2024 Pastor's Report

Jenny Drzewiecki • January 29, 2025

Traditionally I prepare and present to you dear parishioners an end of year pastor’s report at the start of the New Year. It is always helpful to look back and reflect on everything that happened in our parish community in the past year. 2024 was a successful year for us at St. Martin of Tours. We had great plans and expectations, but unable to complete every target we hoped for. However, at the end of the year, we are satisfied and grateful to God for the progress and growth. 


New Members and Ministries 

I want to express my gratitude to the parish Staff, members of the Councils, many volunteers and those who minister in our community for their hard work, advice and willingness to serve at St. Martin of Tours. We are blessed to have them with us. We welcomed five new Staff members, Fr. Francis Vu (Associate pastor) Pilar Azmani (Administrative Assistant), Abby Wass (Religious Education) and Dcn. Tien Pham, who was ordained to diaconate in September, 2024, and also joined our parish Staff. Julie Baker became our bookkeeper just recently. All of them brought a lot of quality, new energies and substantial changes in our leadership and administrative work.


Our stewardship and hospitality committees have grown and worked very hard by inviting and growing new members to our parish community. It is clear that we are making progress to be a welcoming church to the entire Franklin area. 


Our parish ministries have grown significantly in 2024. Our food pantry helped 3,737 people this year, about 450 more than last year. Our childcare ministry at the 10:30am Sunday Masses began in April. We have a regular group of children that attend weekly, but more are always welcome. We are also looking for additional volunteers to help with this ministry. Our marriage ministry, Together in Holiness, began in October and will run for seven months, and we are hoping to form another small group. A Grief group started this year and has a solid reoccurring group of attendees. The Human Concerns Committee hosted the annual Mother’s Day Rose sale for Right to Life, organized the giving trees for Christmas and they hosted a school supply drive and toy drive. Our Prayer Shawl ministry, consisting of 13 members, made 117 shawls, 10 lap shawls, 42 baby blankets, 375 baby hats, 24 child hats, 6 adult hats, and 78 helmet lines for the military. The Christian Women’s rummage sale was very successful again this past summer and brought in over $10,000. Our parish dinners are well attended. The Fall Harvest Fest brought in over $15,000 due to the generosity of our parishioners. Regarding new communication outlets for the parish, we added new TV monitors in the Narthex and main church hallway to provide information on upcoming events in the parish and in the community. We are going to continue to grow these ministries in 2025. 



Facility usage

We have multiple renters using our parish facilities throughout the week. Catholic Schoolhouse homeschool group has about 90 children that use our school building on Fridays. CHESS, another homeschool group, uses our school building on Wednesdays. The Caledonian Scottish Dancers use our gym and stage on Thursday evenings. And, St. Mary's basketball teams use our gym on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons. We also have a parish pickleball league that plays every Monday and Thursday night and soccer games on Friday evenings.   


Prayer and Worship as One Community 

Our first purpose as a religious community is to pray and worship. We had a solemn and beautiful celebration of Easter, our patron feast St. Martin of Tours and Christmas. Each celebration was outstanding and meaningful. I was encouraged by your involvement, help and large participation. I am glad we have more opportunities and occasions to pray and organize social gatherings at St. Martin of Tours. We are committed to continuing these events and celebrations that strengthen us as one community of brothers and sisters in Christ. The social gatherings, hospitality, food and fellowship encourage people to come to church and join our religious community. I also believe the Vietnamese community feels more at home at St. Martin of Tours and is growing in numbers. We will continue to make an effort to bring both our communities (Vietnamese and English) closer to each other in prayer and worship as well as social events with respect of course to our cultural difference. The New Lunar Year celebration in February which was attended by nearly 2,000 people as well as the most recent celebration of the Epiphany with bilingual Mass and fellowship after Mass are good example of this. 

  

Our Strategic Plan 

We completed our 5-year Vision and Mission statement one year ago and targeting completion of a more detailed implementation plan by Easter 2025. Our parish Staff, both of the Councils (Pastoral and Finance) and MAC (Mission Advancement Committee) have been working hard setting priorities and key 5-year goals for our parish community. We hope to complete the Strategic Plan for St. Martin of Tours parish before Easter. 

 

Helpful Numbers 

At this moment we are a community of 995 Active Families (2,483 Active members). We welcomed 45 new families who joined our parish in 2024. We lost 25 of our members who passed away and 27 families who left the area. Sacraments in 2024 were: 20 baptisms (including two adults); 18 children received First Communion and first reconciliation. 10 students received Confirmation. Six couples received sacrament of marriage. We provided catechism classes to 86 elementary children in the English and Vietnamese communities, and 21 in high school. In short, we are alive and there are signs of growth.   

 

Completed major projects 

We were able to accomplish a few maintenance projects in 2024, which you probably noticed. I will mention just the major ones: Replaced all HVAC units for a total of $250,000; Resolved Foundation leak issue $4,500; Replaced kitchen exhaust blower unit $12,000; Patched back parking lot $3,200; TechJoy network implementation (total renewal of IT infrastructure and moving the parish data from servers to “the cloud”) $57,000; Replaced water pressure tanks in the cafeteria area due to failure and flood $6,000; Installed 2 TVs in church $5,000; Repair fire pump and cistern w/ refill $6,000. These $343,700 of projects in total we were able to accomplish without touching our regular budget. Most of these were done with the aid of the Love One Another campaign. Thank you very much for your generosity. 

  

2025 / 2026 Initiatives 

There are a few projects we must undertake in this coming year. 

Bell tower renovation; Hearing aid system in the church; School windows $75,000-100,000; Replace back parking lot and side road $180,000 and $120,000; Replace 70 year old school heating system. Manage the need to replace the near exhausted school roof on the single story building at apx $150,000. With extended school facility usage reserve accounts must be planned for in the event of failure. We also hope to complete the stained-glass windows project in this year with donated funds vs operating funds. 

  

  

Our Financial Situation 

We are stable financially and we are not carrying a debt. The collections were stable in the past year and various fundraising activities gave us additional income which is being managed by our investment committee. There are many needs and plenty of upkeep developments we have to encounter within the next few years, but I believe we are doing well. However, we have a deficit of $73,000 in the operating budget this year because we hired new staff members. I am convinced we will eliminate our deficit within a year or two. We must increase collections this year. This is the only way to eliminate the deficit. Thus, I would like to ask you to consider to be more generous with your offerings to the weekly collection. I am grateful to our Finance Council and Investment committee for being good stewards of our money and for their professional work. 

  

  

To conclude, I am confident, this year will be another busy and successful year. I believe we will continue to grow in number but also in spirit. We will become an even more vibrant and growing community reaching out to those in need in the parish and larger community. 

  

Lastly, thank you for your prayers and support. I appreciate your comments and encouraging words but also your suggestions for improvements. Please do not hesitate to give me your feedback and thoughts not just about this report but also about our parish life. Our effort as parish Staff and administration makes only sense with your willingness to collaborate and your care. I am blessed and proud to be your pastor. 

  

Fr. Andrzej 

 

Advent Reflection

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 25, 2025
As we enter the season of Advent, the Church invites us to begin again. Advent marks the start of a new liturgical year – a fresh spiritual chapter in which God offers us new opportunities for grace, renewal, and growth. Just as the calendar year gives us January to start anew, the Church gives us Advent as a sacred beginning, a time to reset our hearts and refocus our lives on what truly matters. Advent reminds us that God is always giving us opportunities to grow, to change, and to begin again.  Advent is a season of hope and quiet expectation. It asks us to slow down, to reflect, and to prepare. One important theme of Advent is peace – peace in our hearts, peace in our families, our parish community, and peace in the world. During these weeks, we are encouraged to look at our lives and ask where we need God’s peace. In a world often marked by noise, division, and haste, Advent calls us to become people of peace, open to God’s gentle presence and ready to bring reconciliation where it is needed. At the same time, Advent helps us to prepare for Christmas. We often get busy with shopping, cooking, and planning for the holidays. But Advent reminds us to prepare spiritually as well – to make room for Christ in our lives, to welcome him with renewed faith, and to approach the holidays with a deeper sense of gratitude and purpose. When our hearts are prepared, Christmas becomes more meaningful and joyful. May this Advent be for each of us a new beginning: a time of reflection, a season of peace, and a joyful preparation for the coming of Christ. Let us walk these weeks together as a parish family, ready to welcome the Lord who always comes to make all things new. Blessed Advent! Fr. Andrzej

Thanksgiving Message

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 25, 2025
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Feast of St. Martin of Tours – Patron Saint of our Parish

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 16, 2025
This weekend, we joyfully celebrate the feast of St. Martin of Tours, our parish’s patron and guide in faith. His life reminds us why our community bears his name – because we are called, like him, to live lives of compassion and mercy.  St. Martin was a Roman soldier who one day met a poor beggar trembling in the cold. Moved with compassion, he took his sword, cut his cloak in half, and shared it with the man. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing that same cloak, saying, “Martin, the catechumen, has clothed me with this garment.” From that moment on, Martin dedicated his life entirely to Christ and to serving the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. Martin became a religious, priest and later a bishop of Tours, France. As a bishop, he was known not for wealth or power but for humility and love. He walked among his people, bringing comfort, healing, and reconciliation wherever he went. His simple yet profound acts of mercy revealed Christ’s love to all. St. Martin is venerated in the Catholic Church throughout the world. He is the patron saint of many groups including soldiers, the poor, and France itself. Saint Martin's Day, November 11th, is celebrated across Europe with various traditions. In Tours, France, where Martin served as bishop and where he is buried, the city hosts a special procession through the streets that includes a horse without a rider. This horse reminds everyone of the moment when St. Martin got off his horse to share his cloak with a beggar, a powerful sign of compassion. There's also a festive dinner, with the traditional Martin's goose as the main dish, and the local wine producers open their cellars for tastings of the new season's wine. As we celebrate our parish feast, we give thanks for the example of our patron saint. St. Martin’s spirit continues to inspire our parish community – in every outreach to the needy, every meal shared, every visit to the hospital or prison, every moment of forgiveness and any act of kindness. His legacy calls us to see Christ in those around us and to live as a true community of mercy and service. May this feast renew in us a deeper commitment to follow Christ with the same compassion and faith that marked the life of St. Martin of Tours. “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Fr. Andrzej

Why we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica?

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 9, 2025
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome – the Pope. This feast honors the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the oldest and highest-ranking of the four major basilicas. Built by Emperor Constantine around the year 324 AD, it was the first church officially dedicated to Christian worship after the time of persecution. Though many might think of St. Peter’s Basilica as the Pope’s church, it is actually the Lateran Basilica that holds this title. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is called the “mother and head of all churches in the world.” This celebration teaches us three important things. First, it reminds us about the role of the Pope. The Lateran Basilica as the “mother church” is a sign of the unity of the Church around the successor of St. Peter. The Pope’s mission is not about power but about serving others and protecting the faith. Through his leadership, the Church stays united in teaching, prayer, and love. We are invited to pray for the Pope and stay in communion with him as he leads us closer to Jesus Christ. Second, this feast helps us appreciate our churches. The Lateran Basilica, like every church, is not just a building of stone but a holy place where God lives among His people. When we enter a church, we come into a sacred space where heaven and earth meet. The beauty and peace we find there remind us of that God also wants to dwell in our hearts. Each of us is called to be a living temple where God’s love shines. Third, this day reminds us that we belong to one Church community. The Lateran Basilica, as the “mother church,” is a symbol of unity for all believers around the world. The Church is not just an organization but a family of faith. We are “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5), building up the Body of Christ through our love, faith, and service to one another. As we celebrate this feast, let us thank God for our unity in the Church, for our sacred places of worship, and for our mission to live as members of Christ’s living temple. May our own parish, St. Martin of Tours, always be a sign of that unity – a place where God is loved, the Gospel is lived, and everyone feels at home. Fr. Andrzej  Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jiuguangw/4982078131/in/photostream/

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 2, 2025
Today we pray for all the faithful departed – our family members, friends, and all who have died and gone before us in faith. The Feast of All Souls reminds us that love never ends. When we pray for the dead, we show our love and trust in God’s great mercy. Death can make us sad, but our faith gives us hope. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even if he dies.” Because of this promise, we believe that those who have died are not lost – they are alive in God. We remember them with love, and we ask God to welcome them into his peace. This day also helps us think about our own lives. We are all on a journey toward heaven. By living with kindness, forgiveness, and faith, we prepare ourselves to meet God one day. Our prayers for others also remind us to stay close to God. As a parish community, let us pray for all souls – those we knew and those forgotten. May our prayers bring them closer to God’s light and peace. And may we live each day with hearts full of love and hope in the resurrection. Fr. Andrzej Indulgences for the Feast of All Souls The Church gives special indulgences during the Feast of All Souls to encourage prayer and charity for the souls in purgatory. These indulgences express our faith in the Communion of Saints – the spiritual bond between the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven. An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. In simpler terms, even after we confess our sins, there can remain a need for healing or purification. Through indulgences, the Church – by the power of Christ – applies the spiritual treasury of Jesus’ sacrifice to help in this purification of the souls in purgatory. When we gain indulgences for the dead, we show love and mercy toward them, continuing the bond we shared in life. It is one of the most beautiful ways to live the Gospel of charity. Conditions to obtain these indulgences: To gain a plenary indulgence (full remission of temporal punishment) for a soul in purgatory during the days around All Souls (usually from November 1-8), the faithful must: · Visit a cemetery and pray for the departed (this indulgence can be applied only to the souls in purgatory). · Go to Sacramental Confession (within about 20 days before or after the act) · Receive of the Holy Communion · Pray for the intentions of the Pope (such as one Our Father and one Hail Mary) · Make a resolution to detach from all sins, even venial sins  If any of these conditions are not fully met, partial indulgence is still granted. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Those Who Humble Themselves Will Be Exalted

By Jenny Drzewiecki • October 26, 2025
Last Sunday, we reflected on ‘work and prayer’ – two things that every disciple of Jesus needs. Both are important in our journey of faith. Work keeps us active in service, and prayer keeps us close to God. We need both in balance to live as true followers of Christ. This Sunday, the readings concentrate more on prayer. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the story of two men who go to the temple to pray: one is a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The story is simple, but it shows us something very profound about how we stand before God. The Pharisee prays proudly. He thanks God that he is not like others. He talks about all the good things he does – fasting, giving money, and keeping the law. The tax collector, on the other hand, stands far away. He feels unworthy. He does not even lift his eyes to heaven. He simply says, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And Jesus says that it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home right with God. The difference between the two is not their actions, but their hearts. The Pharisee’s good deeds are fine, but his heart is proud. He thinks he can earn God’s love by praising himself. The tax collector knows he is weak and needs God’s mercy. His honest and humble heart opens the way for God’s forgiveness. This parable invites us to look at ourselves. How do we pray? Do we sometimes compare ourselves to others? Do we think we are better than someone else because we pray more or do more good things? Pride can quietly grow even in good works. True prayer starts with humility and gratitude – knowing that everything good we have is a gift from God. In the temple, only one man truly prayed – the one who knew he was a sinner. God can fill only an empty heart. If we are full of ourselves, there is no room for God. But when we come before God with open and humble hearts, God’s grace fills us with peace and love. May this Gospel remind us to pray with humility, gratitude, and trust. God does not look for perfection but for hearts that are honest and humble. As Jesus said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)  Fr. Andrzej
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