About St. Pius X · Fort Lauderdale, Florida
St. Pius X Catholic Parish is a small, close-knit Roman Catholic parish tucked along Fort Lauderdale's beachfront on North Ocean Boulevard (A1A), in the Northeast Broward Deanery of the Archdiocese of Miami. Established on March 12, 1959 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll as the eleventh parish in Broward County, it has grown from improvised Sunday Masses in a beachside dinner club to a permanent church known for its shrine to St. Pius X (housing an Italian-carved statue, the saint's relic, and table linens once used by Pope St. Pius X) and its outdoor marble shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes with cascading waters. The parish is currently pastored by Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka, who was installed in September 2025 while also serving as archdiocesan chancellor, and lives by the patron saint's motto 'Restoring all things in Christ.'
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Pius X (Pope Pius X, born Giuseppe Sarto)
- Rector
- Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (Northeast Broward Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Pius X is a small, intimate beachside parish where parishioners genuinely know one another — its current pastor has spoken of building on that 'we know each other and care for each other' culture. Daily Mass (8:30am Monday through Saturday), three Sunday Masses, weekly Eucharistic Adoration (Thursdays 9:15am–6:00pm), monthly Healing Masses, weekly Centering Prayer, a Bible-based Divine Will study group, and lively groups such as the Knights of Columbus Council 3080, the Women's Club, Busy Hands, and a monthly Friendship Sunday Potluck make it easy to plug in. The parish also reaches outward through the Archbishop's Charity Drive and Christmas giving through Catholic Charities, while musically it offers a long-revered music ministry led by a director and pianist who invite the whole congregation to sing.
Mass times at St. Pius X
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:00 PM – 4:00 PM
- Or by appointment
Adoration times
- Every Thursday: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, 9:15 AM – 6:00 PM, in the Chapel
- First Friday: Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 9:15 AM – 3:00 PM, in the Chapel
Parish History
St. Pius X was established on March 12, 1959 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll, the first bishop of Miami, just a few months after the Archdiocese of Miami was erected. It was the eleventh parish created in Broward County. Before the church was built, the founding community gathered for Sunday Mass on the bandstand of the Marie Antoinette Dinner Club on A1A (where women parishioners discreetly covered the restaurant's nude statues before Mass) and then in the dining room of the Beach Club Hotel at Oakland Park Boulevard and A1A. The permanent church was completed and dedicated in December 1960. Inside, a shrine to St. Pius X holds an Italian-carved statue, a relic of the saint, and table linens actually used by the Pope, donated by a parishioner whose family had been neighbors with the Sartos in Italy. Outside, an unfinished-marble shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes with cascading waters was added in 1992, with a brick garden begun by parishioners in 2005. The parish marked its 60th anniversary on March 30, 2019 with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski, and the most recent renovation of the church and parish hall took place in the fall of 2018.
- Founded March 12, 1959 by Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll
- 11th Catholic parish in Broward County
- First Masses at the Marie Antoinette Dinner Club bandstand, then the Beach Club Hotel
- Permanent church dedicated December 1960
- Relic of St. Pius X and Italian-carved statue in the interior shrine
- Our Lady of Lourdes outdoor marble shrine added in 1992
- Brick garden around outdoor shrine begun in 2005
- 60th anniversary Mass celebrated March 30, 2019 by Archbishop Wenski
- Most recent renovation completed fall 2018
Parish Vision & Patron
The parish's published vision statement reads: 'We, the parish family of St. Pius X, are dedicated to loving and serving the Lord and our neighbor. Following our patron saint, we seek to restore all things in Christ. We are committed to the eternal and look forward to the beatific vision as coheirs in Christ's heavenly kingdom.' The patron, Pope St. Pius X (born Giuseppe Sarto), led the Church from 1903 to 1914, was canonized in 1954, lived from June 2, 1835 to August 20, 1914, and is honored on his feast day, August 21. His papal motto 'Instaurare omnia in Christo' — 'To Restore All Things in Christ' — is prominently displayed in the sanctuary.
- Patron: St. Pius X (Giuseppe Sarto), Pope 1903–1914
- Feast Day: August 21
- Motto: 'Instaurare omnia in Christo' (To Restore All Things in Christ)
Clergy & Pastoral Team
The parish is currently pastored by Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka, who was installed on September 7, 2025 by Archbishop Thomas Wenski with nine concelebrants. A Poland native, Msgr. Zielonka arrived in the United States in 1991, was ordained July 1, 1995 for the Diocese of Bridgeport, Connecticut, earned a doctorate in canon law at The Catholic University of America, and joined the Archdiocese of Miami in 2019 as a tribunal judge before becoming archdiocesan chancellor for canonical affairs. He also serves the parish alongside Deacon Philip Newton and sacristan/head usher Joe Miele.
- Msgr. Dariusz J. Zielonka — Pastor (installed September 7, 2025)
- Rev. Mr. Philip Newton — Deacon
- Joe Miele — Sacristan / Head Usher
Pastoral Staff & Music Ministry
The pastoral and administrative staff include Michele Danza, who serves as Parish Secretary and Safe Environment Coordinator, and the Music Ministry led by Music Director and Vocalist Marcel Rasa and Pianist/Accompanist Leonard Reina. The parish describes its music ministry as 'long and revered' and invites parishioners and visitors to join the choir; the contact line for interested singers is (954) 861-9111.
- Marcel Rasa — Music Director / Vocalist
- Leonard Reina — Pianist / Accompanist
- Michele Danza — Parish Secretary / Safe Environment Coordinator
Parish Activities & Fellowship
The parish calendar features a wide range of weekly and monthly gatherings that give the small community a regular rhythm of prayer, study, and fellowship. Most groups meet at the parish hall at 2500 NE 33rd Avenue, while the Knights of Columbus gathers at 3999 N. Dixie Highway.
- Centering Prayer — Wednesdays, 4:00–5:00 PM, Parish Hall
- Divine Will study group — Wednesdays, 1:00 PM
- Busy Hands — Thursdays, 9:30 AM–12:30 PM, Parish Hall
- Woman's Club — Second Monday, 9:30 AM, Parish Hall
- Friendship Sunday Potluck — Last Sunday after the 11:00 AM Mass
- Knights of Columbus Council 3080 — Second Tuesday, 6:00 PM
Music Ministry
Music Director and Vocalist Marcel Rasa and Pianist Leonard Reina lead the parish in worship through a choir program they describe with the line, 'A congregation that sings together can accomplish anything together.' Their main objective is to get the whole congregation singing hymns of prayer to God. New choir members are warmly invited and can call (954) 861-9111 to volunteer.
- Marcel Rasa — Music Director / Vocalist
- Leonard Reina — Pianist
- Open invitation to join the parish choir (954-861-9111)
Special Devotions & Seasons
Beyond the regular weekly schedule, St. Pius X observes a number of special seasonal devotions: the Healing Mass on First Fridays, Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent, an annual Lenten Retreat directed by Father Timothy Canaan, and the Divine Mercy Novena.
- Healing Mass — First Friday at 11:00 AM
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays during Lent at 12:30 PM
- Lenten Retreat — weekend of March 29–30 plus Mon–Wed at 10:00 AM with Lenten Confessions afterward
- Divine Mercy Novena — annual observance
Contact & Location
The church sits at 2511 N. Ocean Boulevard (A1A) in Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305, and the parish office is at 2500 NE 33rd Avenue. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Phone (954) 564-1763; fax (954) 568-2212; email [email protected].
- Church: 2511 N. Ocean Blvd (A1A), Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
- Parish Office: 2500 NE 33rd Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
- Phone: (954) 564-1763 | Fax: (954) 568-2212
- Email: [email protected]
- Parish Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Joseph Cronin1959–1962
First pastor; remembered as a gracious man with a great Irish sense of humor.
- Fr. David Heffernan1962–1968
- Fr. John McKeown1968–1981
- Msgr. David Bushey1981–1986
- Msgr. John Donnelly1986–1990
- Fr. Patrick Slevin1990–2010
Longest-tenured pastor in the parish's history, serving 20 years.
- Fr. Luis Rivera2010–2013
- Fr. Gerald Morris2013–2015
- Fr. Biju Vells2015–2021
- Fr. Jean JadotteJune 14, 2021–
Past pastor before the current administrator/pastor.