Archdiocese of Miami
About Us
The Diocese of Miami was established on August 13, 1958, with 51 parishes, 65 diocesan priests, and 21 religious order clergy serving 185,000 Catholics across 16 counties in southern Florida. The rest of the state remained under the original Diocese of St. Augustine.
Today, the Archdiocese of Miami is home to over half a million Catholics in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe Counties. Mass is celebrated in a dozen languages, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the community. The Archdiocese includes 109 parishes and missions, including the National Shrine of Our Lady of Charity, and 68 schools, including 14 high schools and one virtual school.
Mission
The Archdiocese of Miami exists to proclaim Jesus Christ with faith, hope, and love in the communities of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties, and to serve the faithful and the most vulnerable with compassion and integrity.
We are committed to:
- Spiritual formation: Guiding Catholics of all ages through prayer, sacraments, and faith-filled programs.
- Catholic education: Providing Christ-centered learning for nearly 37,000 students in 68 schools and through St. Thomas University.
- Social and health services: Caring for the poor, elderly, sick, immigrants, and those in need through Catholic Health Services and Catholic Legal Services.
- Respect for life: Upholding the dignity of every human being from conception to natural death.
- Evangelization: Sharing the Gospel in our multicultural community and supporting missionary outreach.
- Justice and solidarity: Standing with the marginalized and building a caring, faith-filled community.
- Clergy support and vocations: Encouraging priests, deacons, and religious to serve, and fostering new vocations to strengthen our local Church.
Together, we live Christ’s love and bring hope to all.
Our Leaders
Archbishop Thomas Wenski
Archbishop Wenski has dedicated over 40 years to ministry, embracing the priesthood as a life of joyful sacrifice and service. A South Florida native and son of Polish immigrants, he is known for his humor, fluency in multiple languages, and deep commitment to immigrant communities.
He spent 18 years serving Haitian Catholics, learning Creole, founding missions, advocating for refugees, and creating the first Creole-language Catholic newspaper in the U.S. Passionate about social justice, he champions the dignity of the poor, the unborn, and all newcomers.
As Archbishop of Miami since 2010, he has reopened parishes, advanced pastoral renewal through a diocesan synod, and continues to be a compassionate voice for migrants, families, and the universal call to holiness.
Episcopal Motto: Omnia Omnibus (1 Corinthians 9:22) – “I have become all things to all in order to save at least some.”
Archbishop Emeritus John C. Favalora
Ordained in 1961, Archbishop Favalora became the third Archbishop of Miami in 1994. A strong advocate for immigrants—particularly Haitians—he consistently defended their rights and dignity. He guided the Archdiocese through major initiatives such as the Vision 2000 endowment, which surpassed its $108 million goal, and strengthened Catholic formation through programs like Fountain of Grace.
Episcopal Motto: Deus Providebit – “God will provide.”
Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado
Born in Lima, Peru, Bishop Delgado left a successful business career to pursue his vocation to the priesthood. After immigrating to the U.S., he completed seminary studies in Miami with honors and was ordained in 1996. He served in parishes across South Florida and earned a PhD in practical theology, focusing on participatory parish leadership.
Appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Miami by Pope Francis in 2017, he continues to serve the Archdiocese with dedication and pastoral care.
Episcopal Motto: Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat (Philippians 4:13) – “I can do all things through Him who strengthens
