About St. Patrick · Miami Beach, Florida
St. Patrick Catholic Parish is the first Catholic parish on Miami Beach, founded in 1926 by Father William Barry and serving both year-round residents and the millions of tourists who visit the barrier island each year. Located at 3716 Garden Avenue in the heart of Mid-Beach, the parish is the spiritual home of a bilingual Catholic community that worships in English and Spanish, runs an award-winning K-8 school and preschool, and operates more than two dozen ministries that reach into hospitals, prisons, and the local public high school. Its seven-story campanile is a Miami Beach landmark visible from the Julia Tuttle Causeway, and in March 2026 the parish will celebrate its 100th anniversary.
- Established
- 1926
- Patron
- St. Patrick
- Rector
- Rev. Roberto M. Cid
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Patrick is the historic heart of Catholicism on Miami Beach — the first parish on the island, founded in 1926 — and today it is a genuinely bilingual English-Spanish community where weekend Mass is offered five times between Saturday evening and Sunday night. It pairs that heritage with unusually rich pastoral infrastructure: a National School of Excellence K-8 school and a long-running preschool, 23+ ministries (RCIA, altar servers, extraordinary ministers, Respect Life, St. Vincent de Paul, prison ministry at the Federal Detention Center, Emmaus, Project Rachel, the Catholic Student Union at Miami Beach Senior High, and chaplaincies to the Miami Beach Fire and Police Departments and Mt. Sinai Hospital), daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, weekly Thursday adoration, a Second-Saturday overnight nocturnal adoration, a Marian (Totus Tuus) ministry, and a Saturday morning rosary on the beach at dawn. For Catholics moving to or visiting Miami Beach it is the obvious parish home — territorial for most of Mid-Beach, family-friendly, mission-minded, and rooted in almost a century of continuous ministry.
Mass times at St. Patrick
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. (bilingual, in the south confessional next to the statue of St. Joseph)
- Sundays 30 minutes before the 9:30, 11:00, 12:30 and 7:00 p.m. Masses (no confessions before the 8:00 a.m. Mass)
- Anytime by appointment or walk-in during parish office hours (305-531-1124)
- No confessions on Holy Saturday or Easter Sunday; additional evenings during Advent and Lent (posted in seasonal schedules)
Adoration times
- Every Thursday 8:45 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., St. André Bessette Chapel (corner of Alton Rd. and Barry Street)
- Second Saturday overnight 'Nocturnal Adoration' 11:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. Sunday, St. André Bessette Chapel
Parish History
Founded on May 12, 1926 by Father William Barry (later Monsignor), St. Patrick is the oldest Catholic parish on Miami Beach. After the September 1926 hurricane destroyed the improvised polo-stable church and school, Father Barry led the parish to build the present church on twelve lots between 39th and 40th Streets. The cornerstone was laid February 22, 1928 and the church was dedicated February 3, 1929 by Father Barry's brother, Bishop Patrick Barry of St. Augustine. Monsignor Barry led the parish for forty years until his death in 1967. Successors have been Monsignor James J. Walsh (1966–71), Father Rene H. Gracida (1971–72, later a bishop), Father Joseph P. Cronin (1972–81), Father James P. Murphy (1981–96), Monsignor John Vaughan (1996–2012), and the current pastor Father Roberto M. Cid (2012–present).
- Founded May 12, 1926 — first Catholic parish on Miami Beach
- First Mass in a theater at 41st St. & Alton Rd. on May 13, 1926
- Five polo stables donated by developer Carl G. Fisher served as the first church and school
- Great 1926 hurricane destroyed the stables a week before school opening
- Cornerstone laid Feb. 22, 1928; church dedicated Feb. 3, 1929 by Bishop Patrick Barry
- Monsignor Barry led the parish 1926–1967; installed stained-glass windows in 1941
- Windows restored 1989; church interior restoration under Msgr. Vaughan in the late 1990s
- Centennial celebration scheduled for 2026
Faith Formation & Religious Education
St. Patrick offers a full catechetical program for children and adults, plus sacramental preparation for baptism, first Communion, confirmation and marriage.
- Sunday School / CCD (Religious Education) for parish children
- RCIA — Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (weekly meetings begin mid-September, culminating at the Easter Vigil)
- Baptism classes in English (last Tuesday, 7:00 p.m.) and Spanish (last Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.), Barry Hall 2nd floor
- High School Youth Ministry — Sundays 4:00–6:00 p.m.
- Catholic Student Union at Miami Beach Senior High School
- Autism 19:14 — catechetical program for children with autism
Sacraments
The parish celebrates the seven sacraments according to the norms of the Archdiocese of Miami. Couples must give at least six months' notice before marriage, and baptisms are scheduled every Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
- Baptism — Sundays 2:00 p.m. (Spanish on the first Sunday, English thereafter)
- Marriage — at least six months' notice; pre-nuptial investigation required
- Reconciliation — Saturdays 4–5 p.m., Sundays before Mass, by appointment or walk-in
- Anointing of the Sick — visits to Mt. Sinai Hospital and homebound parishioners
- Eucharist — daily and Sunday Mass; communion brought to the sick by Extraordinary Ministers
Ministries & Outreach
St. Patrick maintains more than two dozen active ministries, with particular emphasis on respect for life, charity, hospital and prison visitation, chaplaincy to first-responders, and formation of youth.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Respect Life
- Project Rachel — post-abortion healing
- Prison Ministry at the Federal Detention Center
- Communion to Catholic Patients at Mt. Sinai
- Miami Beach Fire Department and Police Department Chaplaincies
- Port of Miami and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Chaplaincies (pastoral role of the pastor)
- Emmaus; LifeLine; SoBeChrist; Family Mass Celebration
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion; Altar Servers
St. Patrick Catholic School & Preschool
Founded alongside the parish in 1926 by Monsignor Barry and five Dominican Sisters from Adrian, Michigan, St. Patrick Parish School today serves students in K–8 and was named a U.S. National School of Excellence in 1988 — one of only seven model schools cited by U.S. Secretary of Education William Bennett. The preschool, housed in the dedicated John Ingraham Building (blessed October 9, 1994 by Archbishop Edward McCarthy), serves children from 16 months through age 5. The high school section was discontinued by the Archdiocese in 1972.
- Founded 1926 by Monsignor Barry and five Adrian Dominican Sisters
- Accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges since 1933 and by the Florida Catholic Conference since 1976
- National School of Excellence (1988, U.S. Department of Education)
- Auditorium features life-size murals of Florida's early Catholic history
- Preschool occupies the John Ingraham Building, opened 1994
Architecture & the Parish Church
The parish church is a Spanish Revival landmark whose seven-story campanile is visible from the Julia Tuttle Causeway. Inside, 23 stained-glass windows installed in 1941 by Monsignor Barry catechize visitors with the Irish saints and the Blessed Virgin Mary, while the baldachino and high altar were carefully restored under Monsignor Vaughan in the late 1990s. The permanent altar was placed directly under the dome of the church to bring the celebration of the Mass closer to the people.
- Spanish Revival style — white stucco, marble floors, high arches
- Seven-story campanile with bells donated by Carl G. Fisher
- Seating capacity: 700
- Stained glass: 23 lower-level windows depicting Irish saints; transept windows of Marian advocations; Evangelists around the sanctuary
- Baldachino over high altar; original solid mahogany pews; altar rails
- Adjacent St. André Bessette Chapel hosts weekday Eucharistic Adoration
Staff & Clergy
The parish is led by Father Roberto M. Cid, pastor since 2012, who also serves as Chaplain to the Miami Beach Fire Department, the Port of Miami and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Father Carlos J. Céspedes serves as Parochial Vicar. The parish team also includes priests who assist at Sunday Mass (Fr. David Russell, Fr. Jean, Fr. Sosa, and Brother Mark Spencer, FBP), as well as a parish secretary, business manager, catechist/youth minister, director of liturgical music, and Sister Claudina Sanz, OSP.
- Pastor: Rev. Roberto M. Cid
- Parochial Vicar: Rev. Carlos J. Céspedes
- Sunday Mass assistance: Rev. David Russell; Fr. Jean; Fr. Sosa; Brother Mark Spencer, FBP
- Sisters: Sr. Claudina Sanz, OSP
- Staff: Alicia Herrera, Julie Ugarte, Bertha Moro, Tony Santos, John Diaz, James Dugard, Steven M. Lee
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. William Barry (later Monsignor, Domestic Prelate)1926–1966
Founder. Irish-born, ordained for the Diocese of St. Augustine in 1910. Built the permanent church, school, rectory, convent, recreation hall and auditorium; installed the stained-glass windows in 1941; earned the unofficial title 'mayor of Miami Beach.' Died in 1967.
- Rev. Msgr. James J. Walsh1966–1971
Succeeded Barry; ushered in Vatican II reforms and accepted the early waves of Hispanic immigration from Cuba and Latin America.
- Rev. Rene H. Gracida1971–1972
Later consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Miami in 1972; subsequently first Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee and then Bishop of Corpus Christi, Texas. Retired 1997.
- Rev. Joseph P. Cronin1972–1981
Faced severe financial pressures during the early years of the Archdiocese of Miami; oversaw closure of the parish high school in the 1970s.
- Rev. James P. Murphy1981–1996
Revitalized the liturgy; led 1989 restoration of Monsignor Barry's stained-glass windows; grew parish to 2,300 families; in 1988 St. Patrick School named a U.S. National School of Excellence; demolished Barry Hall and built a two-story parish center.
- Rev. Msgr. John Vaughan1996–2012
Led major restoration of the church — cleaned and polished the high altar, baldachino, tabernacle, statues and altar rails; dipped and refinished the original mahogany pews; placed the permanent altar under the dome; expanded bilingual ministries.
- Rev. Roberto M. Cid2012–present
Current pastor. Also serves as Miami Beach Fire Chaplain, Port of Miami Chaplain, and U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Chaplain. Organizing the parish's 100th anniversary centennial in 2026.