From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
Today we commemorate as a parish community the Memorial of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. How blessed we are to have Holy Rosary Church as one of our three churches that makes up the parish of St. Martin de Porres. We thank the Lord today for the gift of our parish community. All our gifts, talents and treasures are used to build up the mystical Body of Christ here in Bedford Stuyvesant. It is my prayer that through the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother, we will be able to follow her son Jesus closer to the kingdom of heaven. Each of our scripture readings today speak to us of giving thanks. We thank God for the gift of our faith, which allows us to proclaim Jesus as Savior and King. We thank God for the gift of the Eucharist, in which Jesus nourishes us with his most precious Body and Blood. We gather as a community of thanksgiving, always relying on the help of the Lord Jesus to strengthen and deepen our faith in him.
Annual Catholic Appeal
I once again want to thank all of you who have made a pledge to this year’s Annual Catholic Appeal. As you know, monies that are raised through the appeal go to help support the work of the Diocese of Brooklyn, such as Catholic Charities, Catholic Migration Services and Vocations to the Priesthood. Or goal here at St. Martin de Porres is $63,586. We have pledged to date $42,622. The key to having a successful campaign is 100% participation. If you have not yet made a pledge, please consider doing so. Thank you all for you your generosity.
School of Faith Formation Registration
New registration and re-registration forms are now available for the upcoming academic year for our parish school of Faith Formation (Sunday school). Students preparing to receive First Holy Communion and Confirmation must be registered in our parish school of Faith Formation. Registration forms are available online via our parish website. The registration fee is $55. Classes have begun.
Liturgical Ministers Day of Recollection
Our annual liturgical minister’s day of recollection will take place on Saturday, October 28 at Our Lady of Victory Church beginning at 10:00AM. The presenter will be Father Michael Bruno, Dean of Seminarians and Professor of Church History at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers. We are encouraging all lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, music ministers, ushers and catechists to join us for this important day. A light breakfast will be served at 9:00AM in McGuinness Hall.
Columbus Day Holiday
This Monday, October 10 is Columbus Day. It is a national and federal holiday. The parish office will be closed. Only one Mass will be celebrated at 8:00AM at Our Lady of Victory Church. There will not be a 12:00Noon Mass at St. Peter Claver Church. Enjoy the holiday.
Wishing all of you a blessed and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox