From the Pastor’s Desk,
Dear Parishioners,
Today is the 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time. June seems to be flying right by us! The month of June has traditionally been the month of graduations and promotions. Last Friday, I was privileged to give the homily and keynote address to the 8th grade graduating class from our regional school, St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Academy. I also want to take this opportunity to congratulate all of our graduates from the parish. We pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to enlighten and strengthen our graduates. In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us to have faith. Jesus is in the boat with his disciples and all of a sudden, a storm arises which terrifies his disciples. They tell Jesus that this storm may kill us! It is at that moment that the Lord commands the sea and the wind to be still. He then tells his disciples; don’t you have faith? We must continue to have faith in the Lord, even in the midst of the storms of life, knowing that Jesus will never abandon us. We hear in today’s second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians that the love of Christ impels us. Let us pray that we will continue to be people of faith and witnesses of Christ’s abundant love.
2021 Diocese of Brooklyn Annual Catholic Appeal
I wish to thank all of you who have already contributed to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. Our goal here at St. Martin de Porres is $63,586. We have pledged thus far $35,725. The key to having a successful ACA is participation. We are asking everyone to participate in this year’s ACA that we will be able to achieve our goal. Any monies collected beyond the goal comes directly back to the parish. I thank each of you for your financial support here at St. Martin de Porres.
Father’s Day Remembrance
Today is Father’s Day. On behalf of the entire parish community I want to wish all of our Father’s a happy and holy Father’s Day. During the month of June, we will remember in a special way all Fathers. You are invited to use the Father’s Day envelopes located at the doors of the church to have your Father, whether alive or deceased remembered. All names will be placed on the altars of our churches during the month of June.
Honoring our Graduates
Next weekend, June 26/27 we will bestow a special blessing upon all of our graduates at Mass. We will also print the names and schools of our graduates in the bulletin. Please be sure to fill out the sheet placed at the doors of each of the churches with the names of the graduates and the schools they have graduated from.
Music Ministry Thank You!
We had an incredible virtual concert last Friday at St. Peter Claver Church. I take this opportunity to thank Joseph Murray and Joan Delahunt and our guest musicians for their hard work. It was absolutely phenomenal. We raised over $2,500 for the 100th anniversary of St. Peter Claver Church!
Wishing you a blessed and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Cox