Palmetto Bay welcomes first Catholic preschool

By Priscilla Greear - Florida Catholic

PALMETTO BAY | When Floredenis Brown became principal of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard School in Cutler Bay in 2019, she prayed for the Lord to bless her ministry and expand her reach. Her prayer was literally answered in August with the opening of the school’s North Campus early learning center in Palmetto Bay.

“I’ve always prayed the prayer of Jabez that the Lord would expand our territory.  I never thought in a million years it would be a second campus,” said Brown. “I prayed that prayer from First Chronicles 4:10 when I first began my career as a teacher over 25 years ago. Since then, not only has the number of students I am currently serving more than doubled, but my staff has grown tremendously and the north campus is now open,” Brown said.

Continuing its academic growth trajectory with 65 schools and counting, the Archdiocese of Miami celebrated the Holy Rosary St. Richard Preschool opening and arrival of Catholic education in Palmetto Bay with a Mass and ribbon-cutting Oct. 5, 2025. The new north campus preschool, located at Our Lady of the Holy Rosary–St. Richard Church in Palmetto Bay, now has 17 children enrolled and serves children from three months to pre-K4, with automatic admission to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard School in Cutler Bay, which serves pre-K2 through eighth grade.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the Mass, concelebrated with the pastor, Father Yosbany Alfonso and parochial vicar, Father Baby Edakkulathoor. In addition to Brown, participants included Jim Rigg, archdiocesan superintendent of Catholic Schools; Karyn Cunningham, Palmetto Bay Mayor; Madison Estape, north campus preschool director; parishioners, teachers and parents. Before the liturgy, Father Alfonso said the congregation had prayed a lot for the preschool, which has brought new life to the church.

For a long time, the space near the office was used just two hours a week for catechesis. “When I came in January, I realized we needed to give new life to this building,” recalled Father Alfonso. So they started the process of obtaining permission and everything needed to open a preschool. “We are very excited. We are giving to Palmetto Bay a new opportunity to raise children in a Catholic school. The closest Catholic school is St. Louis Covenant (in Pinecrest) and their preschool is full.

In his homily, the archbishop praised the community, as well as Brown’s leadership and hard work in expanding the school and building students’ faith foundations from infancy. He commended the church’s resilience since Holy Rosary Church and School of Cutler Bay were established in 1959 and St. Richard in 1969. Both churches were heavily damaged by Hurricane Andrew and eventually merged in 2010 after Holy Rosary’s building was condemned in 2007, forcing parishioners to worship in a tent. The school remained in Cutler Bay and the congregations united on the Palmetto Bay campus.

“Let us give thanks for the mustard seeds of faith that have been planted in the hearts of Christ’s faithful. Over the years the parish community has survived some big challenges,” the archbishop said.

Later, Brown and Mayor Cunningham snipped the ribbon at the preschool entrance. Then the archbishop sprinkled water on and blessed the building. Cunningham, who attended St. Rose of Lima School in Miami Shores, affirmed the importance of prayer and worship. She also presented a plaque marking the milestone for Palmetto Bay.

Brown expressed gratitude for the support of Father Alfonso, Rigg and Mayor Cunningham. “Father Alfonso said, ‘it’s time, no time like now.’  Dr. Rigg called me. The two got together and gave me this challenge and here we are today!” said Brown.

They quickly updated the building, from deep cleaning and buying new furniture to installing a playground and murals. Brown recalled how, the previous pastor, Father William Sullivan, had challenged her as the new principal, to increase enrollment —which was then around 240 students — and open a second campus.

Indeed, the school has grown to over 500 students. “My faith has become unwavering over the last eight years at Holy Rosary St. Richard because I have seen progress and miracles take place. God’s presence is so strong, and the blessings are so abundant that it is almost tangible,” said Brown.

Jennifer Saavedra of Cutler Bay attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony with her husband, David; her daughter, London, who attends Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard School; and her five-month-old baby, Leia. Since the new preschool starts at pre-K2, Leia has already been enrolled.

“I was very excited and relieved,” Saavedra said adding that she was looking for a preschool for her baby daughter. “It made the search much easier because we were already part of the Holy Rosary St. Richard family. I love the family and community feel the school provides to parents. It’s really advanced education and also a lot of values instilled in them. Last year in pre-K4 my other daughter learned to add and subtract and some reading. It’s rigorous but nurturing.”

Lector Janna Rodhe has been an Our Lady of the Holy Rosary-St. Richard parishioner for 27 years. “We have been through a lot for many years especially with the parishes combining,” she said. “They kept our school. Having a school here is the final mission to unite the churches.”