Dear Parishioners,

With the celebration of Pentecost last Sunday, we ended the Easter season and have moved into Ordinary Time. There are two very special solemnities on the liturgical year that takes place after Pentecost. The first is today’s feast of the Most Holy Trinity. As Catholics, we invoke the Trinity at the beginning of all prayer. We believe that God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three divine persons that make up who God is! We hear in today’s gospel that God so loved the world that he gave us his only begotten Son. Today we give thanks and praise to the Father for the gift of Jesus the Son who in turn bestows upon us the Holy Spirit. We notice at Mass when the priest or bishop blesses the people he does so using the Trinitarian formula. We are baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. On this Trinity Sunday, may our hearts be filled with love as we go out proclaiming the Good News of Christ our Savior and King.

Re-Opening Process for St. Martin de Porres Parish

This past week, Our Lady of Victory Church opened its doors to the faithful for private prayer. As I mentioned in my letter last week, if all went well at Our Lady of Victory, we could then make arrangements to have both St. Peter Claver and Holy Rosary Church open for private prayer as well. This Monday, June 8, St. Peter Claver Church will be open for private prayer from 12:00Noon to 4:00PM. Following the guidelines of the State of New York there can be no more than 10 people in the Church at one time. The touching of statues and lighting of candles will not be permitted. We are also asking that you practice social distancing. The pews will be marked off designating where people can sit. There cannot be a communal recitation of the rosary or any other novena. All prayer must be done privately. Our Lady of Victory Church will continue to be open from 9:00AM to 11:00AM and 1:00PM to 3:00PM

We are in need of some extra volunteers to help with welcoming people to church for these hours. If you are interested please contact myself or Father Kingsley. We do not know when public Masses will resume. Masses will continue to be livestreamed via our parish Facebook page and our parish YouTube page.

Please be assured of our prayers for you during this time. Both Father Kingsley and I are grateful for your calls and words of support and encouragement. Thank you for both your spiritual and financial support for our wonderful parish. May God continue to bless each one of us in his love and mercy

Wishing each of you a peaceful and blessed week,

Father Alonzo Q. Cox