About St. Martin de Porres · Toledo, Ohio
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church is a diverse, urban parish in Toledo's central city, part of the Diocese of Toledo. The parish was formed in 1990 through the merger of three historic congregations — St. Ann (1899), St. Teresa of Avila (1913), and the former St. Benedict the Moor mission — and today worships in the original St. Ann Romanesque church on West Bancroft Street. The parish is widely recognized for its dynamic liturgies, racial and cultural diversity, deep commitment to social ministry, and a constellation of outreach programs serving neighbors in need, including a food pantry, a daily breakfast kitchen (Claver House), a St. Vincent de Paul conference, and the affiliated Padua Center for education.
- Established
- 1990
- Patron
- St. Martin de Porres
- Rector
- Sr. Virginia Welsh (Pastoral Leader)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Toledo
Why belong here
St. Martin de Porres is a parish where social ministry is at the heart of parish life: a free breakfast is served five days a week at the parish-sponsored Claver House, a community food pantry feeds 50–60 families a week, the St. Vincent de Paul conference helps with rent and utility bills, and the Padua Center offers tutoring, youth programs, and neighborhood organizing on Nebraska Avenue. The parish is racially and culturally diverse, rooted in the Word and the Eucharist, and explicitly calls itself a 'prophetic presence' energized by the Pentecost Spirit — a community that welcomes anyone willing to walk with the central-city neighbors of Toledo. A free shuttle to Mass is available for those who need a ride.
Mass times at St. Martin de Porres
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 3:30 PM – 3:50 PM (before Vigil Mass)
- Sunday 10:00 AM – 10:20 AM (before Mass)
- Saturday 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (or by appointment, call parish office)
Adoration times
- Monday: After 8:30 AM Daily Mass until 12:00 noon
- Thursday: After 8:30 AM Daily Mass until 8:00 PM
- Friday: After 8:30 AM Daily Mass until 2:45 PM
- Chapel open for private prayer: Monday–Friday 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM; Saturday after Daily Mass until 5:00 PM
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Martin de Porres Parish describes itself as a community 'rooted in the Word and the Eucharist, a prophetic presence, energized by racial, social and cultural diversity; fired by the Pentecost Spirit, dedicated to spreading the Gospel of Christ in the Toledo central city and beyond.' The parish's Core Values, as stated on the ministries page, are Valued Partnerships, Transforming Lives, and Spirit-filled. It is a parish where social ministry is woven into the liturgical and parish life, and where diversity of race, language, and culture is celebrated as a gift.
- Rooted in the Word and the Eucharist
- Prophetic presence in central-city Toledo
- Core Values: Valued Partnerships, Transforming Lives, Spirit-filled
Parish History
The parish was established in 1990 with the merger of three congregations: St. Ann (founded 1898/1899, pastor Rev. John H. Muehlenbeck), St. Teresa of Avila (founded 1913, pastor Fr. James Higginbotham), and the former St. Benedict the Moor mission (founded 1932 for Black Catholics, closed 1965). Parish council members from the merged communities chose the name St. Martin de Porres — the Dominican brother known for service to the poor and to people of mixed race — to express the new parish's identity. St. Ann School, which had operated for nearly 100 years, was renamed St. Martin de Porres School at the merger; it closed in 2002, and the buildings were later leased to Englewood Peace Academy, then Imagine Clay Avenue Charter School, and in 2021 became the St. Martin de Porres Community Center. The parish celebrated the 125th anniversary of Catholic presence on the site and the 100th anniversary of the 1924 cornerstone in June 2024.
- 1898/1899 — St. Ann Parish founded; first pastor Rev. John H. Muehlenbeck
- 1913 — St. Teresa of Avila Parish founded; first pastor Fr. James Higginbotham
- 1924 — Larger St. Ann church built on the same Forest & Bancroft site
- 1932 — St. Benedict the Moor mission founded for Black Catholics; closed 1965
- 1983 — St. Ann Complex added to the National Register of Historic Places
- 1990 — Merger forms St. Martin de Porres Parish; school renamed
- 2002 — St. Martin de Porres School closes; Englewood Peace Academy opens
- 2011 — Englewood Peace Academy closes; Imagine Clay Avenue Charter School leases buildings
- 2021 — Buildings rededicated as the St. Martin de Porres Community Center
- 2024 — 125th anniversary of Catholic presence and 100th anniversary of cornerstone celebrated; Heritage Alcove dedicated
Heritage Alcove & Historic Building
The parish's 2024 anniversary celebration included dedication of a Heritage Alcove inside the church, centered on the baptismal font from St. Benedict the Moor Church. To its sides are a statue of St. Teresa of Avila (salvaged from the original 1915 church) and a life-size statue of St. Ann with her daughter Mary. The building itself — the 1924 St. Ann Roman Catholic Church Complex designed by John T. Comes and Thomas Huber in Romanesque / Italian Romanesque style — has been on the National Register of Historic Places since May 5, 1983, and remains the parish's worship space at 1105–1119 W. Bancroft.
Pastoral Leadership & Staff
The parish is led day-to-day by Sr. Virginia Welsh, who serves as Pastoral Leader and is the primary point of contact for parish life. She is supported by an Administrative Assistant, Rochelle Hite, and lay leadership through the Finance Council (Dennis Jarrett) and Pastoral Council (Joe Clark). The parish office can be reached at 419-241-4544.
- Pastoral Leader: Sr. Virginia Welsh (419-241-4544)
- Administrative Assistant: Rochelle Hite
- Finance Council: Dennis Jarrett
- Pastoral Council: Joe Clark
Social Ministry & Outreach
St. Martin de Porres is most clearly defined, in its own words, by its social ministry. The Parish Social Concerns Office works with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and operates a weekly Community Food Pantry; the parish also sponsors the Claver House hospitality kitchen and the St. Martin de Porres Community Center. The Parish Nurse Program provides health-related outreach to elderly parishioners.
- Parish Social Concerns Office (contact: K. LaVerne Redden, 419-241-4581)
- St. Vincent de Paul Society — utility and rent assistance
- Community Food Pantry (last three Thursdays, 12:30–2:00 PM)
- Claver House — free hot breakfast Monday–Friday
- St. Martin de Porres Community Center
- Parish Nurse / Health & Wellness Ministry
St. Vincent de Paul Conference
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Society is a Catholic lay organization offering person-to-person service to those who are needy and suffering. Members assist with utility bills and rent, generally within parish boundaries, and meet at the Parish Center from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on the first and second Mondays of the month and 1:00–3:00 PM on the third and fourth Mondays. Service is by appointment: 419-241-4544.
- Contact: Anita Garraway
- Assistance: utility bills, rent, other needs
- Hours: 1st & 2nd Mondays 10 AM–noon; 3rd & 4th Mondays 1–3 PM
Community Food Pantry
The St. Martin de Porres Community Pantry is a member agency providing free food to clients. Appointments are made by calling 419-241-4581 on the Wednesday before a desired visit. The pantry is open Thursdays from 12:30 to 2:00 PM on the last three Thursdays of the month, and emergency food is provided as requested. The pantry also receives client referrals from Job and Family Services, First Call for Help, and other parishes and churches, and serves roughly 50–60 families per week.
- Contact: K. LaVerne Redden — 419-241-4581
- Hours: Last three Thursdays, 12:30–2:00 PM
- Emergency food available on request
- Serves ~50–60 families per week
Claver House
The Claver House is an all-volunteer program sponsored by St. Martin de Porres that provides a hot breakfast to anyone who comes through the doors, five days a week. There are no requirements to receive a meal except to be hungry. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 AM. Contact: Andy Young, 419-241-4544.
- All-volunteer hospitality kitchen
- Hot breakfast Monday–Friday, 8:00–10:00 AM
- No requirements to be served
- Contact: Andy Young, 419-241-4544
The Padua Center
The Padua Center is an educational outreach program affiliated with St. Martin de Porres Parish, located at 1416 Nebraska Ave. on the parish's southern border. It provides after-school tutoring, the Potters Garden Club, Emerging Young Ladies programming, summer camps, and the Kwanzaa Park Neighbors group, which meets the first Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 PM as a blockwatch and neighborhood gathering (February and March meetings at 12:00 PM because of winter darkness). The Kwanzaa Park Neighbors also host a Chicken Fest each summer and Kwanzaa celebrations in December. The Padua Center also hosts a Narcotics Anonymous meeting on Sundays from 3:30 to 5:00 PM. Contact: 419-241-6465.
- After-school tutoring
- Potters Garden Club
- Emerging Young Ladies
- Summer camps
- Kwanzaa Park Neighbors blockwatch (1st Thursday, 6:00–7:30 PM)
- Chicken Fest (summer) and Kwanzaa celebrations (December)
- NA meeting: Sundays 3:30–5:00 PM
- Address: 1416 Nebraska Ave.
- Phone: 419-241-6465
St. Martin de Porres Community Center
Opened in 2021 in the parish's former school buildings, the Community Center extends the parish's mission by providing 'affordable, safe, welcoming spaces for activities that will fulfill the growing needs of the community for present and future generations.' Its Core Values are Valued Partnerships, Transforming Lives, and Spirit-filled. Information: Adrienne Castellanos, 419-241-4544.
- Located in the former school buildings
- Opened 2021
- Contact: Adrienne Castellanos, 419-241-4544
Multicultural Ministries
Reflecting its identity as a racially and ethnically diverse parish, St. Martin de Porres maintains active Hispanic Ministry and Black Catholic Ministry alongside its broader parish life. The parish also works with the Knights of Columbus and the Rosary Altar Society in serving the parish community.
- Hispanic Ministry
- Black Catholic Ministry
- Knights of Columbus
- Rosary Altar Society
Health & Wellness (Parish Nurse Program)
The Parish Nurse Program at St. Martin de Porres is a longstanding outreach to elderly parishioners, providing health-related care and connection as part of the parish's pastoral mission. It is one of the signature programs the parish points to in describing itself.
Visit & Contact Information
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church is located at 1119 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606, with the parish office reachable at 419-241-4544. The parish also operates the Padua Center at 1416 Nebraska Ave. (419-241-6465). A free shuttle to Mass is available — call the parish office for details. The parish is part of the Diocese of Toledo.
- Address: 1119 W. Bancroft St., Toledo, OH 43606
- Parish Office Phone: 419-241-4544
- Padua Center Phone: 419-241-6465
- Diocese: Diocese of Toledo
- Free shuttle to Mass — call the parish office
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Reverend John H. Muehlenbeck1898–
First pastor of St. Ann Parish, one of the predecessor parishes
- Father James Higginbotham1913–
First pastor of St. Teresa of Avila Parish, the second predecessor parish