About Our Lady of the Sign · Coconut Creek, Florida
Our Lady of the Sign is a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic parish in Coconut Creek, Florida, serving faithful of the Eastern Catholic tradition in northern Broward County. Belonging to the Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic, it celebrates the Divine Liturgy in the Byzantine rite with rich iconography, sung worship, incense, and communion under both kinds distributed by spoon. Though small — about 100 seats — the parish is multicultural and welcoming, with a worship schedule built around Saturday evening, Sunday morning, and Wednesday evening Divine Liturgies preceded by the Holy Rosary to the Theotokos.
- Established
- 1984 (mission established 1979)
- Patron
- Our Lady of the Sign (the Mother of God, named from Isaiah 7:14)
- Rector
- Rev. Fr. Martin Vavrak (also Administrator of St. Basil Byzantine Catholic Church, Miami)
- Diocese
- Byzantine Catholic Eparchy of Passaic (Ruthenian); geographically located within the territory of the Roman Metropolitan Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
Our Lady of the Sign offers a small, welcoming Byzantine Catholic home where the sung Divine Liturgy is celebrated several times a week amid incense, iconography, and a multicultural community. Parishioners pray the Rosary together before Liturgy, gather for parish-wide events like Vespers and the annual Blessing of Animals, and are invited to participate through the Parish Guild, trustee leadership, cantoring, and serving. A live prayer request and online contribution option make it easy to stay connected, whether visiting in person or from afar.
Mass times at Our Lady of the Sign
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays 4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
- Sundays 9:00 – 9:30 a.m.
- After each Divine Liturgy, and by appointment (call or email the parish office)
Our History
Our Lady of the Sign traces its origins to September 8, 1979, when Fr. Peter Lickman of St. Basil Byzantine Catholic Church in Miami celebrated the first Divine Liturgy in the home of a parishioner in North Broward County — a response to the gasoline shortage of the time. A civic center was rented, and weekly Liturgy continued there from 1980 until 1988. On March 25, 1984, the mission was formally established as a separate parish under the patronage of the Mother of God with the title 'Our Lady of the Sign,' taken from Isaiah 7:14. Bishop Michael Dudick of the Eparchy of Passaic invested diocesan funds and clergy to grow Byzantine Catholic ministry in Florida, enabling the parish to purchase roughly three acres in Coconut Creek in 1985. The renovated church building was occupied on August 28, 1988, and Bishop Dudick solemnly dedicated it on Sunday, August 28, 1989. An icon screen was added in 1993.
- 1979 — first Divine Liturgy in a parishioner's home (Fr. Peter Lickman)
- 1980–1988 — weekly Liturgy in a rented civic center
- March 25, 1984 — mission becomes a separate parish
- November 20, 1985 — closing on three-acre property in Coconut Creek
- August 28, 1988 — first Divine Liturgy in the new church
- 1989 — Bishop Michael Dudick solemnly dedicates the church
- 1993 — icon screen completed
- September 2023 — Fr. Michael Kane retires as first resident pastor
The Byzantine Ruthenian Tradition
Our Lady of the Sign belongs to the Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic Church of the Eparchy of Passaic, in full communion with the Bishop of Rome. The parish offers a distinctly Eastern Catholic experience of the same faith and sacraments shared with Roman Catholics. Visitors will find a richly sung Liturgy, an icon-screen sanctuary, the priest and people facing liturgical East together, and communion distributed by spoon under both kinds.
- Two main parts of the Liturgy: Liturgy of the Word and Liturgy of the Eucharist
- Singing of Psalms; recitation of the Creed; praying of the Our Father
- Extensive use of incense and entirely sung worship
- Priest and people face liturgical East together
- Richly colorful iconography
- Little Entrance (Gospel procession) and Great Entrance (gift procession)
- Epiclesis — calling down of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts
- Holy Communion under both kinds via a small spoon with bread and wine
- Roman Catholics fulfill their Sunday obligation at this Eastern Catholic Church
The Seven Holy Mysteries (Sacraments)
The Byzantine Catholic Church calls the seven sacraments the 'Holy Mysteries.' In the Eastern tradition the Mysteries of Initiation — Baptism, Chrismation (Confirmation), and First Holy Eucharist — are normally administered together, while Reconciliation, Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders, and Crowning (Matrimony) are received at other stages of life. Each Mystery is described in detail on the parish website.
- Baptism — initiation into the Christian community, cleansing of original sin
- Chrismation (Confirmation) — anointing with holy chrism by the priest; 'Seal of the Gift of the Holy Spirit'
- Holy Eucharist — Body and Blood of Christ; leavened bread and wine; communion under both forms
- Reconciliation — confession to a priest, absolution, and assigned penance
- Sacred Anointing — prayer of faith and healing for the sick
- Holy Orders — ordination of bishops, priests, and deacons by a bishop
- Holy Matrimony (Crowning) — the priest blesses and witnesses the union
Divine Liturgy & Weekly Schedule
Divine Liturgy (the Byzantine-rite Mass) is celebrated three times each week. The Holy Rosary to the Theotokos is prayed before every Liturgy, a long-standing parish tradition. Confession is heard before each weekend Liturgy and by appointment.
- Saturday Divine Liturgy — 5:00 p.m. (Holy Rosary 4:40 p.m.)
- Sunday Divine Liturgy — 10:00 a.m. (Holy Rosary 9:40 a.m.)
- Wednesday Divine Liturgy — 7:00 p.m. (Holy Rosary 6:40 p.m.)
- Confession — Saturdays 4:00–4:30 p.m., Sundays 9:00–9:30 a.m., after each Divine Liturgy, and by appointment
Devotions & Parish Calendar
The parish observes the regular Byzantine liturgical cycle, with special annual events such as the Blessing of Animals and occasional Vespers services. Parish Guild Meetings and other gatherings are scheduled periodically, and the calendar page lists upcoming Divine Liturgies by their title in the cycle (e.g., 'Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost').
- Holy Rosary before every Liturgy
- Vespers (select evenings) — 7:00 p.m.
- Annual Blessing of Animals
- Parish Guild Meetings — 6:00 p.m. as scheduled
- Liturgy / Mass Intentions available for the living or deceased ($20 suggested contribution)
Parish Administration & Leadership
The parish is led by Pastor Fr. Martin Vavrak, who also serves as Administrator of St. Basil Byzantine Catholic Church in Miami. Fred Wilson, a legal writer with dual training in law and choral conducting and head cantor since 2013, serves as Parish Manager & Cantor after a stint as Interim Administrator in 2023. Two trustees — Michael Donegan and Jon Cipyak IV — help govern the community, with Mr. Donegan also serving as Head Server and Parish Guild Co-Chair and Mr. Cipyak as Assistant Cantor.
- Fr. Martin Vavrak — Pastor and Administrator of St. Basil, Miami
- Mr. Fred Wilson — Parish Manager & Cantor
- Mr. Michael Donegan — Trustee, Parish Guild Co-Chair & Head Server
- Mr. Jon Cipyak, IV — Trustee & Assistant Cantor
Our Beliefs — Eastern & Roman Catholic Similarities
The parish's 'Our Beliefs' page explains both the shared Catholic foundation and the distinctive Byzantine-rite expressions of that faith. Eastern Catholics share the same Bible, Mysteries, faith teaching, and core elements of Liturgy with Roman Catholics, while expressing them through Byzantine beauty, solemnity, and joy. The page is intentionally written to welcome Roman Catholic visitors, making clear that a Roman Catholic can fulfill their Sunday and Sacramental obligation at Our Lady of the Sign.
- Liturgy of the Word — Psalms, readings, homily, Creed, Our Father, Holy Eucharist
- Liturgy of the Eucharist — Great Entrance, Epiclesis, communion under both kinds by spoon
- Eastern Catholics are 'under' the Pope of Rome
- A Roman Catholic fulfills their Sunday and Sacramental obligation here
Visit, Contact & Get Involved
The parish invites visitors, prayer requests, and online contributions. Visitors can join in person at any weekly Divine Liturgy, and the contact form accepts prayer requests and questions about services. The parish also offers online giving and a livestream.
- Address: 7311 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073
- Phone: (954) 429-0056
- Email: [email protected]
- Pastor email: [email protected]
- Parish Manager email: [email protected]
- Online: ourladyofthesign.org — contact form, prayer requests, and online giving
- All contributions are tax-deductible
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael Kane, Ph.D., LCSWfirst resident pastor through retirement in September 2023
First resident pastor of the parish after the 1988 move into the current church.
- Fred Wilson (interim)2023, between Fr. Kane's retirement and Fr. Martin's assignment
Head cantor since 2013; appointed Interim Administrator in 2023, then retained as Parish Manager & Cantor when Fr. Martin was assigned.
- Rev. Fr. Martin Vavrakcurrent pastor
Also serves as Administrator of St. Basil Byzantine Catholic Church in Miami.