FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK - SEPTEMBER 22, 2023

Dear St. Martin’s Parishioners,

In this Sunday’s second reading, St Paul begins, “Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.” It reminds me of Mary’s words in her Visitation to Elizabeth, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” I love the image of magnifying the Lord. We have all seen how a magnifying glass enlarges an image, so we can see the details and beauty of what may be indiscernible to the naked eye. Pope Benedict XVI frequently remarked that we live in an age of the eclipse of God. He meant that for many people today God is unnoticed and unsought out for any number of reasons. In response to this reality, we are called to be like our Blessed Mother and St. Paul in magnifying God’s presence in the world. Through our words and actions others should be able to see the invisible God active and alive in our midst. God desires to be known and loved through us, who are his poor but chosen instruments.

One saint who magnified the Lord gloriously in our own times was St. Padre Pio. The Church celebrates his memorial on Saturday, September 23. Why not make Saturday movie night for your family this week (or Sunday, if you’re seeing this on Sunday)? I encourage you to watch the movie, Padre Pio: Miracle Man. It is available in English and Spanish through our parish’s subscription to Formed. If you’re not already a subscriber, simply download the app or go to formed.org, and follow the easy instructions to get all of its content for free.

The two properties at 35 and 37 S. Summit Ave. now belong to St. Martin of Tours. Over the next month, we will be developing plans for how we may make the houses available for the needs of our parish and school. I will keep you updated as plans progress.

In Christ,

Fr. Dave