About Incarnation · Sarasota, Florida
Incarnation Catholic Church is a Catholic parish of about 3,000 families on Florida's Suncoast in Sarasota, situated on Bee Ridge Road. Founded in 1958, the parish is served by an Administrator, Fr. Mark Harris, and Parochial Vicar Fr. Augustine Obour, along with five deacons and a dedicated lay staff. The parish campus includes a main church (seating about 1,000), a beloved daily chapel (seating about 300), a Parish Center, a Church Hall, the Rectory, and Incarnation Catholic School (PK-8). Worship is offered in English and Polish, with daily Eucharistic Adoration, a Polish Mass once a month, and a wide range of faith formation and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1958
- Patron
- The Incarnation of Our Lord Jesus Christ
- Rector
- Rev. Mark Harris (Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
Incarnation is a large, lively Catholic family of roughly 3,000 households on Sarasota's Suncoast, organized around four pillars — Worship, Education, Service, and Social Life. Daily Mass, daily Eucharistic Adoration (including extended hours on Tuesdays and First Fridays), a monthly Polish Mass, a robust Religious Education program, RCIA, youth ministry, adult Bible study, and an award-winning PK-8 Catholic school (a 2008 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School) give families a complete faith home. Add a calendar of festivals, service fundraisers, and parish gatherings, and Incarnation offers a real community in which to grow in prayer, sacraments, and fellowship with Christ.
Mass times at Incarnation
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday following 8:30 AM Mass
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Adoration times
- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: 11:30 AM – 4:30 PM
- Tuesday and First Friday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (if no funeral)
Welcome to Incarnation Catholic Church
Incarnation Catholic Church in Sarasota, Florida is a parish of roughly 3,000 families located on the Suncoast. The parish mission statement reads: 'Our parish is united in the Catholic faith and dedicated to giving witness to the life and teaching of Jesus Christ.' Administrator Fr. Mark Harris and Parochial Vicar Fr. Augustine Obour, together with five Deacons, a caring staff, dedicated volunteers, wonderful families, a PK-8 school, and many ministries, welcome all who wish to join. The parish invites newcomers to register through the parish Registration Form or by stopping by the Parish Office.
- Administrator: Fr. Mark Harris
- Parochial Vicar: Fr. Augustine Obour
- Five Deacons serving the parish
- Approximately 3,000 registered families
- Registration Form available on the parish website
Parish History
Incarnation Parish was canonically established on July 24, 1958, and the original church building was completed in 1960. The church was later rebuilt and re-dedicated on May 4, 1975. The parish marked its 50th anniversary in 2008 — the same year its school was honored as a Blue Ribbon School. From its founding, Incarnation has been a multi-generational faith community on Sarasota's Bee Ridge Road, with families served continuously through worship, schooling, faith formation, and outreach.
- Parish founded: July 24, 1958
- Church built: 1960
- Church rebuilt and re-dedicated: May 4, 1975
- 50th anniversary celebrated in 2008
Incarnation Catholic School (ICS)
Incarnation Catholic School is the parish's PK-8 school, recognized in 2008 as a No Child Left Behind Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education — one of the highest honors an American school can receive. The school opened in 1961 at a temporary site, initially operating out of St. Martha's School while awaiting the completion of its own building, and moved into its current Bee Ridge Road facility in February 1962. Current principal Mrs. Amy Yager joined ICS in 2021 from New York. The school maintains weekly Mass with the children helping in various ministries, a small community atmosphere, dedicated teachers, and a safe, fun environment for learning.
- Founded 1961 (opened at St. Martha's temporarily)
- Moved into current building February 1962
- Originally grades 1–4 (121 students); expanded to K–8 by the 1980s
- Founding pastor: Father Joseph Daley
- Religious sisters who have served: Sisters of St. Francis (Chicago Province, from 1964), Sisters of Notre Dame (1989), Sisters of Mercy (2001), Dominican Sisters (2002)
- Sr. Monica Paul Fraser, O.P. — long-serving principal until retirement in 2022
- 2008 U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School
- Principal Mrs. Amy Yager (since 2021)
- Grades served: Pre-K through 8
Faith Formation & Religious Education
In addition to its PK-8 school, Incarnation encourages lifelong learning through a comprehensive Religious Education program, RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), Youth Group, adult Bible study, and ongoing formation opportunities for the lay faithful. The Religious Education Office can be reached at 941-924-9566.
- Comprehensive Religious Education program
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Youth Group
- Adult Bible Study
- Ongoing lay formation
- Religious Education Office: 941-924-9566
Worship & Facilities
The Incarnation campus includes a main Church used for Sunday worship with capacity around 1,000 persons and a beloved separate Chapel (seating about 300) used for daily Mass, weddings, funerals, and weekday Adoration. The grounds also include a Parish Center and Church Hall for meetings and events, plus the Parish Office and Rectory. Parishioners describe 'beautiful statues, a parish library, active ministries, many spiritual events and groups, excellent musicians, and an atmosphere conducive to prayer.'
- Main Church — seating ~1,000
- Chapel — seating ~300 (daily Mass, weddings, funerals, Adoration)
- Parish Center & Church Hall
- Parish Office & Rectory
- Parish library
- Excellent musicians and choirs
Service & Outreach
Service is one of Incarnation's four explicit parish pillars. Through its many ministries, the parish engages the poor, the elderly, the handicapped, and anyone disadvantaged in the Sarasota community, providing countless hours of service.
- Service to the poor and disadvantaged
- Outreach to the elderly
- Outreach to the handicapped
- Full sacramental life (Baptism, Penance, Eucharist, Confirmation, Marriage, Holy Orders, Anointing of the Sick)
Social Life & Community
The parish sees its faith as informing and influencing every aspect of life, including leisure. Parishioners socialize throughout the year through ministries, parish gatherings, school-sponsored events, festivals, and service fundraisers, as well as week to week on Sundays as the community rests from its labors and praises God together.
- Parish gatherings year-round
- School-sponsored events
- Fall Festival (note: no 5 PM Mass on Fall Festival day)
- Service fundraisers
Staff & Clergy
Incarnation is currently served by an Administrator, a Parochial Vicar, and five Deacons, supported by a caring staff of lay employees and many volunteers.
- Rev. Mark Harris — Administrator
- Rev. Augustine Twum Obour — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Kevin McKenney
- Deacon Patrick Palumbo
- Deacon Stephen Beck
- Deacon Stephen Jendrysik
Contact & Visiting
Incarnation Catholic Church is located on Bee Ridge Road in Sarasota, Florida. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM and 1:30 PM – 4:00 PM. The parish can be reached by phone, fax, or email, and a Religious Education Office line is also available.
- Mailing Address: 2929 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239
- Street/Church: 2901 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34239
- Phone: (941) 921-6631
- Fax: (941) 927-2521
- Email: [email protected]
- Religious Education Office: 941-924-9566
- Office Hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–12:00 PM and 1:30 PM–4:00 PM
- Website: http://www.incarnationchurch.org
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Joseph Daleycirca 1961 (founding of school)
Founding pastor under whose leadership Incarnation Catholic School opened in 1961.
- Father Gerard Finegan
Hired a Dominican Sister as principal during the school's growth years.