About St. Stephen · Miramar, Florida
St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church is a multi-ethnic Roman Catholic parish in Miramar, Florida, belonging to the Archdiocese of Miami (Southeast Broward Deanery). It began in 1953 as a mission of the Church of the Little Flower in Hollywood and was formally established as an independent parish on September 29, 1956, with Bishop Joseph P. Hurley dedicating the first church building on January 15, 1956. After being served by the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate for 45 years (1968–2013), the parish returned to direct archdiocesan care and today celebrates Mass in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole under the motto 'One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.' The parish is the mother church from which five other South Broward parishes — Annunciation, Nativity, St. Bartholomew, St. Bernadette, and St. Boniface — were later founded.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Stephen the Protomartyr (first Christian martyr, deacon of the early Church at Jerusalem, stoned to death c. AD 34)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Franky Jean (diocesan)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (Southeast Broward Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Stephen Protomartyr is one of the most linguistically and culturally diverse parishes in the Archdiocese of Miami, celebrating the Eucharist in English, Spanish, and Haitian Creole every weekend under the motto 'One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.' It is a true mother parish of South Broward — five surrounding parishes (Annunciation, Nativity, St. Bartholomew, St. Bernadette, and St. Boniface) were founded from it — and it has a long tradition of serving the poor through its active St. Vincent de Paul Society food pantry and a Spanish Legion of Mary. Daily Eucharistic Adoration in the chapel, weekly Spanish Masses, an annual Respect Life walk, vibrant liturgical ministries (ushers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, choir) and a warm Hispanic–African-Caribbean community make it a fitting spiritual home for Catholics from many backgrounds in the Miramar area.
Mass times at St. Stephen
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM (English, Spanish & French/Creole)
- Other times by appointment
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 8:45 AM – 6:45 PM
- Adoration in the Rectory: Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 8:30 PM
- Spanish Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: First Friday of each month, beginning at 8:00 PM and ending with the 7:45 AM Mass in the Church
About St. Stephen Protomartyr
St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church is a tri-lingual, multi-ethnic parish of the Archdiocese of Miami located in the South Broward deanery in Miramar, Florida. The parish's mission statement, written by Fr. Stephen Conserva, OMI, describes the community as 'a local congregation of the Catholic Church in the Archdiocese of Miami' called 'to witness to Jesus our Lord in the profession of our Catholic faith, as individuals, in our families and in the church community, by words, worship and Catholic action.' It gives priority to the worship of God in the Sacraments, to the Christian formation of children, youth and adults, and to the ministries of Christian service both within the parish and to those who live around it. Today the parish lives out that mission under the motto 'One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism.'
- Full name: St. Stephen Protomartyr Catholic Church
- Diocese: Archdiocese of Miami, Southeast Broward Deanery
- Mission statement author: Rev. Stephen Conserva, OMI
- Parish motto: 'One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism'
History & Heritage
The parish's roots go back to September 6, 1953, when 250 Catholics of West Hollywood and Miramar gathered for Mass in an unfinished community center on Glenn Parkway. The parish was formally established in 1956 with the dedication of the church by Bishop Joseph P. Hurley and the appointment of Fr. Robert Schleffen as first pastor. After twelve years under diocesan priests, Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll invited the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to take over pastoral administration in 1968; the Oblates remained for 45 years, returning the parish to archdiocesan care on July 1, 2013. The 1991 35th-anniversary refurbishment — designed by Fr. Alex Roque, OMI, with stained glass by Sister Diane Couture, SSJ — produced the present worship space. The parish is the mother church of five South Broward parishes: Annunciation, Nativity, St. Bartholomew, St. Bernadette, and St. Boniface.
- September 6, 1953 — first Mass, community center on Glenn Parkway
- April 24, 1954 — ground blessing by Fr. Donleavy off State Road 7
- July 10, 1954 — first Mass in temporary building on the new site
- January 15, 1956 — Bishop Joseph P. Hurley dedicates the church
- August 12, 1956 — Fr. Robert Schleffen becomes first pastor
- 1956 — St. Stephen Catholic School opens (Sisters of St. Joseph)
- 1968 — Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) assume pastoral care
- 1991 — 35th-anniversary refurbishment; new sanctuary, narthex, chapel, cry room, gift shop, organ and stained glass
- August 1992 — Hurricane Andrew transforms demographics
- 2009 — Parish school closes; building now leased to Somerset East Preparatory Academy
- July 1, 2013 — Oblates return parish to Archdiocese of Miami
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation for children, youth and adults is one of the parish's three stated priorities. The Religious Education office (954-962-8801) coordinates catechetical programs (Catecismo) in English and Spanish, supports families preparing for First Communion and Confirmation, and serves as the contact point for the parish's Baptism preparation classes. Adult Bible studies, retreats, and prayer groups are also offered throughout the year.
- Religious Education Office: 954-962-8801
- Baptism class: Saturday 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM in the Church (the day before Baptism)
- Baptisms celebrated at 2:00 PM
- Catecismo / CCD programs in English and Spanish
- Adult Scripture study, retreats, and prayer groups
Liturgy & Music
The Parish Liturgy Committee coordinates all aspects of the parish's worship: ushers, lectors, altar servers, musicians and choirs, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, and decorators. The 1991 refurbishment added a new sanctuary, narthex, chapel, cry room, choir rehearsal room, a new Allen organ, and a complete sound system, allowing the parish to support Mass in three languages plus devotions. The eight main stained-glass windows and the 'Creation' tapestry by Sister Diane Couture, SSJ are focal points of the worship space.
- Parish Liturgy Committee
- Choir and music ministry (Allen organ)
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Ushers / Hospitality Ministers
- Lectors and altar servers
- Cry room for families
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Stephen is known for the breadth of its lay ministries. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a food pantry and emergency-assistance program with food distribution at the church, and a Spanish-language arm of the same society assists Hispanic neighbors. The Spanish Legion of Mary, the Respect Life committee (which organizes an annual walk each January), a gift shop staffed by volunteers, and a Homeless Ministry round out the parish's outreach.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — food pantry, emergency aid, home visits
- Spanish Legion of Mary
- Respect Life (Respeto a la Vida) — annual walk in January
- Gift Shop — volunteer-staffed
- Homeless Ministry
- Catholic Charities Legal Services referral
- Ushers & Hospitality Ministers
Architecture, Art & Sacred Space
The present worship building began as the smaller, front half of today's structure dedicated by Bishop Hurley in 1956; it was enlarged within a few years to fit the growing congregation. The interior was comprehensively redesigned and refurbished for the parish's 35th anniversary in 1991 by Fr. Alejandro (Alex) Roque, OMI, who had spent a decade as a South Florida architectural designer before becoming an Oblate. The refurbishment produced a new sanctuary, narthex, daily chapel, cry room, gift shop, electronic carillon and choir room with a new Allen organ. The eight main stained-glass windows and the hand-woven tapestry 'The Creation' in the daily chapel were made by Sister Diane Couture, SSJ, in a minimalist style that uses symbols and gestures to teach themes such as peace, reconciliation and the Good Samaritan. Around the chancel, images of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, and the Greek icon Our Lady of Perpetual Help are venerated on one wall, while the opposite wall holds a shrine of the Lord of the Miracles (Señor de los Milagros), a Peruvian devotion. A golden-hued Marian painting in the daily chapel is the work of Fr. Roque himself.
- Stained-glass windows and 'Creation' tapestry — Sister Diane Couture, SSJ
- Sanctuary, narthex, daily chapel, cry room — designed by Fr. Alex Roque, OMI (1991)
- Allen organ and electronic carillon
- Marian images: Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Our Lady of Perpetual Help
- Shrine of the Lord of the Miracles (Señor de los Milagros)
- Golden-hued Mary painting in the daily chapel — Fr. Roque
St. Stephen Catholic School
The parish school opened in 1956 under the direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph, with first classes held inside the church building itself. A dedicated school building opened for the 1957–58 school year and grew to two buildings serving grades 1 through 8. After more than five decades of operation, declining enrollment tied to changing demographics and the economic downturn led to the school's closure in 2009 — the same year nine other schools of the Archdiocese of Miami closed. The former school campus is now leased to Somerset East Preparatory Academy, a public charter school.
- Founded 1956; staffed by Sisters of St. Joseph (SSJ)
- First classes held in the church building; dedicated school building opened 1957
- Eventually served Pre-K through 8th grade across two buildings
- Closed in 2009 along with nine other Archdiocese of Miami schools
- Campus now leased to Somerset East Preparatory Academy
Mother Parish of South Broward
Because of its size and central location in the State Road 7 corridor, St. Stephen became the mother church from which several daughter parishes were later founded. Today the parish family tree includes five daughter communities across west and south Broward County, and the parish continues to share its tri-lingual, multi-ethnic character with the wider region.
- Annunciation Parish
- Nativity Parish
- St. Bartholomew Parish
- St. Bernadette Parish
- St. Boniface Parish
Contact & Visiting
The Rectory Office is at 6044 SW 19th Street, Miramar, FL 33023, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM. The church building itself is located at 2000 S. State Rd 7 (US 441), Miramar, FL 33023. The main parish phone is (954) 987-1100 (fax 954-966-9881); after hours a voicemail service returns calls the next business day. The parish publishes a weekly bulletin with the full Mass schedule, ministry news, and announcements, and Sunday 11:00 AM (English) and 12:45 PM (Spanish) Masses are livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page.
- Rectory: 6044 SW 19th Street, Miramar, FL 33023
- Church: 2000 S. State Rd 7, Miramar, FL 33023
- Phone: (954) 987-1100 | Fax: (954) 966-9881
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
- Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]
- Facebook: facebook.com/StStephenParish
- Weekly bulletin published online
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Robert Schleffen1956 (first pastor)
Diocesan priest; commissioned as first pastor of St. Stephen the Protomartyr on August 12, 1956; celebrated the first Eucharist as an independent parish separated from Little Flower.
- Rev. T. J. Geary
Diocesan priest; served during the first twelve years of diocesan leadership.
- Rev. James F. Nelan
Diocesan priest; served during the first twelve years of diocesan leadership.
- Rev. Vincent Cashman
Diocesan priest; served during the first twelve years of diocesan leadership (last of the diocesan pastors before the Oblates arrived).
- Rev. William McGuire, OMI1968–
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; first OMI pastor after Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll invited the Oblates to take over pastoral administration in 1968.
- Rev. Joseph Schwab, OMI
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; served during the 45-year Oblate administration (1968–2013).
- Rev. Joseph Milford, OMI
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; served during the Oblate administration.
- Rev. John Hanley, OMI
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; served during the Oblate administration.
- Rev. James Taggart, OMI
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; served during the Oblate administration.
- Rev. Stephen Conserva, OMI
Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate; author of the parish's current mission statement in English and Spanish.
- Rev. Alejandro (Alex) Roque, OMI
Cuban-born Missionary Oblate; worked as an architectural designer in South Florida for ten years before becoming an Oblate; served as associate priest at St. Stephen beginning 1988; designed and oversaw the 1991 35th-anniversary refurbishment; later served as pastor. Also a painter (the golden-hued Marian painting in the daily chapel is his work).
- Fr. Patrick Charles2013–
Diocesan priest; oversaw the transition back to archdiocesan care after the Oblates returned the parish on July 1, 2013.
- Fr. Franky Jean
Diocesan priest; current pastor. Also served as the first OMI pastor of St. Philip Neri Parish in Miami Gardens (1991).