Dear Parishioners,

As we enter into the second week of “closed public Masses” at our churches, I want to assure you of my prayers for you and your families. Both Father Kingsley and I are grateful for your phone calls checking up on the two of us. I must say that I would have never imagined a moment like this within our society. I was starting to get a bit of cabin fever a few days ago allowing me to just take a walk around the block of the church. Everything is so desolate. It was about noon time which is usually hustling and bustling. There were just 3 people out, including myself. I am glad that we are taking seriously the “stay at home order” and social distancing.

Father Kingsley and I have been celebrating Mass for all of you and your intentions every day. You are able to view these Masses on our Facebook page and our YouTube page. We will continue to record Sunday Mass from Our Lady of Victory Church via Facebook live on Sunday Morning at 10:00AM and upload it to the YouTube page. It is my hope and my prayer that we will be able to gather as a community of believers for the celebration of Holy Mass soon, but until then let us continue to lift each other up in prayer, asking that the Holy Spirit will strengthen each of us through this most difficult time. Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. Mass will be celebrated privately without a congregation at Our Lady of Victory Church. The Mass will be shown on Facebook live then uploaded to our parish YouTube page. Blessed Palm will be available at the doors of each of our three churches.

I also take this opportunity to thank each of you for your continued financial support to St. Martin dePorres Parish. As you know, the weekly offertory collection helps tremendously to cover the daily bills of the parish. In your kindness and generosity we ask that if possible, continue to support our parish community. You may mail your tithing envelopes to the parish office or drop them off. In addition, we have signed up with an electronic giving program called Give Central. It is easy to sign up and all donations come directly to the parish and recorded as Sunday tithes. For more information about Give Central please see our website.

Allow me to end with our Holy Father’s prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary in protection during this time:

O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Salvation of the Roman People, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

God Bless,

Father Alonzo Q. Cox