About St. Jude · Sarasota, Florida
St. Jude Catholic Church is a multilingual parish in Sarasota, Florida, situated in the Northern Deanery of the Diocese of Venice. Founded in 2006 and rooted in a 2003 mission of St. Martha Parish, the parish serves a culturally diverse congregation of more than 4,000 registered families. Its mission is to recognize God's presence, spread the Word, and build 'one church / one community out of diverse cultural heritages' — with weekend liturgies offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, alongside a robust religious education program and outreach to migrant workers, the incarcerated, and families in need through an on-site food pantry and thrift shop.
- Established
- 2006
- Patron
- St. Jude (Thaddeus)
- Rector
- Rev. Jiobani Batista
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida
Why belong here
St. Jude is a parish that is genuinely multicultural — with weekend Masses in English, Spanish, and Portuguese — and where a single faith community is built out of many cultural heritages. A registered family of more than 4,000 households finds here a thriving religious education program (catechism for roughly 300 children), an on-site food pantry distributing weekly, a thrift shop, active ministry to migrant workers in Myakka, and a jail ministry serving Sarasota County and Port Manatee. Add the annual Hispanic Festival, the legacy of founding pastor Fr. Celestino Gutiérrez, and a current capital campaign for a permanent church, and St. Jude offers both deep roots and an active invitation to serve.
Mass times at St. Jude
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Wednesday 6:00–6:50 PM (Spanish)
- Saturday 3:00–3:45 PM (English)
- Saturday 6:00–6:50 PM (Spanish)
- Sunday — half hour before Mass or by appointment
Parish History
St. Jude Parish grew out of a 2003 mission of St. Martha Parish founded by Bishop John J. Nevins to serve Sarasota's expanding Hispanic Catholic community. Ground was broken on June 24, 2004, and the parish and church were dedicated on May 28, 2006, the same day Bishop Frank J. Dewane began his tenure as second Bishop of the Diocese of Venice. Founding pastor Fr. Celestino Gutiérrez, known as 'Padre,' led the parish for 18 years until his retirement in 2024, growing it from a handful of families to more than 4,000 registered households. On May 28, 2026, the parish community gathered to mark its 20th anniversary with a bilingual Mass and reception.
- 2003 — Established as a Mission of St. Martha Parish
- June 24, 2004 — Groundbreaking
- May 28, 2006 — Parish and church dedicated; Blessed Carlos Manuel Hispanic-American Center blessed
- 2010 — Rectory added
- 2024 — Fr. Celestino Gutiérrez retires; Fr. Jiobani Batista appointed pastor
- May 28, 2026 — 20th anniversary celebrated
Clergy & Staff
St. Jude is currently served by a pastor and two parochial vicars, supported by three deacons and a parish office staff that operates in English and Spanish.
- Rev. Jiobani Batista — Pastor
- Rev. Christian Chami — Parochial Vicar
- Rev. Juan Daniel Petrino — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Humberto R. Alvia — coordinates Spanish Lectors
- Deacon Leonardo R. Pastore — coordinates English Lectors
- Deacon Samuel Pellerito
- José A. Benítez — Religious Education Coordinator
- Janet Figueredo — Accountant
- Migdalia de Long — Office Assistant
- Suria Reyes — Office Assistant
- Fernando L. Rivera — Music Director (Spanish Masses)
- Office hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM and 1–5 PM
Sacraments
Baptism, Marriage, and Quinceañera preparation are coordinated through the parish office, which is open Monday through Friday in two shifts.
- Baptism — classes 1st & 3rd Thursday at 6:30 PM; baptisms celebrated 1st & 3rd Saturday; register at the office with birth certificate
- Marriage — contact the parish office at least six months in advance
- Quinceañera (Sweet 15) — contact the parish office at least six months in advance
- Office: Mon–Fri 9 AM–12 PM & 1–5 PM, 3930 17th Street
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious education at St. Jude serves roughly 300 children each year, with catechism offered in both English and Spanish depending on each family's preference. The program is coordinated by José A. Benítez and shares the Blessed Carlos Manuel Hispanic-American Center with the parish offices and worship space.
- Catechism for children in English and Spanish
- RCIA-style preparation implied through baptism and marriage formation
- Migrant Ministry religious education in Myakka
Parish Ministries & Outreach
St. Jude's ministries reach beyond the parish campus — into migrant fields, the county jail, and the wider Sarasota community — while lay-led ministries such as the food pantry, thrift shop, lectors, prayer group, and music directors keep the parish running week to week.
- Migrant Ministry in Myakka (Sundays after 4:30 PM)
- Jail Ministry (Sarasota County Jail & Port Manatee)
- St. Jude Food Pantry (Wed 3:30–6:30 PM)
- Thrift Shop (weekends)
- Lectors — English (Dc. Pastore) and Spanish (Dc. Alvia)
- Respect Life ministry
- Prayer Group — contact Diana Diaz (941-735-6748)
- Music Directors for English and Spanish Masses
Catholic American-Hispanic Center at St. Jude
The Catholic American-Hispanic Center, located on the St. Jude campus, serves as the pastoral, cultural, and social anchor for the parish's Hispanic community — offering faith, fellowship, and pastoral support, and coordinating sacramental preparation, religious education, and outreach in Spanish.
- Hosts Spanish-language Masses (Sat 7 PM; Sun 9 AM, 12 PM, 1:30 PM; Wed 7 PM)
- Coordinates Spanish baptism classes and Quinceañera preparation
- Supports the annual St. Jude Hispanic Festival
Annual Events & Capital Campaign
The parish's largest annual fundraiser is the St. Jude Hispanic Festival each fall, supporting the parish's many outreach efforts. A capital campaign is also underway to fund construction of a permanent church building on the 17th Street campus.
- St. Jude Hispanic Festival — annual fall festival
- Capital Campaign — raising funds for a permanent parish church
Visiting & Contact
St. Jude Catholic Church is located at 3930 17th Street, Sarasota, FL 34235, in the Northern Deanery of the Diocese of Venice in Florida. The parish office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 to 5:00 PM, and can be reached by phone or email for sacraments, registrations, and general inquiries.
- Address: 3930 17th Street, Sarasota, FL 34235
- Phone: (941) 955-3934
- Fax: (941) 365-4760
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: http://www.stjudesarasota.org/
- Deanery: Northern (Diocese of Venice in Florida)
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Celestino Gutiérrez2006–2024
Founding pastor; arrived in Sarasota in 1985 from missionary work in Guatemala. Retired in 2024 after 18 years leading St. Jude. Known communitywide as 'Padre'.
- Rev. Jiobani Batista2024–present
Appointed pastor upon Fr. Celestino's retirement in 2024.