About St. Justin, Martyr · Seminole, Florida
St. Justin, Martyr is a Roman Catholic parish in Seminole, Florida, in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, founded in 1987. The parish serves a remarkably multilingual Catholic community on Florida's Gulf Coast, offering Masses in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and the Traditional Latin (Tridentine) form. Located at 10851 Ridge Road, it is known locally for its Famous Thrift Shoppe, its purpose-driven discipleship approach, and its outreach partnerships such as the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas with a sister parish in Honduras. The current pastor is Rev. Gerald A. Hendry.
- Established
- 1987
- Patron
- St. Justin Martyr (early Church martyr and philosopher-apologist)
- Rector
- Rev. Gerald A. Hendry
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Justin, Martyr is one of the most linguistically welcoming parishes on Florida's Gulf Coast, with regular Masses in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and the Traditional Latin form, plus a Saturday Vigil and daily 8:30 am Mass. The parish organizes its life around a clear discipleship purpose — Invite, Connect, Pray, Study, Serve — and offers concrete ways to live that out through its Famous Thrift Shoppe, the mobile 'Kitchen on Wheels' outreach, the youth ministry, faith formation for First Communion and Confirmation, and a sister-parish relationship with a community in Honduras through the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas. It's a parish that takes seriously both worship and works of mercy.
Mass times at St. Justin, Martyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturdays: 3:00 pm – 3:40 pm
- By appointment
Parish History
St. Justin, Martyr was founded in 1987 as a new Catholic community in Seminole, Florida. Its very first Mass was celebrated the first weekend of September 1987 in Bernard Hall at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church while the parish had no building of its own. Ground was broken for the current church and parish center on January 15, 1989, and the community moved in spring 1990, with the first Mass in the new building on Easter Sunday and Fr. Lydon installed as the first pastor that June. The 25th anniversary was closed with a Mass led by Bishop Robert Lynch on September 8, 2012.
- Founded: 1987
- First Mass: September 1987 at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Bernard Hall
- Groundbreaking for church/parish center: January 15, 1989
- Moved into current church: Spring 1990 (first Mass Easter Sunday)
- 25th anniversary Mass: September 8, 2012 (Bishop Robert Lynch)
- First pastor: Fr. Lydon (installed June 1990)
- Second pastor: Fr. Michael O'Brien (1998), introduced the five-purpose discipleship model
Parish Identity & Approach
Under its second pastor Fr. Michael O'Brien, St. Justin, Martyr organized parish life around a 'Jesus-centered, purpose-driven' model focused on five purposes — Invite, Connect, Pray, Study, and Serve — each led by a dedicated director. Parishioners often describe discipleship as the trait that distinguishes the parish from other Catholic churches in the area. Outreach expressions of that model include the Famous Thrift Shoppe, the Kitchen on Wheels (KOW), and the sister-parish relationship in Honduras.
- Five parish purposes: Invite, Connect, Pray, Study, Serve
- Discipleship-focused parish culture
- Sister parish in Honduras via the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas
Sacramental Schedule
Reconciliation is offered every Saturday from 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm, and confessions can also be arranged by appointment. Anointing of the Sick is available, and for emergencies the parish asks that you call 727-397-3312, extension 303. First Communion and Confirmation are prepared through the parish's Faith Formation program, with separate registration forms available on the parish website.
- Reconciliation: Saturdays 3:00–3:40 pm (and by appointment)
- Anointing of the Sick: by appointment / emergency line ext. 303
- First Communion: registration via Faith Formation
- Confirmation: registration via Faith Formation, including sponsor form
Parish Staff
The parish staff is led by its pastor and supported by ministry directors and administrative staff. Office hours are Monday–Thursday 9:00 am–1:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm, with the main office line at 727-397-3312.
- Pastor: Rev. Gerald Hendry
- Music & Liturgy: Sam Storti, ext. 316
- Evangelization & Lifelong Faith Formation: Karen Bobak, ext. 306
- Life Foundations / Youth Ministry
- Comunidad Hispana: Cecilia Siles, ext. 338
- Bookkeeper: Nubia Pineda, ext. 310
- Executive Secretary: Pat Waloga, ext. 315
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Justin, Martyr is overseen by Karen Bobak (Evangelization & Lifelong Faith Formation, ext. 306). The parish publishes annual registration forms online for the 2025–2026 program year in both English and Spanish, plus dedicated forms for First Communion, Confirmation, and Confirmation Sponsors. Faith Formation is also the entry point for preparing children and youth for the sacraments of First Communion and Confirmation.
- 2025–2026 Registration Form (English)
- 2025–2026 Registration Form (Spanish)
- 2024–2025 First Communion Registration
- 2025–2026 Confirmation Registration
- 2024–2025 Confirmation Sponsor Registration
Youth Ministry — Life Foundations
St. Justin runs a dedicated youth ministry program under the 'Life Foundations' name. The youth group has historically met in one of the trailers on the parish campus that were added as the parish grew beyond its original temporary worship building.
- Life Foundations youth ministry
- Meets on parish campus
Comunidad Hispana (Hispanic Ministry)
Hispanic ministry at St. Justin, Martyr is led by Cecilia Siles (ext. 338) and supports the parish's Spanish-speaking members, with the Misa en Español celebrated every Saturday evening at 6:00 pm and Spanish-language Faith Formation registration available.
- Coordinator: Cecilia Siles, ext. 338
- Saturday Vigil Mass in Spanish: 6:00 pm
- Spanish-language Faith Formation registration available
Music & Liturgy
Liturgical music at St. Justin is coordinated by Sam Storti (ext. 316). The parish celebrates four distinct liturgical expressions of the Roman Mass (English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Traditional Latin) each Sunday.
- Director: Sam Storti, ext. 316
- Four Sunday liturgical expressions: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Latin
Famous Thrift Shoppe
The St. Justin, Martyr Famous Thrift Shoppe is one of the parish's most visible ministries. It is open year-round on Wednesdays from 8:30 am until 11:30 am. Donations are accepted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, are tax deductible, and all proceeds directly support the parish as well as charitable organizations and individuals/families in need. Inventory changes constantly and includes clothing, books, toys, tools, bedding, dishes, shoes, furniture, linens, jewelry, small appliances, sports equipment, greeting cards, and a separate 'Gift Shoppe' trailer with curated items. Volunteers are always needed for sorting, selling, and greeting.
- Open Wednesdays 8:30 am – 11:30 am, year-round
- Donations accepted Tue / Wed / Sat (tax deductible)
- Proceeds support parish and charitable outreach
- Volunteer roles: sorting, selling, greeting (training provided)
- Separate Gift Shoppe trailer on site
Outreach & Charitable Works
Beyond the Thrift Shoppe, the parish runs a number of outreach programs including the 'Kitchen on Wheels' (KOW) mobile kitchen used at parish events and to help those in need, a food-collection ministry that delivers to the Interfaith Food Pantry on Starkey Road, and participation in the Parish Twinning Program of the Americas, through which St. Justin has been paired with a sister parish in Honduras. The parish also offers online donations through its website.
- Kitchen on Wheels (KOW)
- Outreach Ministry — delivers food collection to Interfaith Food Pantry on Starkey Road
- Parish Twinning Program of the Americas — sister parish in Honduras
- Online Giving available via parish website
Volunteer Opportunities
The parish welcomes volunteers across many of its ministries. The most consistently listed opportunities are at the Famous Thrift Shoppe on Wednesday sale days and with the Outreach Ministry, which delivers the parish's food collection to the Interfaith Food Pantry. To volunteer in any ministry, the parish asks that you contact the church office at 727-397-3312.
- Famous Thrift Shoppe — Wednesdays 8:30–11:30 am
- Outreach Ministry — food delivery to Interfaith Food Pantry
- Contact: parish office 727-397-3312
Visiting & Contact
St. Justin, Martyr is located at 10851 Ridge Road, Seminole, FL 33778, in the Central Pinellas Deanery of the Diocese of Saint Petersburg. The main parish office number is (727) 397-3312 and the office email is [email protected]. Office hours are Monday through Thursday 9:00 am–1:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am–12:00 pm. For sacramental emergencies (Anointing of the Sick) call 727-397-3312 x303.
- Address: 10851 Ridge Road, Seminole, FL 33778
- Phone: (727) 397-3312
- Email: [email protected]
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 9 am–1 pm; Fri 9 am–12 pm
- Emergency Anointing line: ext. 303
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Lydonc. 1990–1998
First pastor; installed in June 1990 in the newly built (then-temporary) church and parish center; re-assigned to another parish in 1998.
- Fr. Michael O'Brien1998–(later)
Second pastor; brought the 'Jesus-centered, purpose-driven' model built around five purposes (Invite, Connect, Pray, Study, Serve); present for the 25th anniversary Mass in September 2012.