About St. Thomas the Apostle · Miami, Florida
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church is a vibrant Roman Catholic parish in South Miami, Florida, rooted in the pillars of Faith, Family, and Service. Founded in 1959 and currently pastored by Fr. Sebastián Grisales Bedoya, with Fr. Cristhian D. Mendieta and Fr. Alejandro J. Rodríguez Artola serving as parochial vicars, the parish sits on roughly 18 acres of meditation gardens and serves a community known for its perpetual Adoration Chapel, multiple choirs, the St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School (an IB World School), and ministries such as the Breaking of the Bread outreach and the Jackson Children's Toy Drive. The parish belongs to the Archdiocese of Miami and offers Mass in English and Spanish, along with a robust school, faith formation, and service life.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Thomas the Apostle
- Rector
- Fr. Sebastián Grisales Bedoya
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Thomas the Apostle is a parish that takes worship, formation, and outreach seriously: a Perpetual Adoration Chapel open Monday through Friday, seven distinct choirs, an IB-recognized parish school, and active ministries like the Breaking of the Bread outreach and the Jackson Children's Toy Drive. Add to that daily and Sunday Mass in English and Spanish, weekly confession, RCIA, faith formation for every age, and an eighteen-acre campus of meditation gardens, and you have a community where families can put down roots. Visitors regularly note the warmth of the welcome and the depth of commitment of the parishioners who have shaped this parish for more than six decades.
Mass times at St. Thomas the Apostle
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM in the Church (also listed as 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM on the sacraments page)
- By appointment with a priest — contact the Parish Office
Adoration times
- Perpetual Adoration Chapel open Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Adorers commit one hour per week (per the Perpetual Adoration ministry page)
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church describes itself as rooted in three pillars: Faith, Family, and Service. The parish community is dedicated to celebrating the sacraments, growing in relationship with Jesus Christ, and serving others through worship, outreach, and parish life. Its vision is summarized by the line 'Where faith is strong, family is united, and service is a way of life.'
- Faith — the pillar that grounds us
- Family — the pillar that surrounds us
- Service — the pillar that moves us
- Motto: Faith, Family, Service
History of the Parish
Founded June 30, 1959 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll with Father Louis Roberts as founding pastor, the parish grew rapidly through the early 1960s. Father Patrick Slevin led construction of the church and school; the first Mass was celebrated in an unfinished, un-windowed church on Christmas midnight 1963. Subsequent pastors — Fathers Fenech, Konkol, and Kubala — expanded facilities, including the Mercy Wing (original building), the McCarthy Wing (1995) and the Carmelite Wing (2000). In September 2014 the school was recognized as an International Baccalaureate School.
- Founded 1959 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll
- First Mass: Christmas midnight 1963, in an unfinished church
- Church dedicated April 12, 1964
- McCarthy Wing dedicated October 1, 1995
- Carmelite Wing dedicated November 2000
- IB World School recognition: September 2014
Music & Liturgy
Music is an essential part of the parish's worship. The Music and Choir Ministry supports three ensembles — the Adult Choir, the Spanish Choir, and the Young Adult Choir — serving weekend Masses. The Archdiocese notes that the parish supports seven distinct choirs in total. Inquiries can be directed to Riuben Frometa at the rectory, 305-665-5600.
- Adult Choir
- Spanish Choir
- Young Adult Choir
- Contact: Riuben Frometa, 305-665-5600
Faith Formation & Sacraments
The parish prepares the faithful for the sacraments through Reconciliation (offered Saturdays 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM and by appointment), First Communion preparation, Marriage preparation, and Anointing of the Sick. Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist take communion to those unable to attend Mass, while the Ministry to the Sick and Homebound extends that care to South Miami Hospital, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and private homes — with training provided to any Minister of the Eucharist who would like to serve.
- Reconciliation — Sat 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM and by appointment
- Eucharistic Ministers to the sick and homebound
- Marriage preparation
- Baptism, Anointing of the Sick — via Parish Office
Outreach & Service
Service is one of the parish's three pillars. The parish community supports a Breaking of the Bread outreach program and an annual Jackson Children's Toy Drive, along with Gospel presentations and other evangelization activities. These efforts reflect the parishioners' dedication to serving those outside the parish walls and reaching out beyond South Miami.
- Breaking of the Bread
- Jackson Children's Toy Drive
- Gospel presentations
- Parish-wide service and outreach
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic School sits on the parish campus and has grown from its 1964 opening — kindergarten through fifth grade, staffed by the Sisters of Mercy — into a three-track-per-grade facility from Pre-K 2 through eighth grade. Two classroom wings, the McCarthy Wing (1995) and the Carmelite Wing (2000), expanded capacity. In September 2014 the school was recognized as an International Baccalaureate (IB) World School from Kindergarten through 8th Grade.
- Opened September 1964
- Originally staffed by Sisters of Mercy (Pittsburgh)
- Three tracks per grade, Pre-K 2 through 8th grade
- McCarthy Wing dedicated 1995; Carmelite Wing dedicated 2000
- IB World School since September 2014
Campus & Facilities
The parish occupies roughly 18 acres encompassing the church, the parish school, the rectory, and meditation gardens. The Archdiocese highlights a John Paul II Lake and avian sanctuaries among the landscaped grounds, while the parish's own history credits Father Kubala with developing the gardens. The Mercy Wing — the original 1964 building — still stands on the campus.
- 18 acres of meditation gardens
- John Paul II Lake and avian sanctuaries
- Mercy Wing (original 1964 building)
- Rectory and administrative building
Visit & Contact
St. Thomas the Apostle welcomes visitors and newcomers. The parish office and church are located at 7303 SW 64th Street, Miami, FL 33143, with a second parish line at 305-665-5600 (rectory). The parish describes its welcome message in three words: 'You Belong Here.'
- Address: 7303 SW 64th Street, Miami, FL 33143
- Phone: (305) 661-8591 (parish) / 305-665-5600 (rectory) / (305) 662-9034
- Archdiocese-listed address: 7377 SW 64th Street, Miami, FL 33143
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Louis Roberts1959–1961
Founding pastor, appointed by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll
- Fr. Patrick Slevin1961–1966
Built the church and parish school; first Mass Christmas 1963
- Fr. Francis Fenech1966–1968
Renovated original rectory and administrative offices
- Fr. Christopher Konkol1968 onwards
Implemented Vatican II; built multi-purpose family center and chapel
- Fr. Daniel I. Kubala1989–2013
Developed meditation gardens, new rectory, McCarthy Wing and Carmelite Wing
- Fr. Alejandro J. Rodríguez Artola2013–present (as listed on welcome page)
Appointed by Archbishop Wenski; parishioner and alumnus of parish school
- Fr. Sebastián Grisales Bedoyacurrent (per Archdiocese listing)
Current pastor per Archdiocese of Miami parish team page