Prince of Peace in Miami, FL

Pros

• The church has a warm, intimate, and welcoming atmosphere.
• The Mass is beautiful and serene, with a peaceful liturgy.
• The Chapel of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is beautiful.
• The community is kind, united, and supportive.
• Father Giovanni Pe?a is an excellent priest and leader.
• Masses are offered in English and Spanish, providing inclusivity.
• The sermons are heartfelt, meaningful, and well-delivered.
• The church fosters quiet reflection and a strong sense of God's presence.

Cons

• They wouldn't baptize the son because the family lived in Hallandale and not in their neighborhood.
• They questioned why someone would call about joining a faraway church, implying distance mattered.
• The staff were disrespectful to guests during a funeral Mass, showing a lack of compassion.
• The pastor told a dog-walker to leave, and he was not very nice about it.
• There was not enough parking.
• The priest's remarks during Mass were rude and disrespectful, and the church discouraged confessions.

Review

Prince of Peace Church in Miami is best suited for families and individuals who want a peaceful, intimate parish experience with strong, steady leadership, and a clear sense of parish unity. It appeals to worshippers who value a liturgy that feels serene and personal, with the option of both English and Spanish Masses and a recent focus on reverent spaces like the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. The community thrives when there is a committed priest at the helm and active ministries that knit people together in service and support. For seniors or caregivers seeking a large, bustling campus with sprawling facilities, this parish may feel too small or too quiet; for those prioritizing a tight-knit, spiritually focused environment, it can feel like a sanctuary.

Pros are compelling enough to outweigh most drawbacks for the right seeker. The atmosphere is consistently described as peaceful, intimate, and spiritually uplifting. Parish life appears cohesive, with a sense of unity across ministries andengaged leadership from Father Giovanni Pe?a, who is repeatedly praised for clear, heartfelt preaching and strong pastoral direction. The Masses - especially in Spanish - are highlighted as meaningful, with many noting beautiful liturgy, sincere homilies, and a climate that invites reflection. A new Chapel for the Blessed Sacrament and a general sense of order contribute to an enhanced sense of sacred space, while bilingual offerings broaden accessibility for families with mixed language needs. These strengths can translate into meaningful routines for seniors seeking regular, faith-filled engagement.

Yet, several cautions warrant consideration before choosing Prince of Peace. Parking is a recurring practical concern, with reviews noting it as a potential limitation on busy days. Instances of uneven hospitality also surface; while many describe the parish as welcoming and nurturing, at least one report recounts an experience of feeling unwelcome or mishandled during a family grievance, and another recounts efforts to control access that felt unfriendly. A single account of staff or leadership appearing terse or less empathetic toward a guest underscores that hospitality can vary by moment or leadership posture. A family's sense of belonging can hinge on these interpersonal dynamics as much as on liturgy or programming, making hospitality quality a real factor in suitability.

These mixed realities influence how the core advantages line up against the drawbacks. The church's strengths - quiet beauty, strong priestly leadership, and a unified, active community - often offset the parking and occasional hospitality missteps by delivering a consistently resonant spiritual experience. For seniors who prize predictable, dignified worship and a parish that visibly coordinates ministries to support parish life, the positives tend to outsize the negatives. The bilingual environment and the intimacy of a smaller church help foster authentic connections among congregants, which can be especially important for older adults seeking ongoing social and spiritual support without the overwhelm of a large campus.

For families evaluating options, practical steps matter. A visit across multiple Masses will illuminate how welcome guests feel at different times and with various staff members, and it will reveal how efficiently the parish handles peak periods. Speaking with Father Giovanni about pastoral priorities, sacraments scheduling, and baptism policies - especially if there are distance or residency considerations - clarifies what the parish can accommodate. If easy parking, consistently warm hospitality, and larger-scale programming are nonnegotiable, alternatives with bigger campuses or more flexible guest reception may be preferable. If, instead, a serene, close-knit parish with heartfelt preaching and bilingual liturgy aligns with the family's spiritual rhythm, Prince of Peace is a strong candidate.

In the end, Prince of Peace is a compelling choice for seekers who want a small, beautiful church that offers meaningful Mass, devoted pastoral leadership, and a unified community. It is less well-suited for those who require abundant parking, uniformly flawless hospitality, or a high-traffic parish experience. The community's practical strengths - peaceful worship, accessible liturgy for Spanish- and English-speaking families, and a growing sacred space - root it as a reliable, spiritually nourishing option. For the right ensemble, the decision is clear: embrace the serene, devoted life Prince of Peace fosters; for others, screen alternatives that emphasize easier access and more consistent guest reception.

This area of Miami, Florida is a bustling and convenient location with various amenities within close proximity. Residents can enjoy the serene surroundings of North Trail Park or take a leisurely stroll at Southern Estates Park. There are also several pharmacies nearby for easy access to healthcare needs. Those looking for dining options will find a range of restaurants like The Cheesecake Factory and Islas Canarias Restaurant just a short drive away. For spiritual fulfillment, there are several places of worship in the area such as Our Lady of Guadalupe and St Dominic's Catholic Church. Additionally, there are cafes for a relaxing cup of coffee and medical facilities such as Pediatric Associates Doral and Nicklaus Children's Hospital for any healthcare requirements. Transportation is easily accessible with the Okeechobee Metrorail Station nearby, making it convenient for seniors to travel around the city. Overall, this area offers a blend of convenience, recreation, and essential services suitable for senior living.

Parks

• North Trail Park (0.5 miles)
• Southern Estates Park (3 miles)
• Concord Park (3.4 miles)
• Millers Pond Park (4 miles)
• Morgan Levy Park (4.2 miles)
• Westwind Lakes Park (5.5 miles)
• Kendall Indian Hammocks County Park (6.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Walgreens (1.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Navarro Pharmary (2.5 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.6 miles)
• Walgreens (2.6 miles)
• Latina Pharmacy (2.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• The Cheesecake Factory (1.8 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Islas Canarias Restaurant (2.4 miles)
• Chick-Fil-A (3.4 miles)
• McDonald's (3.7 miles)
• Fritanga Monimbo Fountainbleau (3.7 miles)
• Subway (3.7 miles)

Places of Worship

• Our Lady of Guadalupe (2.1 miles)
• Bible Truth Chapel (5.9 miles)
• St Dominic's Catholic Church (7.3 miles)
• St Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (7.6 miles)

Cafes

• Panera Bread (4.2 miles)
• Moulin Rose Cake & Bakery Shop (6.4 miles)
• Panera Bread (6.6 miles)

Physicians

• Pediatric Associates Doral (4.3 miles)
• Valdes Rafael DDS (7.3 miles)
• UM Sylvester/Physicians at Kendall (7.4 miles)
• Nicklaus Children's Hospital (7.6 miles)
• Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute (7.8 miles)

Transportation

• Okeechobee Metrorail Station (8 miles)
• Concourse F (8 miles)
• American Airlines Admirals Club (8.1 miles)
• American Airlines Flagship Lounge (8.1 miles)
• Concourse E (8.1 miles)
• Turkish Airlines Lounge (8.2 miles)
• Skytrain Station 3 (8.2 miles)