About St. Maximilian Kolbe · Pembroke Pines, Florida
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Pembroke Pines, Florida, belonging to the Archdiocese of Miami. Named for the Polish Franciscan friar who volunteered to die in place of a stranger at Auschwitz, the parish was founded on June 15, 1983, and worships at 701 North Hiatus Road. The parish serves a bilingual (English and Spanish) congregation with five Sunday Masses, a daily Mass, a robust Life Teen youth ministry, religious education programs, and an on-site Catholic preschool. Long-time pastor Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormick has shepherded the community since 2002 and was elevated to the rank of Monsignor (Chaplain of His Holiness) by Pope Leo XIV in 2026.
- Established
- 1983
- Patron
- St. Maximilian Kolbe
- Rector
- Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormick
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Maximilian Kolbe offers a vibrant, multigenerational Catholic community in the heart of Pembroke Pines, with something for every age from 18 months to senior adulthood. The parish celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a Life Teen youth ministry and a parish preschool, and offers sacramental preparation, RCIA, Eucharistic Adoration, and a charismatic prayer group. Long-tenured pastor Msgr. Jeff McCormick and parochial vicar Fr. Octavio Gomez lead a community shaped by the motto 'Together we make the Kingdom a reality,' where families can grow in faith together through devotions, formation, service, and fellowship.
Mass times at St. Maximilian Kolbe
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Thursday: 4:00 – 6:00 PM (bilingual, by main entrance)
- Saturday: 9:00 – 10:00 AM (bilingual, by main entrance)
- First Friday of the month: 4:30 – 6:00 PM (bilingual, by main entrance)
Adoration times
- Monday – Friday: 8:45 – 9:45 AM (in church, September–May)
- First Friday of the month: 8:45 AM – 6:00 PM (in chapel)
- Hora Apostólica (Spanish): Friday 7:30 – 8:30 PM, third Friday of the month in the chapel
About St. Maximilian Kolbe Parish
St. Maximilian Kolbe is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Miami serving Pembroke Pines and southwest Broward County. Founded in 1983 and named for the Polish Franciscan martyr who gave his life for a fellow prisoner at Auschwitz, the parish gathers English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics around the Eucharist, the sacraments, and a strong family-and-youth ministry. Its long-time pastor, Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormick, leads a team that includes parochial vicar Fr. Octavio Gomez and a dedicated lay staff in religious education, music, youth ministry, and a parish preschool.
- Parish motto: 'Together we make the Kingdom a reality.'
- Founded June 15, 1983
- Archdiocese of Miami, Southwest Broward Deanery
- Pastor: Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormick
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Octavio Gomez
History of the Parish
From a strip-mall storefront in 1983 to the present-day church and education center, the story of St. Maximilian Kolbe is one of determined, grassroots growth. Within a decade of its founding, parishioners were hauling trees on Saturdays to build a modular worship space; soon after, they laid the bricks of their permanent church — each brick carrying personal prayer petitions inside. The current church was dedicated in 1994, an education center was dedicated by Archbishop Favalora in 2004, and in 2008 the parish marked 25 years of ministry.
- 1983 — Parish established; first Masses celebrated in a strip-mall storefront
- 1992 — Parishioners erect a modular building during phase one of a capital campaign
- 1994 — Present church and ministerial offices dedicated
- 2004 — Archbishop Favalora dedicates the new education center (Aug. 24)
- 2008 — 25th anniversary celebrated
The Patron: St. Maximilian Kolbe
St. Maximilian Kolbe (born Raymond Kolbe, January 8, 1894) was a Polish Conventual Franciscan priest, theologian, and media pioneer who founded the Militia of the Immaculata movement of Marian consecration in 1917 and built the City of the Immaculata (Niepokalanów) near Warsaw — by 1939, the largest Catholic religious house in the world. He also established a Japanese counterpart in Nagasaki and pioneered Catholic publishing, radio, and even early cinema. Arrested by the Nazis and sent to Auschwitz, in 1941 he volunteered to die in place of a stranger selected for execution. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982 as a 'Martyr of Charity' and 'Patron Saint of our difficult century,' and is also patron of drug addicts, political prisoners, families, journalists, prisoners, and the pro-life movement.
- Feast day: August 14
- Ordained 1918 in Rome
- Founded the Militia of the Immaculata (MIs), October 16, 1917
- Established Niepokalanów, Japan (Mugenzai no Sono) in 1930
- Died at Auschwitz, August 14, 1941
- Canonized by Pope John Paul II, 1982
Faith Formation and Religious Education
The parish runs comprehensive catechesis and sacramental preparation programs for every age, helping parishioners grow in Catholic faith and prepare for the sacraments of First Eucharist, Confirmation, and Baptism. The Religious Education office is staffed by a dedicated director and can be reached through the parish phone line.
- Catechism and sacramental preparation for children and youth
- Preparation for First Eucharist and Confirmation
- RCIA-style inquiry for adults seeking the sacraments
- Director of Religious Education listed in the parish staff directory
Life Teen Youth Ministry
St. Maximilian Kolbe's Life Teen program empowers middle- and high-school students to grow as Catholic leaders and disciples. The 6:00 PM Sunday Life Teen / Family Mass anchors the ministry, supplemented by Life Teen Adoration on Tuesday evenings. Msgr. McCormick serves on the Life Teen national board, reflecting the parish's longstanding investment in youth ministry.
- Life Teen / Family Mass: Sundays at 6:00 PM
- Life Teen Adoration: Tuesdays 7:00 – 8:00 PM (per historical parish schedule)
St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic Pre-School
The parish operates a Catholic preschool at 601 North Hiatus Road (just across from the church) offering a faith-based early-learning environment for children ages 18 months through 4 years. The preschool shares the parish's mission of forming young children in faith, friendship, and foundational skills, and is staffed by a dedicated preschool director.
- Ages served: 18 months – 4 years
- Faith-based early childhood education
- Location: 601 North Hiatus Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
- Phone: (954) 885-7250
Music and Liturgy
Music ministry at St. Maximilian Kolbe is led by a Director of Music and includes both adult and children's choirs that serve the principal weekend Masses. The Adult Choir sings at the Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil Mass, and the Children's Choir leads the 9:30 AM Sunday liturgy — both contributing to the parish's bilingual, multigenerational worship life.
- Director of Music: Sal Scavone
- Adult Choir — Saturday 5:00 PM Vigil
- Children's Choir — Sunday 9:30 AM
- Life Teen / Family Music — Sunday 6:00 PM
Parish Staff and Leadership
Day-to-day parish life is shepherded by Pastor Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormick and Parochial Vicar Fr. Octavio Gomez, supported by directors of Religious Education, Music, and Youth Ministry, as well as a preschool director and office staff.
- Pastor: Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormick
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Octavio Gomez
- Director of Religious Education: Maryann Hotchkiss
- Director of Music: Sal Scavone
- Youth Minister: Susan González-Llanos
- Preschool Director: Jimena Hibbard
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments through its religious education programs and pastoral staff. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact the parish at least six months in advance, and arrangements can also be made for the pastoral care of the sick and homebound.
- Baptism — contact the parish office
- Marriage Preparation — contact at least six months prior to the wedding
- Reconciliation — see confession schedule or by appointment
- First Eucharist and Confirmation — through Religious Education
- Anointing / Pastoral Care of the sick and homebound — contact the office
Visit, Contact, and Office Hours
The parish office is open throughout the week and on weekends around Mass times to welcome visitors and answer questions about registration, sacraments, ministries, and giving.
- Address: 701 North Hiatus Road, Pembroke Pines, FL 33026
- Phone: (954) 432-0206
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stmax.cc/
- Office Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM; Saturday 3:00 – 7:00 PM; Sunday 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Msgr. Jeffrey B. McCormickMarch 2002 – present (named pastor April 6, 2003)
Born Dec. 5, 1962, in North Miami; ordained May 11, 1996; previously parochial vicar at St. Louis, Pinecrest (1996–1999) and St. Andrew, Coral Springs (1999–2002). Elevated to Monsignor (Chaplain of His Holiness) by Pope Leo XIV in 2026. Chaplain for Couples for Christ, Schott Communities, and Life Teen national board member.