Dear Parishioners,
We had such a beautiful celebration last Sunday commemorating the Feast of our patron, St. Martin de Porres. I want to thank all of you for your support and prayers for a great Sunday. Bishop Witold was very much impressed with the zeal of our parish community. I thank our altar servers, ushers, liturgical ministers and our choir for such a prayerful and uplifting Mass. Both Father Franklin and I are blessed to be your shepherds here at this parish. I also want to thank the volunteers who donated all of the breakfast items that you received in your “to go” bags. We are blessed to have such generous parishioners who love their parish. May God continue to pour out his abundant blessings upon all of us here at St. Martin de Porres Parish.
Next Sunday is the Solemnity of Christ the King. It marks the final Sunday of this liturgical year and what a year it has been! We were unable to gather as a community for half of Lent, and all of Holy Week and Easter. Although we were not together physically, we all were united together by prayer. As we begin the season of Advent in just two weeks, we prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord. We know neither the day nor the hour, but we must be ready to welcome the Lord Jesus. In just a few weeks we as a nation will celebrate Thanksgiving. We will celebrate this holiday very differently, but nonetheless, we are grateful for the many blessings and graces that God has placed before us this year. Let us pray for an increase of faith, hope and love that we may continue to journey with our Lord closer to the eternal kingdom of heaven.
Thanksgiving Food Basket Distribution
If you know of any families who maybe going through some hardships this holiday season and will be in need of food for Thanksgiving, please send us their contact information to be placed on our Thanksgiving Food Basket distribution list. We did not collect as much food as in previous years, so please call the parish office as soon as possible to have names placed on the list. The baskets will be distributed on Tuesday November 17.
Parish Stewardship Program
Over the last few weeks, many of you have received letters from me regarding our Parish Stewardship Program. As you know, our parish doors were closed from March to July. Our parish finances as you can imagine were impacted by the closure, most especially our Sunday Mass collections. We also missed our Holy Week and Easter collections. Realizing that this has been a difficult time for everyone financially, we have been asked to participate in this Stewardship Program. It is not connected to the Annual Catholic Appeal, nor is it a separate appeal program. What we are asking through this Stewardship Program is to consider a minimal increase to your generous Sunday Mass offertory, to consider electronic giving and to help update our parish census. I want to thank all of you for your continued financial support of St. Martin De Porres Parish. Please be assured of my prayers for all of you as we continue to build up this strong and vibrant faith community.
Have a peaceful and blessed week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox