Parish Ministries

Please note that contact names and phone numbers are listed below. If the phone number is not listed, then please contact our office at 941-366-4210. Thank you.

St. Martha Carosella Chapel

The Blessed Sacrament is present in the Chapel. The Chapel is open during Office hours (Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament is on Tuesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Thursday, 6 - 7 p.m. (exception: 1st Friday of the month adoration is in the Church). We need at least two people present in the Chapel at all times during adoration. We remind you that adoration in the Chapel is silent.

Our ministry is made up of parishioners who commit to a specific hour each week.

Requirements: A willing heart

Contact person: Susan Wenzel, (941)320-5525

The Altar Society

Takes care of the Sanctuary's Altar, keep the Church tidy, take care of liturgical articles and Sacristy. They support the Celebrant at all Sunday and Special Celebrations.

Requirements: Female parishioners who would like to keep the Altar and the Sacristy in tip top shape and would like to enjoy the camaraderie and spiritual experience.

Contact person: Mary Payette

Bethesda House

Provides support services to HIV+ persons, their families and friends in a Drop-in Center.

Requirements: Volunteers to participate as receptionists, food preparation personnel, clerks, fund raising drives, newsletter publication, small group participation, etc.

Contact person: Sandy Gallagher, (941) 366-1886

Bible Study Group

We study the book of the old testament and the new testament according to the desires of those who attend. There is time given for discussion and questions are answered as the arise. No prior knowledge of the Scriptures is necessary for anyone to participate.

Contact person: Rev. John Kroszer

Caritas

One of the largest community out-reach ministries. The Caritas program is a joint effort of five downtown churches: First Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Church of the Redeemer, St. Martha Catholic Church and First United Methodist Church. Each congregation is responsible for one day a week, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Applicants may use the service three times a year, and records are kept by Social Security numbers on a Computer. Each church complies with mutually agreed policies, and uses its own budget to meet the emergency needs of the clients interviewed. All contribute to the Caritas Pantry located in the First Baptist Church facility on Main Street.

Contact person: 9-11 am, Mon-Fri, 366-5620

The Choirs

The Adult Choir provides spiritual music for the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Liturgy.
The Cantors lead the congregation in singing at Sunday Masses.
The Contemporary Choir is a quality instrument choir for the 9:00 a.m. Family Liturgy.
The Children's Choir gives the children an opportunity to participate in quality music and liturgy.
The Spanish Choir provides spiritual music for the Spanish Mass.
The Gregorian Choir provides spiritual music for the Tridentine Latin Mass.
The Vietnamese Choir provides spiritual music for the Vietnamese Mass.

Requirements:

For Adult Choir and Cantors: Parishioners who like to sing (audition required).
For Contemporary Choir: Singers and musicians who would also like to enjoy the camaraderie and spiritual experience.
For Children's Choir: Young singers with supportive adults.
For Spanish Choir and Cantors: Hispanic parishioners who like to sing.
For Gregorian Choir: Parishioners who like to sing and enjoy the Tridentine Latin Mass Liturgy.
For Vietnamese Choir: Parishioners who like to sing and regularly attend our Vietnamese Liturgy.

Contact person: Virigina Bray

Council of Catholic Women

Parish based group who are affiliated with the Florida and National Council of Catholic Women. This is a faith based group of parishioners who meet in the context of prayer, liturgy, social and service issues. Their connection to the larger Council groups keep them informed and active in religious, educational, legislative, social and economic domains; to stimulate greater proficiency in meeting the needs of the times.

Contact person: Claire Collins, (941) 388-3340

Eucharistic Ministry

Assist in the distribution of the Blessed Sacrament.

Sarasota Memorial Hospital: These Eucharist Ministers deliver the Blessed Sacrament to Catholics who are recovering in the Hospital.

Contact Person: Missy Weishaar, (941)351-2635

Nursing Homes (28) and Shut-ins (62): These Eucharist Ministers deliver the Blessed Sacrament to those Catholics who are unable to attend Mass. They go the parishioners' homes and the Nursing/Retirement Homes.

Contact Person: Deacon Kevin McKenney, (941)706-2665

Mass (13 weekend; 4 daily): The Eucharistic Ministers assist in the distribution of the Blessed Sacrament, in both species, during Mass.

Requirements: Parishioners who have a special reverence for the Eucharist. Must have transportation.

Contact person: Bro. William Hudspeth

The Jail Ministry

Visits inmates in the Sarasota County Jail. Mass is celebrated every Sunday at the Jail. See Mass schedule for more information.

Requirements: Male and female parishioners who wish to carry the Word to our incarcerated fellow human beings and bring them a sense of belonging that they desperately need.

Contact person: Louie Faustino, (941)228-3252

Lectors

Proclaim the Word of God at Mass and other services.

Requirements: Parishioners who read and speak well, and would like to "proclaim" the Word.

Contact person: Eric Berman, (941)720-3083

Legion of Mary

The main purpose is to give glory to God through the sanctification of its members. Members become instruments of the Holy Spirit through a balanced program of prayer and service. Work includes catechesis, parishioner visitation, prison ministry, visitation of the sick or aged, crowd contact, religious education, visiting newly baptized, Pilgrim Virgin Statue rotations, and meeting the other spiritual needs of the parish community. Legionaries are under the guidance of a spiritual director named by the pastor.

Contact person: Diane Such, (941)377-2011

Library

St. Martha Library is located on the second floor of the Elslander Parish Center. The library contains over 3500 volumes on a variety of religious subjects ranging from Bible Study to Theology. Library hours are 10 a.m. till noon on Sundays when the School of Religion is in session.

Ministers of Hospitality

Parishioners who meet and greet people attending worship and parish functions. They are also called Ushers in the Church setting, but they do much more than that. They are men and women who assist with worship seating and safety. Persons in this ministry are instrumental in making certain that church functions, whether they be liturgy, sacraments or interfaith events are celebrated in an inviting and safe environment.

Contact person: Beth Cannata, (941)349-1429

Newcomers Ministry

Welcomes newly registered parishioners.

Requirements: Ministry representation to welcome these newcomers.

Contact persons: Dave Shaver, Beth Cannata

Parish Council

The Parish Council is the unifying structure of Saint Martha's Catholic family. Our purpose is to counsel the Pastor by serving God and the parishioners of Saint Martha's, in the spiritual, liturgical and assistance areas of parish life.

Requirements:
The Parish Council is represented by no less than nine or more than 25 lay people and clerics from within Saint Martha's Parish. Regular members are voting members who count towards a quorum and include three permanent positions: Saint Martha's School Principal or representative, the Director of Religious Education and a Finance Council representative. The Pastor has the privilege and authority to appoint the balance of the regular members, usually from among a rotation of representatives of the various Parish Ministries. Elected members are voting members who count towards a quorum and include up to three members elected by Parishioners every year on a three year cycle. There may be up to a total of nine elected members. St. Martha Pastor is an ex-officio member of the Parish Council. He neither votes, nor is included in a quorum count on matters brought before the Council. The Pastor may appoint additional ex-officio members at his discretion.

Regular meetings are held monthly between September and May, except that no meeting is held in December. Parishioners and non-parishioners who want to address the Council must submit a written request to the President at least ten days prior to the meeting. The President is responsible for obtaining the Pastor's approval for the request and for granting any exceptions to this requirement.

Contact person: Dave Shaver

Patriarch Apostolate

Men of the parish are invited to become senior altar servers for the 4:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Saturday Masses, Holy Day Masses, weekday morning, noon Masses, and funeral Masses.

Peace and Social Justice/SURE

Advances and applies Catholic social teaching to those local, national and international issues which impact the poor and vulnerable. We have three primary components: a social justice educational program; a legislative initiatives program; and a public advocacy program. The public advocacy mission is an outgrowth of our participation in SURE.

SURE is an ecumenical organization whose acronym stands for Sarasota United for Responsibility and Equity. St. Martha along with twenty other faith base communities serve as the poor's advocate before governing bodies of city and county to promote social justice.

Requirements: Parishioners who are interested in learning about Catholic social justice issues and/or doing something about these matters. SURE requires parishioners who are interested in public advocacy for low to moderate income families.

Contact Person: John L. McGruder

To view one of the best Catholic Peace & Justice websites in the country, go to http://www.osjspm.org

Prayer Line

Realizing that there are times when we all feel we need more Divine help than our own prayers are providing, St. Martha became part of the Christian Prayer Line in 1988. We can all make a phone call and ask that our intentions be included in the prayers of all on the Line.

Requirements: Become part of the Christian Prayer Line to pray for those with prayer requests.

Contact persons: Ann and Helen, (941)921-2604

Respect Life Ministry

Respect Life Ministry is dedicated to transforming today’s culture of death into a culture of life. Pope John Paul II’s encyclical The Gospel of Life provides hope and inspiration in the promotion of respect for all life, from fertilization to natural death. The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Pastoral Plan for Pro-Life Activities: A Campaign in Support of Life, provides a framework for the ministry, following the Catholic tradition of prayer, study/education and action, including pastoral care and legislative advocacy. Respect Life Ministry focuses on life and death issues involving the beginning of life, end of life, capital punishment and legislative action on the parish, diocesan, state and national levels.

Bonita Springs Pregnancy Careline
St. Leo Parish
P.O. Box 3250
Bonita Springs, FL 33959

Pregnancy Crisis Careline
(not Diocese of Venice)
21234 Olean Blvd., Suite 4
Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Project Rachel
(Post-abortion Healing Ministry)
1000 Pinebrook Road
Venice, FL 34292
1-877-908-1212

Requirements: Parishioners who are interested in participating in issues of life and death from a Catholic perspective.

Contact persons: Jim and Peg Styler, (941)377-1929

Rosary Makers

Has been a continuous active ministry since 1956. Since then they have made tens of thousands of rosaries which have been distributed locally and world wide. Rosary making is a peaceful, meditative and is an enjoyable and easy craft. St. Martha Rosary makers meet every first Friday, September through May in the Friendship Room at 9:00 a.m.

Requirements: Parishioners who are interested in making rosaries. We have many skilled rosary makers that are available to teach anyone interested in learning. Supplies are provided and the work can be done at home.

Contact persons: Don and Maxine Brand, (941)755-9749

Small Christian Communities

Parishioners who gather to break open the Word, reflect upon it, discuss it, put it into the context of their lives in the present and then are called to act upon the Gospel message. They meet in small groups (typically 10-12 persons in a group) in the home of a parishioner for several weeks in the fall and again in the winter. The small groups gather during the year for day-long retreats to connect with each other. Each group has a facilitator and published materials for scripture, discussion and action.

Sunday Coffee Service

Promotes community growth by serving free coffee and inexpensive after all Sunday morning Masses. All are invited to enjoy each other's company in the parish Friendship Room.

Requirements: Warm, people-oriented persons who enjoy bantering as they pour coffee for fellow parishioners.

Contact Person: Gary Kerschner, (941)315-0564

Family Ministry