From the Pastor's Desk - December 14, 2025

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

Three times in this Sunday’s readings mention is made of God opening the eyes of the blind. This is central to the encounter with Christ: we begin to see with the eyes of faith, the faith that the Church professes. It is dark this time of year. Even during the day, when it’s cloudy it seems darker than usual. Many of our parishioners can’t drive at night, which means that after about 4:30pm they are confined to their houses.

The darkness this time of year is an apt image for which Popes St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI called “the eclipse of God.” Pope Benedict wrote, “the real problem at this moment of history is that God is disappearing from the human horizon, and, with the dimming of the light that comes from God, humanity is losing its bearings, with increasingly evident destructive effects.” In response to this he argued, “the overriding priority is to make God present in this world and to show men and women the way to God.” How many families can lament that their children and grandchildren no longer practice the faith! It is a daily refrain in my conversations. About 1 in 3 adults in the United States describes him or herself as having no religious affiliation.

As we light the candles of the Advent wreath, shedding light in the midst of the darkest days of the year, we do well to reflect on Pope Benedict’s challenge: “make God present in this world and show men and women the way to God.” Christ has enlightened us through the gift of faith, which we strengthen through prayer and the sacraments. But we, too, are the light of the world. Our most pressing task of evangelization is to reveal and propose that light to others. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Mat. 5:16).

This week begins Posadas, the nine day Christmas Novena, which is especially popular in Latino culture. I want to draw your attention to our special Posada in the church on Wednesday night at 7:00pm, Walking to Bethlehem. The last Posada, on Tuesday, December 23 is also a special one. The French African community invites you to a special Christmas concert in the church at 7:30pm followed by refreshments in the parish hall.

In Christ, our Light,

Fr. Dave