About St. Martha · Sarasota, Florida
St. Martha Catholic Church is a historic downtown Sarasota parish in the Diocese of Venice, Florida, founded in 1927 and long nicknamed 'Florida's Circus Church' for the deep bond between the parish and the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose winter quarters fell within the parish boundaries. The present Orange Avenue church was built in 1940–42 with circus benefit performances underwriting construction, and the restored painted circus wagon wheels remain mounted on the wall behind the altar. Today the parish is served by the Pallottine Fathers (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) and offers Mass in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese, along with a school (St. Martha Catholic School at Bishop Nevins Academy), faith formation, Eucharistic Adoration, a jail ministry, and outreach to 14 local nursing homes.
- Established
- 1927
- Patron
- St. Martha (sister of Mary and Lazarus of Bethany, friend of Jesus)
- Rector
- Rev. George Suszko, S.A.C. (Pallottine)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Venice in Florida (Northern Deanery)
Why belong here
St. Martha is a historic downtown Sarasota parish where you can worship in English, Spanish, or Vietnamese, attend daily Mass six days a week, pray in Eucharistic Adoration Tuesday through Thursday, and have your children educated in a fully accredited Catholic school on the same Bishop Nevins Academy campus. Its ministries reach well beyond the parish grounds — into 14 local nursing homes, the Sarasota County Jail, Bethesda House, Community Pregnancy Clinics, Casa Santa Marta, and the wider Sarasota community — making it a place where the parish's long partnership with the surrounding city is still lived out each week.
Mass times at St. Martha
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (Reconciliation Room)
- Saturday 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (Reconciliation Room)
- Sunday through Friday 11:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (Reconciliation Room)
Adoration times
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Carosella Chapel: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon
Our History
St. Martha is the oldest Catholic parish in Sarasota, tracing its roots to the Jesuit mission days of 1889. The present parish on Orange Avenue was built in 1940–1942 with extraordinary help from the Ringling Bros. circus, whose winter quarters lay within the parish boundaries. Monsignor Charles L. Elslander served as founding pastor for 41 years, and the parish is now tended by the Pallottine Fathers (Society of the Catholic Apostolate).
- 1889: Circuit-riding Jesuit priests from Tampa begin serving Sarasota's Catholic families.
- 1912: Small frame mission church built on Adelia Avenue; first Mass February 1913.
- October 1, 1927: Bishop Patrick Barry establishes St. Martha Parish; Father Charles L. Elslander appointed first resident pastor.
- 1935–1941: Ringling Bros. circus stages benefit performances on parish property to fund a new church.
- September 8, 1940: Groundbreaking for the present Orange Avenue church.
- Easter Sunday 1941: First Mass in the new church.
- February 15, 1942: Church formally dedicated.
- 1959: Original 1913 frame mission dismantled for new rectory and parking.
- 1975: Church interior renovated.
- 1980: Parish Hall and Center built.
- 1982: Parish sponsors a 78-unit apartment house for the elderly south of the school.
The Circus Church Connection
Because the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus wintered in what was St. Martha territory, the parish and the circus grew up together. Monsignor Elslander reached out to circus personnel, and the annual blessing of the circus train became a beloved tradition — later portrayed in the 1952 film 'The Greatest Show on Earth.' Today the restored painted circus wagon wheels above the altar and the annual Ringling blessing still mark that bond.
- 1935–1941: Circus benefit performances staged on what is now the church parking lot.
- Annual blessing of the Ringling circus train as it departed for the national tour.
- Full-sized restored wagon wheels mounted on the wall behind the altar.
Clergy and Staff
St. Martha is served by Pallottine (Society of the Catholic Apostolate) priests alongside parochial vicars from the Congregation of the Resurrection, a corps of permanent deacons, religious brothers and sisters, and a lay parish staff. A retired Pallottine pastor, Very Rev. Fausto Stampiglia, S.A.C., remains in residence.
- Pastor: Rev. George Suszko, S.A.C.
- Parochial Vicars: Rev. Gennadi Romachko, S.A.C.; Rev. Joseph Toan Duc Vu, C.R.M.
- Additional Pallottine priests: Rev. R. Patrick Wilson, S.A.C.; Rev. Jan Rykala, S.A.C.; Rev. Krzysztof 'Chris' Frost, S.A.C.
- Hospital Chaplain (Sarasota Memorial): Rev. Joseph Vu, C.R.M.
- Retired: Very Rev. Fausto Stampiglia, S.A.C.
- Deacons: William Ladroga, C. Patrick Macaulay, Robert Gaitens, Vern Smith, Kevin McKenney
- Parish Staff: Sara Brinn (Office Manager), Virginia Bray (Music Director), Gina Snode (Business Manager), Patricia Sileo (Director of Religious Education), Rose Ann Runnells (Sacristan), Miguel Jimenez (Facilities Manager), among others
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Office of Catechetical Ministry, under Director of Religious Education Patricia Sileo, supports the ongoing formation of children, youth, and adults — including sacramental preparation and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (O.C.I.A.) for those discerning entrance into the Catholic Church.
- Religious Education classes for children on Sunday mornings.
- First Reconciliation and First Holy Eucharist preparation for grade 2 (with required Family Catechesis sessions in Liturgy, Eucharist, and Penance).
- Sacramental Preparation for grades 3–8 who wish to receive Reconciliation and Eucharist at St. Martha.
- O.C.I.A. (R.C.I.A.) — a process of reflection, prayer, instruction, discernment, and formation, with reception at the Easter Vigil; all are welcome to attend.
- Youth Ministry for grades 6–12 meeting monthly September–May with service and social activities.
St. Martha Catholic School & Bishop Nevins Academy
St. Martha Catholic School shares the Bishop Nevins Academy campus in downtown Sarasota with its sister school, St. Mary Academy, and the 26,000-sq.-ft. Zazarino Center. Fully accredited by the Florida Catholic Conference and a member of the National Catholic Education Association, the school combines a strong STREAM curriculum with Christian service.
- Principal: Mari Jo Hanson.
- Mission: 'Strength in Faith, Excellence in Knowledge, Character in Service.'
- Campus features Cafeteria, Art and Music rooms, STREAM Lab, Science Lab, Library, Chapel, Playground, Field, and the Zazarino Center.
- Outdoor learning spaces: 10-bed vegetable garden, butterfly garden, four hydroponic towers, two rain barrels, and two compost bins.
- Safety: all-access doors locked, 60+ security cameras, dedicated School Security Deputy on duty school days.
- Accessibility: full elevator and other provisions for children and parents with special needs.
- All volunteers must pass a fingerprint screening and complete Safe Environment Training; all visitors are screened and escorted.
Parish Ministries and Outreach
St. Martha's parish life extends well beyond the church walls, with formal ministries serving the Sarasota County Jail, 14 local nursing homes and ACLF facilities, and a long list of charitable, devotional, and fellowship groups.
- Jail Ministry — entrusted with the spiritual care of Catholic inmates at the Sarasota County Jail.
- Nursing Home Ministry — pastoral care and Mass at 14 area nursing homes.
- Bethesda House, Casa Santa Marta, Catholic Charities liaison, Community Pregnancy Clinics, Solve Maternity Homes.
- Respect Life Ministry and Rosary Makers.
- Knights of Columbus, Council of Catholic Women, Parish Council, Finance Council, Development Committee.
- Liturgical ministries: Altar Servers, Lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Ushers, Sacristans, Choir/Cantors.
- Family Ministry, Hospitality Ministry, Herrig Caritas (Mon–Fri 9–11 a.m.), Prayer Line, Volunteer Coordinator.
- Witness to Love marriage preparation.
Sacraments
Parish sacramental life includes Baptism, First Reconciliation and First Eucharist, marriage preparation, the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, and ongoing care for the sick and homebound.
- Baptism Class — 2nd Sunday of each month, 9:00–10:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall; no RSVP needed.
- Reconciliation & First Eucharist — grade 2 (or grades 3–8 Sacramental Preparation) through Religious Education or St. Martha Catholic School.
- O.C.I.A. — adult initiation into the Catholic Church, culminating at the Easter Vigil.
- Witness to Love — marriage preparation ministry.
- Anointing of the Sick, Communion calls, and pastoral care for the homebound, nursing-home residents, and jail inmates.
Devotions
Beyond the Mass schedule, St. Martha sustains a rich daily prayer life centered on the Blessed Sacrament, Our Lady, and the traditional Liturgy of the Hours.
- Eucharistic Adoration in the Carosella Chapel, Tuesday–Thursday 9:00 a.m.–12:00 noon.
- Rosary prayed daily after the 7:30 a.m. Mass, immediately followed by Morning Prayer.
- Stations of the Cross on Fridays during Lent.
- May Devotion — Litany to Our Lady prayed after weekday Masses during May.
- Annual blessing of the Ringling circus train (continuing the historic tradition).
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Charles L. Elslander (later Monsignor Elslander)1927–1968 (41 years)
Founding pastor; built the present Orange Avenue church, rectory, and school; began the partnership with the Ringling Bros. circus.
- Rev. John Lawlerafter 1968
- Rev. Jerome Carosella
Carosella Chapel on the parish campus is named for him.
- Rev. John Rourke
- Very Rev. Fausto Stampiglia, S.A.C.
First Pallottine pastor; the Carosella Chapel is on the parish grounds.
- Rev. George Suszko, S.A.C.present
Current pastor; Pallottine.