Dear Parishioners,
On this first Sunday of February, we begin our parish celebration of Black History Month. We are blessed here at St. Martin de Porres to celebrate a dynamic and rich history of not only Black American History but Black Catholic History. How appropriate it is that we begin Black History Month with our Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Peter Claver Church. We welcome back Father Patrick West, the former Pastor of St. Peter Claver Church who now serves as Pastor of St. Sebastian Parish in Woodside, Queens. I also want to thank our Parish Black History Month committee who worked tirelessly to make our celebration today and our upcoming events prayerful and enriching. Due to the pandemic, we were unable to plan a celebration as we have done in the past, but nonetheless, we have planned events and opportunities to commemorate this most important time within our society and our Church.
Black History Month Movie Series
As has been the custom, each Saturday night during the month of February, we will be showing films that are associated with Black History Month. Our first film showing will take place this Saturday, February 6 following the 5:00PM Vigil Mass at St. Peter Claver Msgr. Rogers Hall. The film is entitled, “Just Mercy” and it stars Michael B. Jordan and Jamie Foxx. Next week’s film will be “Detroit” which was directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Attendance is free of charge and all are welcomed to join!
Ash Wednesday and Friday Stations of the Cross
Next Wednesday, February 17 we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. The schedule of Masses is the following: 8:00AM at Our Lady of Victory, 12:00Noon at St. Peter Claver and 7:30PM at Our Lady of Victory. In addition, there will be two prayer services with the distribution of ashes: 11:00AM at Holy Rosary and 12:00Noon at Our Lady of Victory. Because of the COVID-19 restrictions, ashes will not be imposed on the forehead. Ashes will be distributed by sprinkling ashes on the crown of the head. This is the best way to safely with the use of sanitization, to distribute ashes. Ashes are actually meant to be sprinkled on the crown of the head. This is the current custom in churches throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. Having ashes imposed on the forehead has become an American custom. These regulations and guidelines come directly from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments in Rome. We will continue the custom of praying the stations of the cross each Friday night beginning at 7:00PM at each of the three churches. The first Friday of Lent, February 19, we will have only one communal station of the cross prayer service in commemoration of Black History Month which will be held at Holy Rosary Church beginning at 7:00PM.
Parish Fish Fry
Our parish fish fry will take place on Friday February 19 beginning at 1:00PM at Our Lady of Victory Church. Fish meal pre-orders are $15 and walk-in orders are $20. All proceeds will go to support St. Martin de Porres Parish.
Wishing you a peaceful and blessed week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox