Prince of Peace

Pros

• The church is described as really good, with amazing young groups.
• It is a pretty peaceful church with a warm, intimate atmosphere.
• Visitors feel well cared for by the church.
• The Lent Mass is beautiful and features a direct message from the priest.
• The early-morning gatherings invite Christian reflection, and the Chapel of Adoration is beautiful.
• The Spanish Mass is beautiful and joyful, with a precise Advent sermon and joyful singing.
• Father Giovanni Pe?a is an excellent leader; the community is united and welcoming.
• The parish offers English and Spanish Mass times, making it accessible.

Cons

• They refused to baptize a child because the family lived outside their neighborhood, implying a lack of God's equality.
• They questioned a caller about living far away and did not welcome someone willing to drive 35 minutes.
• The staff and priest were disrespectful and rude toward grieving guests, and discouraged confession for those not already having one.
• The pastor told a dog walker to leave, citing private property, and was not friendly about it.
• The reviewer felt the church was unwelcoming and said it should change its ways or even close its doors.
• They preach equality but do not apply it.
• There was not enough parking.

Review

The Prince of Peace Church and its community come through in a remarkably multifaceted way. Across many comments, worshippers paint a picture of a place that is at once intimate and lively: a small, pretty church that feels welcoming from the moment you step onto the campus, where the atmosphere invites quiet reflection and joyful praise. The praise lines are consistent: a warm, friendly atmosphere, a strong sense of unity, and a commitment to faith that feels personal rather than perfunctory. People consistently highlight the warmth of the community - especially the young groups - and the care they receive from the church family as a major strength.

Liturgy and sacred celebrations are another recurring theme. Several reviewers singled out the Mass as beautiful and meaningful, with particular emphasis on the Spanish-language services. Attendees describe masses that feel peaceful, intimate, and spiritually engaging, with listeners noting how the liturgy and preaching align with the liturgical seasons - Advent, Lent, and Holy Week in particular receive praise for clarity, focus, and emotional resonance. The parish's devotion to the Blessed Sacrament is also highlighted, with a new Chapel for Adoration described as beautiful and conducive to prayer. The presence of a well-structured bilingual schedule, including English and Spanish Mass times, is cited as a practical and inclusive strength that helps families and parishioners participate fully.

A strong thread running through the feedback is the sense of community and leadership. Many reflect on Father Giovanni Pe?a as a central figure who unites the parish and has spearheaded improvements that uplift the entire church. Descriptions of the priesthood and parish leadership as excellent or outstanding appear repeatedly, painting a picture of a clergy that is both approachable and purposeful. The church is described as a place where all ministries work together smoothly, creating a "beautiful community" that supports parishioners through life's milestones - availability during liturgical seasons, organized events, and a shared mission of faith. The sentiment is that Prince of Peace is more than a building; it is a living, breathing community where people feel they belong and are encouraged to grow in their faith.

For many, the spiritual experience is tangible and sustaining. Reviews speak of moments of deep peace, contemplative prayer, and renewed faith - experiences described as grounding and restorative. A Holy Week visit to the temple was especially moving for one reviewer, who recounted the solemnity of the moment and the evocative decoration that heightened the Passion narrative. The atmosphere of the church - its gardens, its quiet spaces, and the beauty of its sacraments - contributes to a sense of God's presence that parishioners say they carry back into daily life. Even smaller touches, like the warmth of the community and the gentle pace of worship, are remembered as factors that make faith feel accessible and personal.

Not every experience, however, was uniformly positive. A couple of reviews raise concerns about inclusivity and hospitality in particular moments. One prospective parent recounts a painful experience when a request for baptism for his son, based on distance from the parish, was met with a response that felt discriminatory and out of step with a message of God's equality. The sentiment - expressed in terms of being told that residency would determine eligibility - speaks to a misalignment between practice and principle for that reviewer. Another account describes a scene in which a family felt unwelcome during a time of grief, with staff and a priest perceived as unsympathetic and even disrespectful during an urgent, emotionally fraught moment. There are also practical complaints - some mention insufficient parking, confusion over the mass schedule, and a caution about private-property concerns that left one visitor feeling discouraged about returning. A few other remarks point to a sense that, in some moments, warmth was overshadowed by curt or less compassionate behavior.

Taken together, the stories reveal a church that is deeply meaningful to many of its members while also facing real human challenges that come with growth and change. The overwhelming tone is one of gratitude and admiration: people celebrate the church's beauty, its peaceful spaces, its multilingual liturgy, and its engaged, caring clergy. Yet there is a call for continued attention to hospitality, inclusivity, and practical logistics - things like parking, clear communication, and compassionate handling of sensitive moments. In that sense, Prince of Peace appears to be a vibrant, evolving parish that many already regard as their spiritual home and that others see as having the potential to become even more inviting and equitable for all who walk through its doors.

Overall, the church emerges as a place of strong faith, beautiful worship, and a welcoming, if imperfect, community. It is described as a sanctuary of peace where the faithful - newcomers and long-time parishioners alike - find spiritual nourishment, support, and a sense of belonging. The leadership's vision, the beauty of the sacraments, and the energy of the parish ministries combine to make Prince of Peace a meaningful landmark for worship and growth, while the candid critiques remind the church to continually embody the very principle of equality and grace that is at the heart of its mission.

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)