From the Pastor’s Desk
We have now entered the Ordinary Time of the liturgical year. All the Christmas poinsettia plants, trees and wreaths have been taken down. Even though we are no longer singing Christmas carols, we continue to sing God’s glory here at St. Martin de Porres. How blessed we are to gather as a community to thank the Lord for all the many graces he has bestowed upon us and that he will bestow upon us in the future. In my homily last week, I made reference to the fact that Jesus is a gift that is meant to be cherished and shared with one another. Jesus is truly the center of our joy. Our gospel today shows John the Baptist having yet another encounter with the Lord. Upon seeing Jesus walk towards him, John proclaims a beautiful acclamation of faith, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.” We hear those words every Sunday at Mass proclaimed by the priest before we receive the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus is the lamb who takes away all sins. He is the lamb who was sacrificed, the lamb who was slain for our salvation. In just a few weeks, we will begin the season of Lent. We pray that as we prepare to enter these most solemn of days that the presence of Christ will continue to radiate through us to others.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Service
Our annual Diocesan prayer service commemorating the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. will take place tomorrow, Monday January 16 at St. Kevin Parish in Flushing, Queens. We will begin with a continental breakfast followed by a panel presentation and dialogue discussing the reality of racism in the Catholic Church and keeping the spirit of Dr. King alive. The day will begin at 10:00AM and conclude with Midday Prayer led by Bishop Brennan. The guest homilist will be Father Ajani Gibson, a priest of the Archdiocese of New Orleans. There will be a bus leaving from St. Matthew parish at 9:00AM for those who would need transportation. The cost is $10 per person. For more information, please call the Vicariate for Black Catholic Concerns Office at 718-924-2549.
RCIA Classes and Bible Study
Those adults who need to receive the sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation, classes will continue this Tuesday evening at Our Lady of Victory. Following RCIA, parish Bible study classes will follow. For more information about RCIA and Bible study, please call the parish office.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday
Tomorrow, January 16, we as a nation will commemorate the birthday of slain civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It is a national 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.
Wishing you a blessed and joyful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox