From The Pastors Desk
Dear Parishioners,
As we begin this month of November, I take this opportunity to wish all of you a very happy and blessed Feast Day of our parish patron, St. Martin de Porres. As you know, back in 2007, the Diocese of Brooklyn officially merged the parishes of Our Lady of Victory, Holy Rosary and St. Peter Claver. From that official canonical merger was born St. Martin de Porres Parish. Although his actual liturgical memorial date is November 3, we have begun the custom of celebrating as a parish community this feast day on the Sunday closest to the liturgical memorial. How blest we are as a community to come together to celebrate as members of the mystical Body of Christ. Our gospel passage for Mass today speaks to us about humility. We know that everything that is accomplished here at St. Martin de Porres parish is for the building up of the Kingdom of God. We give thanks to God unceasingly, as St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading, for allowing the Word of God to grow within our community here. May Christ, the great High Priest, continue to shed his abundant blessings upon all of us here at St. Martin de Porres Parish.
Congratulations Deacon Tobe
Today, we congratulate Deacon Tobechuwku Offiah, who yesterday was ordained a transitional deacon for the Diocese of Brooklyn. How beautiful and fitting that Deacon Tobe, who spent his pastoral year of formation here at St. Martin de Porres Parish, preach his first Sunday Mass as a deacon today, commemorating our parish Feast Day. Today we welcome Deacon Tobe’s family and friends who are here with him for Mass. We also welcome some of our seminarians who are here to celebrate with Deacon Tobe. I ask that you keep Deacon Tobe and his classmates in your prayers as they prepare for their priesthood ordination this Spring.
Thanksgiving Baskets
As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it has been the custom to distribute Thanksgiving baskets to families who might be in need this year. If you need a Thanksgiving food basket or know of a family that may need one, please call the parish office to have the names placed on the list. Basket distribution will take place the week before Thanksgiving.
Parish Council Members
As you know, each parish must have a parish council that will assist the Pastor in his service as shepherd to the community. This year, new members of the St. Martin de Porres Parish council were selected for service. I have had the opportunity to meet with the council and they are very much excited to hear from you, their fellow parishioners and work for the building up of the community here in Bedford Stuyvesant. The new parish council members will be officially installed at today’s feast day Mass. Please keep them in your prayers.
All Souls Day Remembrance
During the month of November, we will remember in a special way all those who have died. All Souls envelopes are located at each of the three churches. Names of the deceased will be placed on the altars of each of the churches throughout the month.
Wishing you a blessed a peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox
