About St. Lawrence · North Miami Beach, Florida
St. Lawrence Catholic Church is a parish of the Archdiocese of Miami located at 2200 NE 191st Street in the Ojus area of North Miami Beach, Florida, founded on September 24, 1956 to serve Catholics of North Miami Beach and Aventura. It operates a K-8 Catholic school and a Catholic child care center on the same campus and offers a full schedule of daily Masses in both English and Spanish, with weekend Masses live-streamed via Facebook. The parish is notable for its ecumenical relationship with neighboring Temple Sinai of North Dade, formed after St. Lawrence sold a parcel of its land to the Jewish congregation in 1969, and for its diverse lay spirituality groups including the Legion of Mary, Charismatic Renewal, Neocatechumenal Way, Cursillo, and Soldados.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Lawrence (Lawrence of Rome, deacon and martyr)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Cletus Oluwafemi Omode
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Lawrence is a long-established, multicultural parish in the Ojus/Aventura corridor that offers something for nearly every Catholic: a full daily Mass schedule in English and Spanish, an Archdiocesan-accredited K-8 elementary school, a Catholic child care center, a robust religious-education and sacrament-preparation program (RCIA, First Communion, Confirmation, Adult Confirmation), and an unusually broad range of lay spiritual movements — Cursillo, Soldados, Respect Life, Legion of Mary, Charismatic Renewal, and the Neocatechumenal Way. The parish's rare, decades-long friendship with neighboring Temple Sinai of North Dade gives it a distinctive ecumenical character, and its live-streamed Sunday Masses keep shut-ins and traveling parishioners connected.
Mass times at St. Lawrence
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:15 PM – 4:55 PM
- Saturday 5:30 PM – 5:55 PM
- Sunday 8:30 AM – 8:55 AM
- Sunday 10:30 AM – 10:55 AM
- Sunday 12:30 PM – 12:55 PM
- Sunday 5:30 PM – 5:55 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 7:00 PM (immediately following the 6:30 PM Mass)
History of St. Lawrence Parish
St. Lawrence Catholic Parish was founded on September 24, 1956 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley, then Bishop of St. Augustine, to serve Catholics in the northeastern Dade County communities of North Miami Beach and Aventura. The parish began with a small school in a storefront on 163rd Street, then moved into a four-classroom portable building in February 1957 that doubled as a school on weekdays and a worship space on weekends. By 1957 the community had outgrown the portable and Sunday Mass was relocated to the North Miami Beach Junior High School auditorium. In 1960 Bishop Carroll dedicated the present church, school, and convent, and the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary moved in to run the school.
- Founded September 24, 1956 by Archbishop Joseph P. Hurley (then Bishop of St. Augustine).
- First school: a storefront on 163rd Street, then a four-classroom portable building completed February 1957.
- First pastor pro-tem: Rev. Fr. Hubert J. Sweeney, C.P.
- Initial school principal: Sister Rosanna, O.S.B. (Benedictine Sisters).
- 1960: Bishop Carroll dedicates the present church, school, and convent.
- 1971: Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary withdraw; the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Monroe, Michigan) take over religion teaching.
- 1976: Initial school accreditation under principal Sr. Frances Papp and pastor Msgr. Francis Fazzalaro.
- 1969: Land sold to Jewish community → Temple Sinai of North Dade built next door.
- 1986: Sanctuary renovation turns altar to face the congregation; wall replaces curtain between church and parish hall.
- March 2019: Archbishop Thomas Wenski dedicates a new rectory; the old rectory is converted into a school cafeteria and chapel.
- May 16, 2023: Blessing and dedication of the Hyatt basketball-volleyball court honoring Dian Hyatt.
Religious Education & Sacraments
The Religious Education office coordinates the parish's family faith formation and preparation for all sacraments of initiation. Programs are organized by age group: a children's RCIA track for kids 7 and older who need Baptism, a two-year First Communion program for grades 1–5, a two-year Confirmation track for grades 6–10, and a one-year Adult Confirmation track for grades 11–12. Adult believers seeking baptism, first communion, or full reception into the Catholic Church are walked through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) with no pressure and no timeline beyond the individual's journey.
- Registrations open September 1; $25 fee.
- RCIA for Children — one-year program for ages 7+ needing Baptism.
- First Communion — two-year program, grades 1–5.
- Confirmation — two-year program, grades 6–10.
- Confirmation for Young Adults — one-year program, grades 11–12.
- Baptism — celebrated on the 2nd Sunday of each month.
- Marriage — one party must be a registered parishioner; preparation sessions and at least one-year advance notice required.
- Anointing of the Sick — call the parish office to arrange.
- Director: Mrs. Lili Guerrero — (305) 932-3560.
St. Lawrence Catholic School
St. Lawrence Catholic School is an Archdiocesan K-8 elementary school that has shared the Ojus campus with the parish since 1960. The school has been led since the 2022–2023 academic year by Dr. Stephanie Paguaga, a long-time teacher and administrator who has overseen campus security upgrades, new impact windows, perimeter gates, and the 2023 dedication of a state-of-the-art basketball-volleyball court named for former principal Mrs. Dian Smith Lopez Hyatt, who served the school for more than 40 years. The school emphasizes Catholic identity, academic rigor, and a family-like community.
- Grades: Kindergarten through 8th.
- Founded alongside the parish in 1956 in a storefront; current building dedicated 1960.
- 2022–2023 principal: Dr. Stephanie Paguaga.
- Former principal: Mrs. Dian Smith Lopez Hyatt (40+ years; court dedicated in her honor, May 16, 2023).
- Order of founding religious staff: Benedictine Sisters (1956); Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary (1960–1971); Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Monroe, Michigan (from 1971).
- Past principal Sr. Frances Papp led the school's initial 1976 accreditation.
St. Lawrence Catholic Child Care
Located in the same original portable building that housed the parish school in 1957 (and later the school cafeteria), the St. Lawrence Catholic Child Care is an academic-based child-care center serving children from 18 months to 4 years old. It follows the HighReach curriculum and operates as part of the parish's mission of forming young families in the Catholic tradition.
- Ages: 18 months to 4 years.
- Curriculum: HighReach Learning.
- Housed in the 1957 four-classroom portable — the parish's original school building.
Lay Ministries & Spiritual Movements
St. Lawrence is unusual among South Florida parishes for the breadth of its lay spiritual movements. According to the Archdiocese of Miami's own reporting, the parish's approximately 1,400 registered members participate in Cursillo, Soldados de Maria, Respect Life, the Legion of Mary, Charismatic Renewal, and the Neocatechumenal Way. The Saturday 8 PM Vigil Mass in the Parish Hall is celebrated by the Neocatechumenal Way community.
- Cursillo
- Soldados de Maria
- Respect Life
- Legion of Mary
- Charismatic Renewal
- Neocatechumenal Way (celebrates its own Saturday Vigil Mass at 8 PM in the Parish Hall)
Live Streaming & Communications
The parish live-streams the 11 AM Sunday English Mass and the 1 PM Spanish Mass via Facebook Live for parishioners who cannot attend in person. The official parish homepage also features Archbishop Thomas Wenski's installation homily for Father Cletus Omode in both English and Spanish, reflecting the parish's bilingual ministry. A dedicated Spanish-language site (es.stlawrencemiami.org) mirrors the main site for Hispanohablantes.
- Sunday live streams: 11 AM English and 1 PM Spanish via Facebook Live.
- Spanish-language microsite: es.stlawrencemiami.org.
- Installation homily of Father Cletus Omode by Archbishop Wenski available in English and translated Spanish.
Facilities & Recent Improvements
Since 2019 the parish and school have undergone a visible campus revitalization under Father Omode. A new rectory was dedicated by Archbishop Wenski in March 2019 and the old rectory was renovated into a school cafeteria and chapel. Security infrastructure — cameras, perimeter gates, and a hired guard — has been installed, and impact windows have been added. In May 2023 Archbishop Wenski dedicated a new state-of-the-art basketball-volleyball court on the school grounds, named in honor of longtime principal Dian Hyatt.
- New rectory dedicated March 2019 (Archbishop Wenski).
- Old rectory → school cafeteria + chapel.
- Campus security: cameras, perimeter gates, guard.
- Impact windows installed.
- Hyatt basketball-volleyball court dedicated May 16, 2023.
Ecumenical Relationship with Temple Sinai of North Dade
Since 1969, when St. Lawrence sold a parcel of its land to the Jewish congregation that built Temple Sinai of North Dade on the parish's 13th anniversary, the two congregations have shared an unusually warm ecumenical relationship — sometimes described as 'depending on each other to fulfill needs as they rose.' The Archdiocese of Miami has cited this partnership as one of the defining characteristics of St. Lawrence Parish.
- Land sold in 1969 on the parish's 13th anniversary.
- Temple Sinai of North Dade built on the site.
- Ongoing cross-congregational cooperation highlighted by the Archdiocese of Miami.
Contact & Visiting
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Lawrence by phone, email, or in person. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (closed for lunch 12:00–1:00 PM) and on Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The mailing and physical address is 2200 NE 191st Street, North Miami Beach, FL 33180 — in the Ojus area just north of Greynolds Park and minutes from Aventura. General inquiries: [email protected]; phone (305) 932-3560. School fax line: (305) 936-8050.
- Address: 2200 NE 191st Street, North Miami Beach, FL 33180.
- Phone: (305) 932-3560.
- Email: [email protected].
- School fax: (305) 936-8050.
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–4 PM (closed 12–1 PM); Sat 10 AM–1 PM.
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Fr. Hubert J. Sweeney, C.P.1956 (pastor pro-tem, founding months)
Passionist priest appointed pastor pro-tem at the parish's 1956 founding; oversaw the early portable-school and auditorium-Mass period.
- Msgr. Rowan Rastatter1956–1957 (as pastor of Holy Family)
Not pastor of St. Lawrence, but the pastor of neighboring Holy Family who personally assisted the new parish in its first months and helped complete the 1957 portable school building.
- Rev. Vincent J. Sheehyc. 1971
Pastor who invited the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary from Monroe, Michigan to take over religion teaching after the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Mary departed in 1971.
- Msgr. Francis Fazzalaroc. 1973–1975+
Pastor at the time the IHM sisters returned to lead the school; oversaw initial school accreditation in 1976 under principal Sr. Frances Papp.
- Rev. Fr. Cletus O. Omode2021–present
Current pastor. Joyfully welcomed in a pastoral installation by Archbishop Thomas Wenski; has spearheaded campus security upgrades, the new rectory, and the 2023 dedication of the Hyatt basketball-volleyball court.