About St. Kevin · Miami, Florida
St. Kevin Catholic Parish is a bilingual Catholic community in southwest Miami's Westchester neighborhood (12525 SW 42nd Street), serving over 5,000 registered families within the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded as a mission on August 23, 1963, the parish grew rapidly with the influx of Cuban immigrants in the 1970s and today offers Masses in both English and Spanish, alongside more than forty active ministries, a robust Religious Education program, and the affiliated St. Kevin Catholic School (PreK–8). The parish is sometimes described as a 'parish surrounded by water' — a reference to its location surrounded by canals and lakes in west Miami-Dade.
- Established
- 1963
- Patron
- St. Kevin (of Glendalough)
- Rector
- Rev. Jesús G. Saldaña
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Kevin is one of the largest and most active bilingual parishes in west Miami-Dade, with Masses offered daily in both English and Spanish to serve its culturally diverse Westchester community. With more than forty ministries — ranging from OCIA and Religious Education to the Legion of Mary, Emmaus retreats, Women's Guild, St. Mother Teresa Charity, and a vibrant Music Ministry — there is a place for every family to grow in faith and serve others. The parish also partners with St. Kevin Catholic School (PreK–8) to form children in the Catholic tradition from early childhood through confirmation.
Mass times at St. Kevin
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Every Thursday (time published in the parish bulletin / website schedule page)
Adoration times
- Sundays: 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM (Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament)
- First Fridays
History of St. Kevin Parish
Established in 1963, Saint Kevin mission was created to serve the faithful living anywhere west of Saint Brendan parish. With no permanent home, the mission held Daily Mass at the Concord Shopping Center and at the Crown Bowling Alley on Holy Days of Obligation, then moved into a two-story house used as a combined rectory, hall, and chapel. As the congregation grew, Mass shifted to the Concord Theater, where worshipers carried a plywood altar and other necessities in and out for each celebration. In 1968 plans were drawn up for a multi-purpose building, and a new 'church' (now the parish hall) was dedicated in 1971.
- Founded August 23, 1963
- Attained parish status after a large wave of Cuban immigration in the 1970s
- Late 1970s and early 1980s: construction of a new church, parish hall, rectory, and school
- Buildings damaged by Hurricane Andrew (1992) and Hurricane Irene (1999)
Parish Today
St. Kevin Catholic Parish in southwest Miami's Westchester neighborhood serves more than 5,000 registered families in the Archdiocese of Miami. The parish runs an active Religious Education program, supports St. Kevin Catholic School, and offers more than forty ministries that foster spiritual growth and serve the wider community. Mass is celebrated in both English and Spanish every day of the week.
Pastoral Team
The parish is led by a pastor, a parochial vicar, and two deacons, supported by lay ministry coordinators for Faith Formation, Music, Altar Serving, and more.
- Rev. Jesús G. Saldaña — Pastor
- Rev. Miguel Angel Blanco — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Juan Antonio Tupiza (listed on the Archdiocese of Miami parish page)
- Deacon Robert Dinsmore
- Deacon Michael Fresneda
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The Religious Education Program assists parents — the primary catechists — in providing continuous Catholic formation for their children who attend public or non-Catholic private schools. The program runs with the school year (September to May) and prepares children for the sacraments.
- Director of Religious Education: Mr. Daniel Mercado ([email protected])
- English Leader: Mr. Ivan Perez
- Spanish Leader: Mrs. Dania Jurado
- Youth Group Leader: Christian Rodriguez — 786-281-8397, [email protected]
OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults)
OCIA is the process by which adults receive the initiation sacraments — Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist (First Holy Communion) — and enter into full communion with the Catholic Church. Classes also serve as a way to learn more about the Catholic faith and become involved in the parish community.
Youth Group
The parish Youth Group is a ministry for young people ages 12 to 18 who want to discuss matters of the faith and participate in fun faith activities with their peers. After Confirmation through the Religious Education Program, teens are invited to continue nurturing their faith and deepening their relationship with Christ.
- Meets during the school year on Saturdays at 4:00 PM in the Parish Hall
- Leader: Christian Rodriguez (786-281-8397, [email protected])
Liturgical Ministries
Liturgical ministers serve the parish at Mass and other liturgies, exercising their roles in a proper and reverent manner. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council reminds us that participation in the liturgy is the right and duty of all the baptized.
- Lectors — proclaim the Word of God
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — distribute Communion and bring it to the sick and home-bound
- Ushers — promote a welcoming environment, take up the collection, distribute the bulletin
- Music Ministry — adult choir; Children's Music Ministry Choir for grades 2 and up
- Altar Servers — open to children in 4th grade and up who have made their First Holy Communion
- Liturgy coordinators: English — Deacon Robert Dinsmore; Spanish — Lorenzo Rodriguez (786-488-5714); Organist/Cantor — Maria de Lourdes Regalado (305-491-5818)
Service & Outreach
As the Body of Christ, all members of the Church are called to participate in works of charity as an essential response to our faith. Through these ministries, the parish reaches out to all members of the community so that they — and those served — can experience the transforming love of Christ.
- Women's Guild — supports the parish, runs the gift shop; President Lidia Peraza (786-520-9222)
- St. Mother Teresa Charity of St. Kevin Parish — assists the less fortunate with food and monetary donations; Ministry Coordinator Claudia Cordo (305-223-0633)
- Respect Life Ministry — promotes the sanctity and dignity of all human life in conjunction with the Archdiocesan Respect Life Office; Ministry Coordinator Enith Fajardo (786-231-7117)
Prayer & Spirituality
These ministries center on prayer and spirituality, providing opportunities for the faithful to foster growth in their personal spirituality and relationship with the Lord and to lead others to encounter His presence.
- Legion of Mary — lay apostolic ministry continuing the Church's mission of evangelization through Mary's intercession (English and Spanish); President Milena Solorzano (305-305-7451)
- Men's Emmaus — Fredy Gonzalez (305-962-7334)
- Women's Emmaus — Jacqueline Horta (305-606-4499)
- Rosario de la Aurora (Spanish) — 1st Saturday of the month, 6:30 AM, Chapel
- Cenáculo de la Rosa Mística — 13th of every month, 8:30 PM, Chapel
- Cenáculo de la Divina Misericordia — last Monday of every month, 8:30 PM, Chapel
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. The fruit of sacramental life is both personal and ecclesial — life for God in Christ Jesus for every one of the faithful, and an increase in charity and mission for the Church (CCC 1131, 1134).
- Baptism
- Eucharist / First Communion
- Confirmation (teen preparation via Religious Education; adult preparation via OCIA)
- Reconciliation
- Anointing of the Sick
- Holy Orders
- Matrimony
St. Kevin Catholic School
St. Kevin Catholic School opened its doors in August 1980 and became fully accredited in April. Located at 4001 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33175, it serves students in PreK through 8th grade and is the parish's partner in Catholic education, assisting parents in educating the child spiritually, intellectually, socially, emotionally, and physically while embracing each student's God-given talents. The school has launched programs including EXCEL, EXCEL Plus, and Little Shamrockers (an 18-month to two-year-old learning center), and in 2009 was the first Catholic elementary school to join the Fairchild Challenge.
- Address: 4001 SW 127th Avenue, Miami, FL 33175
- Grades: PreK–8
- Enrollment: approximately 694–697 students
- Open admission policy; accepts Florida Tax Credit, Family Empowerment Scholarship–Educational Options, and Family Empowerment Scholarship–Unique Abilities
Contact & Visit
The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, and staff are happy to assist with Mass intentions, sacramental preparation, ministry sign-ups, and general inquiries.
- Address: 12525 SW 42nd Street, Miami, FL 33175
- Telephone: (305) 223-0633
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–7:00 PM
- Parish is part of the West Dade Deanery in the Archdiocese of Miami