About St. Bonaventure Catholic Parish · Davie, Florida
St. Bonaventure Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in Davie, Florida, in the Archdiocese of Miami, founded on July 1, 1985, by Monsignor Edmond Prendergast, an Irish-born priest who continues to serve as pastor more than four decades later. The parish worships in a 31,000-square-foot, 1,500-seat church dedicated in 2004, featuring coral and Jerusalem stone walls, an arching ceiling, a rose window, and stained-glass windows illustrating the Apostles' Creed that were handmade by parishioners. A bilingual (English/Spanish) community with a parish school (PK3–8), religious education, and extensive outreach ministries including St. Vincent de Paul, it serves the southwest Broward community from its campus at 1301 SW 136th Avenue.
- Established
- 1985
- Patron
- St. Bonaventure of Fossombrone (Doctor of the Church, the 'Seraphic Doctor')
- Rector
- Rev. Msgr. Edmond (Ed) Prendergast
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami
Why belong here
St. Bonaventure is a well-established, bilingual (English/Spanish) parish community in southwest Broward where families can grow in faith through daily and weekend Masses, a strong Religious Education program (with public-school children welcomed September through April), the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), a PK3–8th-grade parish school, weekly Bible studies, and lifelong devotions such as Adoration on Wednesdays. The parish is also notable for its outreach — a St. Vincent de Paul food-and-clothing pantry, Respect Life, visits to the sick and homebound, prison ministry, the Legion of Mary, and a Justice Ministry — making it easy for newcomers to put faith into action. The 1,500-seat coral-and-Jerusalem-stone church, with its rose window and Apostles' Creed stained glass handmade by parishioners, is a beautiful, welcoming space that has anchored Davie for four decades.
Mass times at St. Bonaventure Catholic Parish
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesdays: 6:30 PM (Spanish)
- Wednesdays: 8:30 AM (English)
- Wednesdays: 5:30 PM (English)
- Wednesdays: 5:30 PM (Spanish)
- Saturdays: 8:30 AM (English)
- Anytime by appointment
Adoration times
- Wednesdays: 5:00 PM (followed by 5:30 PM confessions)
Parish History
St. Bonaventure Catholic Parish was established July 1, 1985, when its founding pastor, Monsignor Edmond Prendergast, a native of County Tipperary, Ireland, began inviting families to form the new community. The parish first worshipped at Flamingo Elementary School, celebrated its first Sacraments within its first year, and grew so steadily that within four years it built a temporary church (today's Parish Center). A permanent 1,500-seat church — with coral and Jerusalem stone walls, a rose window, and a crucifix paired with handmade Apostles' Creed stained glass — was dedicated on March 21, 2004.
- 1985 — Parish established July 1; first Masses July 13–14 at Flamingo Elementary.
- 1987 — First Confirmation by Archbishop McCarthy, 35 candidates.
- 1989 — Temporary church (Parish Center) dedicated July 15.
- 1990 — Rev. Mr. Art DeNunzio becomes the first permanent deacon.
- 1993 — Ministry Center blessed; Preschool opens; Grotto dedicated.
- 1995 — Apostles' Creed stained-glass windows completed; Parish Center installed them first.
- 1996 — St. Bonaventure Catholic School opens August 25.
- 2004 — Permanent 31,000 sq. ft., 1,500-seat church dedicated March 21; stained glass moved into it.
- 2007 — New Parish Administration Offices open.
- 2008 — 'Bona-Dome' completed.
- 2023 — Fr. Ed's 50th Jubilee of Ordination, June 10; Fr. Paul Pierce assigned in July.
- 2026 — Pope Leo XIV names Fr. Ed a Chaplain to His Holiness (title of Monsignor); Fr. David Zallocco appointed Parochial Vicar.
Our Clergy & Staff
Monsignor Edmond Prendergast, the founding pastor, still leads the parish more than 40 years after its establishment. He is assisted by Parochial Vicars Fr. Paul Pierce and Fr. David Zallocco, weekend-assisting priests Msgr. Michael Hippee and Fr. Luis Garcia, visiting priests Fr. Francis Roof and Fr. Peter Claver Sutinga, and Deacons Joseph Pearce, Domingo Vasquez, Nestor Cardenas, and Cu Than. The lay staff, led by Parish Administrator Christine Daiber and School Principal Lisa Kempinski, includes directors of Religious Education, finance, IT, maintenance, and the parish's Religious Articles Store.
- Rev. Msgr. Edmond Prendergast — Pastor
- Rev. Fr. Paul Pierce — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Fr. David Zallocco — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Msgr. Michael Hippee — Weekend Masses
- Rev. Fr. Luis Garcia — Weekend Masses
- Rev. Fr. Francis Roof — Visiting Priest
- Rev. Fr. Peter Claver Sutinga — Visiting Priest
- Deacons: Joseph Pearce, Domingo Vasquez, Nestor Cardenas, Cu Than
- Christine Daiber — Parish Administrator
- Lisa Kempinski — School Principal
- Michael Lawlor — Assistant Principal
- Sue McCrea — Director of Religious Education
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes for children in public school run from September through April, with registration in June and August. Adults seeking full communion with the Catholic Church, or Catholics who have not yet received Confirmation and First Communion, are invited into the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA): an eight-month formation starting the second Tuesday of September, 7:30–9:00 PM, with lectures and open discussion, culminating at the Easter Vigil when participants receive the Sacraments they are lacking. Two ongoing Bible studies accompany the program — Deacon Nestor's in-person study and Deacon Joe's weekly Zoom group — both emphasizing Church-approved Scripture scholarship.
- Religious Education for children — registration in June and August, classes September–April
- OCIA (formerly RCIA) — 8-month program, 2nd Tuesday of September, 7:30–9:00 PM, culminating at Easter Vigil
- Bible Study with Deacon Nestor (in person)
- Bible Study with Deacon Joe (weekly via Zoom)
St. Bonaventure Catholic School
St. Bonaventure Catholic School opened August 25, 1996, with the building dedicated by the archbishop on May 25, 1997. Grounded in the spirituality often summarized as 'Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words,' the school is a Christ-centered community serving children from PK3 through 8th grade, with the first 8th-grade class graduating in May 2002 and the 25th class expected in 2026. The Education Center that houses the school was reached by ground-breaking February 4, 1996.
- Grades: PK3 through 8th
- Founded: 1996, dedicated May 25, 1997
- School motto inspired by St. Francis: 'Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary use words.'
- First 8th-grade class graduated May 2002
- 25th graduating class expected May 2026; 30th school anniversary August 2026
- Phone: (954) 476-5200 — [email protected]
Spiritual Life & Liturgical Ministries
Beyond the regular Mass and confession schedule, the parish sustains a robust liturgical life with weekly Adoration on Wednesdays at 5:00 PM, a Spanish First-Friday Mass at 7:30 PM in honor of the Sacred Heart, and a Saturday evening Folk Mass at 5:30 PM. Trained lay liturgical ministers serve the parish at every Mass: ushers, lectors, altar servers, and Eucharistic ministers.
- Adoration — Wednesdays at 5:00 PM
- First Friday 7:30 PM Spanish Mass — Sacred Heart devotion
- Saturday 5:30 PM Folk Mass — English
- Eucharistic Ministers
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Ushers
Outreach & Social Justice
The parish translates Catholic social teaching into action through several parish-based outreach ministries, continuing a tradition that began in its founding years. The St. Vincent de Paul Society operates a food-and-clothing pantry ([email protected], 954-476-4338) serving anyone in need regardless of religion, with strict confidentiality. Visits to the sick, homebound, elderly, and imprisoned accompany a Respect Life ministry that includes Project Rachel for post-abortion reconciliation and public-policy advocacy on life issues. The parish's Justice Ministry cultivates Catholic Social Justice Teaching and prophetic engagement with the community, supported by the Legion of Mary.
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — food and clothing pantry
- Respect Life / Respeto a la Vida — including Project Rachel post-abortion reconciliation
- Justice Ministry — Catholic Social Teaching advocacy
- Legion of Mary
- Visits to the Sick, Homebound, and Elderly
- Visits to the Imprisoned
Sacraments
Through the parish, the faithful can receive the seven Sacraments of the Church. Baptisms are scheduled after preparation, First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion are prepared via Religious Education or the parish school, Confirmation is celebrated as a parish event, and marriage requires contacting the parish office. The Anointing of the Sick is brought to the hospitalized and homebound, and OCIA welcomes those exploring full communion with the Catholic Church.
- Baptism
- Confirmation
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion
- Marriage
- Anointing of the Sick (with homebound/hospital visits)
- Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)
Architecture & Art: The Apostles' Creed Windows
The 14 stained-glass windows illustrating the Articles of the Apostles' Creed are the parish's signature artistic feature. They were designed, cut, and set by roughly 40 parishioners who built their own workshop to learn the crafts in the months leading up to Holy Week 1995; they were first installed in the Parish Center (the temporary church) and then carefully moved into the new permanent church after its 2004 dedication. The sanctuary pairs them with two complementary Christ images: behind the altar, a crucifix shows Christ victorious as he yields his spirit to the Father, while a large rose window above depicts the resurrected Christ robed in white. The 31,000-square-foot church features walls of coral and Jerusalem stone, an arching ceiling, and a layout in which the structural columns were pushed to the corners to give every one of the 1,500 seats a clear view of the altar.
- 14 stained-glass windows — handmade by parishioners, Holy Week 1995
- Originally installed in Parish Center, moved to new church in 2004
- Crucifix behind altar (Christ victorious) and large rose window (Resurrected Christ)
- Walls of coral and Jerusalem stone, arching ceiling, 1,500 seats
Facilities & Campus
St. Bonaventure's 1301 SW 136th Avenue campus is anchored by the 2004 permanent church and includes the original Parish Center (the 1989 temporary church), the Preschool/former Ministry Center (1993), the Education Center housing the parish school (1996–97), new Parish Administration Offices (opened 2007), and the 'Bona-Dome' (completed October 2008). A Marian Grotto on the grounds was dedicated in the summer of 1993 and remains a devotional stop for visitors and school children.
- Permanent church dedicated 2004
- Parish Center (former temporary church) — 1989
- Ministry Center / Preschool — 1993
- Education Center / School — 1997
- Parish Administration Offices — 2007
- Bona-Dome — 2008
- Marian Grotto — 1993
Anniversary & Community Life
Pastoral life at St. Bonaventure is shaped by long-running traditions of parish-wide celebration that have grown alongside the community since 1985. The parish has observed its 10th, 20th, 25th, 35th, and now its 40th (July 2025) anniversaries, with the 40th under the banner 'Forever Young.' Family Festival reached its 30th edition in November 2021, and Monsignor Prendergast's Golden Jubilee of Ordination was marked on June 10, 2023.
- Annual anniversary celebration each July; 40th in 2025 ('Forever Young')
- Family Festival — 30th anniversary in November 2021
- Monsignor Prendergast's 50th Jubilee of Ordination — June 10, 2023
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
St. Bonaventure welcomes visitors and newcomers. The parish office can be reached at (954) 424-9504 or [email protected], the Parish Administration Office at (954) 236-7981, the school at (954) 476-5200, and the Religious Education Office at (954) 476-5204. The Religious Articles Store on campus is staffed by volunteers. Anyone interested in joining a ministry — liturgical, outreach, formation, or social — is invited to contact the parish office or visit the parish's Ministry pages.
- Church Office: (954) 424-9504 — [email protected]
- Parish Administration Office: (954) 236-7981
- School: (954) 476-5200 — [email protected]
- Religious Education Office: (954) 476-5204
- St. Vincent de Paul: [email protected] — (954) 476-4338
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Msgr. Edmond (Ed) PrendergastJuly 1, 1985 – present
Founding pastor from County Tipperary, Ireland; still serving as Pastor more than 40 years later. Celebrated 50th Jubilee of Ordination on June 10, 2023. In February 2026, Pope Leo XIV named him Chaplain to His Holiness, granting him the title of Monsignor.