From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
Over these last few weeks, our scripture passages have given us the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. We see the many miracles and healings that he has done. Everyone, including his own disciples are amazed at what Jesus has done and have come to believe in him as the eternal Son of God. In today’s gospel, we see Jesus as he makes his way back to Nazareth from Galilee and how he is filled with the Spirit. As Jesus makes his way into the synagogue, he reads from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, the Spirit of the Lord God is upon him. Jesus is driven by the Spirit to continue the work of the Father here on earth. We as his disciples, are commissioned to do just that. All of us are called by the Spirit, to continue the work of spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ. Our second reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Corinthians tells us that although the body has many parts, there is only one Spirit. The Church here on earth has many parts, but we all share of the one Spirit in which all of us are baptized. On this third Sunday of Ordinary Time, let us pray that the Spirit of which we are all baptized into here at St. Martin dePorres Parish will continue to strengthen and empower the Body of Christ.
Parish Synod Listening Session
Today, Sunday January 23, we will hold our parish synod listening session at each of our three churches. The schedule is as follows: 10:00AM at Holy Rosary Church, 12:00 Noon at Our Lady of Victory Church and 1:00PM at St. Peter Claver Church. There will be light refreshments at each of the sessions. We are encouraging everyone to participate by reviewing the questions before the session.
Parish and Diocesan Black History Month Celebrations
During the month of February, we as a community will celebrate Black History month. Our parish celebration will take place on Sunday, February 6 at a special 11:00AM Mass that will be held this year at Holy Rosary Church. We will welcome Father Mario Powell, SJ as the main celebrant and homilist for Mass. Father Powell is the President of Brooklyn Jesuit Prep School in Brooklyn. Please note that on Sunday, January 6, there will not be a 10:15AM Mass or an 11:30AM Mass. Mass will be celebrated at 7:30AM at Our Lady of Victory Church and 11:00AM at Holy Rosary Church. There will be a reception in the lower hall following the 11:00AM Mass. On Sunday, February 20, the Diocese of Brooklyn will celebrate Black History with a special Mass of Thanksgiving at Immaculate Conception Parish in Jamaica, New York. We will welcome His Eminence, Wilton Cardinal Gregory, Archbishop of Washington DC as the main celebrant and homilist. All are welcomed to join us for both celebrations.
Bishop Robert Brennan Official Visit
It is with great joy that we will welcome Bishop Robert Brennan, the new Bishop of Brooklyn to our parish community. Bishop Brennan will celebrate the 11:30AM Mass at St. Peter Claver Church on Sunday, February 27. At that Mass, Bishop Brennan will bless the new organ console, the newly renovated shrine to St. Therese of Lisieux and the newly refurbished choir pews. There will be a reception to follow in Msgr. Rodgers Hall.
Wishing you a joyful and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox