The Diocese of San Bernardino faced a two-fold challenge. The first is there are fewer priests to lead its parishes and the second is that the region has experienced surprising population growth. The parish of St. Martha is an example of a response to this challenge. The seating capacity of the sanctuary is nearly 1,500 persons to accommodate more parishioners at fewer services. The sanctuary is planned around a seating arrangement that permits the best visual connection to the altar. This arrangement creates an atmosphere that can be more intimate even with a large congregation.