Saint Katharine Drexel
Founded in 2001 • Home to over 5,294 families and active parishioners in Weston, Florida
Our History
St. Katharine Drexel Parish was established on July 1, 2001, with Father Paul E. Edwards as administrator. That same month, he conducted introductory meetings about the new parish and shared his vision for its future. Over 200 people attended these meetings, held in both English and Spanish.
In August 2001, twenty parishioners each dedicated more than twenty hours of service preparing a mailing to over 14,000 households announcing the parish’s arrival. The first Masses were celebrated at Indian Trace Elementary School on Sunday, September 16, 2001, just days after the tragic events at the World Trade Center. Over 1,500 people attended: 669 at the English Mass and 889 at the Spanish Mass.
On Sunday, March 3, 2002, the parish celebrated its first St. Katharine Drexel Feast Day at Markham Park. The event included an outdoor Mass presided over by then-Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Wenski, followed by a parish picnic with food and games. This celebration continues each year around March 3, the feast day of St. Katharine Drexel.
As the parish approached its first anniversary, Father Edwards invited parishioners to become “Founding Members”, committing to lay a solid foundation for the parish community and to extend God’s Kingdom in this part of the world.
On September 15, 2002, after successful negotiations to rent space at 2700 Glades Circle, the parish moved into its own place of worship. Plans to build a permanent church were sadly interrupted when Father Edwards was diagnosed in August 2005 with a malignant brain tumor, which led to his passing on April 22, 2006.
From September 2005 to May 2006, the parish was led by two temporary administrators: Father Andrzej (Andrew) Pietraszko, who served until December 2005, and Father Jorge Bello, who followed until May 2006. Father Pedro M. Corces was appointed administrator in May 2006 and became pastor on March 25, 2007.
In April 2010, Father Corces was succeeded by Father Enrique Delgado, who worked closely with parishioners to raise the funds needed to build the parish’s first permanent home, a multipurpose building. Located on the parish’s permanent site at 2501 South Post Road, the new building was dedicated on February 16, 2014.
The parish has experienced significant growth since its founding. In 2002, the religious education program had 114 children enrolled; by 2012, that number had grown to 700. While some founding members have relocated, the parish continues to flourish through the influx of new families.
On June 6, 2022, Msgr. Enrique Delgado was succeeded as pastor by Father Omar Ayubi
A Community of Ministries
Our parish thrives thanks to the commitment of over 5,000 registered families, who share their time, talent, and treasure to build a stronger Church. Parish life is enriched by a wide variety of ministries, including:
- Liturgical Ministries: Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Choirs, and Altar Servers
- Faith Formation and Catechesis: Programs for children, youth, adults, and RCIA
- Youth and Young Adult Ministries
- Family and Marriage Ministries
- Social Outreach and Service Committees: Caritas, Food Pantry, Pro-Life support, Bereavement, and Prayer Ministries
- Community and Cultural Groups: Knights of Columbus, Catholic Women’s Group, Prayer Shawl Ministry, and more
Spiritual Retreats
The parish offers several transformative retreat experiences, such as the Emmaus Retreat for women and men, in both English and Spanish, as well as retreats for marriages and families. These programs provide moments of prayer, reflection, and renewal—helping parishioners deepen their relationship with Christ and one another.
Solidarity Saturday – Helping Our Neighbors
Every Saturday morning, parish volunteers organize “El Mercadito” (The Little Market) to support individuals and families in need. This initiative reflects our mission to live the Gospel through concrete acts of love, charity, and service.
Building the First Catholic School in Weston
Looking to the future, our parish is committed to building the first Catholic school in the city of Weston—a milestone project that will serve as both an educational and spiritual legacy for generations to come. We invite the entire community to join us in making this vision a reality.
Our Mission
To love God, to serve our neighbor, and to grow together as one family in Christ.
Through our ministries, retreats, outreach, and community projects, Saint Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish continues to embody the living Gospel—rooted in faith, guided by service, and united in love.
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