St. Louis at 60: 'Feels like Sunday every day of the week'

By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic

Photography: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC

PINECREST | Officially founded Aug. 30, 1963, St. Louis Parish began with 663 young families, many of whom were previously members of Epiphany Parish in South Miami. They celebrated their first Sunday Mass two weeks later, Sept. 15, in the un-air-conditioned auditorium of Palmetto Senior High.

Two years later, on Aug. 22, 1965, Miami’s Bishop Coleman Carroll dedicated St. Louis’ temporary church, one of many milestones to come in a parish that, 60 years later, remains every bit as vibrant as in 1963.

“It’s great to see God’s grace continuing in the devotion of this community. It’s still vibrant and a great place that attracts people to love the Lord,” said Father David Russell, who came from St. Maurice Parish (now St. Maurice at Resurrection) in Dania Beach, to become St. Louis’ fourth pastor in 1974. “Folks are active in this parish, they have a sense of ownership in their church, they support each other. It’s a vital community and that’s what really is a bedrock: the universal love of the Lord.”

On Sept. 10, 2023, Archbishop Thomas Wenski visited St. Louis to celebrate that legacy with priests, staff, community leaders and parishioners, both past and present. In his homily at the 60th anniversary Mass, he noted that “to tell the story of this parish is to tell the story of people who, under the leadership of some extraordinary pastors, created an equally extraordinary community of faith, hope, and love.”

Father Gabriel Vigués, named just nine months ago as St. Louis’ seventh pastor, is cognizant of that six-decade legacy and uses that history to steer the parish towards its next 60 years.

“St. Louis is very much alive!” he said. “I wish this parish continues on its current path of being a welcoming beacon filled with service for others.”

For those in attendance, young and old, their parish's diamond jubilee held a special meaning.

“We have a very active ministerial life at the church. Here it feels like it’s Sunday every day of the week,” said Sebastian Ibarraga, a parishioner for 20 years.

Fellow parishioner Iris Piedra came to the Mass with family looking to celebrate the one thing that, to her, is the most special about the parish. “Even after 60 years we have such a growing community here with all of our ministries. The togetherness of our parish is beautiful.”

In fact, according to the parish history, the 25th anniversary celebration took place “at the James L. Knight Convention Center on November 19, 1988. Nearly 4,500 people attended the only Mass that weekend with the assistance of the new Metro-Rail which stayed operating late that night for the first time to facilitate the event.”

Among the milestones for the parish were the dedication of the permanent parish church, Sept. 27, 1980; the establishment of a pre-school in 1992 which slowly expanded to today’s pre-K2 through eighth grade “covenant school” and into a new building in August 2001.

Other notable parish achievements are their numerous ministries geared to men, women, children and young adults. According to the parish website, over 50 ministries are offered yielding a sense of stewardship and fostering relationships and spiritual connections.