Category: From the Pastor’s Desk

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From The Pastors Desk

Dear Parishioners,

As we enter the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical year, we celebrate two beautiful Sunday solemnities that allows us to commemorate the foundation of our faith. Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. Next week we will celebrate the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. Today’s solemnity gives us the true roots of who we are as Catholics. Each time we gather for prayer, we invoke the Blessed Trinity, who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe that God is present in the three persons of the Trinity. When we were baptized, the priest or deacon baptized us using the Trinitarian formula. Our lives of prayer must always begin and end by invoking the three persons of the Blessed Trinity. Our gospel passage today allows us to reflect upon how God sent his only begotten son to free us from our sins and lead us to salvation. We pray that Jesus will continue to lead us to that kingdom where we will spend all eternity. Continue reading “June 4, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Dear Parishioners

Today is the 6^th Sunday of Easter. It is also Mother’s day. I take this opportunity to wish all our mother’s here at the parish a happy and blessed Mother’s Day. Throughout the month of May, we remember in a special way our Blessed Mother Mary. We continue to thank God for the gift of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for it is from her womb that we come into the presence of Christ, savior of the world. Today we thank God for the gift of motherhood. We thank God for those women who were a mother to us in nurturing and guiding us along the way. Today we will crown the statue of the Blessed Mother at each of our three churches as a symbol of her motherly love for us as Queen of Heaven and Earth. As we prepare to celebrate the feast of the Ascension and the Solemnity of Pentecost, may Christ the Lord continue to bestow his abundant blessings upon all of us. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may we follow her son closer to the eternal Kingdom of Heaven. Continue reading “May 14, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Dear Parishioners,

Today is the 5^th Sunday of Easter. These weeks of Easter seem to be flying right by! The risen Lord continues to reveal himself to us, as our eyes remain fixated on him. Our scripture passages for Mass over these next few days will prepare us for the upcoming solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. Jesus speaks to us of his relationship with the Father. Our gospel passage at Mass today depicts our Father’s house. The Lord has gone to prepare a place for us where we will spend all eternity. Jesus tells us that, I am the way, the truth and the life. As Jesus prepares to ascend to the Father, he prepares us to wait in joyful anticipation for his second coming. May we continue to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ here in Bedford Stuyvesant. Continue reading “May 7, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Dear Parishioners,

Today is the 4^th Sunday of Easter. It is traditionally known as Good Shepherd Sunday. The gospel passage for Mass today speaks of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. We recognize the voice of the shepherd, who leads us through the pastures. Today, we pray in a very special way for priests, who serve as shepherds of the flock here on earth. Traditionally, the Pope will ordain new priests for Rome on this day. In your kindness, I ask all of you to pray for Father Franklin and I, that we may be good and holy shepherds to you. May Christ in his infinite love and mercy bless all of us here at St. Martin de Porres Parish. Continue reading “April 30, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Dear Parishioners,

Today is the third Sunday of Easter. We continue to hear from the Acts of the Apostles as the first reading for Mass during the Easter season. Peter continues to boldly proclaim the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He and the other apostles testify to the truth that Jesus has been raised by the Father and exalted at his right hand. We too are witnesses of Christ, proclaiming the Good News and allowing the Holy Spirit to strengthen and empower our community. Today’s gospel is the revelation of Jesus on the Road to Emmaus. It is in this gospel that the disciples recognize the Lord in the breaking of the bread. As we approach this most sacred altar, we see Jesus in his fullness as the Bread of Life and the cup of eternal salvation. May these Easter weeks be a time of spiritual refreshment as we bask in the joy of the Resurrection. Continue reading “April 23, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Dear Parishioners,

What a beautiful Easter celebration we had last week! Last Sunday, we welcomed hundreds of people as we celebrated the joy of the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. We continue to welcome all visitors to our parish community, as we give witness to the love of Christ in our lives. Today is the second Sunday of Easter, which is popularly known as Divine Mercy Sunday. On the Second Sunday of Easter of the Jubilee Year 2000, at the Mass for the Canonization of St. Faustina Kowalska, Pope John Paul II declared the Sunday after Easter be called “Divine Mercy Sunday.” St. Faustina was a Polish nun who received visions from Jesus, including one of Jesus wearing a white garment with beams of red and white coming from his heart, which came to be known as the image of Divine Mercy. She wrote in her diary, “I want the Image to be solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. My daughter, tell the whole world about my inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy”. Divine Mercy Sunday focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. As Pope John Paul II stated, “Divine Mercy reaches human beings through the heart of Christ crucified.” Continue reading “April 16, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk

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Dear Parishioners,

Today is Palm Sunday, which officially concludes the season of Lent. This week, we enter into the most sacred of days on the Christian calendar, Holy Week. Today we recall our Lord’s triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem. We recall that the people welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem by waving and throwing palm branches at him. Today, we are given palm branches as a sign of the Lord’s entrance into the city that will ultimately lead him to Calvary. As we begin Holy Week, we are invited to immerse ourselves into the sacredness of these days. Let us devote time in prayer this week, most especially during the days of the Triduum. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to touch our hearts to celebrate with joy the mysteries of our salvation. Continue reading “April 2, 2023” →

From the Pastor’s Desk.

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Dear Parishioners,

Today is the fifth and last Sunday in the season of Lent. Next Sunday we will celebrate Palm Sunday, recalling our Lord’s entry into the city of Jerusalem. Our scripture readings this week focuses on the Spirit of God. Our second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans tells of how the Spirit of God dwells within us. As disciples of the Lord, we are filled with his Spirit. Our gospel passage today is the account of Lazarus being raised from the dead. It is in this gospel that the Lord gives us this beautiful declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me shall never die”. It is with faith that we proclaim Jesus as the resurrection and the life. Over these next few weeks, we will enter the most sacred of days, that is our Lord’s passion, death and resurrection from the dead. May our hearts be filled with God’s unconditional and merciful love as we journey with Jesus to Calvary. Continue reading “March 26, 2023” →

Dear Parishioners,

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Today is the fourth Sunday in Lent. It is also known as Laetare Sunday. Laetare is a Latin word which means rejoice. We have come to the midpoint of our Lenten journey. You will notice that the priests and deacons will wear rose-colored vestments. The color rose comes from a mixture of the Lenten purple and the Easter white. It is a clear example that Easter is coming soon (although the weather has not reflected that this past week). Our gospel today speaks to us about the light of faith. Jesus restores sight to the man born blind. Although the Lord restores his physical sense of sight, Jesus restores the gift of faith in this man. After his sight is restored, he proclaims boldly and courageously proclaims, “I believe”. We gather as a community of believers, proclaiming and professing that Jesus is Savior and King. We approach the Lord with eyes of faith, knowing that from the darkness of the cross comes the light of the resurrection. As we come to the middle of our Lentenjoumey, let us pray that Jesus will continue to allow us to see the light of his glory, as we sing the praises of God.

Stations of the Cross & Lenten Vespers
Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday night during the season of Lent beginning at 7:00 PM. Stations of the cross will be held at each of the three churches. As is the custom here at St. Martin de Porres, each Tuesday evening during the season of Lent we will have Eucharistic Adoration and pray Vespers. It will take place at Our Lady of Victory Church beginning at 7:30PM.

Easter Flower Envelopes
Easter flower envelopes are located at the doors of each of our three churches. Each Easter flower is $25. You may place the donation in the envelope and return it in the collection basket on Sunday or bring it to the parish office.

Women’s Day Celebration
I take this opportunity to thank all of you who came out for last week’s Women’s Day Mass and celebration at St. Peter Claver. It was a tremendous success! I thank the Women’s Day committee for all their work in making the day as wonderful as it was.

Good Friday Seven Last Words Prayer Service
As is the custom here at St. Martin de Porres, we will have our annual Seven Last words prayer service on Good Friday, April 7 at 10:00 AM at St. Peter Claver Church. Parishioners are invited to give a reflection on one of our Lord’s seven last words. The reflection should be 6 to 8 in length. If you would like to give a reflection, please contact Stanley Davis or Estella McDuffey from St. Peter Claver Church.

Solemnity of St. Joseph
The solemnity of St. Joseph is March 19. Because it falls on a Sunday, the liturgical celebration is transferred to Monday, March 20.

Wishing you a blessed and peaceful week,
Father Alonzo Q. Cox