FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK - MARCH 17, 2023

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

The Solemnity of St. Joseph, father of Jesus, is March 19. As it falls on a Sunday this year, the Church transfers the celebration to Monday, March 20. We should all strive to cultivate a devotion to this great saint. In fact, besides Mary, St. Joseph is considered the second greatest saint in the Church.

You might ask why we esteem St. Joseph so highly, when at first glance he plays such a minor role in the Scriptures. For instance, there is not a word of his recorded in the gospels. The reality is, though, that God chose Joseph to be an earthly representation to Jesus of His own eternal Fatherhood. Joseph knew that his vocation was to direct Jesus to the source of all fatherhood, which is found in God. The role of every father is similar to that of St. Joseph, namely, to be an earthly representation of the merciful, patient, sacrificial, protective, empowering presence of God the Father. Fathers, whether in the spiritual or natural realm, are fallen creatures, that is, we don’t represent God the Father’s love very well. But God does not despise our feeble efforts to be channels of grace to lead our sons and daughters to know and love Him. The vocation of a father is both beautiful and daunting, and so we call upon St. Joseph to intercede and to model for all fathers the sacrificial love of God the Father

I am deeply grateful to Fr. Joseph Mary Rogers and Brothers Gilberto and Nathaniel, who led us in our two-day parish mission this past week. I was inspired as well the turnout of parishioners for the talks, periods of adoration, confession and Mass. The mission was a great reminder of our communion in Jesus Christ through the Eucharist. We are a people that is continually renewed, redeemed and reconstituted as God’s holy people by our faithful participation in the Eucharist. There are few things more important—and urgent—than for Catholics to rediscover the gift, reality, outpouring of love and transformative power of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. Thank you Fr. Joseph Mary for that timely reminder!

In these difficult economic times, I continue to beg your generosity for our St. Vincent de Paul Society and our parish pantry. Please see the bulletin for the list of the most urgently needed items for the pantry.

In Christ,

Fr. Dave