We've Come This Far By Faith..."

Oblates' St. Francis Xavier Church
celebrates 80 years of Catholic presence
in Overtown, Florida.

We’ve come this far by faith,” proclaimed Fr. John Cox, O.M.I., as he began his homily at St. Francis Xavier Church in Overtown, Florida, on August 19, 2007. His homily was one of celebration, and the people of Oblate-run St. Francis Xavier had true cause for celebration. It was the 80th Anniversary of the founding of their church, which has come to be known as the “Mother Church,” of the black community in south Florida.

In the 1920s, black Catholics attending Gesu Church in downtown Miami were not treated with the dignity and love that all God’s people deserve. Due to the “Jim Crow” laws, they were required to sit in the back pews of the church. Their children weren’t allowed to attend the Catholic school. Even the Sacrament of First Holy Communion was tainted with the unrighteous segregation laws. Their children received their first Eucharist in the basement of the church while white children received the Sacrament on the main altar upstairs.

Filled with the desire to worship together in dignity and dissatisfied with being relegated to the “colored only” pews, a small group of black Catholics banded together to form their own Catholic Church in 1927. With the help of two Priests they began celebrating Mass in private homes and storefronts. Soon after, plans were underway to build a permanent structure to serve as a church, a parish hall, as well as a classroom for Sunday School and Catechism classes. Parishioners sold dinners and bricks to raise funds and, soon, a wooden building was constructed in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood and named St. Francis Xavier/St. Mary of the Missions. The congregation grew steadily, taking in new members from throughout the greater Miami area. In the following years, St. Francis Xavier became an oasis of prayer and a beacon of hope in the face of segregation, poverty, large-scale displacement of people, and the struggle for civil rights.

Another great milestone was marked in 1935, when St. Francis Xavier Parish opened the first black Catholic school in Miami. Many black families welcomed the opportunity to have their children educated in the values and traditions of the Catholic Church.

In 1983, the historical parish came under the care of the Missionary Oblates. Since that time, the parish has continued to grow both spiritually and physically. The parish has continued to thrive, even in the midst of great challenges.

In 1992, the school was almost closed because they did not have enough children who could afford tuition. The diocese could no longer support the school financially. Embracing the tenacious spirit of the brave founders of their Church, the people of St. Francis refused to let that happen. They rallied the support of people throughout the area to keep their school alive. One philanthropist in particular, Michael Carricarte Jr., came to their aid, offering financial assistance and helping the parish set up a private school voucher program which helped pay student tuition.

Today, St. Francis Xavier School continues its proud tradition of fostering local children with excellent Catholic education which offers the community hope for the future.

In 2002, just five days before Christmas, a fire severely damaged much of the historic church. The damage was extensive and the costs to repair the church were more than $600,000. Yet, somehow, the resilience of the people of St. Francis proved to overcome. The whole community came together with great pride and unwavering determination to resurrect and refurbish their historical church. Through persistence and great faith, they were able to raise the funds to repair their beloved church, which has been the haven of Catholic faith for generations.

After Fr. John’s homily, the whole congregation expressed their joy and pride as they sang in unison the spiritual song, “We’ve Come This Far by Faith.” It is a song that truly encompasses the history and the spirit of St. Francis Xavier. Their faith has been tested in many ways through the years and yet their faith has helped them overcome. They sang with hearts filled with joyous pride - pride in their beginnings, pride in their resilient spirituality, and pride in the family they have become. Congratulations St. Francis Xavier!