Dear Parishioners,

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who came out for our parish Black History Month Mass of Thanksgiving. We had in attendance over 300 people! It was truly a beautiful celebration filled with joy and excitement! As I said at Mass, I am grateful to Father Kingsley and the Black History Month Committee who worked so hard to make last weekend’s celebration as beautiful as it was. I want to thank once more our music ministry under the direction of Mr. Joseph Murray and Ms. Joan Delahunt for their exceptional work and dedication in allowing our voices to be lifted up to the heavens. I would also like to thank members of our youth group who participated in the liturgical dance at Mass and helped serve refreshments at the reception after the Mass. Our guest homilist, Deacon Curtis Turner from the Archdiocese of Washington DC was extremely grateful for the opportunity and the invitation to preach here at St. Martin dePorres. He will definitely be back with us very soon! Let us continue to thank the Lord for all the many blessings he has bestowed upon us here at this beautiful parish. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen us each to follow Jesus to the kingdom that awaits us.

Youth Art, Photo and Poetry Contest

Our parish will once again hold an art contest. This contest is aimed for the youth of our parish to participate in. This year’s theme is to illustrate the life of Blessed Isidore Bakanja, who was a Carmelite from the Congo. Instructions for the contest can be found in this week’s bulletin. The deadline to enter is Saturday March 7. There will be three prizes awarded. All work will be displayed at the Brooklyn Waldorf School on March 14 and 15.

Ash Wednesday

The season of Lent will begin with Ash Wednesday, which is next Wednesday, February 26. Masses for Ash Wednesday are as follows: 8:00AM at Our Lady of Victory Church, 9:00AM at Holy Rosary Church, 12:00Noon at St. Peter Claver Church and 7:30PM at Our Lady of Victory Church. We will have a 12:00Noon prayer service with the distribution of ashes at Our Lady of Victory Church.

Stations of the Cross.

As is the custom here at St. Martin dePorres Parish, we will pray the stations of the cross each Friday night during the season of Lent. This year, the Friday following Ash Wednesday, which is February 28, we will have one communal celebration of Stations of the Cross. In commemoration of Black History Month we will pray the Stations of the Cross in honor of our Black ancestors. It will begin at 7:00PM and will be held at Holy Rosary Church. Stations of the Cross will then resume the following week at each of the three churches beginning at 7:00PM.

Have a great week,

Father Alonzo Q. Cox