About St. Paul of the Cross · North Palm Beach, Florida
St. Paul of the Cross is a Roman Catholic parish in North Palm Beach, Florida, established in May 1970 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll. It was the first parish in Florida administered by the Passionist Fathers (Congregation of the Passion of Jesus Christ), beginning with 200 founding families and celebrating its first Mass on August 15, 1970 in the Juno Volunteer Firehouse. Today the parish is led by Rev. Thomas R. Lafreniere and offers daily and Sunday Masses, a faith-formation program for children (CIA), a two-year Confirmation program, RCIA/OCIA, the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday mornings, and a range of ministries that serve the local community from its campus on Jack Nicklaus Drive.
- Established
- 1970
- Patron
- St. Paul of the Cross (Saint Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists)
- Rector
- Rev. Thomas R. Lafreniere
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
St. Paul of the Cross is a long-established Passionist parish with a strong Catholic identity, daily Mass opportunities, a Sunday Vigil and three Sunday Masses including a 10:45 AM contemporary music liturgy, and a Moeller pipe organ that lifts the parish's sung prayer. It is also a community that walks with families: the CIA (Catholics In Action) program gathers 1st–7th graders on Sunday mornings with a Family Mass on the second Sunday of each month, while a two-year Confirmation program and OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) bring older children and adults into full sacramental life. Members are encouraged to share their gifts through a wide range of ministries, and the parish is supported by an assisting team of Passionist, retired, and deacon clergy.
Mass times at St. Paul of the Cross
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays, 8:30 AM in the Chapel
- By appointment with a priest (call the Parish Office)
Story of Our Parish
St. Paul of the Cross Parish was established in May 1970 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll, who invited the Passionist Fathers to staff and serve the new community. Father Charles K. Sullivan, C.P., was named the first pastor in August 1970, making it the first Passionist-administered parish in Florida. The first Mass was celebrated on Saturday, August 15, 1970, in the Juno Volunteer Firehouse with 200 families. By 1975 the parish had grown to 300 families; in February 1978, groundbreaking took place on a site just south of Lost Tree Village on A1A, and the new church — planned as a combination chapel and parish center — was dedicated on May 13, 1979, when the parish had reached 800 families.
- Established May 1970 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll
- First Mass: Saturday, August 15, 1970, Juno Volunteer Firehouse, 200 families
- Founding pastor: Rev. Charles K. Sullivan, C.P. (August 1970)
- First Passionist-administered parish in Florida
- 1973–1976: Saturday vigil Mass at Faith Lutheran Church (Pastor John Frekking); Sunday Masses at Christopher's restaurant in Lake Park
- 1978: Groundbreaking on Jack Nicklaus Drive site, south of Lost Tree Village
- 1979: Church dedicated May 13; parish at 800 families
Art, Architecture & Sacred Furnishings
The church is described by the parish as both a place of worship and a symbolic work of art. The front door symbolizes the life of Christ; stained glass windows imported from Barcelona, Spain, depict the Passion of Jesus; and a ceramic relief of the resurrected Christ presides over the back of the sanctuary, with ceramic reliefs of Mary and Joseph on the side walls. The seven decorative panels beneath the risen Christ represent the seven sacraments, the final panel depicting the crown of thorns. The Last Supper altar frontal and other sanctuary furnishings are done in marquetry, a century-old European technique of inlaid woods. The music of the liturgy is supported by a Moeller Pipe Organ with over 1,500 pipes, highly acclaimed by the American Guild of Organists.
- Front door symbolizes the life of Christ
- Stained-glass windows from Barcelona, Spain, depicting the Passion of Jesus
- Ceramic relief of the resurrected Christ at the rear of the sanctuary
- Ceramic reliefs of Mary and Joseph on the side walls
- Seven panels beneath the risen Christ symbolizing the seven sacraments
- Altar frontal and sanctuary furnishings in marquetry (inlaid woods)
- Moeller Pipe Organ with 1,500+ pipes, acclaimed by the American Guild of Organists
Faith Formation for Children & Youth
St. Paul of the Cross runs a robust Family Faith Formation program. Catholics In Action (CIA) gathers 1st through 7th graders on Sunday mornings from 10:15 to 11:45 AM, with families encouraged to worship together at the 9:00 AM Mass beforehand. On the second Sunday of every month, the parish celebrates a Family Mass where the children serve as lectors, altar servers, and ushers. The model is family-based: everyone participates in the first session of each month — Mass, praise and worship, and a lesson in Ave Maria Hall — then takes lessons home to continue the conversation. Holy Communion preparation normally follows a two-year Religious Education program, typically at the end of 2nd grade and after First Reconciliation. Confirmation is a two-year program, usually beginning in 8th grade, led by a young-adult team, with Confirmation I focused on the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) and Confirmation II on those gifts as lived in the rich Catholic tradition.
- CIA (Catholics In Action) for 1st–7th graders
- Sessions Sunday 10:15–11:45 AM in Ave Maria Hall
- Family Mass on the 2nd Sunday of each month (children serve as lectors, altar servers, ushers)
- Holy Eucharist / First Communion: 2-year program, typically end of 2nd grade
- Confirmation I & II: 2-year program, usually beginning in 8th grade
- OCIA for older children and adults receiving the Eucharist for the first time
Adult Faith Formation
The parish invites adults to dive deeper into the Catholic faith through Bible Studies and other educational offerings. Adult Confirmation is most often a part of the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) process.
- Adult Education / Bible Studies
- Adult Confirmation (through OCIA)
Parish Staff & Clergy
The parish is served by a pastor and an assisting team that includes Passionist, retired, and deacon clergy, along with a full lay staff for music, faith formation, communications, the parish office, the bookstore, and maintenance. The website's staff directory lists contact extensions and emails for each role.
- Rev. Thomas R. Lafreniere — Pastor
- Rev. Melvin Shorter, C.P. — Assisting
- Rev. Daniel Devore — Retired, Assisting
- Rev. Brian Flanagan — Retired, Assisting
- Frank Bandy — Permanent Deacon
- Patricia Quinn — Office Manager
- Matt Wilson — Director of Music & Liturgy
- Kate Devine — Parish Catechetical Leader & Communication Technology Specialist
- Joanne Seifel — Office Staff & Bulletin Editor
- Bill Sabocik — Bookkeeper
- Stephanie Vaughan — Receptionist
- Patti Azoto — Weekend Receptionist
- Religious Shop Staff: Takiko Kawakatsu, Patricia Sears, Michael Sileo
- Maintenance: Mark Hopper, Robert Durante
Ministries & Getting Involved
The parish tells visitors: 'Every parishioner is uniquely important to the functioning of our parish and its ability to be the best possible Christian faith community. You are invited to browse through our ministries to discover where you might share your gifts with our parish family and the local community.' Whether a gift is to sing, visit the sick, teach the young, work with youth, or organize and lead, parishioners are encouraged to serve as good stewards of their God-given gifts.
- Music & Liturgy
- Faith Formation (CIA, Confirmation, Holy Communion)
- OCIA
- Religious Shop (volunteers)
- Parish Office and Maintenance support
- Adult Education / Bible Studies
Visit, Contact & Campus
Parishioners and visitors can reach the parish office at (561) 626-1873 or [email protected]. The Parish Center is open Monday through Friday 9:00 AM–5:00 PM and Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM–1:00 PM. A campus map is published on the website to help direct visitors to the church, parish center, and Ave Maria Hall. The parish follows up-to-date announcements for Holy Week, Easter, and Lenten schedules throughout the year.
- Address: 10970 Jack Nicklaus Drive, North Palm Beach, FL 33408
- Phone: (561) 626-1873
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Center: Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM; Sat–Sun 9 AM–1 PM
- Campus map available on the parish website
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles K. Sullivan, C.P.1970 (founding pastor)
Named by the Passionist order in August 1970 as the first pastor of the new parish.