Come to St. Basil Church to pray with the parishioners who fill these pews and to meet them. Their faith complements the beauty of the Church and its Liturgy.


Sunday School - 9:00 AM
Sunday Liturgy - 10:30 AM
Fellowship & Coffee in the Hall - Noon

    Parish Mission Statement

The Church of St. Basil is dedicated to gathering together everyone who wishes to worship the Father, Son and Holy Spirit "in spirit and in truth" (John 4, 24) in the Liturgical tradition of the Byzantine Church. We strive to grow in Faith, to promote the Gospel of Jesus, and to extend assistance to those in need.

    Catholic Diocesan Affilliation

St. Basil Catholic Church is within the Eparchy of Passaic, New Jersey, which is headed by the Most Reverend Andrew Pataki, DD, Eparch of Passaic. The Eparchy of Passaic is within the Archeparchy of Pittsburgh. The Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is one of the 22 "Sui Iuris" Churches in the communion that is the Catholic Church which is headed by John Paul II, the Pope of Rome.

"The holy Catholic Church, which is the Mystical Body of Christ, is made of the faithful who are organically united in the Holy Spirit by the same faith, the same sacraments and the same government. They combine into different groups, which are held together by their hierarchy and so form particular churches or rites." (Decree on Catholic Eastern Churches n.2, VATICAN COUNCIL II)

    St. Basil Parish History

Along with St. Therese in St. Petersburg, the establishment of St. Basil Church signaled an expansionist period in the Diocese of Passaic during the 1960's. Florida was and still remains a destination for many Americans including Byzantine Catholics.

In 1965 Father John Puskar, pastor of St. Therese Church in St. Petersburg, the first parish of our Church in Florida, made some preliminary studies regarding the establishment of a parish in Miami. His reports to the Bishop resulted in Father Alan Borsuk being sent to Miami to establish a parish. Through the kindness of the Knights of Columbus, a place for the feast day Services was made possible. They supplied their hall so that Liturgies could be celebrated for Christmas and, later in the following year, Paska (Easter). In October, 1966 Father Francis Gera was assigned as the first resident priest whose task was to continue the work of establishing a parish. In February, 1967, Father John Zeyack continued to consolidate and strengthen the new parish by locating and purchasing a five acre parcel of land and by remodeling the house for use as a rectory and church. We received the name of St. Basil on January 1, 1968, and we celebrated out patronal feast on our own grounds. Groundbreaking occurred on April 28, 1968 for our new 120 seat capacity church which was built to the south side of the rectory. On Sunday, February 2, 1969, St. Basil Church in Miami, FL was blessed at a Solemn Pontifical Divine Liturgy offered by the Most Reverend Michael J. Dudick, D.D., Bishop of the Passiac Byzantine Catholic Diocese. Father Zeyack organized a Ladies Guild and Mens' Group, and along with Cantor Peter Macala, an Adult Chorale and Children's Choir.

In August, 1971 Father Peter Lickman became pastor. It was decided to build a parish center in 1975 large enough for parish activities such as dinners, pirohi, and baking projects and also as a source of income from its rentals. The hall has lived up to its original purposes and, in addition to being a place for activities of the neighboring Community, the center continues to be a great asset to parish life by fostering fellowship. Over the years St. Basil Church has grown as it attempts to be of service to its members and the commmunity and to accomplish its mission. Please check the Parish Actvities to discover what events and groups now exist in parish life.

Feeling the need to expand and to serve Byzantine Catholics to the north, St. Basil Church began two missions: Holy Apostles in Lake Worth and Our Lady of the Sign in Coconut Creek...the first in November of 1971 and the second in September of 1979. In time, these missions became independent parishes.

Originally begun by Byzantine Catholics of Slavic and Hungarian descent, St. Basil Church has progressively become a Church of All Nations. Although it is a small parish, it nevertheless boasts a membership comprised of 27 different nationalities. The people of these nationalities with their different cultures have nevertheless assimilated the ethos the Byzantine Church. In them, St. Basil has found new energy and life in them. St. Basil Church in Miami is truly a catholic church and it reflects the Gospel imperative of our Lord to preach the Good News to all peoples.