron: St. John the Apostle, the 'beloved disciple'
- Motto: 'One Heart, One Faith, One Church'
- Language: Bilingual — English and Spanish
Our History
The story of St. John the Apostle begins in 1941, when a small group of Hialeah–Miami Springs residents began meeting to organize prayer and eventually build a Catholic church and school. In February 1942 they were leasing the Palm Theater for Sunday morning Mass at 9:30 AM. Three years later, in November 1945, Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley appointed Fr. Lawrence J. Flynn to formally establish the new parish. A ten-acre tract on East Fourth Avenue was purchased; groundbreaking for the school, chapel-auditorium, rectory and convent took place in February 1949, with the Sisters of Mercy from Philadelphia staffing the school. The parish grew rapidly under a succession of Irish, American, Cuban and Spanish priests, who between them built the present church (consecrated 1963, with a then-novel outdoor Baptistery), added the marble presbytery and baptismal font during the 1982 'Parish Renewal,' and — most recently — welcomed the Piarist Fathers in August 2023.
- 1941 — Hialeah–Miami Springs residents begin organizing
- February 1942 — First Sunday Mass at the Palm Theater, 9:30 AM
- November 1945 — Parish established by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley; Fr. Lawrence J. Flynn first pastor
- February 1949 — Groundbreaking for school, chapel-auditorium, rectory, convent
- January 22, 1950 — Bishop Thomas J. McDonough blesses and dedicates the school complex
- February 8, 1952 — Fr. Flynn dies; Fr. James Nelan becomes administrator
- October 1952 — Fr. Peter Reilly appointed second pastor
- March 1960 — Fr. James Connaughton begins pastorate, launches Tithing Program
- 1963 — New church consecrated (1,200 seats; first church in the area with Baptistery outside the building)
- 1969 — Fr. Thomas J. Rynne becomes fourth pastor
- 1982 — Fr. Paul Vuturo launches 'Parish Renewal'; marble presbytery and font built
- 1986 — Fr. George García, a Cuban priest, becomes sixth pastor
- June 16, 1992 — Fr. Emilio Martín (Spain) appointed seventh pastor
- 2010 — Msgr. Oscar Castañeda named pastor upon Fr. Martín's retirement
- August 2013 — Fr. Hector A. Pérez becomes pastor
- August 2023 — Piarist Fathers arrive: Fr. Luis A. Cruz, Sch.P. (pastor) and Fr. Felix Ganuza, Sch.P. (vicar)
Sacraments
Information and registration forms for the sacraments are available on the parish website; forms are filled out and returned in person to the parish office. The parish prepares children and adults for initiation and life milestones through its religious education program, OCIA/RCIA, and marriage preparation.
- Baptism / Bautismo
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RICA / RCIA)
- Marriage / Matrimonio
- Confirmation preparation (through Religious Education)
- Religious Education / CCD for children
Religious Education & Catholic School
Faith formation is central to parish life. The Religious Education program offers Catechism/CCD classes for children on Sundays at 9:30 AM in the school, and OCIA/RCIA for adults on Mondays at 7:00 PM in the school. The parish also operates St. John the Apostle Catholic School on the same East 4th Street campus, originally staffed by the Sisters of Mercy from Philadelphia, providing K-8 Catholic education as part of the parish's evangelizing mission.
- CCD / Catechism for children — Sundays, 9:30 AM, School
- OCIA / RICA for adults — Mondays, 7:00 PM, School Aula #1
- St. John the Apostle Catholic School (K-8) on the parish campus
- Religious Education Office phone: (305) 209-5036
- Annual Parent-Student Handbook published each year
Parish Ministries & Groups
The parish maintains an extensive directory of lay ministries and groups, organized in both English and Spanish. Liturgical roles (Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Music Ministry) are coordinated alongside formation groups, prayer communities, fraternal organizations, and outreach ministries such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Pro-Life Ministry. The parish also hosts the Movimiento Calasanz young-adult group led by one of the Piarist Fathers.
- Liturgical: Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Music Ministry
- Formation & Prayer: OCIA/RCIA, Catechism, Cenáculo de la Divina Misericordia, Grupo de Oración Carismático 'Dios es Amor', Cursillos de Cristiandad, Rosario de la Aurora
- Fraternal & Community: Caballeros Católicos (1st & 3rd Wed, 7 PM), Damas de Santa Teresa (2nd & 4th Sun, 10:30 AM), Hispanic American Apostolate
- Outreach: St. Vincent de Paul Society (food distribution), Pro-Life Ministry
- Young Adults: Movimiento Calasanz (Wednesdays 7:30–9:00 PM) with P. Ricardo Rivera, Sch.P.
- Parish Festival committee
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office by phone, fax, email, or in person during regular office hours. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. An after-hours emergency line is provided for pastoral emergencies such as anointing of the sick.
- Address: 475 East 4th Street, Hialeah, FL 33010
- Phone: (305) 888-9769
- Fax: (305) 888-9341
- Email: [email protected]
- Emergency: (786) 227-7513
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Facebook: facebook.com/sjahialeah/
Stewardship & Parish Identity
The parish teaches that becoming a disciple of Christ leads naturally to the practice of stewardship — putting God's priorities before our own by sharing the gifts of time, talent and treasure. The parish's vision statement ties this directly to its identity as 'home of the beloved disciple and the Mother of our Savior,' calling the community to lead all to Christ and proclaim the Good News, living out 'One Heart, One Faith, One Church.'
- Mission: Proclaim and live the Gospel of Jesus Christ together
- Stewardship of time, talent and treasure
- Motto: 'One Heart, One Faith, One Church'
- Bilingual welcome in English and Spanish
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Lawrence J. Flynn1945 – Feb 8, 1952
Founding pastor, appointed by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley of St. Augustine; died in office.
- Rev. James Nelan1952
Succeeded as Administrator after Fr. Flynn's death.
- Rev. Peter ReillyOct 1952 – 1959
Young Irish priest appointed second pastor.
- Rev. James ConnaughtonMar 1960 – 1968
Introduced the Tithing Program; led campaign for new church; church consecrated 1963.
- Rev. Thomas J. Rynne1969 – ~1981
Irish priest; fourth pastor.
- Rev. Paul Vuturo1982 – 1985
Fifth pastor; launched 'Parish Renewal' and built the marble presbytery and baptismal font.
- Rev. George García1986 – 1992
Cuban priest; sixth pastor; implemented new spiritual programs.
- Rev. Emilio MartínJun 16, 1992 – 2010
Spanish priest; seventh pastor; had earlier served as associate in 1964 and 1968.
- Msgr. Oscar Castañeda2010 – 2013
Named pastor upon Fr. Martín's retirement.
- Rev. Hector A. PérezAug 2013 – Jul 2023
Led the parish for a decade before the Piarists arrived.
- Rev. Luis A. Cruz, Sch.P.Aug 2023 – present
First Piarist pastor (Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of Pious Schools).
- Rev. Felix Ganuza, Sch.P.Aug 2023 – present
Piarist parochial vicar, arriving together with Fr. Cruz.