From the Pastor's Desk - March 1, 2026

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

The first readings on Sundays in Lent cover the great covenants God has made with his people throughout history. This Sunday’s first reading recounts the covenant that God made with Abraham. God promised to give him a land, to make of him a great nation, and to make his name a blessing. On that theme, part of the money we raised for Giving Tuesday is being used to decorate the parish hall with religious imagery. The theme that I’ve chosen for the imagery is God’s covenants in the Bible, culminating in the new and everlasting covenant of the Eucharistic feast. We have a talented and generous parishioner who is painting a rendition of each of the covenants. The first one has been completed, and I am excited about the seeing the remaining seven.

Lent is a perfect time to reflect on God’s covenant faithfulness to us. A covenant is a family-making pact, and we were brought into God’s family through baptism. He has strengthened and deepened his Fatherly bond with us through Confirmation and Holy Communion. In this Sunday’s gospel, Jesus reveals his divinity to his chosen apostles in his Transfiguration. He is revealed as the beloved Son of the Father. Jesus has brought us into his Sonship so that we too become beloved sons and daughters of the Father. We have received the Spirit that makes us cry out, “Abba, Father!” (cf. Rom. 8:15). Our Lenten sacrifices should lead us to discard our false identities not rooted in the Father’s love so that we live more fully as beloved sons and daughters. “Unless you turn and become like children [of the Father], you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt. 18:3).

Please join us for our Lenten Parish Mission on Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6, beginning at 6:30pm each evening. In Spanish the talks will be given by Manuel Luna, a religious of the Society of St. John. He will speak on the theme of “No tengas miedo, solo ten fe.” In English, Father Larry Swink will give a talk on the 7 Habits of Prayer on Thursday, while Fr. Greg Shaffer will speak on “Come to me all you who are weary, and I will give you rest,” on Friday. Thursday night we will have Eucharistic adoration and on Friday night we will have a closing bilingual Mass. Childcare will be provided as well. I look forward to seeing many of you here!

In Christ,

Fr. Dave