FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK - NOVEMBER 4, 2022

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

In light of National Vocations Awareness Week, which begins this Sunday, I’ll share with you a touching story a parishioner recently told me. Her son is preparing to become an altar server, and at the latest training he asked Fr. Pat why Fr. Kiko and I weren’t there. Fr. Pat responded that we have a busy parish, and that we both had other commitments. The child pondered Fr. Pat’s response, and when he went home he told his mom with great consternation that there simply aren’t enough priests. You’re telling me!

“The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Mt. 9:37-38). I was bringing Communion this week to a wonderful parishioner who is homebound, and who laments not being able to be more active in the parish. She assured me, though, that she daily prays for priests. That means the world. I know there are many of the faithful who pray daily for priests and religious, and for an increase of vocations. Christ urges us to pray for vocations to the priesthood, diaconate and religious life. One thing we can all recommit ourselves to is daily prayer for vocations, especially from our own parish. If you spend time in Eucharistic adoration, please spend some of that time praying for an increase of vocations. We have so many young people (650 kids in religious education alone!); surely, God is calling more than a few of them to respond by giving their lives fully to him for the salvation and sanctification of the world.

Next Sunday, November 13, we celebrate our patronal feast of St. Martin of Tours (transferred from November 11). I invite you to celebrate our trilingual feast day Mass at 5:00pm that Sunday. You can also join in our Novena to St. Martin, which began on November 2. I sent a Flock Note with the Novena prayer to our parishioners earlier this week. Note that there is no 6:30pm Spanish Mass on Sunday, November 13.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Dave