About St. Mary Catholic Church · Tampa, Florida
St. Mary Catholic Church is a parish in the Diocese of Saint Petersburg located at 15520 N Boulevard in the North Tampa / Hillsborough County area of Tampa, Florida. Founded in 1966, the parish serves a diverse community through weekend and daily Masses in English and Spanish, a Hispanic outreach mission (Santa Maria Mission), religious education for children and adults, and a broad network of liturgical, community, and outreach ministries. The parish describes its mission as committing itself to grow spiritually and to perpetuate the faith by offering every parishioner opportunities to participate in liturgical, social, and outreach ministries.
- Established
- 1966
- Patron
- The Blessed Virgin Mary (parish name 'St. Mary')
- Rector
- Rev. Jonathan Stephanz (Parochial Administrator)
- Diocese
- Diocese of Saint Petersburg
Why belong here
St. Mary offers a bilingual worship life with three Sunday Masses in English and a Sunday Mass in Spanish at the Santa María Mission, plus daily Mass Monday through Friday. It runs a robust Religious Education and Youth Ministry program directed by Joan Rini, a Bible Study that unpacks the upcoming Sunday Lectionary, a Bereavement Support Group, a Women's Council, a Quilters ministry, Knights of Columbus Council 11138, and a parish chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul for hands-on outreach to neighbors in need. The parish is also home to the Santa María Mission — a tangible, parish-run ministry to Hispanic families in the USF corridor that has offered everything from food and clothing to health screenings and school supplies for over twenty years.
Mass times at St. Mary Catholic Church
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:40 PM
Adoration times
- Wednesday 8:30 AM – 9:00 AM (Adoration)
- Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Holy Hour with Adoration and Benediction)
Welcome and Mission
St. Mary Catholic Church in Tampa describes its mission as committing to grow spiritually and to perpetuate the Catholic faith. The parish aims to create fellowship by giving every person in the parish family the opportunity to participate in a broad scope of liturgical, social, and outreach ministries. Parishioners are called to share their time, talent, and treasure as Christ would have them do. The parish website points visitors to its current bulletin, online giving, and its three core pages: Mass Times, Sacraments, and the Santa Maria Mission.
- Online giving available via the parish website
- Weekly bulletins available to view or download
- Pilgrimages (e.g., Marian Shrines of Lisbon, Fatima, Spain and Lourdes) organized by Fr. Jonathan Stephanz and Deacon Dave Lesieur
Clergy and Staff
St. Mary is currently served by Rev. Jonathan Stephanz as Parochial Administrator, with Rev. Belisario Riveros as Parochial Vicar. Three deacons minister at the parish: Deacon David Lesieur (assigned), Deacon John Iadanza (retired), and Deacon Pablo Riano (assigned). Joan Rini serves as Director of Religious Education and can be reached at extension 306 of the parish phone line. The parish staff also includes a Parish Nurse and a Mission Coordinator supporting the Santa María Mission.
- Rev. Jonathan Stephanz — Parochial Administrator
- Rev. Belisario Riveros — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon David Lesieur — leads the Bereavement Support Group
- Deacon John Iadanza — Retired
- Deacon Pablo Riano — Assigned
- Joan Rini — Director of Religious Education, ext. 306
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven sacraments. Infant Baptism begins with the parish's pre-Baptism registration and sponsor/godparent forms (available bilingually). First Reconciliation and First Eucharist are coordinated through the Faith Formation Office and require two consecutive years of parish faith formation or Catholic school. Confirmation is open to youth in 8th grade and above, also under Joan Rini. The Anointing of the Sick is available by contacting the parish office and is also offered after each Mass on the last Sunday of the month. Matrimony preparation is arranged through the parish office, and information about Holy Orders and the permanent diaconate is linked from the sacraments page.
- Baptism — infant and adult preparation available
- First Reconciliation — received before First Eucharist in the spring
- First Eucharist — grade 2 and above, two years of formation required
- Confirmation — 8th grade and above, two years of formation required
- Anointing of the Sick — by request and after last-Sunday Masses
- Matrimony — contact the parish office
- Holy Orders — vocations information linked
Faith Formation and Religious Education
Faith Formation at St. Mary is led by Joan Rini, Director of Religious Education, who can be reached at (813) 961-1061 during office hours (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM). The parish provides religious education for children and youth as well as Adult Faith Formation, which aims to bring faith-formation opportunities to adults through formal classes, bulletin inserts, website information, Bible study, and book study groups. A current calendar of Religious Education, Youth Ministry, and Sunday School is published on the parish website each program year.
- Children's Religious Education (Sunday School)
- Youth Ministry
- Adult Faith Formation Commission
- Bible Study — explores the upcoming Sunday Lectionary (Lorraine Hoffman)
- Sacramental preparation for First Eucharist, First Reconciliation, and Confirmation
Liturgical Ministries
St. Mary's liturgical ministries serve every Mass celebrated in the parish. Music Ministry, directed by Sara Graf, provides music for all liturgical services and includes a children's choir, a bell choir, and additional ensembles. Altar Servers minister at God's altar with reverence and prepare the credence table and sanctuary for Mass. Readers (Lectors) proclaim the Word of God at weekend, Holy Day, and special liturgies. Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion assist at Mass and bring Communion to the sick and homebound (contact Rosemary Ashby). Ushers (contact Jeff Hirsch) provide hospitality, greet and seat parishioners, and take up the collection. Sacristans care for the sacristy and sacred vessels used at Mass.
- Music Ministry — Sara Graf (children's choir, bell choir, adult ensembles)
- Altar Servers
- Readers / Lectors
- Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion — Rosemary Ashby
- Ushers — Jeff Hirsch
- Sacristans
Outreach and Pastoral Care
Outreach at St. Mary is centered on bringing the Church's presence to those who cannot easily come to it. The Pastoral Care ministry (contact Carol Engstrom) brings Holy Communion to the homebound and to residents of assisted-living facilities and nursing homes, meeting the spiritual needs of parishioners who can no longer attend Mass in person. The parish's chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul is a Catholic lay organization that leads members to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to neighbors in need, inspired by Gospel values. The Quilters ministry donates handmade quilts to the VA Hospital, Catholic Charities, the Santa María Mission, day care centers, and nursing homes.
- Pastoral Care — Communion to the homebound and care facilities (Carol Engstrom)
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul parish conference
- Quilters — quilts donated to VA Hospital, Catholic Charities, Santa María Mission, day care centers, and nursing homes
Community Life and Organizations
Beyond its liturgical and outreach work, St. Mary nurtures community life through several lay organizations. The Bereavement Support Group, led by Deacon Dave Lesieur, offers comfort to anyone grieving a loss — from death, divorce, or health issues — and meets the third Tuesday of every month at 6:30 PM in the parish office conference room (skipping summer). The St. Mary's Women's Council organizes parish women around fellowship and service (2025–2026 president: Kathy Tragon). Knights of Columbus Council 11138 (Grand Knight Xander Morehouse) is the local council of the worldwide Catholic men's fraternity founded by Blessed Michael McGivney in 1882, guided by the principles of charity, unity, fraternity, and patriotism.
- Bereavement Support Group — 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 PM, led by Deacon Dave Lesieur
- St. Mary's Women's Council — President Kathy Tragon
- Knights of Columbus Council 11138 — Grand Knight Xander Morehouse
- Parish Bible Study
Santa María Mission
Founded in 2001 by St. Mary under then-pastor Father Bob Morris, the Santa María Mission was created to serve Hispanic immigrants settled in the North Tampa–USF area — a community often nicknamed 'Suitcase City.' Many residents had a strong Catholic tradition but no transportation to attend church, so the parish brought the Church to them: the Mission's first Eucharistic Celebration was December 23, 2001, and an empty acre at North 15th Street and 142nd Avenue was donated for the site. Today the Mission celebrates a 10:00 AM Sunday Mass in Spanish (currently held in the St. Mary's Family Center while a permanent temple is being built), with regular attendance that has reached more than 400. Through partnerships with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department, Foot Print Ministries, Catholic Charities, and the Nativity Outreach Program, the Mission provides donated food, clothing, toys, cookware, furniture, medical attention, health screenings, flu shots, vaccinations, school supplies, Thanksgiving baskets, and Christmas baskets to hard-working families earning less than minimum wage — regardless of religion, origin, or race. St. Mary's permanent staff has expanded to include a Parish Nurse and Mission Coordinator to support this work.
- Founded December 23, 2001 by Fr. Bob Morris
- 10:00 AM Sunday Mass in Spanish at 14004 N. 15th Street at 142nd Ave.
- Current Sunday services held in St. Mary's family center pending construction of a permanent temple
- Health screenings, flu shots, vaccinations, school supplies
- Thanksgiving and Christmas basket programs
- Partnerships with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Department, Foot Print Ministries, Catholic Charities, and the Nativity Outreach Program
- Donations of food, clothing, toys, cookware, furniture, and medical attention for families earning less than minimum wage
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Bob Morrisearlier 2000s
Founded Santa María Mission in 2001 while pastor of St. Mary to serve Hispanic immigrants in the North Tampa-USF / 'Suitcase City' area.