About St. Philip Benizi · Belle Glade, Florida
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church is a multicultural parish in Belle Glade, Florida, serving the farming communities of the Glades region in Palm Beach County. The parish celebrates Mass in three languages — English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole — reflecting the diverse immigrant and working families who live and work in this agricultural heartland. Founded in 1951 amid the surrounding sugarcane and vegetable fields, it remains a spiritual anchor for farmworkers, laborers, and their families, offering weekly prayers for favorable weather, harvests, and the well-being of those who work the land. Today the parish combines traditional Catholic worship, including daily Mass, Eucharistic adoration, and a full schedule of sacraments, with vibrant faith formation for children, youth, and adults in all three languages.
- Established
- 1951
- Patron
- St. Philip Benizi (Philip of Benizi / Filippo Benizi), a 13th-century Italian Servite friar known for his dedication to the Catholic faith and his compassion for the poor and marginalized
- Rector
- Father Nobert Jean-Pierre
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
St. Philip Benizi is one of the few parishes in the Diocese of Palm Beach where a single Sunday offers Mass in three living languages — English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole — making it a true home for Belle Glade's multicultural farming community. The parish offers daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic adoration, Saturday Confessions in all three languages, a full faith-formation program for children and adults (including RCIA), and active catechist, music, and outreach ministries — all of which invite new parishioners into a community that intentionally welcomes and supports the working families of the Glades.
Mass times at St. Philip Benizi
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 8:30 am – 9:30 am (English, Spanish, Creole)
- Saturday 4:30 pm – 5:15 pm (English, Spanish, Creole)
Adoration times
- Every Wednesday 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
- Every Thursday 7:30 pm (Spanish)
- First Friday of every month 8:30 am – 1:30 pm
- First Saturday of every month 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Creole)
Parish Story & History
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church was established in 1951 in Belle Glade, FL, in the heart of the Glades agricultural region of Palm Beach County. Its founders, many of them working farmers themselves, built a spiritual home for the men, women, and families who labored in the surrounding sugarcane, vegetable, and rice fields. Naming the parish after the 13th-century Servite St. Philip Benizi — a saint renowned for his love of the poor and the marginalized — was a deliberate choice that set the parish's pastoral tone. Through good seasons and hard ones, including hurricanes and freezes that devastated local crops, St. Philip Benizi has remained a place of prayer, consolation, and solidarity for Belle Glade's working families.
- Founded 1951 in Belle Glade, FL (GCatholic records 1960 as a founding/establishment date in its directory)
- Named for St. Philip Benizi (Servite friar, 1233–1285)
- New wooden altar consecrated by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito, September 10, 2022
- Father Nobert Jean-Pierre installed as pastor, September 10, 2022
Mission & Welcome
The parish mission statement, published on stphilipbenizi.com, commits the community to 'living out the teachings of Jesus Christ, nourished by the sacraments, and guided by the Holy Spirit.' It pledges to foster a 'vibrant, welcoming, and inclusive community where individuals can encounter God's love, grow in faith, and serve others with compassion and joy.' Through vibrant liturgical celebrations, meaningful sacraments, engaging religious-education programs, and outreach to the marginalized and underserved, St. Philip Benizi works to nourish faith and empower parishioners to live as disciples of Christ.
Sacraments
St. Philip Benizi prepares and celebrates all seven Catholic Sacraments. The parish's catechesis page, quoting Mother Angelica — 'A sacrament is a visible sign of an invisible reality' — reflects the parish's deep sacramental identity. Sacraments of Initiation include Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion; Sacraments of Healing include Reconciliation (Confession) and Anointing of the Sick; Sacraments of Service are Marriage and Holy Orders.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Communion
- Reconciliation (Confession)
- Anointing of the Sick
- Marriage
- Holy Orders
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish declares that 'Faith Formation is more than just religious instruction,' aiming to facilitate 'growth in faith that encourages Catholics, both young and adult, to live out the Gospels and become better disciples of Jesus Christ.' Programs prepare members to proclaim the Good News, deepen their understanding of the Sacraments, and establish standards of Catholic life. In addition to classroom catechesis, the parish runs an After-School Program for children. The site publishes an online registration form for that After-School Program. All Catechists are required to complete Safe Environment Training and be fingerprinted.
- Children's Ministry (CCD)
- Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation
- RCIA (Becoming Catholic) — Class of 2023 congratulated on parish site
- After-School Program
Ministries & Service
The parish's Ministries page organizes parish life around four invitations: 'help with Faith Formation,' 'help with Serving the Community,' 'help in Mass,' and 'help with Anything!' It reflects a parish that invites newcomers to find their place as catechists, liturgical ministers, or outreach workers and welcomes volunteers across all parish needs.
- Faith Formation catechists
- Liturgical / Mass ministries
- Community service & outreach
- General parish volunteer service
Parish Staff & Clergy
Father Nobert Jean-Pierre, a native of southwest Haiti ordained in 2007 for the Diocese of Jérémie, has served the Diocese of Palm Beach at parishes in Stuart, West Palm Beach, and Lake Worth before being installed as pastor of St. Philip Benizi on September 10, 2022. The parish Staff page also lists parish support roles including the office secretary and caretaker who keep the parish running day to day. Becoming a Catechist is encouraged; catechists must complete Safe Environment Training and be fingerprinted.
- Fr. Nobert Jean-Pierre — Pastor (installed 2022)
- Parish secretary
- CCD Director
- Caretaker (Facilities)
Visiting & Contact
St. Philip Benizi Catholic Church sits at 710 S. Main Street, Belle Glade, FL 33430, in the Palm Beach County Glades region. The parish office can be reached at (561) 996-3870 during weekday business hours. Anyone interested in becoming Catholic, registering as a parishioner, or joining a ministry is encouraged to call the parish office or visit the website for contact information and forms.
- Address: 710 S. Main St., Belle Glade, FL 33430
- Phone: (561) 996-3870
- Website: http://stphilipbenizi.com
- Office hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Nobert Jean-PierreParochial administrator from 2021; installed as pastor September 10, 2022 – present
A native of southwest Haiti, ordained a diocesan priest in Haiti in 2007 for the Diocese of Jérémie. Came to Florida's Diocese of Palm Beach and served at St. Joseph Parish in Stuart, Holy Name of Jesus in West Palm Beach, and Sacred Heart Parish in Lake Worth as parochial vicar before arriving at St. Philip Benizi. Draws his priestly spirituality from St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta and keeps a first-class relic of her.