Rooted in the Word and the Eucharist
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church stands on West Bancroft Street in Toledo's central city. The parish describes itself in its own mission statement as "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." Sister Virginia Welsh serves as Pastoral Leader. The parish is known locally for its dynamic liturgies, its commitment to youth, and most of all for a sweeping social ministry that reaches well beyond the church walls.
A Parish Born of Two
St. Martin de Porres Parish was established in 1990 through the merger of two earlier Toledo parishes: Saint Ann, which had been founded in 1899 and for nearly a century ran Saint Ann School, and Saint Teresa of Avila. The new parish emerged as a racially and ethnically diverse community with an active presence in the central city. After the merger, Saint Ann School was renamed St. Martin de Porres School; it closed in 2002. The buildings housed Englewood Peace Academy until 2011, were leased to Imagine Clay Avenue Charter School, and in 2021 were rechristened as the St. Martin de Porres Community Center, with a mission of "providing affordable, safe, welcoming spaces for activities that will fulfill the growing needs of the community for present and future generations."
Weekend Mass and Live Stream
The parish gathers for Mass on Saturdays at 4:00 p.m. and Sundays at 10:30 a.m. The services are livestreamed on the parish's Facebook page and YouTube channel, with a live feed available only while Mass is in progress. The parish also offers a free shuttle service to Mass; anyone wishing to use it can call the office at 419-241-4544 for details. Recordings of recent Masses are archived on YouTube, and bulletins are posted online.
Breakfast at the Claver House
Five mornings a week, the Claver House hospitality kitchen opens its doors to anyone who is hungry. The all-volunteer program, sponsored by the parish, serves a hot breakfast from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, with no requirements beyond showing up. It is one of the most visible expressions of the parish's social ministry in the central city.
The Food Pantry and Social Concerns Office
The St. Martin de Porres Community Pantry is a member agency that distributes food free of charge to roughly 50 to 60 families each week. The pantry is open on the last three Thursdays of each month from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m., and emergency food is also provided on request. Appointments can be made by calling 419-241-4581 on the Wednesday before the planned visit. The pantry accepts referrals from Job and Family Services, First Call for Help, other parishes, and other churches. The Social Concerns Office that runs the pantry works to serve and minister with a Christian perspective to people in need, encouraging clients toward self-reliance and personal goal-setting.
The parish also hosts the St. Vincent de Paul Society, a Catholic lay organization offering person-to-person service to those in need. Members are at the Parish Center from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the first and second Mondays of each month and from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. on the third and fourth Mondays, helping with utility bills, rent, and other pressing needs by appointment.
The Padua Center on Nebraska Avenue
On the southern edge of the parish, at 1416 Nebraska Avenue, sits the Padua Center, an affiliated educational outreach. The center offers after-school tutoring, a Potters Garden Club, the Emerging Young Ladies program, summer camps, and a neighborhood gathering called the Kwanzaa Park Neighbors, which meets on the first Thursday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. as both a blockwatch and a community get-together (with earlier afternoon meetings in February and March because of winter darkness). The neighbors host a Chicken Fest each summer and Kwanzaa celebrations in December. Narcotics Anonymous meetings also take place at the Padua Center on Sundays from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m.
Black Catholic Ministry and Hispanic Ministry
The parish gives particular attention to the gifts of its many cultures. The Black Catholic Ministry, coordinated by Rose Parker, plans two special liturgies each year. On the first Sunday of November the parish celebrates its founding and feast day, weaving together African American, Hispanic, and other cultural expressions through ethnic clothing, praise dance, lively music, and a potluck dinner. Each fall the ministry arranges a revival with a guest preacher, and on the last Sunday of February at 5:00 p.m. the parish hosts An Evening with the Toledo Symphony in honor of Black History Month.
The Hispanic Ministry, led by Celeste Ocha-Williams, highlights Mexican Catholic traditions on two Sundays each year: a July celebration of the canonization of St. Juan Diego and a December celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Americas. Each is followed by a bi-lingual Mass, Mexican food, and entertainment.
Music, Choir, and Liturgy
Liturgy is described by the parish itself as its priority. The Choir, directed by Ryan Thomas, sings at the principal Masses and helps prepare the major celebrations of the year. Women of Grace, led by Charlotte Boyd, brings together women in music and ministry. The Liturgy Committee, alongside ushers coordinated by Kathy Jeffery, altar servers under Patti Majer, and Eucharistic ministers, supports the parish's worship life.
Faith Formation for All Ages
Sister Janice Rospert serves as Catechetics Director, overseeing religious education for children. Khristyn Grant leads NIA, the parish youth program. Ellen Jones coordinates the RCIA process for adults preparing for the sacraments, while Vivian Johnson directs Evangelization. The Prayer Shawl Ministry, led by Martha Cotton, knits and prays for parishioners and neighbors in need. A Consolation Ministry and a Parish Nurse Program under Kathy Jeffery reach out to the elderly and the homebound. The Rosary Altar Society, open to all women of the parish and currently presided over by Carol Jackson, meets monthly after Sunday Mass, coordinates Sunday hospitality, leads the rosary before Sunday Mass in May and October, hosts funeral repast luncheons, and conducts an annual ecumenical "Stand up Sisters" retreat day. Men of the parish participate through Knights of Columbus Council 386.
The Community Center
The former school buildings at 1119 W. Bancroft Street now house the St. Martin de Porres Community Center, which offers affordable meeting and programming space for community organizations. Current tenants include groups focused on sign language and chess, music, Black Lives Matter, domestic violence awareness, and behavioral health. The Center's stated core values are Valued Partnerships, Transforming Lives, and Spirit-filled.
The parish is served by a Finance Council chaired by Dennis Jarrett and a Pastoral Council chaired by Joe Clark. Sister Nancy Westmeyer oversees Peace and Justice, and John Yates coordinates Foreign Missions.
Getting to the Church
The church sits at 1119 W. Bancroft Street in Toledo, Ohio. Mass is celebrated on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., with a free shuttle available by calling the parish office. Giving is accepted in the collection basket at Mass, by mail to the parish address, online through PayPal, or by bank bill pay; memorial donations can also be arranged through the parish office at 419-241-4544.