From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
I take this opportunity to wish all of you a blessed and happy Easter! We have prepared our hearts to bask in Easter joy over these last 40 days. Now, we celebrate the great solemnity of our salvation, that is our Lord’s triumph over sin and death, by his glorious resurrection. I hope and pray that this Easter season will be a time of grace filled joy, as we thank God for the gift of his only Son, Jesus Christ. I thank all our liturgical ministers for making our liturgies so prayerful and beautiful. I thank our music ministry, who continues to help lift our voices to the heavens. I am blessed to have such a wonderful parish staff that continues to support and collaborate with me. May Christ our Risen King continue to lead us closer to the eternal kingdom of God.
Rosary Society Brunch Thank You
I want to thank the members of our parish rosary society who worked so hard to make last week’s “grab and go” brunch a great success. Over $2,000 was raised for St. Martin de Porres parish. Thank you to parishioners who stopped by after Mass to purchase a brunch meal. We have a dedicated group of rosarians here at St. Martin de Porres.
Easter Water
As you leave church today, each of you will be given a bottle of Holy Easter water that was blessed at all the Masses today. Each of you can take two bottles with you. Holy water is a reminder of our baptism into Christ Jesus.
Sacrament of Confirmation
This Saturday, April 23, we will celebrate the sacrament of Confirmation with our young people. The Mass of Confirmation will take place at Our Lady of Victory Church beginning at 11:00AM. We will welcome His Excellency, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, Bishop Emeritus of the Diocese of Brooklyn as the main celebrant.
Allow me to end with the Marian hymn for the Easter season:
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia!
Because the Son you were chosen to bear, alleluia! Has risen, as he said, alleluia!
Pray for us to God, alleluia!
Rejoice and be glad, 0 virgin Mary, alleluia! Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia!
0 God, who by the Resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world, grant, we beseech you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may enjoy the happiness of eternal life, through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Wishing you a Blessed and Joyful Easter Sunday,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox