Dear Parishioners,
On this 13th Sunday of Ordinary Time, the Lord is challenging us today to let go of everything and to follow him. As disciples of the Lord, each of us are called to leave everything behind and to follow Jesus. It’s one of the great challenges of discipleship, to free ourselves from possessions and other people, and to keep our eyes fixated on Jesus, our source and strength. It can be tough to do that in a culture that continues to promote worldly things instead of heavenly things. Our second reading today reminds us to live by the Spirit. We are called to serve one another through love. We must continue to be guided by the Spirit for us to be able to follow the Lord closer to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. As we enter these summer months of rest and relaxation, let us pray for the grace to hear the voice of Jesus speak to us, so that we can let go of all that weighs us down and truly follow him.
Congratulations to our Graduates
On behalf of the entire parish community here at St. Martin de Porres, we congratulate all our graduates. Whether you have graduated from elementary school, high school, college or graduate school, we thank you for your perseverance and hard work. We continue to pray that the Holy Spirit will guide all of you in your future endeavors. Today we will bestow a special blessing upon all our graduates.
Summer Schedule
As we begin these months of summer, the parish schedule will be relaxed. During the months of July and August, there will not be an 11:00 AM Mass on Tuesdays at Holy Rosary Church. There will not be a First Friday 12:00Noon Mass at St. Peter Claver Church during the months of July and August. The parish office will close at Noon on the Fridays of July and August.
2022 Annual Catholic Appeal
I take this opportunity to thank all of you who have contributed to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. As you know, the appeal supports the pastoral workings of the Diocese of Brooklyn. Each parish is assigned a financial goal for the year. Our goal at St. Martin de Porres is $63,586. To date, we have pledged $29,947. I thank all of you for your support and generosity. The key to having a successful appeal is participation.
Welcome Msgr. Tony and Father Bonsu
This week we will welcome back Msgr. Tony and Father Bonsu from Ghana. Msgr. Tony will spend the month of July with us and Father Bonsu will spend July and August with us. Please be sure to welcome back our summer priests.
Independence Day
Next Monday, July 4 is Independence Day. It is a federal holiday. The parish office will be closed. Only one Mass will be celebrated at Our Lady of Victory at 8:00 AM. There will not be a 12:00Noon Mass at St. Peter Claver Church.
Wishing you a blessed and joyful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox