From the Pastor’s Desk
Dear Parishioners,
What a beautiful celebration we had last Sunday at Holy Rosary Church! I thank all of you who came out to celebrate the Memorial of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary. How blessed we are to have Holy Rosary Church as one of the three churches that make up our wonderful parish here in Bedford Stuyvesant. We are truly a community rooted in Christ, our Savior and King. During this month of October, dedicated to the Rosary, we pray that through the powerful intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, she will wrap her mantle of love and peace upon us, as we follow her son Jesus to the Kingdom of Heaven. Each of our scripture readings for Mass today talk to us about persistence. We must be persistent in prayer, always allowing our hearts to be open to hearing the voice of the Lord speak to us. Our Lord calls us by name every day so that we may do his will here on earth. We must allow the words of Christ, as St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading to “be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient and to convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching”. Let us continue to be persistent in prayer allowing Christ to use us as instruments of love and mercy.
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 $45,822. 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.
Pilgrimage to Washington DC
There are still some seats available for the Diocese of Brooklyn Pilgrimage to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC. Tickets are $75 per person.
Wishing you a blessed and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox