- December 13, 2025
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Joanne and Fred Gonet wanted to be part of a family.
When they came to Sarasota, they were non-practicing Catholics, but that changed when they found Saint Martha Catholic Church, and drawn in by Rev. Fausto Stampiglia.
“The parish to him was family, and it was his personality that made us want to be part of this parish, and help grow this parish, and help grow the events, and that’s how we ended up in hospitality,” she said, noting they joined a hospitality committee at the parish.
Although they now live out of state, they returned for the celebration of Stampiglia’s 65th year in the priesthood, held Nov. 14 at Michael’s on East. The event took place on the anniversary of his ordination as a priest of the religious order the Pallottines, in Rome in 1960.
To many, Stampiglia was the defining face of St. Martha Catholic Church for his 31 years in the role in which he is now succeeded by Rev. Jerzy “George” Susko. He is often best known for reviving St. Martha Catholic School at a time it was struggling with enrollment.
In 2010, he was awarded the medal of Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice by Pope Benedict XVI, in recognition of distinguished service to the Catholic Church.
Now, at 90, Stampiglia says it was the opportune time for a celebration.
“If you are 75 years a priest… you are ordained about 27, 28,” Stampiglia said. “You’ll be over 100. How many are? That’s why we have 65, and because 65 we can make it. I don’t think I can make another 10 years.”
His birthday had also taken place the previous month, on Oct. 7.
“It means a lot, because this is his 90th birthday,” Joanne Gonet said. “We celebrated with him on his 80th birthday, which is 10 years ago, and we know his years are limited, and this is just us telling him thank you for everything you’ve done for your family at St. Martha.”
Many attendees brought a long history with Stampiglia, such as Kim McLeod, whose family moved to the area in 1982 when she was 12 and became involved with St. Martha.
Stampiglia married McLeod and her husband in 1994, then married her sister and her husband in 1998, as well as baptizing her children and her sister's children.
“At times when you are so down and so sad and confused and whatever, he just turns it around to where, even though it’s a bad situation, that you just feel so blessed and so grateful to know him,” she said. “It’s just the best thing in the entire world.”
She said years ago he provided comfort when her daughter, at 3 years old, was very ill in All Children's Hospital and it was said that she might not survive.
“He would just make us feel so much better, just from seeing him and visiting him and talking to him, even if it was just for only like 10 minutes,” she said.
Then three years ago, when her father was ill, she reached out to Stampiglia.
She did not realize at the time that he was in Rome, but as soon as he arrived at the airport in the United States, he didn't waste any time in visiting with the family, sending her a text that he was on his way.
“He just showed up at the door," she said. "He literally drove from the airport, jet lagged I’m sure, crazy, to my mom’s house, and got to say prayers to my dad before he passed, which was only a few hours after that, and it just was the most meaningful thing in the entire world. I absolutely adore that man.”
Today, she often exchanges texts with him, and says the priest, known for his joviality, will send emojis.
“He’ll be like pray hands and like a thumbs up, and he is the cutest. He is just the best," she said.
When Stampiglia became pastor at St. Martha, the school was losing students and had substantial debt, Stampiglia says. Then-Bishop of the Diocese of Venice John Nevins suggested Stampiglia sell the school.
“I am a fruit of the Catholic schools. I went to Catholic school since pre-K on. Closing a Catholic school is a sacrilege for me,” he said.
Nevins granted Stampiglia permission to construct a new school on a 20-acre property on Fruitville Road, in a facility known as Bishop Nevins Academy.
Stampiglia says the school, as well as its sister school St. Mary Academy, which serves special needs students, opened even despite an interruption to donations after 9/11.
“The two schools were made, were built and opened August 2002, like a miracle,” he said. “If God wants something for us to do, he gives us any means that we need to fulfill the plan.”
The Zazarino Center, which includes a gymnasium, was added in 2016.
Although Stampiglia's retirement took place in 2022, it’s still not the end of his time at the church.
“Some weekends I can help in St. Martha, which is nice,” he said. “I was pastor 31 years and now three years, helping a little bit part time, but it’s good to meet with the people again and again.”
When asked how it felt to be honored for his work, he said, “Humbled, because I didn’t do it.”
“God manipulates us to do what he wants us to do," he said. "If you let him do it, you’re going to be successful, then you become love yourself, and God will fill you up with love, and whoever you touch are people to love.”
“So many people appreciate his priestly ministry in Sarasota,” current pastor, Rev. Jerzy “George” Susko, told event attendees. “His sermons will be remembered in St. Martha for a long time. His communication skills and persuasive character encouraged religious brothers of Christian service to become Pallottines. He helped many men to become permanent deacons in our diocese. Many diocesan priests, Pallottine priests, or from different religious orders, as well as of various nationalities… live in and work in St. Martha parish.”
