About St. Vincent · Margate, Florida
St. Vincent Catholic Church is a trilingual (English, Spanish, and Portuguese) Roman Catholic parish in Margate, Florida, belonging to the Archdiocese of Miami. Founded in 1960 to serve the growing Catholic population of northwest Broward County, it is now a vibrant, multicultural community welcoming worshippers from across Latin America, the Caribbean, Brazil, and as far as Asia. Since October 2009 the parish has been pastored by Scalabrini Missionaries (Missionaries of St. Charles), a religious institute dedicated to the pastoral care of migrants and refugees. Weekend Masses are offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, with parallel faith-formation tracks and ministries in all three languages.
- Established
- 1960
- Patron
- St. Vincent (parish patron as listed on official records; the parish is also home to a St. Vincent de Paul Society conference)
- Rector
- Rev. Hugo Laerte Santana Cardoso, C.S. (Administrator, Scalabrini Missionaries — appointed Oct. 27, 2023)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Vincent is one of the few truly trilingual Catholic parishes in Broward County, with full Mass schedules, faith formation, and ministries in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. It has been a Scalabrini parish since 2009 — a congregation whose very charism is the pastoral care of migrants and refugees — so newcomers from any country find a community ready to welcome them. Daily Mass in three languages, a robust CCD program, an active St. Vincent de Paul Society, Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Marriage Encounter, Charismatic Renewal, Legion of Mary, youth groups, and a livestreamed liturgy make it easy to plug in at almost any stage of life.
Mass times at St. Vincent
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (English, and by appointment)
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Spanish)
- Saturday 7:00 PM – 7:25 PM (Portuguese)
- Sunday 9:00 AM – 9:25 AM (Portuguese)
- Sunday 6:30 PM – 6:55 PM (Portuguese)
Adoration times
- Portuguese Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: First Thursday of the month, 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
- Portuguese Confession and Adoration: Every Wednesday 5:00 PM – 9:15 PM
History & Heritage
St. Vincent was conceived in the late 1950s when the Archbishop of Miami identified a pastoral need in growing northwest Broward County. Land at NW 18th Street and Cathedral Drive was purchased, and on October 2, 1960, Bishop Coleman Carroll celebrated the first Mass under a donated tent with Father Joseph Beaumont, the first permanent pastor. A first church was dedicated on March 19, 1961 (seating about 500), and in 1972 Father William Gunther began a 19-year pastorate during which the Community Center and the present church were built. The present church — featuring 44 stained glass windows and a 20,000-piece mosaic of the Risen Christ — was dedicated on January 26, 1980, by Archbishop Edward McCarthy. After Hurricane Wilma's October 2005 damage was repaired, the parish entered a new chapter in October 2009 when the Scalabrini Missionaries assumed pastoral care and absorbed parishioners from St. Luke (Coconut Creek) and the Brazilian Mission of Our Lady of Aparecida (Pompano).
- Founded: October 2, 1960 (first Mass under a tent)
- First church dedicated: March 19, 1961
- Longest-serving pastor: Father William Gunther, 1972–1991 (19 years)
- Present church dedicated: January 26, 1980
- Hurricane Wilma repairs: completed thereafter
- Scalabrini Missionaries arrived: October 2009
Clergy & Staff
The parish is currently administered by the Scalabrini Missionaries. The current Administrator, appointed by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective October 27, 2023, is Rev. Hugo Laerte Santana Cardoso, C.S., supported by Parochial Vicars Rev. Victor Córdova González, C.S. and Rev. José Francisco Ferreira. Lay staff keep the parish office, bulletin, sacristies, and maintenance running.
- Rev. Hugo Laerte Santana Cardoso, C.S. — Administrator
- Rev. Victor Córdova González, C.S. — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. José Francisco Ferreira — Parochial Vicar
- Ana Novochadlo-Stein — Secretary / Bulletin Editor
- Astrid Bustos — Bookkeeper
- Frank Guido — Sacristan (English)
- Alex Adame — Sacristan (Portuguese)
- Carmen Guzman — Sacristan (Spanish)
- Javier Peralvo — Maintenance
Faith Formation (CCD & RCIA)
The Religious Education program at St. Vincent prepares children in grades 1–8 for First Communion and Confirmation across all three language tracks. Classes for Grades 1–2 are held Saturday 9:00–10:30 AM; Grades 3–8 meet Wednesday 6:00–7:30 PM, with Sacramental Preparation classes for First Communion and Confirmation offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. The parish also runs a full RCIA for adults in both English and Spanish.
- CCD English/Spanish Coordinator: Blanca Hernandez (954-543-3688); [email protected]
- CCD English Asst.: Lurdimar Stefanon (754-235-5713)
- Portuguese First Communion: Sirlene Oliveira (954-232-0916)
- Portuguese Confirmation: Regis Souza (561-229-8294) / Barbara Francio Lima (561-528-4014)
- RCIA English: Fred Schweitzer (954-973-0454), Thursdays 7:30 PM, Community Center Room 4 (Sept.–May)
- RCIA Spanish: Mariela Fajardo
- Tuition assistance available — no child excluded for financial hardship
Ministries & Groups (English/Spanish)
Parishioners can serve as Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Sacristans, or on the VIRTUS safeguarding team. The Knights of Columbus meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 7:00 PM in the De Paul Center. The Council of Catholic Women (CCW) is led by Flo McGrath, the St. Vincent de Paul Society by Ray Young and Fred Schweitzer, and an Arts & Crafts Group and Church Religious Store round out lay life. Marriage Encounter is offered in Portuguese and Spanish, and the parish supports Respect Life North Broward as well as the "A Meal for Hope" outreach.
- Knights of Columbus — William Rodriguez (646-321-3364)
- Council of Catholic Women — Flo McGrath (954-227-8330)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — Ray Young (954-663-1371) / Fred Schweitzer
- Arts & Crafts Group — Claudia Bueno / Edwina Fernandes
- Lectors — Evalina Van Lengen (954-261-1265)
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion — Eileen McLaughlin (954-254-4149)
- VIRTUS — Maiara Souza, Sirlene Oliveira
- Ushers & Finance Committee — Frank Pelliccione
- Baptismal Preparation — Suzanne Schweitzer (954-790-9603)
- Religious Store — Teresa Toranzo, Maria Barbalho (Lola), Maria Molfese (open before/after Sunday Masses)
Ministries & Groups (Portuguese)
The Portuguese-track community (Ministérios em Português) is fully integrated into parish life, with its own liturgy, music, catechesis, and outreach. Highlights include the Renovação Carismática Católica (Catholic Charismatic Renewal), JOBUC young-adult youth ministry (ages 18+, Fridays 7:00 PM at the De Paul Center), the Men's Rosary (Terço dos Homens), Encounter Matrimonial Mundial (EMM), the Pingo de Luz Choir, Bible Reflection Groups, Prison Ministry (Pastoral Carcerária), Acolytes, and a Tithing team (Dízimo).
- Charismatic Renewal (Renovação Carismática Católica)
- JOBUC (Portuguese Youth 18+) — Fridays 7:00 PM, De Paul Center
- Terço dos Homens (Men's Rosary)
- Encontro Matrimonial Mundial (EMM) — Marriage Encounter
- Coral Pingo de Luz (Choir) — Ricardo Bazzanella (954-832-6803)
- Music Ministry leads — Marcio Santana, Letícia Lopes de Melo
- Pastoral Carcerária (Prison Ministry) — Niuceia Barbosa / Ricardo Cukier
- Bible Reflection Groups — Claiton & Sonia Lenkiu
- Acolytes (Portuguese)
- Tithing team (Dízimo) — Marcela Lima, Adauri Andrade, Rosileia Santos
Outreach & Charity
True to the Scalabrini charism of welcoming migrants, St. Vincent operates the PAIS — Proyecto Asistencia Inmigrante Scalabrini — immigrant-assistance project, alongside the parish St. Vincent de Paul Society, Respect Life North Broward, and "A Meal for Hope." These efforts pair direct material help (food, clothing, utility assistance) with advocacy and spiritual support for newcomers, the unhoused, families in crisis, and the unborn.
- PAIS — Scalabrini Immigrant Assistance Project
- St. Vincent de Paul Society (parish conference)
- Respect Life North Broward — 2151 E. Commercial Blvd., Suite 301, Fort Lauderdale (Orys Reyes, 954-565-0229)
- A Meal for Hope
- Charismatic Renewal and Marriage Enrichment pastoral care
Sacraments & Sacramental Preparation
Baptism requires completion of the parish Baptismal Preparation Class (English coordinator Suzanne Schweitzer, 954-790-9603; Portuguese coordinators Tifani Ramos and Barbara Francio Lima). First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the CCD program in English (Grades 1–8), Spanish, and Portuguese tracks; tuition assistance is available. Marriage preparation is supported through the Marriage Enrichment program offered in Portuguese and Spanish and the World Marriage Encounter (EMM).
- Baptism: prep class required — call to arrange
- First Communion / Confirmation: CCD + Sacramental Preparation in three languages
- Marriage: Marriage Enrichment (Portuguese & Spanish) / Encounter Matrimonial Mundial
- RCIA (English & Spanish) for adult initiation
Facilities, Visiting & Contact
St. Vincent worships and gathers on a single campus anchored by the 1980 church (with 44 stained glass windows and the Risen Christ mosaic) and connected to the Community Center / De Paul Center (eight classrooms + large hall with kitchen, completed in the late 1970s). A separate chapel is used for daily English Mass and the Friday Divine Mercy Chaplet. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM; Saturday and Sunday the office is closed. Weekend Masses are livestreamed on the parish website, allowing homebound parishioners to participate.
- Main Church — weekend Masses (three languages) and livestream
- Chapel — daily English Mass, Friday Divine Mercy Chaplet
- Community Center / De Paul Center — CCD classrooms, Knights of Columbus hall, JOBUC meetings
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM (Sat–Sun closed)
- Phone: (954) 972-0434
- Email: [email protected]
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Beaumont1960 – first pastor
First permanent pastor; celebrated the inaugural Mass under a tent on October 2, 1960 alongside Bishop Coleman Carroll.
- Father William Gunther1972 – 1991
Longest-serving pastor (19 years); oversaw construction of the Community Center and dedication of the present church on Jan. 26, 1980, with its 44 stained-glass windows and 20,000-piece Risen Christ mosaic.
- Scalabrini MissionariesOctober 2009 – present
Missionaries of St. Charles assumed pastoral care of the parish in October 2009. Father Volmar Scaravelli, C.S. served as parochial vicar (Oct 2009 – Sep 2011) and later as pastor (Aug 2021 – April 25, 2022, died of an apparent heart attack).
- Rev. Hugo Laerte Santana Cardoso, C.S.Oct. 27, 2023 – present
Current Administrator; appointed by Archbishop Thomas Wenski.