Rev. Mark J. Niznik is celebrating his 25th anniversary of priesthood and his time as Pastor of St. Paul Parish here in Belleview, FL (5245 SE 112th Street). Father Mark has been a dynamic preacher for the last quarter-century, still ignited by the Holy Spirit every time he delivers the gospel message. He teaches the historical context of the Christian faith and applies it to everyday life. His ability to incorporate humor ranks him among the best public speakers, and he is sought after in the community as a keynote speaker. Additionally, he regularly hosts a monthly comedy dinner show at Capers Comedy Room in Francesco’s Ristorante in Summerfield (September–April).
Father Mark has been married for over 21 years to Valda Niznik, an administrator in the Leesburg public school system. He also leads a charitable outreach from the church, the Clean Kids Backpack Program, which collects personal care and hygiene items for homeless schoolchildren.
Since its inception in 2006, Father Mark has overseen the collection of nearly 1,000,000 items, improving the lives of some of the area’s most vulnerable children.
Father Mark is also responsible for organizing St. Paul’s famous Friday Fish Fry, a local favorite. He has authored an Amazon #1 Best Seller in five categories, titled 27 Messiah, a remarkable piece about soul-searching that highlights some of today’s most controversial issues.
Well-known in our community, Father Mark attributes his success and pastoral longevity to the power of the Holy Spirit through his faith in Jesus Christ. He has been hosting a popular Bible study throughout his entire tenure at St. Paul’s, welcoming anyone interested in learning more about the Word of God. The community wishes Father Mark all the best for the next 25 years, though he says he won’t be able to retire until he’s 87 years old—God willing.
