About Our Parish

Boundaries:

West: SW 177th Avenue

East: SW 137th Avenue

South: SW 56th Street

North: SW 8th Street

Mother of Christ Church was instituted by Archbishop Edward A. McCarthy on June 15, 1983, and Father Robert Palmer was appointed the founding Pastor. A temporary office was opened on the premises of St. Kevin Parish, thanks to the generosity of Father Ignacio Morras, the Pastor of St. Kevin at that time.

During the first three months several Home Masses were celebrated. The first Home mass was celebrated in the home of Ramon and Magda Barzana. Subsequent masses were celebrated in the homes of Ray and Norma Santiago, Betty Gleason and Ramona Mitchelson. On September 4, 1983 the first Sunday Masses were celebrated in the cafeteria of Bent Tree Elementary School at 10:30am in English and 12 noon in Spanish. The first baptism was also held this day during the Spanish Mass.

On January 15, 1984 the first Rectory was ready for occupancy. The living room, dining room, bedroom and patio furniture along with the refrigerator, dishes, utensils, pots and a handmade bedroom lamp were all donated by the parishioners and friends of the Parish.

In March of 1984, four couples were asked to form the St. Vincent De Paul Society; John & Maria Rita, Feliciano & Concha Rubiera, Jose & Lila Fernandez-Llebrez, and Marcos & Hannia Angles. During the month of May 1984, Mercy Ordetx became the founding director of the Religious Education Program for the children in our parish. In June of 1984, Al and Marge Hernandez became the first Youth Directors. It was not long before more than fifty young people were filling up the rectory living room-dining room on Sunday evenings with their meetings and planning sessions.

In September of 1984 an evening mass at 7:00 pm was added to the schedule and in June of 1985 a second evening mass was added at 5:30 pm. Reflecting back on the celebration of Mass each Sunday in Bent Tree Elementary School, one would have to agree that it required a great amount 0f commitment on the part of the volunteer workers.

Although there were many challenges such as the first Mass when the air conditioner did not work and our First Midnight Mass at the Pavilion in Lakes of the Meadows and the temperature dropped below freezing, we have grown to be a parish of over 3,000 active families and 45 ministries.