Blessed Sacrament

Parish Identity & Mission

The parish describes itself as "a faithful community in service to all." Its vision statement reads: "We, the people of Blessed Sacrament Parish endeavor to become a unified community of service who are deeply committed to Christ. We hope to be a friendly caring parish in which the gifts and talents of all young and old, are recognized and graciously used to nourish others." Father Bob teaches that the Eucharist is "profound gratitude" and that "sharing it with others is part of our patrimony," so most parish ministries flow outward from the Sunday and weekday Masses.

History

Established in 1960 under Father Joseph Cronin and incorporated as a parish on August 1, 1961 with Father Bernard Boudreau as first pastor; Mass was first celebrated at the Beachcomber Restaurant and then at Baird Case Funeral Home until the parish church was built and dedicated in 1963. A rectory, a social hall (1968) and a bell tower with three bells (1977) followed, and in 1996 the interior of the church was completely gutted and rebuilt around a new sanctuary layout and a fan-shaped seating plan. The Woman's Club, formed in 1960, organized parish fund-raising for more than thirty-five years.

• Founded 1960 / parish status 1961
• First church dedicated 1963
• Social hall 1968
• Bell tower 1977
• Major renovation 1996

Architecture & Worship Space

The 1996 renovation kept only the original roof and walls. The sanctuary was moved from the north end to the west side of the building; new faceted-glass walls in the atrium let the morning sun into the worship space; and seating was changed from a nave to a fan shape so that even those in the last rows feel close to the sanctuary and to one another. Etched-glass angels adorn the space, and three bells hang in the bell tower added in 1977.

• 1996 interior renovation
• Fan-shaped seating
• Faceted-glass atrium walls
• Bell tower with three bells (1977)

Clergy & Staff

Pastor Father Robert F. Tywoniak ("Father Bob"), M.S.W., C.S.W.M. — born 1957 in New Jersey, ordained 1983, ten years as director of Catholic Charities' child welfare division — is assisted by another priest known to parishioners as "Fr. Kris." Lay staff are listed in the weekly bulletin as Music Director Daniel J. Perez, Office Manager Yvonne Tawfik-Mestre, Maintenance Coordinator Wayne Myers, and Website/Media contact Kevin Lawson.

• Rev. Robert F. Tywoniak, M.S.W., C.S.W.M. — Pastor
• Fr. Kris — Associate priest
• Daniel J. Perez — Music Director
• Yvonne Tawfik-Mestre — Office Manager (Ext. 9)
• Wayne Myers — Maintenance Coordinator
• Kevin Lawson — Website/Media ([email protected])

Faith Formation & OCIA

The parish runs a Faith Formation program for children and a year-long Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for adults and older youth seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church. Father Bob is personally involved in OCIA; inquiry sessions traditionally begin during the summer with classes starting in the fall. The parish website notes that "if you are aware of some yearning or urging from within yourself that says, 'I need greater fullness and fulfillment of life,' perhaps it is the loving Lord who is calling you."

• Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA / RCIA)
• Faith Formation for children
• Confirmation preparation
• Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist

Sacraments

Beyond OCIA and confirmation prep, the parish celebrates the sacraments of Baptism, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick, and extraordinary Eucharistic ministers bring Communion to the homebound and hospitalized. Parishioners considering marriage are encouraged to contact the parish office well in advance of a desired date.

• Baptism
• Confirmation
• Eucharist (including to the homebound)
• Marriage preparation
• Anointing of the Sick

Outreach & Charity

The oldest ministry at Blessed Sacrament is its St. Vincent de Paul Society, which has grown into a regional chapter cooperating with other parishes of the deanery. Every Friday from 1:30 PM to 3:15 PM the parish runs a drive-thru grocery distribution for hungry families; the society also helps with crisis utility and rent notices. A Lenten "Operation Utility Bag" fundraiser invites parishioners to fill a bag with coins over the Easter season to help pay utility bills for SVdP clients. A monthly Ascending Life program provides local senior citizens with lunch and recreation, and the youth group is supported by an annual parish garage sale that attracts hundreds of neighbors.

• St. Vincent de Paul Society (Friday 1:30–3:15 PM drive-thru groceries, phone 954-254-4821)
• Crisis utility / rent assistance
• Operation Utility Bag (Lenten fundraiser)
• Ascending Life — monthly seniors program
• Annual parish garage sale for youth ministry

Land Ministries

Described by the Archdiocese as Blessed Sacrament's "largest physical ministries," the parish actively stewards two tracts of land. The two-acre nature preserve behind the church complex is mowed just once a year and otherwise left as the original "high and dry meadowland" that once covered the area. To the east of the church lies three-acre Cherry Creek Park, with trees, a meandering path and a creek bank, which Blessed Sacrament maintains in partnership with the City of Oakland Park.

• 2-acre nature preserve behind the church
• Cherry Creek Park — 3 acres east of the church (city partnership)

Music & Liturgy

Music is led by Music Director Daniel J. Perez. Members serve as greeters, ushers, lectors, cantors and instrumentalists, and extraordinary Eucharistic ministers take Communion to the homebound and hospitalized. Father Bob posts a weekly Sunday Scripture video reflection to help parishioners prepare for the liturgy.

• Music Director: Daniel J. Perez
• Greeters, ushers, lectors, cantors, instrumentalists
• Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers to the homebound

Community Life & Prayer Gatherings

Beyond liturgical ministries, Blessed Sacrament nurtures community through Scripture Sharing on Thursday evenings, prayer breakfasts for men and women, and various small prayer and Bible-study groups. Father Bob often teaches in workshops for the faithful that the Eucharist is "profound gratitude" — "a whole welling up of gratitude from within ourselves."

• Scripture Sharing — Thursdays 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
• Men's Prayer Breakfast (annual)
• Women's Prayer Breakfast (annual)
• Prayer groups and Bible study

Getting Involved & Stewardship

The parish supports time, talent and tithing stewardship, with online giving available. Practical ways to get involved include volunteering for SVdP's Friday grocery distribution, joining the music ministry, teaching Faith Formation, becoming a lector or extraordinary Eucharistic minister, helping maintain the nature preserve or Cherry Creek Park, or supporting the youth group's annual garage sale.

• Online giving / stewardship
• Volunteer with St. Vincent de Paul
• Music and liturgical ministries
• Faith Formation catechists and aides
• Land-stewardship volunteers
• Youth group support

Visit & Contact

The parish is at 1701 E Oakland Park Blvd, Oakland Park, FL 33334 (mailing is sometimes shown as Fort Lauderdale). Parish office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM and Friday 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM; the office phone is (954) 564-1010 with extension 9 for the Office Manager, and fax (954) 566-0301. The official parish email is [email protected] and the website is blessedsacramentrcc.org. The parish also posts on Instagram at @bsccfortlauderdale.

• Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 AM – 3:30 PM; Fri 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
• Phone: (954) 564-1010 (Office Mgr Ext. 9)
• Fax: (954) 566-0301
• Email: [email protected]
• Web: blessedsacramentrcc.org
• Instagram: @bsccfortlauderdale