The Memphis Italian Festival is proud to announce that this year’s honorary Outstanding Italian is Father Jim Martell.

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Father Martell was born on September 21, 1955 in Akron, Ohio to James and Judy Martell and he was the second oldest of 6 children. He graduated from Union City High School in 1974 and then attended the University of Tennessee at Martin where he graduated with a degree in accounting. Fr. Martell was accepted by the Diocese of Memphis as a seminarian in 1983 and went to St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana graduating with a degree in Theology in 1988.

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Fr. Martell has had 7 different assignments as a priest and became pastor of Holy Rosary Church in 2006.  It was our honor and privilege to have him here for 11 years.  He was the epitome of what a parish priest should be. Fr. Martell always greeted everyone with a smile and, if you were in a bad mood, he would leave you with a smile on your face.  He made a point of knowing the names of the kids in our school and loved attending all the sporting events as well as ministering to the other needs of the parish.   During his tenure he oversaw the completion of a building project that resulted in new parish offices and a family life center opening in 2010. 

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Fr. Martell stays very active and has hiked most of the Appalachian Trail starting in Georgia, going all the way to Connecticut.  He loves running 5K races and riding his bike on the Greenline. He has just retired from active ministry and resides in Fayette County and now fills in at many churches in the Diocese.

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Even before becoming pastor, Fr. Martell has always been one of the biggest supporters of the Italian Festival, and during his time as pastor, he made it feel like one big Holy Rosary party.

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Congratulazioni Father Martell!