From the Pastor's Desk - March 21, 2025

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners, One of those old Catholic words that we can dust off in the Lenten season is compunction. Compunction means a pricking or stinging of the conscience because of our sins. Pope Francis has often spoken about the “gift of tears,” and he said that mourning can involve “tears shed over sin—for our own sin, when the heart bleeds for the pain of having offended God and one’s neighbor.” Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We pray for that grace in a special way during Lent. The greater our love for God and others, the more we realize the detrimental effect of our sins on those relationships, and the greater our desire for amendment and restoration

I invite everyone to attend our Parish Mission, Via Crucis: Finding Hope in Suffering, this Monday, March 24 and Tuesday, March 25. Here is the schedule for each evening:

Monday, March 24

6:30pm Rosary (English in church, Spanish in parish hall, French in school cafeteria)

6:45pm Talk: Fr. Larry Swink in English

Fr. Dave on the life St. Rafael Arnaiz in Spanish

Fr. Gode Iwele in French

7:45pm: Snack break in parish hall

8:00pm: Holy Hour with invitation for people to be prayed over (confessions offered, too)

Tuesday, March 25- Solemnity of the Annunciation

6:30pm Rosary (Spanish in church, English in parish hall, French in school cafeteria)

6:45pm Talk: Fr. Joe on life of Venerable Emil Kapaun in English

Sr. Maria Belen on life of Madre María Dominga Guzman in Spanish

Fr. Luc Philogene in French

7:15pm: Snack break in parish hall

7:30pm: Talk: Fr. Stefan on St. Therese of Lisieux in English

Sr. Maria Belen (continued) in Spanish

Fr. Luc (continued) in French

8:00pm: Trilingual Mass for the Solemnity of the Annunciation in church

8:45pm: Missionary sending by Sr. Yelitza

Teens are invited to attend, as David Guillen and our aspirants will have special talks for them in the school. Childcare will be provided as well in the school gymnasium. I look forward to celebrating these days together to strengthen us in faith, hope and love!

In Christ,

Fr. Dave