About St. Mark Catholic Church · Boynton Beach, Florida
St. Mark Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Boynton Beach, Florida, served by Conventual Franciscan Friars (Order of Friars Minor Conventual) of St. Anthony of Padua Province. The parish is part of the Diocese of Palm Beach and typically has four priests in residence who live in community in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. St. Mark offers Mass in both English and Spanish, runs a religious education program (CCD), a parish school, and a wide range of ministries including a Knights of Columbus council and a bereavement/funeral ministry directed by a Franciscan Sister.
- Established
- 1952 (first Mass); 1953 (church built)
- Patron
- St. Mark (the Evangelist)
- Rector
- Fr. Bob (Robert) Benko, OFM Conv.
- Diocese
- Diocese of Palm Beach
Why belong here
St. Mark is a welcoming, family-oriented Conventual Franciscan parish whose priests live in community and are typically four in number, ensuring plenty of pastoral availability — daily Mass, Tuesday/Thursday confessions, Saturday confessions, and a Spanish Sunday Mass are all part of the rhythm. The parish pairs strong sacramental and devotional life (First Friday Adoration and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament) with hands-on ministry: a respected bereavement and funeral ministry led by a Franciscan sister, faith formation for children (CCD), a parish school, and an active Knights of Columbus Trinity Council 4839 (founded 1958). It's a place where long-time parishioners are deeply cared for and where newcomers from diverse backgrounds are openly welcomed.
Mass times at St. Mark Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Tuesday after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Thursday after the 9:00 AM Mass
- First Saturday of each month, additional time after the 9:00 AM Mass
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 3:45 PM
- By appointment — call the Parish Office at (561) 734-9330
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month: Adoration & Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
About St. Mark Catholic Church
St. Mark is a Conventual Franciscan parish in the Diocese of Palm Beach, located at 643 St. Mark Place in Boynton Beach, Florida. The parish is served by Friars of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv.) of St. Anthony of Padua Province, who live together in community in the tradition of St. Francis of Assisi. Because there are typically four priests in residence, St. Mark enjoys rich pastoral coverage — daily Mass, regular confessions, and ministry in both English and Spanish.
- Served by Conventual Franciscan Friars (OFM Conv.)
- Diocese of Palm Beach
- Located in Boynton Beach, FL 33435
Parish History
The parish's story goes back to 1952, when the first Mass was celebrated in the Boynton Theater, followed by construction of a dedicated church in 1953. A photograph from around 1960 captured the original sanctuary as a one-story Mid-Century Modern building framed by palm trees. Over the decades the parish grew into a five-building campus and was continually staffed by Conventual Franciscans. In October 2022 Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito installed Fr. Bob Benko as pastor; he arrived with decades of pastoral experience and a passion for Hispanic ministry.
- 1952 — First Mass held in the Boynton Theater
- 1953 — First church built
- 2022 — Fr. Bob Benko installed as pastor by Bishop Barbarito
Conventual Franciscan Friars at St. Mark
The Conventual Franciscan Friars are one of the three main branches of the Franciscan Order founded by St. Francis of Assisi. Their name comes from the Latin 'convenire' — 'to come together' — and they have historically chosen to minister in the heart of cities, living in stable communities rather than wandering. The Friars of St. Anthony of Padua Province, USA, serve parishes, high schools, hospitals, and college campuses along the U.S. East Coast. At St. Mark, four OFM Conv. friars typically form the pastoral team, living in community and sharing ministry.
- Fr. Robert (Bob) Benko, OFM Conv. — Pastor
- Fr. Michael Sajda, OFM Conv. — Parochial Vicar
- Fr. Carl Zdancewicz, OFM Conv. — Parochial Vicar
- Friar Greg Spuhler, OFM Conv.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Children's faith formation is provided through the parish CCD program, with online registration on the parish website. Adults who wish to become Catholic or complete their initiation can register through the parish's Becoming Catholic / RCIA pathway. The parish also operates St. Mark's School, which is represented on the Parish Pastoral Council.
- CCD — religious education for children (online registration available)
- RCIA / Becoming Catholic — online registration available
- St. Mark's Parish School
Parish Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council (PPC) is a consultative body of lay parishioners and pastoral staff who promote the spiritual growth of the parish and plan ways to carry out the Church's mission. The PPC includes 12 lay members (nine selected and three appointed) plus ex-officio pastoral staff, and normally meets the second Wednesday of every other month (skipping July and August).
- 12 lay members (nine elected, three appointed)
- Includes a Finance Committee representative, a St. Mark's School representative, and a youth representative
- Meets every other month on the second Wednesday
Knights of Columbus — Trinity Council 4839
Trinity Council 4839 of the Knights of Columbus was founded in 1958 and serves both St. Mark Parish and neighboring St. Thomas More Parish in Boynton Beach. The council engages in volunteer service, charitable giving (Special Olympics, local food banks, little league, seminarian support), pro-life work, and the 'Keep Christ in Christmas' campaign. Membership is open to practicing Catholic men 18 and older, with affiliated bodies for youth (Squires, ages 12–17), women (Columbiettes Ladies Auxiliary), and the patriotic Fourth Degree honor guard.
- Founded 1958 — over 65 years of parish service
- Supports Special Olympics, food banks, seminarians, and pro-life causes
- Squires Youth Circle (boys 12–17), Columbiettes Ladies Auxiliary, Fourth Degree honor guard
Bereavement & Funeral Ministry
Because a majority of St. Mark's parishioners are older, the parish runs an unusually strong funeral and bereavement ministry, directed by Franciscan Sister Mary Joan Millecan, OFM. The team is on the phone with families from the moment of a death, visits them, and walks them through the entire process of the funeral rites — something Bishop Barbarito and Fr. Benko have both publicly praised.
- Directed by Franciscan Sister Mary Joan Millecan
- Telephone outreach, family visits, and full funeral-rite coordination
Becoming a Parishioner
St. Mark encourages newcomers to register as parishioners, register children for CCD, and (if not yet Catholic) to register for the Becoming Catholic journey. The parish's welcome message — 'Come and journey with us as we grow closer to God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit' — is paired with online registration forms for all three pathways.
- Register as a parishioner
- Register children for CCD
- Register to become Catholic (RCIA)
Visiting St. Mark
The parish campus sits at 643 St. Mark Place in Boynton Beach, Florida, and includes five buildings. The church is open Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM, Saturday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM; the chapel extends weekday hours further into the evening. Visitors can reach the parish office at (561) 734-9330, and online giving is available through Parish Soft.
- Address: 643 St. Mark Place, Boynton Beach, FL 33435
- Phone: (561) 734-9330
- Online giving available via Parish Soft
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Dan G. Fink, OFM Conv.
Previous pastor; met with Fr. Bob Benko in 2022 to hand over parish information and ease the leadership transition.
- Fr. Bob (Robert) Benko, OFM Conv.Installed October 23, 2022 – present
Current pastor; installed by Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito; member of the Our Lady of the Angels Province of the Franciscan Friars Conventual.