Florida Catholic | The Fronton Church

‘Fronton’ church has come a long way

As Resurrection Parish celebrates 50 years, parishioners remember a humble beginning when Mass was celebrated at the Dania Jai-Alai Fronton.

MARLENE QUARONI | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 02.22.08

After concelebrating the 50th anniversary Mass with Archbishop John C. Favalora, Father Joseph O’Connor poses with Marion Quigley, a parishioner since 1965. Father O’Connor was Resurrection’s pastor from 1977 to 1988, when the parish marked its 25th anniversary.

MARLENE QUARONI | FC
After concelebrating the 50th anniversary Mass with Archbishop John C. Favalora, Father Joseph O’Connor poses with Marion Quigley, a parishioner since 1965. Father O’Connor was Resurrection’s pastor from 1977 to 1988, when the parish marked its 25th anniversary.

DANIA BEACH | They celebrated Masses amid losing pari-mutuel tickets that had been discarded the night before on the floor of the Dania jai-alai fronton. It just was not a good environment for a fledgling parish.

“That was Father John Vrana’s excuse to his parishioners (for moving) back in the early 1960s,” said Augustinian Father Joseph O’Connor, pastor of Resurrection Parish from 1977 to 1988, during his homily at the Mass Feb. 9 marking the parish’s 50th anniversary.

But that was not the real reason the parish stopped celebrating Masses at the fronton, Father O’Connor said. “There was a black family, mother, father and two sons, among parishioners attending Mass at the fronton. The fronton owner told Father Vrana that blacks weren’t allowed on the first floor of the fronton. The priest thanked the owner for the use of the facility and said the parish would no longer celebrate Mass there.”

Father Vrana, an Augustinian, never told Resurrection’s parishioners the real reason for leaving. He did not want to embarrass the family, Father O’Connor said. “Thanks to Father Vrana for being so Christ-like.”

After the anniversary Mass, Father O’Connor pointed out a photograph in the 50th anniversary journal that showed the two black boys as altar servers.

“One of the boys was killed in Vietnam,” he said.

The parish moved its Sunday Masses from the fronton to Olsen Middle School until its permanent church was built in 1963. The 1,200-seat A-frame church stands on part of a 10-acre site behind the jai-alai building. In 1969, a parish hall opened and a “peace garden” was dedicated in 2004.

The parish site also includes a priory, which has been home to the Augustinian priests who have served Resurrection Parish since 1961, as well as those working at St. Thomas University.

The parish encompasses a portion of southeast Broward bordered by Fort Lauderdale Airport, Port Everglades, John U. Lloyd State Park and West Lake Park. Because of its location, it has always been a small parish.

In 1983, the church faced a crisis. The Broward County Planning Council proposed a six-lane road from U.S. 1 near the airport to Dania Beach Boulevard. The road would have dramatically affected the church, taking away some of its property. Public opposition and an ecumenical groundswell stopped the project.

“We protected our church site and the integrity of the neighborhood,” said Father O’Connor, who traveled from Staten Island, N.Y., where he is an associate pastor, to participate in the anniversary celebration.

MARLENE QUARONI | FC
Among those in attendance at the Mass were Giovanna Alessi, 56, with her mother and father, Clelia Bruton, 83, and Terry Bruton, 84, original members of the parish.

He was joined by two other Augustinians, current pastor Father J. Thomas Pohto and Father Anthony Thomasulo, who served as pastor until last year, as well as Archbishop John C. Favalora and many of Resurrection’s pioneer parishioners.

Clelia Bruton, 83, and her husband, Terry Bruton, 84, have been members since the parish was founded in 1958. Their son, Terry Bruton Jr., 61, was an altar boy, and daughters Giovanna Alessi, 56, and Adrianna Reasner, 54, sang in the choir. Terry Bruton Sr. was an electrician who helped build the church.

George Silvernale, 84, and June Silvernale, 79, remembered the tomato fields in the area.

“There was a tomato cannery on Griffin Road,” said George Silvernale. “A lot has changed since then.”

Return to the Archdiocese of Miami Front Page

‘Fronton’ church has come a long way

Other Stories