About St. Kieran · Miami, Florida
St. Kieran Catholic Church is a bilingual (English/Spanish) parish of the Archdiocese of Miami located at 3605 South Miami Avenue, just south of Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and adjacent to Mercy Hospital. Founded in 1967, the parish serves the growing Mary Brickell Village and Brickell corridor as well as the residential neighborhoods between US1 and Biscayne Bay, from the Miami River south to SW 22nd Avenue. The parish is home to a 24-hour Perpetual Adoration chapel and runs a wide range of ministries serving about 900 worshipers each Sunday. It is currently pastored by Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP, a Schoenstatt Father appointed by Archbishop Thomas Wenski in 2019.
- Established
- 1967
- Patron
- St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise
- Rector
- Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Kieran is a vibrant, bilingual Catholic parish in the heart of the Brickell and Coconut Grove neighborhoods, offering the richness of both English and Spanish Masses every day of the week. The parish is home to a rare 24-hour Perpetual Adoration chapel, an active Music Ministry, Young Adult community (Domus Lux), and outreach through the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Respect Life, and a Cooking for the Homeless program. With roughly 900 people worshiping together each Sunday, St. Kieran offers the intimacy of a neighborhood parish along with the energy of one of Miami's fastest-growing corridors.
Mass times at St. Kieran
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel — 24/7 visible through the Blessed Sacrament Chapel display window
- In-person adoration in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel — Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Praise and Worship with Benediction — First Fridays at 8:00 PM in the Church (organized by the Young Adult Community)
History of St. Kieran Parish
St. Kieran was established in 1967 when Bishop Coleman Carroll issued the formal document erecting the parish on October 31, 1967, to its first pastor, Fr. Martin Cassidy. The boundaries were carved out of the Gesu Church and Saints Peter and Paul Church territories, forming an L-shape along Biscayne Bay from SW 22nd Avenue to the Miami River and inland to Coral Way. In its early years the young community worshipped in borrowed spaces — the Assumption Academy chapel (now St. Jude Melkite Church) and the Immaculata-LaSalle High School auditorium — before finally building its permanent church on South Miami Avenue. The church was dedicated by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy on December 8, 1979, while Fr. Daniel Barrett was pastor. Salesian priests then staffed the parish from 1984 to 2005, after which archdiocesan priests resumed as pastors. The parish was named in honor of St. Kieran, the 6th-century Irish monk who founded the monastery of Clonmacnoise, a celebrated center of medieval learning — though there is a second tradition that the name honors Sister Kieran O'Keeffe, who cared for Bishop Carroll at Mercy Hospital during the parish's founding. Today about 750 families are enrolled with average Sunday attendance of around 900.
- Founded October 31, 1967 by Bishop Coleman Carroll
- First pastor: Fr. Martin Cassidy
- Church dedicated December 8, 1979 by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy
- Stafed by Salesian priests 1984–2005
- Patron: St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise; feast day celebrated on a Sunday in mid-October
Parish Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP, a Schoenstatt Father born in Cuba and raised in Miami who was appointed Parochial Administrator on July 15, 2019 by Archbishop Thomas Wenski. He is supported by three priests in residence and a dedicated lay staff including parish secretary Lucy Arrom, sacramental records coordinator Lourdes Bujan, bookkeeper Rosa Alvarez, religious education coordinator Elisa Castro, head sacristan Marta Fernandez, liturgical music coordinator Edgar Botta, organist Jonathan Arce, bulletin editor Maria Otero, social media and live stream coordinator Jose Luis Valderrama, housekeeper Amparo Burke, and maintenance staff Rafael Hernandez.
- Pastor: Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP (since 2019)
- In Residence: Fr. J. Sterling Laurent, Fr. Carlos Cabrera, Fr. Jose Luis Zabala
- Parish Secretary: Lucy Arrom
- Religious Education: Elisa Castro
- Music: Edgar Botta (Liturgical Music Coordinator), Jonathan Arce (Organist)
- Pastoral Council contact: Jenny Garcia-Junco (786) 712-6489
Pastor — Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP
Fr. Jesus Ferras was born in Cuba and raised in Miami. He is himself an alumnus of LaSalle High School, and was ordained a priest in 2004 for the Schoenstatt Fathers (ISP). He holds a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, and is pursuing graduate studies in Theology at Saint Thomas University in Miami. His ministry has included serving as parish priest at Santa Rosa de lo Barnechea in Santiago, Chile; Associate Director of the Youth and Young Adult office for the Diocese of Austin; Campus Ministry at the University of Texas at Austin for the Schoenstatt Movement; and Rector of the Marian Shrine of Schoenstatt in Austin. Archbishop Thomas Wenski appointed him Parochial Administrator — and later Pastor — of St. Kieran Catholic Church and chaplain at Immaculata-LaSalle High School on July 15, 2019.
- Ordained 2004 for the Schoenstatt Fathers (ISP)
- Pastor of St. Kieran since July 15, 2019
- Also serves as chaplain at Immaculata-LaSalle High School
Parish Councils
St. Kieran is guided by both a Finance Council and a Pastoral Council. The Finance Council is an advisory group that supports the pastor in decisions related to stewardship of the parish's temporal assets, drawing on members' expertise in financial accounting, banking, business operations, and facility management. The Pastoral Council is a consultative body of parishioners who advise the pastor on the spiritual and communal needs of the parish, helping the community meet its God-given mission. Members are appointed by the pastor through a discernment process for renewable three-year terms.
- Finance Council members include Jenny Garcia-Junco and Peter Forand
- Pastoral Council led by Jenny Garcia-Junco (786) 712-6489
- Parishioners interested in serving are encouraged to contact the pastor
Ministries For You
St. Kieran offers a wide range of ministries for parishioners of every age and stage of life. The Music Ministry leads the congregation in song at Mass in both English and Spanish. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist assist with distributing Holy Communion at Mass and bringing the Eucharist to the homebound and those in nursing homes. Lectors proclaim the Word of God, Altar Servers assist the priest at the altar, and Caretakers of God's House prepare the sacred vessels, arrange flowers, care for linens, and tidy the church and sacristy. The Young Adult Ministry — known as Domus Lux — engages parishioners in their 20s and 30s with spiritual, social, cultural, and service activities.
- Music Ministry (English: Isabel Tucen 786-991-6268; Spanish: Fireley Silva 305-527-0967)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist (Roxana O'Neill 305-904-0259)
- Young Adult Ministry Domus Lux (Isa Sierra 305-927-2377 / Bruno Gil 786-674-2880)
- Caretakers of God's House (Marta Fernandez 305-775-7583)
Faith Formation & Sacraments
St. Kieran's faith formation programs welcome Catholics at every stage. The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) accompanies those who are unbaptized, baptized Christians seeking full communion, and baptized Catholics wishing to complete their sacraments of initiation through First Eucharist and/or Confirmation. The Sacrament of Baptism is prepared for monthly through classes offered in both English and Spanish, with instruction for parents and godparents on the sacrament and the baptismal liturgy. A Marriage Preparation program supports engaged couples, and Religious Education for children is coordinated by Elisa Castro.
- RCIA — for adults seeking initiation; dates published in the parish bulletin
- Baptism Preparation — monthly classes in English and Spanish; contact Lucy Arrom (786) 254-2543
- Religious Education Coordinator: Elisa Castro
- Marriage Preparation available
Parish Identity & Outreach
St. Kieran self-describes as "Your Miami Brickell & Bay Heights Catholic Church," serving the growing Mary Brickell Village and Brickell corridor as well as the residential neighborhoods between US1 and Biscayne Bay, from the Miami River south to 22nd Avenue. The parish reaches beyond its walls through active apostolates including the St. Vincent de Paul Society, Respect Life, Legion of Mary, Cenaculo de María, Christian Family Movement, Cursillos, Friends of Jesus and Mary, and a Cooking for the Homeless ministry. The Stewardship Council promotes a Christ-centered way of life by encouraging parishioners to share their Time, Talent, and Treasure.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Respect Life
- Legion of Mary
- Cenaculo de María
- Christian Family Movement
- Cursillos
- Friends of Jesus and Mary
- Cooking for the Homeless
- Stewardship Council — contact Dania Rodriguez-Cuesta (305) 505-3186
Visit & Contact
Parishioners and visitors are warmly welcomed at 3605 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33133, located between Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Mercy Hospital. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The main phone line is (786) 254-2543 with fax (786) 254-2545. Parish secretary Lucy Arrom can assist with general inquiries and arrangements for Funeral Masses at (786) 254-2543.
- Address: 3605 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL 33133
- Phone: (786) 254-2543
- Fax: (786) 254-2545
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Parish Secretary: Lucy Arrom
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Martin Cassidy1967–
First pastor; received the formal document erecting the parish from Bishop Coleman Carroll on October 31, 1967.
- Fr. Daniel Barrett
Pastor at the time of the church's formal dedication on December 8, 1979, by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy.
- Salesian priests1984–2005
Stafed the parish for 21 years before withdrawing; archdiocesan priests resumed as pastors.
- Fr. Jesus Ferras, ISP2019–present
Appointed Parochial Administrator on July 15, 2019 by Archbishop Thomas Wenski; a Schoenstatt Father born in Cuba and raised in Miami.