About St. Sebastian · Fort Lauderdale, Florida
St. Sebastian Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Miami, located in the Harbor Inlet / Harbor Heights neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The parish was established on March 12, 1959, having grown from a mission of nearby St. Anthony Parish begun in 1957. Today it serves a vibrant mix of year-round residents, seasonal snowbirds, beachside visitors, and even cruise-ship passengers and seamen arriving at adjacent Port Everglades, whose passengers can see the parish's distinctive bell tower rising from the skyline.
- Established
- 1959
- Patron
- St. Sebastian
- Rector
- Rev. Ernest Biriruka
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Miami (Southeast Broward Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Sebastian offers the warmth of a close-knit parish family in a unique Fort Lauderdale beachside location, with daily Mass, weekly Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel of the Divine Healer, a rich calendar of ministries, and a long tradition of welcoming seasonal residents, retirees, and visitors. Its strong religious-education program for children and adults, lively Council of Catholic Women, men's group, St. Vincent de Paul Society, RCIA, twelve-step programs, and outreach to cruise passengers and seamen at Port Everglades make it a parish that engages both longtime members and newcomers.
Mass times at St. Sebastian
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00–4:45 pm
Adoration times
- Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (in the Chapel of the Divine Healer)
About St. Sebastian Parish
St. Sebastian Catholic Parish is a parish of the Archdiocese of Miami in the Southeast Broward Deanery, serving the Harbor Inlet / Harbor Heights neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale. Its mission statement describes the parish as a family of the Universal Roman Catholic Church, endeavoring to be a welcoming, unified community deeply committed to Jesus Christ and to loving service in His name, where the gifts and talents of all — young and old — are recognized, nurtured and used.
- Parish Mission Statement
- Twilight Twitches (parish blog/newsletter)
- Pastoral Staff & Pastoral Council
Parish History
St. Sebastian grew from a 1957 mission of St. Anthony Parish, was dedicated on Feb. 2, 1958, and became a parish on March 12, 1959. Key milestones include the addition of the bell tower in 1994, the 1996 stained-glass windows, and the construction of the pastoral center with the Chapel of the Divine Healer under Msgr. Patrick McDonnell. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 2010 and its 60th anniversary in 2019. A full succession of pastors is recorded in the Archdiocese of Miami's anniversary coverage.
- Mission established 1957
- Church dedicated February 2, 1958
- Elevated to parish March 12, 1959
- Bell tower added 1994
- Stained-glass windows installed 1996
- Pastoral center and Chapel of the Divine Healer built
- 50th anniversary celebrated 2010
- 60th anniversary ('beacon of faith') celebrated 2019
Pastoral Staff
The parish is led by Father Ernest Biriruka, appointed pastor by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective June 12, 2023. Father Biriruka, originally from Burundi, holds degrees from the Urbaniana Pontifical University in Rome and St. Patrick's College in Maynooth, Ireland, and speaks Kirundi, French, English, Spanish, and some Swahili. He was blacklisted in Burundi for trying to stop the genocide between Tutsi and Hutu, found refuge in the U.S. in 1995, and previously served at several Archdiocese of Miami parishes.
- Rev. Ernest Biriruka – Pastor
- Anne M. Gardner – Pastoral Assistant
- Gredys Grable / Andrea Badyna / Kathryn Cabrisas – Office Staff
- Judy Fisher – Office Assistant
- Peter J. Manfredi, Jr. – Director of Music (954-868-6137)
- Cathy Spitzer – Vocalist
- Patricio Diaz-Pizarro – Maintenance
Pastoral Council
The Pastoral Council assists the pastor in the life and mission of the parish. Members listed on the parish website and bulletins include lay parishioners from across the St. Sebastian community.
- Nancy Adams
- Mauricio Bautista
- Elizabeth Calhoun
- Judy Fisher
- Rosemary Guerin
- John Mann, III
- Johnny Mann, Jr.
- Sandi Mann
- Connie Reed
- Ed Rebholz
- Chuck Wobby
Mass & Liturgy
St. Sebastian celebrates Mass in English, with a Saturday Vigil Mass, three Sunday Masses, and a daily weekday Mass. Music is led by Director of Music Peter J. Manfredi, Jr. and vocalist Cathy Spitzer.
- Saturday Vigil – 5:00 pm
- Sunday – 8:30 am, 11:00 am, 6:00 pm
- Weekdays (Mon–Fri) – 8:30 am
- Holy Days – schedule varies
- Music ministry under Peter J. Manfredi, Jr.
Sacraments
The parish prepares parishioners for and celebrates all the standard Catholic sacraments, with preparation arranged by appointment through the parish office.
- Baptism – by appointment
- Reconciliation – Saturdays 4:00–4:45 pm
- Confirmation – preparation through Religious Education
- First Eucharist – preparation through Religious Education
- Anointing of the Sick – contact the parish office
- Matrimony – contact the parish office
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education classes for grades 1 through 8 meet on Sunday mornings from mid-September through early May, 9:45–10:45 am, in the Parish Center. The parish also offers programs for adults wishing to become Catholic (RCIA) and for baptized Catholics seeking to complete the sacraments of Communion and Confirmation, or simply to learn more about their faith.
- Religious Education (grades 1–8), Sundays 9:45–10:45 am in the Parish Center
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Adult Faith Formation classes
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Sebastian's ministries span prayer, liturgy, formation, fellowship, outreach, and recovery. The parish's Ministry Fair is an annual opportunity for parishioners to learn about and sign up for service.
- Eucharistic Adoration
- Council of Catholic Women
- Men's Club
- Bible Sharing (Thursdays 9:15 am, Parish Hall; also by conference call)
- Altar Servers
- Lectors
- Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Ushers
- Prayer Circle
- Special Events Hospitality
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Respect Life
- Twelve-Step Programs
Outreach & Charity
Outreach is a hallmark of St. Sebastian, both locally and internationally. The parish distributes groceries to those in need each Friday afternoon and sponsors an orphanage in the Dominican Republic, an outreach begun under Father Liam Quinn. Parishioners also assist cruise-ship passengers and seamen arriving at Port Everglades, offering rides back to hotels and information about the parish.
- Friday grocery distribution (1:30–3:45 pm)
- Sponsorship of an orphanage in the Dominican Republic
- Outreach to cruise passengers and seamen at Port Everglades
Weekly Bulletin & Communication
The parish publishes a Sunday bulletin that includes Mass schedules, ministry information, and pastoral messages from the pastor. The 'Twilight Twitches' blog on the parish website carries reflections from the pastor and parish news.
- Sunday Bulletin (published weekly)
- Twilight Twitches parish blog
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Lamar Genovar1965–1974
Remembered for joining the children on the playground next to the church.
- Msgr. John Fitzpatrick
Later became a Miami auxiliary bishop and then Bishop of Brownsville, Texas.
- Msgr. William McKeever
- Father John Kellaghan
- Msgr. Francis Dixon
- Father Robert Hostler
- Father Cyril Hudak1988–~1995
Led extensive renovations of the church; added the bell tower in 1994.
- Msgr. Patrick McDonnell1995–2006
Built the parish center with banquet hall, offices, and Chapel of the Divine Healer; new stained-glass windows added in 1996. The pastoral center is named in his honor.
- Father Liam Quinn2006–~2018
Expanded outreach programs, including sponsoring an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.
- Msgr. James Fetscher~2008–2023
Marked 10 years as pastor in 2018; celebrated his 55th anniversary as a priest in 2018.
- Rev. Ernest Biriruka2023–present
Appointed pastor by Archbishop Thomas Wenski effective June 12, 2023. Originally from Burundi; previously served at several Archdiocese of Miami parishes including Blessed John XXIII.