About St. Juliana · West Palm Beach, Florida
St. Juliana Catholic Church is a vibrant, multicultural Roman Catholic parish in West Palm Beach, Florida, belonging to the Diocese of Palm Beach. Founded in 1950 by Rev. Patrick D. O'Brien, the parish is celebrating its Diamond Jubilee (75th Anniversary) in 2026 alongside a renewed sanctuary. The parish celebrates the liturgy in English and Spanish, serving a community shaped since the 1960s by an influx of Cuban exiles and other Spanish-speaking families. Today St. Juliana worships at 4500 South Dixie Highway, runs a parish school (the Shamrocks), and offers faith formation for children and adults through the Order of Christian Initiation, Confirmation prep, and a PreK–Grade 1 program.
- Established
- 1950
- Patron
- St. Juliana
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Ducasse François
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach (since 1984; previously Diocese of Miami 1958–1984, originally Diocese of St. Augustine)
Why belong here
St. Juliana is a bilingual English-Spanish parish that celebrates nine weekend Masses, runs a thriving Catholic elementary school (the Shamrocks), and offers year-round faith formation for children, youth, and adults — including sacramental preparation and the Order of Christian Initiation (RCIA/OCIA) in both languages. Under the pastoral leadership of Fr. Ducasse François and a team of three deacons, the parish combines a long Palm Beach Catholic tradition (since 1950) with an energetic multicultural community life, social outreach directed by Deacon Miguel Muñoz, and live-streamed Sunday Masses that keep homebound parishioners connected.
Mass times at St. Juliana
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:15 PM – 4:15 PM
- By appointment: call (561) 833-9745 for any other day or time
Welcome & About St. Juliana
Located in the heart of West Palm Beach on South Dixie Highway, St. Juliana Catholic Church is a vibrant, multicultural parish community united by the Holy Eucharist. Whether you are a lifelong Catholic, new to the area, or simply seeking a spiritual home, the parish opens its doors to all under the leadership of pastor Rev. Fr. Ducasse François. The parish celebrates the liturgy in English and Spanish, reflecting the diversity of the Universal Church and the heritage of the Cuban-exile community that has shaped West Palm Beach since the 1960s.
- Parish address: 4500 South Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
- Phone: (561) 833-9745
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Ducasse François
Parish History — 75 Years of Faith
The parish was established in 1950 by founding pastor Rev. Patrick D. O'Brien, who first celebrated Sunday Masses at the Carefree Theatre on Dixie Highway, where parishioners knelt on the hard floor between seats — a memory Father O'Brien preserved with the joke that they were at 'St. Carefree Church.' The 12-acre campus was broken ground on April 22, 1951, and the Romanesque church, school, and convent were dedicated by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley on December 8, 1951. Over 75 years the parish has welcomed waves of new Catholic families — particularly Cuban exiles in the 1960s — and grown from a small mission into a thriving multicultural home for thousands of families.
- 1950 — Parish founded by Rev. Patrick D. O'Brien (the 'St. Carefree' era)
- April 22, 1951 — Groundbreaking on the 12-acre property
- December 8, 1951 — Dedication of church, school, and convent by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley
- January 8, 1952 — St. Juliana School opens with 102 children; Sisters of St. Joseph staff the school
- 1958 — Becomes part of the newly formed Diocese of Miami
- March 29, 1960 — Two-story school wing blessed by Msgr. Jeremiah P. O'Mahoney
- 1960s — Welcomes Spanish-speaking families, especially Cuban exiles
- 1976 — Silver Jubilee with Apostolic Blessing telegram from Pope Paul VI
- 1984 — Becomes part of the newly formed Diocese of Palm Beach
- January 16, 2005 — Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito rededicates the church
- January 10, 2026 — Diamond Jubilee inauguration of the renewed sanctuary
Architecture & Sanctuary Renewal
The original church was designed in the Romanesque style under the foresight of the second pastor, Rev. John Francis McKeown, and remains a defining feature of the campus today. For the 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee, the sanctuary was renovated and inaugurated on Saturday, January 10, 2026. The renewal highlights the theology of nine-star ceiling panels and palm branches surrounding the Lamb of God, drawing parishioners into a renewed encounter with the Eucharistic mystery at the heart of parish life.
- Romanesque style chosen by Fr. John Francis McKeown (1951)
- Nine-star ceiling panels in the renewed sanctuary
- Palm branches surrounding the Lamb of God
Clergy & Parish Staff
St. Juliana is shepherded by a bilingual clergy team of three priests and deacons, supported by a parish staff who direct faith formation, music, social outreach, and parish operations. Deacon Miguel Muñoz — a Religious Brother for 44 years before his 2008 ordination and a pillar of the parish since 1991 — directs Social Ministries, while Deacon Martin Serraes and Deacon Mario Neyra round out the diaconate. Mrs. Jacqueline Moyeno leads Faith Formation, with Mrs. Cynthia S. Flores assisting; Mrs. Griselda Vazquez serves as Office Manager and Ministry Coordinator; Darren Matias directs music; and Tania Kelly is the office receptionist.
- Pastor: Rev. Fr. Ducasse François
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Maximinio Matos Sánchez
- Deacon Miguel Muñoz — Director of Social Ministries (since 1991)
- Deacon Martin Serraes
- Deacon Mario Neyra
- Mrs. Jacqueline Moyeno — Director of Faith Formation
- Mrs. Cynthia S. Flores — Faith Formation Assistant
- Mrs. Griselda Vazquez — Office Manager & Ministry Coordinator
- Darren Matias — Music Director
- Tania Kelly — Office Receptionist
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Office of Faith Formation promotes lifelong formation for children, youth, and adults, offering courses, catechetical certification through the Diocese of Palm Beach, and retreats in both English and Spanish. Catechists are all certified by the Diocese, background-checked, and Virtus-trained; 'Protecting God's Children' (Virtus) is offered for all children and teens during the year.
- PreK–Grade 1 program: building blocks of faith with prayer, song, and Gospel activities
- Sacramental Preparation (Baptism, First Reconciliation, First Eucharist, Confirmation)
- RCIA/OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation for Adults
- RCIA adapted for Children and Teens
- RCIA with Marriage Communication
Saint Juliana Catholic School
Saint Juliana Catholic School, located next to the parish at 4355 South Olive Avenue, has been educating students in mind, body, and spirit since opening its doors on January 8, 1952. The school — known as the Home of the Shamrocks — cultivates Catholic faith, gospel values, and academic excellence, and offers extracurriculars such as the Chess Club and Gardening Club. Applications open February 1 each year, and families can call the school office to schedule a tour.
- Address: 4355 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33405
- Phone: (561) 655-1922
- Mascot: Shamrocks
- Originally staffed by the Sisters of St. Joseph
- Extracurriculars include Chess Club and Gardening Club
Social Ministries & Outreach
Parish social outreach is directed by Deacon Miguel Muñoz, who has served the St. Juliana community since 1991 and was ordained in 2008 after attending St. Vincent de Paul Seminary. Originally from Sancti Spíritus, Cuba, he considers the parishioners his family and enjoys spending time with his birds and dog when not serving. The parish also partners with the Diocese of Palm Beach in humanitarian-aid efforts.
- Director of Social Ministries: Deacon Miguel Muñoz
- Deacon Miguel with the parish community since 1991; ordained 2008
- Diocese of Palm Beach humanitarian-aid partnership
Youth, Scouting & World Youth Day
St. Juliana has long invested in the faith formation of its young people. The parish's scouting units, Cub Scout Pack 137 and Troop 137, earned the Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition for achieving the aims and goals of Catholic scouting. Today the parish youth ministry also coordinates pilgrimages to World Youth Day — the next trip will take parishioners to Seoul, South Korea, August 1–10, 2027, with round-trip airfare, 4-star accommodations, and meals included in the package.
- Cub Scout Pack 137 and Troop 137 — Pope Paul VI National Unit Recognition
- World Youth Day Seoul, South Korea — August 1–10, 2027
- Coordinator: Griselda Vazquez (text 561-452-0733 / [email protected])
Music & Liturgy
Music at St. Juliana is directed by Music Director Darren Matias, who leads the parish choir and supports the sung liturgy across the parish's nine weekend Masses in English and Spanish. The music ministry enriches the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that the parish describes as the center of its community life.
- Music Director: Darren Matias
- Liturgies in English and Spanish
Stay Connected
Parishioners can keep up with St. Juliana through live-streamed Sunday Masses (9:00 AM English and 10:30 AM Spanish on Facebook and YouTube @StJulianaCatholicChurch), the parish website at stjulianawpb.com, weekly bulletins, the parish calendar, and registration for those wishing to make St. Juliana their spiritual home.
- Live Masses on Facebook and YouTube @StJulianaCatholicChurch
- Website: https://stjulianawpb.com
- Parish registration available through the website
- Parish bulletins published weekly
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Patrick D. O'Brien1950–
Founding pastor; celebrated the first Masses at the Carefree Theatre on Dixie Highway, jokingly calling it 'St. Carefree Church'.
- Rev. John Francis McKeown
Second pastor; turned the first shovel at the groundbreaking on April 22, 1951, and pushed to design the buildings in the Romanesque style.
- Rev. George Bucko
Led the 1959–1960 expansion; a new two-story school wing was blessed on March 29, 1960 by Msgr. Jeremiah P. O'Mahoney.
- Msgr. William F. McKeever
Guided the parish through its next chapter of growth.
- Rev. Fr. Ducasse Françoispresent
Current pastor; leading the parish through its 75th Anniversary Diamond Jubilee and renewed sanctuary.