About St. Michael the Archangel · Miami, Florida
St. Michael the Archangel is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Roman Catholic parish in the West Flagler / Riverside neighborhood of Miami, Florida, belonging to the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded in 1946 to serve west-side Catholics who had been traveling to Gesu Church, it began with the first Mass in the Miami Senior High School auditorium and grew into a parish with its own elementary school (est. 1951) and an active roster of ministries — Saint Vincent de Paul, Food for the Poor, Café Saint Michael's, and CCD religious education. Today the parish is staffed by a pastor, two parochial vicars, a retired bishop in residence, and two deacons, offering daily Mass in both English and Spanish, perpetual-style adoration, and frequent confession times.
- Established
- 1946
- Patron
- St. Michael the Archangel
- Rector
- Fr. Elvis A. Gonzalez
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Michael the Archangel is a bilingual parish where every Catholic in the household — English- or Spanish-speaking — can worship together, with daily Mass in both languages, frequent confession slots seven days a week, and two weekday adoration periods in the chapel. It pairs that liturgical life with a strong Catholic school (Pre-K3 through 8th grade), CCD sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation, and a wide circle of outreach including Saint Vincent de Paul, Food for the Poor, Café Saint Michael's, and ministries that distribute necessities to poor families with newborns. For west-side Miamians, it is a longstanding parish where founding families and newcomers worship side by side.
Mass times at St. Michael the Archangel
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday – Friday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Spanish)
- Monday – Friday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (English)
- Monday – Friday: 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Saturday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Spanish)
- Saturday: 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM (English)
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 8:00 AM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 9:30 AM – 10:00 AM (English)
- Sunday: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday: 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Spanish)
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Thursday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM (Chapel)
- Saturday: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (Chapel)
Parish History
St. Michael the Archangel was born out of necessity. In the 1940s, Catholics in west Miami belonged to Gesu, one of only five parishes in the city. Bishop Thomas McDonough authorized a new parish, and the first Mass was celebrated in September 1946 in the auditorium of Miami Senior High School. Faithful families organized religious-education classes in private homes and recruited altar servers while they raised money for a building. In 1947 they purchased two surplus military structures — an Army Chapel from Hendrick Field and a hospital ward from Camp Murphy in Stuart — hired a local construction company to relocate them to Miami, and the parish was officially named for Saint Michael the Archangel.
- Founded: 1946 (first Mass, September 1946)
- Officially named for Saint Michael the Archangel: 1947
- Parish school opened: 1951
- Founding pastor: Monsignor Romuald Philbin
St. Michael the Archangel Catholic School
Bishop McDonough blessed and laid the school cornerstone on Saturday, September 29, 1951. The first teaching community, the Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, moved into the convent that same year. They were succeeded in 1981 by the Sisters of the Apostolate of the Sacred Heart. Mrs. Carmen J. Alfonso became the first lay principal in 2004 and led the school until June 2022, when Mrs. Lisette Reina-Naranjo was appointed. The school serves Pre-K3 through 8th grade on its campus at 300 NW 28th Avenue, Miami, FL 33125 (school phone 305-642-6732), and offers Early Childhood Programs, After-School Care, and accepts Step Up For Students scholarships.
- Grades: Pre-K3, Pre-K4, Kindergarten, and 1st through 8th
- Religious identity: 'a school of faith and reason'; Catholic identity is central
- Students are expected to participate in the 12:00 PM Sunday Mass as part of school life
- 2nd grade: preparation for First Communion and Reconciliation
- 8th grade: preparation for Confirmation
- Accepts McKay Scholarship and Step Up For Students scholarship recipients
- After-School Care program available
Clergy & Staff
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Elvis A. Gonzalez (assigned 2020) and is served by two parochial vicars, a retired bishop in residence, a priest in residence, and two permanent deacons. School matters are coordinated with Principal Mrs. Lisette Reina-Naranjo; Christian Formation is coordinated by Ramon Rivero.
- Pastor: Fr. Elvis A. Gonzalez
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Esney Muñoz
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Pablo Emilio Presilla Romero
- In Residence: Bishop Fernando Isern
- In Residence: Fr. Lesly Jean
- Deacon: Rafael Maria Calvo
- Deacon: Ernesto Rodriguez
- Christian Formation & Sacramental Life: Ramon Rivero
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments of the Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist (First Communion), Reconciliation (Penance), Holy Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders. Sacramental preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation for children and adults is coordinated through Christian Formation (CCD). Sick calls and emergencies are handled around the clock via the parish office line.
- Baptism — preparation via CCD
- Confirmation — preparation via CCD
- First Holy Communion — preparation via CCD
- Reconciliation — daily and Sunday schedule plus by appointment
- Holy Matrimony — contact parish office
- Anointing of the Sick — contact parish office
- Holy Orders — contact parish office
- Sick calls / emergencies: call (305) 649-1811 any time
Religious Education (CCD) & Sacramental Preparation
The parish runs CCD (Christian Formation & Sacramental Life) for children and adults preparing to receive the sacraments of Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation. The program is led by Ramon Rivero; registration is by phone.
- CCD contact: Ramon Rivero, Christian Formation & Sacramental Life
- Bilingual registration offered (English/Spanish)
- Preparation for Baptism, First Communion, and Confirmation
Outreach & Community Ministries
Outreach is a defining mark of the parish. Saint Vincent de Paul and Food for the Poor are longtime staples, and the parish hosts Café Saint Michael's to build community. Other groups distribute necessities to poor families with newborn children and food to the homeless and needy.
- Society of Saint Vincent de Paul
- Food for the Poor
- Café Saint Michael's (community/fellowship)
- Groups distributing necessities to families with newborn children
- Food distribution to the homeless and needy
Visit & Contact
The parish church is at 2987 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33135, on West Flagler Street in the West Flagler / Riverside neighborhood. The main parish phone is (305) 649-1811; a second fax/office line is (305) 642-6815. The school sits a short distance away at 300 NW 28th Avenue (phone 305-642-6732). The parish maintains a Facebook page and a YouTube channel, both linked through the Archdiocese of Miami directory.
- Address: 2987 West Flagler Street, Miami, FL 33135
- Parish phone: (305) 649-1811
- Office/fax: (305) 642-6815
- School address: 300 NW 28th Avenue, Miami, FL 33125
- School phone: (305) 642-6732
- Website: stmichaelmiami.org
- Social: Facebook + YouTube
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Monsignor Romuald Philbinfounding pastor (through 1951 cornerstone era)
Led the establishment of the parochial school and convent; blessed the cornerstone September 29, 1951.
- Fr. Elvis A. Gonzalezassigned 2020–present
Current pastor.