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On the Way to Emmaus

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 21:30:36 GMT

On Easter Day, two disciples left Jerusalem and walked toward Emmaus, carrying sadness and confusion in their hearts. They had lost hope and, with it, their sense of purpose as disciples. Although Jesus Himself drew near and walked with them, their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.

How often this happens in our own lives. The Lord walks beside us – in our struggles, doubts, and daily routines – yet we fail to see Him. Like the disciples, we may hear His Word and still remain deaf and unmoved. Yet Jesus never abandons us. With patience and love, He speaks to us, opens the Scriptures, and gently leads us forward.

It was in the breaking of the bread that their eyes were opened, and they recognized the Risen Lord. This is a powerful reminder for us that in the Eucharist, Jesus reveals Himself in a real and personal way. Even when our faith feels weak or uncertain, the Eucharist strengthens us, opens our eyes, and deepens our belief.

After encountering the Risen Christ, the disciples were transformed. Their sadness turned into joy, and their fear into courage. They immediately returned to Jerusalem to share the Good News and to be reunited with the other disciples. A true encounter with the Risen Lord always leads to conversion, transformation, and mission. We are called not only to recognize Him, but also to bear witness to Him in our daily lives.

This weekend, we also celebrate our Volunteer Appreciation Weekend. We give thanks for all those who generously serve our parish community. Through their time, dedication, and love, they make Christ present among us. Their service is a living witness to the Risen Lord, who continues to work through His people. May God bless them abundantly, and may their example inspire each of us to serve with joyful and faithful hearts.

On this meaningful and grace-filled weekend in our community, may we ask for the grace to recognize Jesus walking with us, especially in the Eucharist, and to become His faithful witnesses in the world.

Fr. Andrzej

Jesus I Trust in You

Fri, 10 Apr 2026 15:25:11 GMT

The Feast of Divine Mercy, celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, which is a relatively recent addition to the Church’s liturgical calendar, is rooted deeply into the Gospel itself. It was established for the universal Church by Saint John Paul II in the year 2000, during the canonization of Saint Faustina Kowalska. Through her visions and spiritual diary, the Lord Jesus revealed His desire that the whole world come to know and trust in His mercy. This feast is not only a devotion but a reminder of the very heart of the Christian message: God’s love poured out for sinners.

The purpose of this feast is to invite every person to trust in the mercy of God and to extend that mercy to others. In a world often marked by fear, judgment, and division, Divine Mercy calls us back to the truth that no sin is greater than God’s love, and no heart is beyond His healing grace. It is a day of hope, reconciliation, and renewed faith.

It is deeply providential that this feast is celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter, when the Gospel recounts the encounter between the Risen Lord and Thomas the Apostle. Jesus appears to His disciples a second time, and this time especially for Thomas, who struggled to believe. The Lord does not reject him or condemn his doubt. Instead, He invites him to touch His wounds and to encounter directly His Heart, which is full of compassion and love. In this moment, we see clearly that Jesus’ mercy goes beyond human expectations. He meets us not in our perfection, but in our weakness, and transforms doubt into faith.

This year, our celebration is made even more meaningful as we welcome a new image of the Merciful Jesus into our church. This sacred image, a faithful copy made and sent to us from the Divine Mercy Shrine in Łagiewniki, Poland, will be solemnly blessed and dedicated this weekend. After every Mass, we will pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, entrusting ourselves and our intentions to the Lord’s infinite compassion. Soon, we also hope to receive a relic of Saint Faustina. Both the image and the relic will unite us more closely with the Shrine of Divine Mercy and with countless faithful around the world who venerate the mercy of God. They will serve as enduring invitations for us to deepen our trust and to live lives shaped by mercy.

Let us be grateful for the gift of God’s mercy in our parish community and lives. May we trust in Jesus more deeply and share His mercy with others.

Fr. Andrzej

Easter Message – “Do Not Be Afraid” (Matthew 28:1–10)

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:25:07 GMT

On that first Easter morning, as dawn was just breaking, the women came to the tomb carrying sorrow, confusion, and fear in their hearts. They expected to find death. Instead, they encountered life – unexpected and life-changing.

At the heart of this Gospel is a simple and powerful message, spoken first by the angel and then by the Risen Lord Himself: “Do not be afraid.”

Fear is a real part of our human experience. It can hold us back, isolate us, and keep us from living fully in God’s grace. The women came with fear, yet they did not let it stop them from seeking Jesus. And it was there, in their faithful seeking, that they encountered the Risen Lord.

These words, “Do not be afraid,” do not ignore our fears but they gently invite us to move beyond them.

An encounter with the Risen Christ was essential for the women and His other disciples. Similarly, it become essential for us when we meet the Risen Lord. This encounter changes everything. It is not just something we remember – it is something we live. When we truly meet Him:

fear begins to turn into trust,
confusion gives way to clarity,
sorrow opens to joy,
and hesitation becomes a call to share the Good News.

The women who came in silence now run with joy and urgency to tell others. Their fear and doubt are transformed into courage. This is discipleship: not the absence of fear or doubt, but a heart changed by Christ.

To be a true disciple of Jesus means allowing His Resurrection to touch every part of our lives – especially the places where we feel afraid: fear of suffering, uncertainty, weakness, or the future. It is there that the Risen Lord meets us and says again, “Do not be afraid.”

This Easter, we are invited not only to hear these words, but to take them to heart. Christ stands before us – alive, present, and full of love. He calls us to trust Him more deeply, to follow Him more faithfully, and to share His love more confidently.

May our encounter with the Risen Lord heal what is wounded in us, strengthen what is weak, and fill us with quiet courage and joy. May it also continue to renew our parish community, helping us grow as faithful disciples of Jesus, following the example of St. Martin of Tours.

A blessed and grace-filled Easter to you and your loved ones. Alleluia!

Fr. Andrzej

Palm Sunday and Holy Week

Sun, 29 Mar 2026 18:52:38 GMT

The Sixth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Palm Sunday. This name comes from the Gospel proclaimed at the beginning of Mass, which describes the solemn entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem. The people welcomed Him with palm branches, showing reverence for the great prophet and spiritual leader known for His teaching and miracles.

This Sunday is also called Passion Sunday, as we proclaim the Passion of our Lord during Mass. With this celebration, we begin Holy Week – the final week before Easter.

Holy Week is the most important week of the entire year for us as Catholics. During these sacred days, we celebrate the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. For this reason, we are invited to make a special effort to live this week in a more prayerful and intentional way and making it truly holy.

Each day of Holy Week is marked by particular Gospel events connected to the mystery of our salvation. Over time, these days have received meaningful names in the tradition of the Church. Let me mention a few that may not be as familiar:

Spy Wednesday recalls Judas’ decision to betray Jesus.
Maundy Thursday comes from the Latin mandatum, meaning “commandment.” On this day, we remember the New Commandment of love which is perfectly expressed in the Holy Eucharist and in the gift of priesthood by Jesus Christ.
Good Friday commemorates the Passion and death of the Son of God, who gave His life out of love for us. Good Friday reminds about God who is very good and loves us unconditionally.
Black Saturday reminds us of the day when Jesus lay in the tomb, marked by mourning and silence, symbolizing the darkness of Jesus’ death and descent to the dead (Sheol or Hades), bringing hope to those who had gone before Him.
Day of the Resurrection marks the victory of Christ over sin and death. It is the beginning of new life for all and is celebrated as Lord’s Day or Eighth Day.

Dear parishioners, I warmly invite you to join us for the liturgies and celebrations of Holy Week at our parish. We look forward to celebrating these sacred mysteries together with you and your families. I am especially grateful to our Vietnamese and Anglo communities for preparing the liturgies together. It is a beautiful sign of unity and a meaningful witness when we come together as one religious family during this most important time of the year.

Finally, I encourage each of you to make this week truly special – not only by participating in the liturgies, but also in your personal and family life. Each of us is called to make these days holy through prayer, reflection, and acts of love.

Wishing you a blessed and grace-filled Holy Week.

Fr. Andrzej

Seeing Mercy through the Light

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 18:25:22 GMT

This weekend’s Gospel for the Fifth Sunday of Lent describes one of the most powerful moments in the ministry of Jesus: the raising of Lazarus (John 11:1–45). Standing before the tomb of his friend, Jesus proclaims, “I am the resurrection and the life.” With these words and with deep compassion, He calls Lazarus out of the darkness of death and restores him to life.

This Gospel reveals the heart of Christ – full of mercy, compassion, and deep concern for those who suffer. Jesus does not remain distant from human pain. He enters into it, weeps with those who mourn, and brings new life where there seemed to be only darkness, confusion, and despair.

In a beautiful way, the stained-glass windows in our church echo this same message of mercy and hope. Inspired by our patron, St. Martin of Tours, the windows illustrate the works of mercy that shaped his life and ministry. St. Martin followed Christ by seeing those in need and responding with generosity, compassion, and courage. His well-known act of sharing his cloak with a poor man is just one example of a life devoted to caring for others.

The Gospel story of Lazarus reminds us that acts of mercy are never small or insignificant. When we feed the hungry, visit the sick and the imprisoned, or help those in need, we participate in Christ’s own mission of bringing life where there is suffering and hope where there is darkness.

As sunlight shines through these stained-glass windows, may they remind us that the works of mercy are not only beautiful images in colored glass, but a living calling for each of us. Like St. Martin, may we allow the light of Christ’s compassion to shine through our lives, bringing hope, healing, and new life to the world around us.

We are still expecting one more window depicting St. Martin, but we already appreciate the beauty and message these windows bring to our church. I am very grateful to all who made this project possible: the artists, Kim Kostuch and Slawormir Miskow, the team who prepared and supervised the project, those who helped install the windows, the generous donors, and all of you, dear parishioners, for your support and encouragement.

Thank you very much.

Fr. Andrzej

Fourth Sunday of Lent – Opening Our Eyes

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 13:42:14 GMT

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Third Sunday of Lent – Meeting Jesus at the Well

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:43:12 GMT

On this Third Sunday of Lent, we hear the story from the Gospel of John (4:5-42) about Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well.

In Jewish culture, a well was more than just a place to draw water. It was often a meeting place between a man and a woman – even a place where love stories began. In the Bible, important couples met at wells. Isaac first met Rebekah at a well (Genesis 24). Moses met Zipporah at a well (Exodus 2). A well was a place of encounter, promise, and new beginnings.

With this in mind, today’s Gospel becomes even more beautiful. Jesus meets a woman who comes alone, carrying not only a water jar, but also a wounded heart. At first, she hesitates. She keeps her distance. She is careful and guarded.

But Jesus speaks gently. He does not judge her. He touches the painful parts of her life with truth and love. Slowly, she opens her heart. She allows herself to be seen and known. And in that moment, she begins to experience healing.

This is not just a casual conversation. It is a meeting of love – God seeking His beloved. Jesus, the Bridegroom, meets a wounded soul and offers her living water.

Then something changes. She leaves her jar behind. Leaving the jar is a powerful sign of transformation. It symbolizes leaving behind her old life, her daily burdens, and even her sin. The jar that brought her to the well is no longer important. She runs back to the village and says, “Come and see!” The woman who once avoided others now becomes a witness. Her encounter with Jesus changes her life completely.

Lent is our time to come to the well. We may come with hesitation, with shame, or with wounds. But Jesus is waiting for us. He speaks gently to our hearts. If we allow Him, He will heal us.

And when we truly meet Him, we too will leave something behind – our fear, sin, hopelessness – and we will find the courage to share the Good News with others.

Fr. Andrzej

Transfiguration as an Image of Lent

Tue, 24 Feb 2026 15:22:15 GMT

On the Second Sunday of Lent, the Church invites us to reflect on the Transfiguration of the Lord. In the Gospel, Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up Mount Tabor. There, before their eyes, He is changed. His face shines, and His clothes become dazzling white (Mark 9:3). For a moment, the disciples see His divine glory.

This Gospel helps us understand what Lent is about. Lent is like climbing a mountain. It takes effort. We pray more. We fast. We try to change bad habits. Sometimes it feels difficult. But just as the disciples saw the glory of Jesus at the top of the mountain, we know that our Lenten journey leads to the joy of Easter. Beyond sacrifice, there is light. Beyond effort, there is peace – a peace that the world cannot give.

The Transfiguration also reminds us of our final goal. One day, we hope to share in Christ’s glory in heaven. Lent is not only about giving something up. Lent is about allowing God to change us. Little by little, He wants to transform our hearts so that we reflect His love and His peace.

Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus on the mountain. Both met God in the desert. The desert in the Bible is a place of silence, prayer, and trust. During Lent, we are invited to enter our own “desert.” This may simply mean turning off the television, putting aside the phone, spending a few quiet minutes in prayer, or coming to church for extra time with the Lord. We need quiet space to hear God’s voice and to receive the peace that only He can give.

You may notice that our church decorations reflect this desert theme. Even the empty baptistery reminds us that Lent is a time of waiting and longing. The desert teaches us that real peace does not come from comfort, money, or success. It comes from being close to God.

When Peter sees Jesus transfigured, he says, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here.” He wants to stay. He wants to build tents and remain in that beautiful moment. We understand him. When we feel close to God, when we experience peace in prayer, we want it to last forever.

But Jesus leads the disciples back down the mountain. They must return to daily life. This is important for us. Our prayer and Lenten sacrifices are not meant to separate us from the world, but to help us love the world better. If our prayer brings us true peace, we will become more patient, more forgiving, more generous. We will bring Christ’s peace into our families, workplaces, and parish.

As we continue our Lenten journey, let us ask the Lord to transform us. May this season help us experience the peace that the world cannot give – the peace that comes from knowing we are loved by God.

Let us pray for one another during this holy season.

Fr. Andrzej

Lent – Season and Time of Returning Home

Thu, 19 Feb 2026 15:01:35 GMT

Last Wednesday, we began the holy season of Lent. During the Ash Wednesday liturgy, we blessed and distributed ashes to all who came forward. This ancient ritual, accompanied by the words, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” carries a deep and beautiful meaning for us.

For some Catholics, Lent and ashes can feel heavy. They may associate them only with repentance, sacrifice, and conversion, and therefore see this season in a negative light. Yet in truth, the ashes and the words spoken over us contain a message that is not only serious – but also hopeful, tender, and deeply encouraging.

These words come from the Book of Genesis (3:19). After Adam and Eve left the Garden of Eden, God spoke to them in a moment marked by human weakness and failure. But even then, God’s words were not a rejection. They were a reminder.

God had created them in His image and likeness. Their dignity did not disappear because of sin. They were formed from the soil of Paradise, and Paradise was created for them. The Garden of Eden – our true and eternal home – remains humanity’s destiny. When God says, “You are dust,” He reminds them where we come from. And when He says, “To dust you shall return,” He points them toward where they belong: back to Him.

Even outside of Eden, God never abandoned His children. He continues to wait, to call, and to lead us home.

This promise was not only for the first humans. It is for each of us. It is no coincidence that the Church places these words at the very beginning of Lent. When we truly understand them, we begin to see Lent not as a season of gloom, but as a journey back home.

The words spoken on Ash Wednesday may be among the most honest and loving words God speaks to humanity. They remind us of our fragility – but even more, they remind us of our dignity and our destiny.

With this hope in our hearts, we can enter Lent with renewed enthusiasm. Our prayer, fasting, and almsgiving are not burdens, but rather are steps on the path that leads us back to our heavenly home. Each small sacrifice, each act of charity, each quiet prayer becomes a way of cooperating with God’s loving work within us.

May this Lent be a meaningful and grace-filled journey for each of us, and for our entire parish community of St. Martin of Tours Parish.

Fr. Andrzej

From Rules to Relationship

Sun, 15 Feb 2026 16:03:20 GMT

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks words that are both encouraging and challenging: “I have come not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it.” With these words, He reminds us that God’s commandments are not meant to trap us in a list of rules, but to guide us toward true life.

For many people, the Law can sound like a series of do’s and don’ts, something to be followed mainly out of fear of punishment. Jesus invites us to something much deeper. He teaches that it is not enough to obey God only on the outside. What truly matters is the heart. Avoiding wrongdoing is important, but Jesus calls us further – to heal anger, to forgive, and to be faithful not only in our actions but also in our thoughts and intentions.

The Law God has given is good and holy, but it bears fruit only when it is welcomed into our hearts. When we live God’s commandments out of love, they no longer feel like a burden. Instead, they become a path that shapes our choices, strengthens our relationships, and guides the way we treat one another. Love – not fear – is the true reason for living God’s law.

We can see this in everyday life. The deepest reason to remain faithful in marriage is love for one’s spouse, not fear of breaking a commandment. The true reason to worship God and come to church on Sunday is love of God, not fear of failing in our obligation. When love, rather than fear of punishment, becomes our motivation, faithfulness to God’s Law becomes more natural, joyful, and meaningful.

This same message is found in today’s first reading from Sirach. God places before us life and death and lovingly invites us to choose life. In Psalm 119, the psalmist rejoices in God’s law – not as a threat, but as a source of wisdom and joy. God’s commandments are called wisdom because they teach us how to live well and how to love rightly.

Jesus fulfills the Law by revealing its true purpose: to lead us into a loving relationship with God and with one another. This is the path Jesus invites us to walk – not a path of fear, but a path of love.

Do I follow God’s commandments out of fear, or out of love? This week, may we choose one small way to live God’s law with love – through forgiveness, patience, or a quiet act of kindness – and allow God’s wisdom to shape our hearts.

Fr. Andrzej

6-Month Pastor's Report

Sun, 01 Feb 2026 17:56:07 GMT

As we begin the New Year with prayer and gratitude, this is a good moment to reflect on the life of our parish during the past six months. I am convinced that the second half of 2025 was a good and grace-filled period for us at St. Martin of Tours. For this, we thank God – and you, dear parishioners – for your faith, generosity, and commitment.

While not every plan could be completed, we are grateful for the progress made and the growth experienced in our community. I would like to share a brief overview of our parish life, ministries, and challenges from the past six months.

Who We Are and Our Purpose

“A diverse and vibrant, growing community of disciples of Jesus Christ that aspires to be a beacon of the Word to all.” This opening line of our Vision and Mission Statement reminds us of who we are and why we exist as the parish community of St. Martin of Tours.

We continually strive to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, sharing God’s Word through our faith, our actions, and our love, so that others may come to know him. We are called not to follow Christ individually, but as a community – continuing His mission here and now, in our own context and in this part of the world.

Worship and Parish Life

Prayer and worship remain at the heart of our parish. Our Christmas celebrations were joyful and meaningful, with strong participation from children, choirs, and many parish groups. I am deeply grateful to the Liturgy and Worship Committee, as well as to our lectors, servers, sacristans, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers for their dedication. I am especially grateful that we were able to invite, welcome, and train new sacristans, ushers, and Eucharistic ministers. Additionally, my appreciation goes to the Stewardship Committee for welcoming new members and serving our parishioners.

We continue to strengthen our community through prayer opportunities and social gatherings. Our commitment to youth and children remains strong in both the English- and Vietnamese-speaking communities, with monthly Youth Masses and Children’s Masses.

Parish Staff and Leadership

I extend my sincere thanks to our parish staff, pastoral team, and Pastoral and Finance Council members for their service and guidance. We were blessed to welcome two new staff members – Maria Rodriguez as Bookkeeper and Deneen Waddell as Director of Religious Education – as well as two trustees, Ken Keefer and David Vanness (second term). All have brought fresh energy, professionalism, and meaningful improvements to our administrative and pastoral work.

Parish by the Numbers

At present, our parish consists of 1,042 active families, representing 2,466 active members. During the second half of 2025, we welcomed 14 new families into our parish.

We mourned the loss of 9 parishioners who passed away, and 19 funerals were celebrated in our Church. One family moved away from the parish. We baptized 19 children , and 6 couples received the Sacrament of Marriage.

This year, 117 students are enrolled in our Religious Education programs:

English-speaking Religious Education (Youth and High School): 69 students
OCIA Program: 3 participants
Vietnamese Community: 45 students

In addition, we welcomed back two Catholic homeschool groups, serving 125 children , who now use our facilities

on a weekly basis.

Ministry Highlights

Our Food Pantry remains one of the most visible and impactful ministries of our parish, serving not only our parishioners but also the wider Franklin community. This ministry continues to grow thanks to your generosity and commitment.

Total number of people served:

July: 431; August: 403; September: 492; October: 544;

November: 455; December: 302.

In addition, 47 Thanksgiving dinners were distributed.

We continue to minister to residents at Tudor Oaks Senior Living Community and Elizabeth Residence , where some of our parishioners live. Another session of the Grief Ministry has come to an end, and we will begin a new session when there is a need.

Other significant ministries and events included: the Scally Brothers Concert (July 13); Safe Environment Training (August 17); Rummage Sale, which raised $14,765 (August 21-24); Labor Day parish activities; the formation of a new team and the launch of OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults); a School Supply Drive for Notre Dame School of Milwaukee (September); Ministry Fair (September 13-14); a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion and the National Shrine of St. Joseph (October 2); Fall Harvest Gala with 160 participants and $11,509 raised (November 15); Breakfast with Santa and Craft Fair (December 7); the St. John Paul II Foundation’s “Together in Holiness” marriage ministry for newlyweds and young families; and continued monthly parish dinners. We are also preparing to begin a St. Vincent de Paul chapter at our parish.

Facilities and Future Plans

Several capital and facility projects were completed or advanced, including replacement of the school windows ($69,000); the LED outdoor sign (final payment: $12,756); the 2025 Parish Photo Directory ($4,550); the Sacred Heart Shrine; Stained-glass windows (Phase 1); new chairs in the narthex; a new gym door ($12,485); cemetery bush and tree removal; kitchen pantry repairs; and trimming trees and completing fall cleanup around the church and parish facilities.

Some of these projects were made possible through the generosity of parishioners who donated materials, labor, or funds and preferred to remain anonymous. We are deeply grateful for their kindness and generosity. Overall, the parish continues to benefit from responsible financial stewardship and the strong support of our community.

In the coming months, we plan additional improvements, including the cemetery parking lot and school roof replacement; installation of a church listening system; stained-glass windows (Phases 2 and 3); finalizing and introducing a five-year strategic plan; and full implementation of the ParishStaq system.

Difficulties and Challenges

Not everything unfolded as planned, and some initiatives could not be completed. While we are welcoming new families and experiencing growth, we must also acknowledge that our parish community is aging. Inviting young families and youth into active participation remains an ongoing challenge.

Another important task is recruiting and forming new volunteers to sustain our long-standing ministries and traditions. Additionally, the maintenance of our aging facilities continues to require careful discernment and planning.

We are also a parish made up of two primary communities – English- and Vietnamese-speaking. This diversity is a great blessing, yet it also calls us to continual effort in worshiping, discerning, and making decisions together as one parish community.

Gratitude and Closing

Finally, thank you for your prayers, support, and faithfulness. I deeply appreciate your encouraging words, your honest feedback, and your suggestions for growth. Please do not hesitate to share your thoughts – not only about this report, but about parish life as a whole.

Our work as parish staff and leadership is meaningful only through your collaboration, trust, and care. I am truly blessed and grateful to serve as your pastor.

Fr. Andrzej

“He Left Nazareth and Began Again”

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 17:37:24 GMT

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 4:12–23), we hear encounters of two crucial moments that mark the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus leaves Nazareth and settles in Capernaum. Soon afterward, he calls fishermen by the Sea of Galilee and invites them to follow him – and they immediately leave their nets, their work, and even their families.

These are not minor details. Jesus’ move from Nazareth to Capernaum shows us that new beginnings often require leaving what is familiar and comfortable. Nazareth was home. Capernaum became the place where everything was new, and where his mission unfolded. This change was not easy, but it was necessary for God’s plan to be revealed.

At the beginning of a new year, many of us sense a similar call. We are invited not only to leave behind old habits, past disappointments, or ways of thinking that no longer give life, but also step beyond our comfort zone to embrace new service and ministry. Like Jesus and his disciples, we are asked to trust that God can do something new in us and through us.

The response of the disciples is just as striking. When Jesus calls, they do not hesitate. They leave their nets at once. Their immediate response teaches us that following Christ often requires courage and deep trust. It may mean accepting change, taking on a challenging responsibility, or stepping into the unknown. The new year offers us this same grace: an opportunity to begin again, to reorder our priorities, and to place Christ at the center of our lives.

Today’s Gospel encourages us not to fear change but to recognize it as a gift. With Jesus, every new beginning – no matter how uncertain – can become a path of grace, light and unexpected blessings. As we step into this new year, may we have the faith to let go of what holds us back and the courage to follow wherever the Lord leads.

Fr. Andrzej

Behold the Lamb of God: A Call to Witness

Sun, 18 Jan 2026 17:40:19 GMT

As we leave the Christmas season and enter Ordinary Time, we also begin a new year. This is a natural moment to pause, reflect, and think about how we want to live our faith in the days ahead.

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist shows us what it truly means to be a witness. When he sees Jesus, he does not speak about himself. He points to Jesus and says, “Behold, the Lamb of God” (John 1:29). John recognizes that Jesus is the One chosen by God, and he makes Him known to others. John’s mission is simple but powerful: to help people see who Jesus really is.

John was able to give this witness because he paid attention to God. He listened, he watched, and he trusted what God revealed to him. When John saw the Spirit remain on Jesus, he believed – and he spoke. His witness came from faith, not from pride. He knew that his role was not to be the center, but to point others to Christ.

As we begin a new year and step into Ordinary Time, this Gospel invites each of us to ask: How can I be a witness to Jesus? Most of us will never preach in public, but all of us can give witness in everyday ways – by how we speak, how we treat others, how we forgive, and how we love. Our actions often speak louder than words.

Ordinary Time reminds us that following Jesus happens in ordinary life – at home, at work, at school, and in our parish community. Like John the Baptist, we are called to point to Jesus not by drawing attention to ourselves, but by living in a way that helps others recognize Jesus, our Lord.

As a New Year resolution, may we choose this simple but important goal: to be witnesses of Christ. May our lives quietly say to others, “Behold the Lamb of God.”

Fr. Andrzej

Baptism – a Sacrament of Unity with God and other Members of the Church.

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 17:43:20 GMT

With the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we come to the end of the Christmas season. From the joy of Bethlehem to the light of the Epiphany, the Church has invited us to reflect on who Jesus truly is. Today, at the Jordan River, this truth is revealed clearly: Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father, and the Holy Spirit comes upon him.

Although Jesus is without sin, he enters the waters of the Jordan to stand in solidarity with us. By his baptism, Jesus sanctifies the waters and prepares the way for our own rebirth in the Sacrament of Baptism. The author of today’s Gospel illustrates the baptism of Jesus in a meaningful and poetic way: “the heavens were opened,” and the Father’s voice was heard, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:16–17). It is very significant that Jesus chose to be baptized like his followers. As members of the Christian community, we are united with him through the Sacrament of Baptism.

I believe each time we celebrate the Sacrament of Baptism, just as at the baptism of Jesus, the heavens are opened and the Holy Trinity is present to welcome a new child of God. Indeed, through Baptism, we become beloved sons and daughters of God and must never take it for granted.

Baptism is the first and most important of the sacraments. It is the gateway to all the others and the foundation of our Christian life. Through Baptism, we are freed from original sin, welcomed into the family of the Church, and marked forever as members of the Body of Christ. It is not simply a moment from the past, but a living grace that continues to shape who we are and how we are called to live. The Sacrament of Baptism also unites us as followers of Jesus Christ; we are one community, united through our Baptism.

As the Christmas season comes to an end, the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord invites us to remember our own baptismal promises: to reject sin, to profess our faith, and to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. May this feast renew our gratitude for the gift of Baptism and strengthen our commitment to live each day as beloved children of God, bringing Christ’s light into the world.

Lastly, let’s be grateful for another Christmas Season in our life, for Sacrament of Baptism and our faith community of St. Martin of Tours.

Fr. Andrzej

Feast of the Epiphany – Seeing Christ Revealed

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 16:09:22 GMT

The Feast of the Epiphany celebrates God’s great revelation: Jesus Christ is made known not only to Israel, but to all nations. Guided by a star, the Magi set out on a journey of faith, searching for the newborn King. Their pilgrimage reminds us that true faith requires trust, perseverance, and generous hearts. When they encounter the Child, they offer gifts that reveal who Christ is – our King, our God, and our Savior.

A beautiful Christian legend speaks of a “fourth Wise Man” named Artaban. Like the Magi, he followed the star, longing to meet Jesus. Yet along the way, he encountered people in great need. Each time, Artaban stopped to help, using the precious gifts he had intended for the Child. Because of these acts of mercy, he never reached Bethlehem in time. Still, he continued his journey, serving the poor and searching for Christ throughout his life.

Years later, Artaban finally understands the meaning of his journey. He discovers that every act of love he offered to those in need was, in fact, an encounter with Christ himself. The King he sought was present not only in Bethlehem, but in the suffering, the forgotten, and the poor.

This story beautifully echoes the message of Epiphany. The Magi recognized Christ in the Child of Bethlehem; Artaban recognized him in acts of compassion. Both remind us that Christ reveals himself to those who seek him with sincere hearts. As Jesus tells us, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mathew 25:40).

The Epiphany invites us to ask: Where do we recognize Christ today? We may not see a star in the sky, but we can find him in our neighbors,especially those in need. Like the Magi, we are called to seek Christ in faith, and like Artaban, we are called to serve him in love.

May this feast help us recognize Christ revealed in Word and Sacrament, and in one another.

Happy Epiphany!

Fr. Andrzej

Christmas Message – The Gift of Peace

Thu, 25 Dec 2025 16:13:43 GMT

As we celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas, our hearts turn once again to the beautiful message the angels proclaimed over Bethlehem: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will.” Peace is one of the most precious gifts Christ brings. It is more than the absence of conflict; it is the deep calm that comes from knowing God is with us. In a world that often feels restless and divided, Christmas reminds us that peace begins in the quiet of our hearts – when we welcome the Lord, trust in his love, and allow his light to guide our steps.

Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta often said, “Peace begins with a smile.” Even the smallest gesture of warmth can open a door, soften a heart, or brighten someone’s day. A smile, a kind word, a helping hand, or a moment of sincere attention can become a seed of peace. When we reach out to our neighbor – whether in our family, parish, or community – we allow Christ’s peace to take flesh once again in our world.

May this holy season encourage us to be instruments of peace through these simple acts of love. Every effort we make, no matter how small, becomes a reflection of the peace the newborn Savior brings.

Christmas Wishes

Dear Parishioners, may the newborn Christ bless your homes with his gentle and lasting peace. May he calm every worry, strengthen every bond of love, and fill your days with hope and grace. May your celebrations be joyful, your gatherings warm, and your hearts open to the quiet presence of God who comes to dwell among us.

May the peace of Christ – stronger than fear, deeper than sorrow, brighter than darkness – rest upon you and remain with you throughout the Christmas season and into the New Year. And may each smile and every small act of kindness you offer become a blessing that spreads his peace to others.

On behalf of the Parish Staff –

Merry Christmas and blessings of Peace to all!

Third Sunday of Advent – Gaudete Sunday

Sun, 14 Dec 2025 16:18:38 GMT

This Sunday the Church invites us to rejoice. Gaudete means “Rejoice,” and it reminds us that Christmas is near. Even though Advent is a season of quiet preparation, today the liturgy lifts our hearts. The rose candle on the Advent wreath and the brighter liturgical mood are signs of this joy. God is close. His coming brings hope, peace, and spiritual light.

The word Gaudete comes from the ancient Entrance Antiphon of the Mass for this day: “Gaudete in Domino semper” – “Rejoice in the Lord always.” It speaks of the spiritual joy that comes from complete trust in God – a joy that cannot be taken away and that brings a lasting peace of heart. Gaudete is a joyful reminder in the middle of Advent that the Lord is near, and our waiting is filled with hope, living faith, and gladness.

In today’s Gospel, we meet John the Baptist. He is a strong and humble messenger of Christ. John knows that his mission is not to draw attention to himself, but to point everyone toward Jesus. He prepares the way by calling people to open their hearts and turn back to God. John shows us what real readiness looks like – simple, honest, and faithful.

John the Baptist can be an inspiration for each one of us. Like him, we are called to prepare the way for the Lord in our own lives and in our parish community. We do this when we pray, when we forgive, when we care for someone in need, and when we bring peace into our homes. Every small act of goodness makes more room for Christ to come.

As we enter this joyful Sunday, let us pause and allow God’s hope to rise within us. Let us rejoice not because everything in life is perfect, but because God is with us. He is coming to bring healing, mercy, and new beginnings.

May this Gaudete Sunday fill our hearts with the joy that only Christ can give, and may we, like John the Baptist, help others to see the Lord who is near.

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near”

(Philippians 4:4–5).

Fr. Andrzej

Advent Reflection

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:14:14 GMT

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

Tue, 25 Nov 2025 14:11:34 GMT

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Feast of St. Martin of Tours – Patron Saint of our Parish

Sun, 16 Nov 2025 18:30:50 GMT

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?

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:22:47 GMT

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

Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:39:39 GMT

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

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 14:09:45 GMT

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

Dishonest Steward (Luke 16:1–13)

Fri, 03 Oct 2025 17:59:20 GMT

At first, the parable of the dishonest steward may confuse us. Why would Jesus tell a story about a man who cheats his master, and then praise him? Jesus is not approving dishonesty. He is pointing out the steward’s prudence. The man saw that his time was short, and he acted decisively to prepare for the future.

How often do we, the “children of light,” fail to show that same urgency for what really matters? People are often clever and determined when it comes to success, wealth, or safety in this life, but far less intentional when it comes to eternal life with God.

The message is clear: all that we have, our time, our talents, our possessions, are entrusted to us by God. We are not owners but stewards. One day we will give an account. In the meantime, Jesus calls us to use what we have wisely, generously, and with eternity in mind. Money and posses

sions will not last forever, but when used in service of God and neighbor, they can open the way to “eternal dwellings.”

Money and everything we possess must not divide and take us away from God and other people. Contrary, everything can build up our relationship with God and people. It is not important how much and what we possess but rather, to which extend we are attached to it and if we are ready to share it with our neighbor.

This Gospel ends with a wise maxim: “You cannot serve both God and mammon.” May we, like the steward, act decisively but not for selfish gain. Instead, let us be shrewd in love, intentional in faith, and generous in mercy, so that our true treasure may be found in heaven.

Fr. Andrzej

At the Threshold of the New School Year

Sun, 07 Sep 2025 14:13:07 GMT

The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.As the summer draws to a close and a new school year begins, we are reminded of the rhythm of life that God has inserted into creation, seasons of rest and seasons of work, times of play and times of learning. Summer often gives us space to slow down, to enjoy the beauty of God’s world, and to strengthen our relationships with family and friends. Now, as we initiate the new school year, we are called into a season of new beginning and time of growth.

We think about our children and youth at the threshold of the new year. May this new year become a successful and meaningful year for each of them. For parents and teachers, it is a time of guidance, encouragement, and patience. And for all of us as a church community, it is a reminder to support and pray for our young students that they may grow not only in knowledge but also in wisdom and faith.

Let us embrace this change of season with gratitude, holding on to the peace and joy of summer while welcoming the challenges and opportunities of the year ahead. May the Holy Spirit move and work with us every day, every household, and every heart, so that this new beginning may bear good fruit.

The end of summer is a good opportunity to express my gratitude to those who prepared this new school year at our parish community and our church of St. Martin of Tours. I am grateful for those who will be involved with teaching and ministry to our children and youth at our Religious Education programs and any kind of youth ministry. Thank you for your time and effort.

Additionally, the end of summer is traditionally marked with two significant fund rising events, the Rummage Sale and Labor Day activities. I am grateful to those of our parishioners who spend a lot of time, creativity and hard work to make these events successful and meaningful. I am not just thinking about the income to the parish funds, but also about the good spirit and energy brought up by these two events which make our community alive and welcoming to others. Thank you very much.

Welcome back to those who arrived from their vacation and trips in the summer, and I wish you another meaningful and blessed time at home and in our parish community.

Fr. Andrzej

The Narrow Gate

Wed, 20 Aug 2025 13:10:31 GMT

The image of the narrow gate appears in today’s gospel, where someone asks Jesus: "Lord, will only a few be saved?"

He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able" (Luke 13:24).

I believe this image of the narrow gate is offered to us as positive encouragement rather than a frightening warning. There were many negative images of God as angry and condemning in the past. The Old Testament used these kinds of negative methods and images of God to encourage people to choose good instead of evil. God was shown as a strict judge who can see everything. According to them, God watches every deed and step of a human being. Then God repays to everyone with grace or punishment according to the human deeds.

The New Testament method, contrary to the Old Testament, is very positive. It shows God as a good parent who loves people like his children. God is also shown as a good shepherd who searches for a lost sheep until it is found and brought back to the flock to be save. God loves his people unconditionally to the point of giving his only Son for the salvation of all.

We are all invited to take part in salvation given to us by God. It is our invitation and destiny, but we must respond to God’s call. Luke in today’s gospel uses the word "strive" (Greek: agonizomai, from which we get agonize) which suggests a strong, ongoing effort like that of an athlete or warrior. Salvation is not shown here as something casual or automatic. The narrow gate symbolizes a path that requires intentionality, discipline, and commitment. It’s not about working for salvation, which is by grace, but about responding seriously to God’s call.

There is a time sensitivity – later verses describe people knocking on the door after it is shut. The chance to respond is not indefinite. There is another helpful element in the image the narrow gate, which is exclusivity versus inclusivity. The narrow gate contrasts with a wide gate – something easier to enter, more comfortable, and more crowded. While many may expect to be included Jesus warns that not all who assume they are in will be admitted. This challenges our presumption that being religious, church goer, or Catholic is not a guarantee of salvation.

Instead, it highlights the importance of a real relationship with Christ. The Lord answered to those who were knocking on the locked door, “I do not know where you are from” (Luke 13:27). A personal relationship with God is an essential condition of entering the narrow gate.

The image of the narrow gate is echoed in many places and images in the New Testament but especially in Matthew 7:13-14. Matthew contrasts the narrow gate that leads to life and the wide gate that leads to destruction. This places the image within a consistent New Testament theme: the true path is costly, counter-cultural, and chosen by relatively few. The image of the narrow gate is not a warning but rather an invitation. The door is narrow indeed, but it is open to us.

Fr. Andrzej

A Good Steward

Sun, 10 Aug 2025 13:33:09 GMT

A Good Steward, according to today’s Gospel, is a chosen servant who has been entrusted by his master with the task of taking care of his household, possessions, and the people under his care. In those times, a steward was responsible for faithfully and wisely managing his master’s household, even in his master’s absence. A good steward is one who:

• is faithful – does what his master has entrusted to him, even when no one is watching;

• is wise – makes prudent decisions for the good of the whole community;

• is responsible – cares for others, not only for himself.

Above all, a good steward is always awaiting the master. He must be ready to welcome him even when his master comes unexpectedly (Luke 12:32-48).

Originally, the parable about the good steward was associated with Eschatology. A good steward, which is a model of disciple of Jesus, must be ready to welcome the Master, Jesus Christ, when we meet him face to face at the end of times. I believe this story must be understood in both context, Eschatology and Presentology. The parable is not just about the end of times. The story of a good steward encourages us to be ready to meet our brothers and sisters who come to us for help unexpectedly also today. It is our current and ongoing task to welcome them with love and care as good stewards.

Elsewhere in the Scripture, Jesus explained the necessity of welcoming people in need and taking care of them, “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matt 25:40). Indeed, awaiting the Master and taking care of the needy are equally important tasks for a good steward.

Recently, we have had a lot of reflection, talks and meetings regarding our stewardship committee at St. Martin of Tours. We have made a lot of effort to make our stewardship alive and dynamic. We believe the growth of our parish community depends a lot on the condition and vigor of our stewardship committee. We all agree today’s stewardship is not just about taking care of our money and resources. Good stewards must take care of people entrusted to them holistically. People who come to our parish must be welcomed and immediately feel they belong to the parish community. Everyone must receive what they expect, and feel safe with us, but especially those who are in difficult situations and circumstances. We also agree, as good stewards we must be ready to leave our comfort zone and go out to find people who do not formally belong to St. Martin’s parish community. Many of our parishioners left the community during Covid19 and other kinds of crises our parish had to go through in the past. We must go out and welcome them where they are. Perhaps they are waiting for us to invite them again. There are also many new families who do not know us yet. We cannot afford to wait for them at the church. Instead, we must go out find and meet them where they are.

Today’s Gospel tells us that each of us, not just the stewardship committee members, is a steward – God has entrusted us with life, talents, time, relationships, material goods and our parish community. Ultimately, we will give an account for them. Whoever is faithful in small matters will be entrusted with even greater responsibilities. Awaiting the Master, our Lord Jesus Christ, and welcoming and taking care of our brothers and sisters in our community are equally important tasks for us, as good stewards.

Fr. Andrzej

Prayer

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 20:35:01 GMT

Prayer is the theme of today’s liturgy. Prayer is a very broad topic and impossible to describe within one reflection.

There are a lot of people who become religious only when they want something. When they pray and do not get what they ask for, they are further convinced that prayer does not work. Jesus tells us it does. The problem is we are too impatient, and we want things right away. Additionally, we must not forget to add “thy will be done” at the end of our prayer as we say in “Our Father.” God sees and knows much more than us. God knows what is best for us and gives us what we really need and what saves us.

The first reading from the Book of Genesis gives us a beautiful example of Abraham’s prayer. Abraham interceded for the people of Sodom. God wanted to destroy the city of sin, but Abraham pleaded for the righteous habitants of the city. God promised to save the city if there are fifty innocent people, and then, fourth five, fourth, thirty, and even twenty. The prayer is meaningful but also dramatic. Abraham stopped his intercession at ten. As we know the story, the city was destroyed because there were not ten righteous people in Sodom. I just wonder if the city would be saved if Abraham kept going to five or three. The story, a wonderful image of an intercession prayer, encourages us to pray for others. God listens to our prayer as long as we are persistent like Abraham and believe in our prayer.

Mostly whenever we think of prayer we think of asking for things and people. And this is the right thing to do. However, the more vital reason to pray is to build a relationship with God. Relationships cannot exist without communication. Furthermore, the quality of our relationship with someone depends on the quality of our communication with them. We need to learn how to communicate with God, just as we need to learn how to communicate with one another.

In today’s gospel, Jesus knows prayer has its difficulties. Thus, he tells us not to give up. “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened” (Luke 11:9-10). Persistence and faith are essential conditions of our prayer.

Jesus said, “Ask and you will receive.” He does not say, “you might receive or maybe you will receive.” What he is saying is that no prayer is wasted. Prayer cannot fail to bring some blessing even we were asking for something else. If we truly believe God is all wise and all loving we receive what we really need. Instead of physical things and healing we sometimes receive spiritual ones which are more important for us. Prayer works, even when we do not see immediate results.

Lastly, the greatest obstacle to prayer is our busyness and lack of time. Most of the people I spoke with about their prayer excuse themselves with lack of time for God. We have time for many things but not for God. God is not most important for us. If we want to pray well we must change our mind and find time for God. We schedule our daily activates in our calendar in order to remember and avoid missing important things. If we want to pray we must begin to schedule our prayer. We will have much more chance to pray and to meet our loving God when we schedule our prayer ahead of time.

Fr. Andrzej

6-Month Pastor’s Report: January 1 – June 30, 2025

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 20 Jul 2025 20:47:43 GMT

Summer started about a month ago. I cannot believe the first half of the year is over. According to our little tradition, I would like to offer to you a basic report on some ministries, projects and activities at St. Martin of Tours which took place these pastfew months. I am convinced it was another good and meaningful time for our parish. We must be grateful to God and to you dear parishioners for making these six months of year successful and rewarding. I see a lot of progress and growth in our parish community.

We are grateful for the election of the new Pope Leo XIV, the first American Pope, and Archbishop Jeffery Grob, who was born and grew up in Wisconsin. These are the right spiritual leaders for this time in the Church given to us by God. I believe they will significantly influence the spirit of our country and Archdiocese and significantly impact our pastoral work. We continue to pray for their well-being and leadership.

Our first purpose as a religious community is to pray and worship. We had a meaningful and beautiful celebration of the Paschal Triduum and Easter. I was encouraged by your involvement, help, and large participation. I have never seen more people in our church than during Easter Masses this year. In this special way, I am grateful to our liturgy and worship committee, together with the lectors, sacristans, servers, Eucharistic ministers, and ushers for planning, organizing, and making our celebration possible and meaningful. I am also glad that we have more opportunities and occasions to pray and organize social gatherings at St. Martin of Tours. We are committed to continue these events and celebrations that strengthen us as one community of brothers and sisters in Christ. We are committed to organizing more events and opportunities to pray for our youth and young adults in the near future.

Strategic Plan

We completed our 5-year Vision and Mission statement more than one year ago and targeting completion of a more detailed implementation plan for the entire community of St. Martin of Tours. Our parish Staff, both 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 this year.

ParishStaq

I am excited about the new dynamics and changes in our parish these last few months. There are many new developments and growth of our community at St. Martin of Tours. One of the new initiatives, which was introduced recently, is the church management software, ParishStaq. With this program we are moving our communication, management, and interaction with people and various ministries on another level. One of the reasons to introduce the new system is to simplify the process of online donations. Hopefully it will encourage people to sign online, attract new donors, and eventually increasedonations. We need to increase our donations and weekly collection to be able to maintain our facilities and for new ministries, and I use this opportunity to ask you to consider doing so. However, the main and most important reason to introduce this project of ParishStaq is to attract new and young families to our parish with the updated look and ease of use as well as to allow volunteers to sign up for ministries and to help with events. We need them along with new resources and donations to grow our parish strong.

Helpful Numbers

At this moment we are a community of 995 Active Families (2,483 Active members). We welcomed 13 new families who joined our parish in the first part of the year.. We had 15 baptisms and 6 weddings; 13 children received First Communion and first reconciliation.Ten students received Confirmation. We had 17 funerals. We provided catechism classes to 117 youth and children in the English and Vietnamese communities. We continue to host two Catholic homeschool groups with 125 children that use our facilities weekly. In short, we are alive and there are signs of growth.

Some Maintenance and new Projects Updates

The first phase of the stained-glass window project will be completed at the end of 2025. The second phase, the Rose Window, will be designed and completed next year. We received $53,088 in donations which covers about 92% of the cost of the first phase of the project.

We had a couple larger expenses relating to the school building which are boiler servicing and inspection, and the twenty-year-old sprinkler headtesting. Maintenance in the church includes the bell tower project andfilling the cracks in the parking lot. Capital projects currently in progress include our LED sign, and replacement of some of the windows in the school building. Signage in our cemetery was repalced, thanks to the cemetery committee! Funds from the Cemetery ProjectFund’s faffle were used to cover some of the costs of this project. The flowers and landscaping were done by our Building and Grounds committee. I am very grateful to them and those who maintain and water them.

Our Financial Situation

We are stable financially and we are not carrying debt. We ended the fiscal year with a few thousand in deficit, and we foresee $28 deficit of the operating budget in this year.

Our weekly collections remain flat when compared to the same 6-month period last year. Jan-Jun in 2025 total $355,100 and Jan-Jun in 2024 total $354,400.

Our parish fellowship dinners are a great way to connect with others in our community. While the intent is not a fundraiser, we received offerings of $4,000 that benefit our parish life.

Total income received from the Archdiocese for the Love One Another campaign (LOA) totaled $58,529. This compares to $73,403 for the same period last year. LOA money is used for larger projects and maintenance.

We distributed $15,000 from our needy fund to assist organizations and individuals in our community.

The Main Activities for the Second Part of the Year:

• July 13, 2025, Scally Brothers Concert – over 230 people attended

• High School Summer Service Projects beginning in July;

• High School Summer Small Group beginning in July;

• August 21-24, Rummage Sale;

• August 30 – September 1, Regular Labor Day Activities;

• Monthly Parish Dinners begin in September;

• Creating a team and launching OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) Program in Fall;

• October 2 - Pilgrimage to Our Lady of Champion Shrine & St. Joseph Shrine;

• November 15 - St. Martin of Tours Feast and Fall Harvest Dinner Auction;

I am grateful to many committees and groups for organizing these above events.

Lastly, thank you for your prayers and support. I always appreciate your comments, suggestions and encouraging words but also criticism and complaints. 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

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 13:43:35 GMT

It is unusual to have a feast of saints celebrated on Sunday. Sunday, the Lord’s Day, is more important than any feast of saints in the Liturgical Calendar. This year the feast of Saints Peter and Paul falls on Sunday and takes precedence over Sunday liturgy. It is another proof for the fact both Saints, Peter and Paul, were extremely important in the history of the Church. Indeed, there were like two pillars of the first Christian community and the Church grew up on the foundation of these two great Apostles.

Although they were both great sinners, Peter traitor and Paul murder, both converted to Christ. Although they had completely different visions of the Church and different missions entrusted to them by the Risen Lord, they preached the same Gospel. Peter preached the Gospel to the Jews and Paul to the Pagans. Finally, they both died for Christ.

Today’s feast of Peter and Paul, two very different saints who are celebrated together on the same day, encourages us to believe that everyone has a place in the Church. Despite our differences, diversity of cultures, worldviews, talents and charisms, we are all invited to take part in the mission of the Lord.

Today’s readings have one common characteristic, which is kind of haste and rush. In the first reading, an angel wakes up Peter in a prison with rush, saying “get up fast” (Acts 12:7). In the second reading, Paul writes to his friend Timothy and compares his life to one big run and race. Then, he invites Timothy to visit him quickly (2 Timothy 4:9). Both Apostles, Peter and Paul, did not have many common things, and they never worked together but it seems that haste and rush were common to them. Both were in constant haste to continue their mission entrusted to them by the Risen Lord.

Today’s feast reminds us to admire and honor these two saints who always rushed to preach the Gospel and never compromised their zeal for the mission of Christ. This feast encourages us to have a personal reflection and perhaps ask ourselves a few essential questions. In which aspect of my life am I too slow regarding God’s work and will? Where and when am I too lazy to answer God’s call and invitation to his mission? Do I need another call to wake up like Peter from a prison of my comfort zone to make an effort for God and people in need?

Hopefully one day we can repeat after the Apostle Peter, “I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day… and to all who have longed for his appearance” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Saints Peter and Paul pray for us.

Fr. Andrzej

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ – Corpus Christi

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:41:18 GMT

Today we honor and worship the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist was instituted and given to us by Jesus Christ. It was on Holy Thursday, during the Last Supper, when Jesus celebrated his first Holy Mass and asked the Apostles to continue to do it in memory of him. The Eucharist is one of the most beautiful gifts we received from our Lord, Jesus Christ. Every time we celebrate Holy Mass we receive Eucharistic Jesus. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him” (John 6:54-56). The Eucharist nourishes and strengthens our spiritual life every time we receive it with true faith.

Today’s gospel does not speak about the Eucharist directly but underlines one essential element which includes the Eucharist. We read in the gospel about the miracle of multiplication of bread and fish (Luke 9:11b-17). The story tells us about Jesus feeding a large crowd of people with only a few loaves of bread and a small number of fish. Jesus miraculously multiplied the food, providing enough to feed everyone and leaving leftovers. According to Luke, “they all ate and were satisfied.” At the end, there were twelve wicker baskets full of leftovers. We must notice the fact in the story Jesus was very generous. Jesus was always helping and giving to people in need more than enough.

If we take just one thing from today’s feast of Corpus Christi, let’s remember that God is loving and very generous to us. Thus, God gave us the Eucharist to nourish and save us.

Hungry people could take as much as they wanted in today’s gospel. “They all ate and were satisfied.” When we come to Holy Mass, God gives us grace in abundance. And it is up to us to take as much as we want and be satisfied. And there is more grace than we could ever take. Let be grateful to God for his generosity and the gift of the Eucharist for us.

Fr. Andrzej

The Holy Trinity – a Community of Perfect Harmony, Unity and Love

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 15 Jun 2025 13:49:54 GMT

Feast of the Most Holy Trinity is celebrated in honor of one God in three persons. The word “Trinity” come from “Trinitas,” a Latin abstract noun that literally means “three-ness” or simply put, “three are one.” Trinity refers to three persons in one God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity was revealed to us by Jesus Christ. Jesus often prayed to the Father and spoke about his love and kindness. The Father reveled his Son during Jesus’ baptism upon the river Jordan and during the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit and together with the Father sent the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples on Pentecost.

This mystery of the divine Trinity, as a perfect harmony and unity, is a frequent topic during catechetical classes and homilies in parishes and schools. It is one of the most difficult articles of faith to understand and explain pastorally. Pastors and catechists are very creative in describing the mystery in a practical way. For example, there is a simple story about St. Augustine and a boy on the beach, who tried to pour the entire ocean into a little hole. Similar to the boy who could not complete his job, St. Augustine could not understand the mystery of the Holy Trinity. This story is frequently utilized to explain the mystery of the Holy Trinity. Another example of this holy harmony and unity could be seen in the three leaves but one stem of a shamrock, as St. Patrick proposed, as a good visual image of the Holy Trinity.

During my ministry in India, I learned the Holy Trinity as the harmony of three persons but one God, is often compared to the trinity of Hinduism in Indian mythology and other religions. In Hinduism there is Brahma, who is the creator of the universe; Vishnu, the preserver; and Shiva, who is the god of war and distraction. There is also Krishna, the good god, who came to the earth like Jesus Christ to save people.

Initially, it seems that this comparison is correct. But in fact, it must be noticed, there is one significant difference in the relationship within the two trinities. While the Hindu gods are in constant competition and war, the three persons in the Holy Trinity are in harmony and perfect love. Thus, the Christian understanding of the Holy Trinity, as a community of perfect harmony, unity and love, is an excellent model for families and communities. The Trinity is dynamic, not static. It is perfect communion and communication. It is a reality in which unity and diversity exist together and at the same time.

The Trinity is a great model and encouragement for us, but in terms of human relationship, we will never reach such perfection. We are called for openness and readiness to listen, understand and minister to each other after the example of the triune God. It is a long-life commitment. When we are hospitable and become kind to each we are at the beginning of the journey with the Holy Trinity.

Let’s remember that even the “Sign of the Cross,” which we make with awareness at the beginning of a day, meal, travel or important decision, becomes a beautiful prayer of praise of the Holy Trinity. In this simple but powerful sign of our faith, we renew our commitment to follow the example given to us by the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit, community of three persons but one God.

Fr. Andrzej

Stained Glass Windows

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 01 Jun 2025 17:29:09 GMT

The stained-glass windows project was recommended when we celebrated the 20th anniversary of the new church last year. There were many suggestions to enhance our church with a slightly new vision as we continue to grow both with the traditional look as well as a new fresh look. The suggestions some of our parishioners brought up was a proposal of stained-glass windows. The Pastoral Team and several groups of our parish community suggested that this project would very worthy addition to our beautiful church.

A committee was created to find two artists who could design the stained-glass windows in harmony with the style and architecture of our church. After a few months of work and consultations with priests and volunteers who built the church, Pastoral and Finance Council, Staff and you, dear parishioners, the committee chose the theme, style and artist of the stained-glass windows.

The theme “Corporal Works of Mercy,” honors St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of our parish. We believe, St. Martin was an apostle of Works of Mercy and practiced the Works of Mercy in his life. As followers of St. Martin, we wanted to learn and witness his example. We must welcome people who are in need, especially homeless, hungry and thirsty. We are encouraged to cloth the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned. Finally, we are obliged to bury the dead with faith in resurrection. The Corporal Works of Mercy is a clear invitation to practice our faith and become true Christians. Each window of the project will have a symbol of the Works of Mercy included in its design.

The chosen style of stained-glass windows relates well to the modern architecture of our church and will bring up a sacred atmosphere for our prayer and worship. The shape of the windows as well as the small circled symbols on the top of the windows link us to the old church (narthex).

The artist, Slovic Miskow, who designed the windows, in collaboration with Kim Kostuch, placed meaningful elements of our faith in the pattern and layout of the windows. There are stars and rays of light, vines with branches, and landscaped creation as background. I believe everyone will see different elements in each stained-glass window and will relate to them. The stained-glass windows will help us to pray and encounter God’s living presence in our church.

Each stained-glass window costs us $10,000 and the total cost of the first phase of the project is $60,000. The second phase will include the Rose window which is located above the baptismal font. The second phase has not yet been designed nor the cost estimated.

I am grateful to those who brought up the idea of the stained-glass windows project, the committee, artists, those who shared their suggestions and criticism to us, and above all, to those who will sponsor portions of it. Thank you very much.

On behalf of the project committee,

Fr. Andrzej

Pope Leo XIV

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 18 May 2025 17:22:43 GMT

Robert Francis Prevost, the new Bishop of Rome was born on September 14, 1955, in Chicago, Illinois, to Louis Marius Prevost, of French and Italian descent, and Mildred Martínez, of Spanish descent. He has two brothers, Louis Martín and John Joseph. He entered the Minor Seminary of the Augustinian Fathers and then at Villanova University in Pennsylvania, where in 1977 he earned a Degree in Mathematics and also studied Philosophy. On August 29, 1981, he made his solemn vows.

The future Pontiff received his theological education at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. At the age of 27, he was sent by his superiors to Rome to study Canon Law at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum). In Rome, he was ordained a priest on June 19, 1982, at the Augustinian College of Saint Monica.

Prevost obtained his licentiate in 1984 and the following year, while preparing his doctoral thesis, was sent to the Augustinian mission in Chulucanas, Piura, Peru (1985–1986). In 1987, he defended his doctoral thesis on "The Role of the Local Prior in the Order of Saint Augustine." Then, he returned to Peru and was assigned in various ministries, formation director and professor of Canon Law, Patristics, and Moral Theology at the Major Seminary “San Carlos y San Marcelo.” At the same time, he was also entrusted with the pastoral care in a local parish.

In 1999, Prevost returned to his Augustinian Province in Chicago where he was elected Provincial Prior and then Prior General. Pope Francis appointed him on November 3, 2014, as Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Chiclayo, elevating him to the episcopal dignity as Titular Bishop of Sufar. On September 26, 2015, he was appointed Bishop of Chiclayo. In March 2018, he was elected second vice-president of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference, where he also served as a member of the Economic Council and president of the Commission for Culture and Education. In 2019, Pope Francis appointed him a member of the Congregation for the Clergy (July 13, 2019), and in 2020, a member of the Congregation for Bishops (November 21). Meanwhile, on April 15, 2020, he was also appointed Apostolic Administrator of the Peruvian Diocese of Callao. On January 30, 2023, the Pope called him to Rome as Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops and President of the Pontifical Commission for Latin America, promoting him to the rank of Archbishop.

Pope Francis created him a Cardinal and assigned him the Diaconate of Saint Monica. He officially took possession of this role on January 28, 2024. On February 6 of this year, Pope Francis promoted him to the Order of Bishops, granting him the title of the Suburbicarian Church of Albano.

Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost was elected Pope on May 8, 2025 in Rome. He received name Leo XIV following the great Pope Leo XIII (1878-1903) who was well known for publishing the encyclical "Rerum Novarum" on worker's rights and is remembered for his social teaching.

Leo XIV is the 267th Bishop of Rome. He is the first Augustinian and U.S. American Pope. We will pray he will become a great and holy Pope who leads God’s people through this difficult and challenging time of the Church and World.

Fr. Andrzej

Good Shepherd Sunday

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:30:44 GMT

The Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called Good Shepherd Sunday. We always read the stories of a good shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine sheep and searches and finds the lost one. There is a grater joy with the one lost sheep that was found than with the ninety-nine which are safe at home.

The image of Jesus who is compared to the good shepherd from the gospel today, significantly impacted the first Christian community in the first century. The catacombs, where the first Christians regularly gathered and celebrated Eucharist, have many images of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, pained on the walls. In fact, one of the first symbols and images of Christian faith, was not the Cross or Sacred Heart, but the image of Jesus who is carrying the lost sheep on his shoulders.

The story of the good shepherd today encouraging us to follow Jesus closely. The sheep are lost and vulnerable without a shepherd. The shepherd must guide and protect them always. John in his gospel stated today, the sheep hear and recognize the voice of the shepherd. Thus, they know him and follow him closely (John 10:27). There is very practical truth in this statement of John. An essential condition of knowing someone closely is to be with that person on a regular basis and listen to him. Good Shepherd Sunday encourages us to reflect on our relationship with God. Praying and listening to the Word of God makes us aware of God in our life and enables us to follow God closely.

Fr. Andrzej

The Sacrament of First Communion

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Wed, 07 May 2025 19:22:50 GMT

It is our tradition at St. Martin of Tours to celebrate the Sacrament of First Communion at the beginning of May. This year 13 of our religious education students will receive Eucharistic Jesus in their hearts during our solemn Mass at 10:30am on Sunday. It is always great to see the children wearing formal attire, crowning Mary, praying hard, and reading and singing during their First Communion Mass. I invited and encouraged other children and youth of our parish to join us on this special occasion. It is a good opportunity to remember the day we received our First Communion a few or perhaps many years ago. These are the children who will receive Holy Communion this Sunday: Eleanor, Rollins, Oliver, Robert, Ryan, Emma, Ethan, Micah, Sawyer, Gracelyn, Cole, Zarinna, and Helena.

I would like to express my gratitude to the children who are receiving their First Communion. We wish them to follow Jesus closely, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We encourage them to continue their religious education at our parish in the following years and receive another important Sacrament, Confirmation, in a few years. Thank you to their parents for catechizing their children at home and for bringing them up in the faith. I am grateful for their support and good example, and for being with them and during this special day at St. Martin of Tours. Thank you to the teachers, especially Joy Heuser and Carey Logan, who have been preparing our children for their First Communion. I am grateful to Abby Wass, the Director of Religious Education, for coordinating the entire program and taking care of everyone and everything. I am also grateful to those who prepared our liturgy, took photos, and decorated the church for this occasion.

First Communion is a sacrament. We usually receive it after Baptism and Reconciliation. First Communion is given at the “age of reason” so that child will understand and believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Children usually go through a yearlong preparation for this special event. This year of preparation includes the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

It is a very special moment of encounter with Eucharistic Jesus when receiving Holy Communion. Holy Communion could be received as either the body (bread) or body and blood (wine). Receiving the blood of Christ is not necessary when receiving the Eucharist, but we encourage our parishioners to receive Holy Communion in both forms. There are three essential requirements to receive Holy Communion for Catholics:

  1. The person must be baptized and have understanding of faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

  2. The person must be in the state of grace (being free from a mortal sin) at the moment of receiving Holy Communion.

  3. The person must fast at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Fasting does not include taking medication and drinking water.

Additionally, we receive Holy Communion on the hand or tongue. Both ways are equally correct. Feel free to receive the Blessed Host either way. But even more important is to reflect about if you are ready to receive Eucharistic Jesus into your heart. Please take some time to pray in silence before and after receiving Holy Communion.

  Lastly, you can receive Holy Communion every day during Holy Mass. We have daily Mass at 8.30am (except Saturday Mass is at 4pm) in our church.

Holy Communion helps us to understand the act of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection. It strengthens our faith and encourages us on the journey to Salvation. Let’s be grateful for the great gift of the Eucharist in our life.

Fr. Andrzej

Our Pride Declines Mercy

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 14:20:33 GMT

St. Thomas is the main character of today’s Gospel. The tradition gave him a negative nickname, Doubting Thomas, because of the story we read about him today. Indeed, when the Risen Lord came to meet his disciples in the upper room on Easter Sunday, Thomas was not there. Thus, he doubted Jesus and his Resurrection. He wanted to have a proof to see and touch Jesus’ wounds to be able to believe.

Eventually Thomas met Jesus when Jesus came again to the upper room a week later. Jesus invited Thomas to see and touch his wounds and believe. As a consequence, Thomas proclaimed his faith and called Jesus, “My Lord and my God” (John 20:28).

I am convinced the real reason that prevented Thomas from proclaiming his faith in Jesus was his pride rather than his doubt of the Resurrection. Thomas could not stand the fact that Jesus came to see his disciples when he was away. “Why the Master chose to come to announce his resurrection when I was away, the greatest disciple?” – Thomas thought. However, when Thomas touched Jesus’ wounds a week later, he was healed of his pride.

The second nickname of Thomas mentioned in the Bible is Didymos, which means Twin. There is no evidence that Thomas had a twin. I believe, Twin, it is just a spiritual invitation to a reader of the story to become like a twin of Thomas who doubted Jesus. The reader is invited to have a similar experience Thomas had during our celebration of the Easter season. Perhaps some of us closely relate to Thomas and his experience in the upper room. Perhaps we have some doubts and our pride prevents us from total trust in the Risen Lord. Thus, we are invited to become a spiritual twin of Thomas for a similar experience and healing.

The Second Sunday of Easter is also celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday in the Church. This is the day when Jesus opens his heart full of compassion and invites us to trust in him. Jesus pours out his mercy upon us on a very generous and special way today. We are invited to reflect and meditate on his open heart, the core of our salivation, and to have the same experience of healing Thomas encountered when he met the Risen Lord when he saw and touched his wounds.

There is a great opportunity to reflect on the Risen Lord and Divine Mercy during our Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament this afternoon (Sunday). There will be silence, music, Divine Mercy chaplet in song, and an occasion for confession. Please join us in the church at 3pm.

“All grace flow from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery. One thing along is necessary that the sinners set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.” (The Diary of St. Faustina Kowalska, 1507).

Fr. Andrzej

Easter Message

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 18:53:00 GMT

We heard while reading the Passion of Christ, “Peter went out and wept bitterly” after his betrayal on Holy Thursday (Luke 22:62). I imagine Peter was very upset and would never forgive himself for the fact he denied his Master. Peter terribly failed as the chosen leader of the disciples of Jesus. He was supposed to give an example and be brave to be faithful to his promise to give his life for his Master and Lord. Perhaps Peter wondered how to make it up but it seems everything was over. He was losing his faith and any hope.

And then, the miracle happened. Some women who closely followed Jesus came to the place where Jesus’ disciples were staying with surprising news. According to them the body of Jesus disappeared and he has been raised. The disciples did not believe them initially and disregarded their message. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. He bent down and saw the burial cloths of Jesus alone, then he went home amazed (Luke 24:12). That moment at the empty tomb brought Peter hope that maybe not everything is over. It awakened his faith in the Resurrection of Jesus. It helped him to understand what Jesus was saying to him and his disciples about his mission and destiny.

The word bent down in Hebrew has two meanings. It means a physical effort to bend down but also a profound reflection. I believe Peter stopped at the empty tomb of Jesus and deeply reflected on what happened between Jesus and him during the last few days. That moment of his reflection entirely changed his life and gave him hope to work out his broken relationship with his Master and Lord. Thus, he went home amazed.

Dear Parishioners,

I would like to take the opportunity of Easter Sunday to encourage you to have this kind of experience of Peter from today’s gospel. Please allow yourself to stop and bend down at the empty tomb of Jesus. May your bend down turn you away from your daily challenges and worries to hope and peace in Jesus Christ. May it change your life towards a close relationship with God and other people. Mayyour profound bend down bring your joy and true faith in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Lord. May you go home amazed (equally to Peter).

On behalf of our Parish Staff and Pastoral Team,I wish you and your family members aHappy Easter.

Fr. Andrzej

Discernment – a Choice Between Apparent Good and Real Good.

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 04 Apr 2025 19:26:16 GMT

Today’s liturgy encourages us to carefully discern our choices and decisions we make, especially the most important ones that affect our entire life. The natural law reflected in God’s commandments and precepts are helpful to guide us in our discernment. Regardless if it is intentional or not, we are still able to choose evil instead of good because of our free will. Our well-formed conscious constantly reminds us about God’s Law when we choose evil or even apparent good instead of real one.

A good example of making wrong choices in life is described by today’s gospel. It is about a woman who was caught on adultery and brought to Jesus for judgment. The only verdict for adultery according to the Law of Moses was death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:22).

We can only imagine what was going on in the mind of the woman who was standing in front of Jesus at that moment. We do not have any evidence that she was an evil person or prostitute. Probably she just fell in love with a man and believed it was the true love she was missing. The woman, like all Israelites, knew the law and the consequences of adultery. She was aware of it and still continued her relationship with the man. She must strongly believe, he was the right man and their relationship will be eventually legalized. According to her, it was worthy to risk her life for the man and real relationship she finally found.

When I read the story, I always wonder where the man who committed adultery with the women is. The law regarding adultery was equal to both, man and women. Both of them were guilty of death penalty (Deuteronomy 22:22). I imagine the woman standing in front of Jesus and facing the death penalty was wondering the same, where is my man, who promised to be with me for good and bad, life and death? Why he is not beside me now? We supposed to die together. She probably felt abandoned and betrayed. She realized only now, their love was not honest and true. She made wrong choices and decisions to stay with the man.

We know the end of the story. Jesus who knew the hearts of people defended and protected the woman. Jesus wanted to give her another chance to make better choices in life. His heart was full of compassion, in contrary to the people in the crowd who wanted to stone her.

I do not think today’s gospel was written only for people who struggle to find their true love or commit adultery. We all can benefit from this story. Many of us struggle to make right choices and decisions in life. We are tempted by disordered attachments to go for an easier solution, and we are often pushed by difficult circumstances to choose apparent good instead of real one. Everything looks beautiful and perfect at the beginning but then, we end in misery and spiritual death.

The Lenten Season encourages us to reflect upon and practice our discernment. Our choices and decisions we make must never contradict God’s Law. When we often pray and nourish our relationship with God, our discernment is likely sound. Then, it is easier to choose the real good instead of the apparent one in our life.

"You cannot make progress without making right decisions." (Jim Rohn)

Fr. Andrzej

Sacrament of Reconciliation – an Invitation to Conversion

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 21:21:50 GMT

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is an essential element of the Lenten season. We are all encouraged to confess our sins, to make a resolution to sin no more, and to forgive those who hurt us. This unique sacrament is often called the Sacrament of Penance, Repentance or Conversion. In fact, we need all these elements to truthfully celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation and make it real in our life.

Today’s liturgical readings encourage us to appreciate and embrace the Sacrament of Reconciliation as a part of preparation for Paschal Triduum and Easter season.

The first reading is about Israel, the Chosen Nation, who travels through the desert to the Promised Land. After forty years of wondering in the wilderness God spoke to Joshua who led the Nation after Moses, “Today I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you…” (Joshua 5:9). God encouraged Israel to end their time of shame and disgrace from their enslavement in Egypt, and to make a new beginning for them and their children. I wonder why it took forty long years for the people of Isreal to rise above their times of slavery in Egypt.

Similarly, the gospel parable brings an image of the Prodigal Son, who hesitated to return home even when he lost everything and suffered starvation. What took him so long to realize his wrongdoings, accept who he is and where he belongs?

These two readings are good images of what the Sacrament of Reconciliation is and what we go through to realize our wrongdoings and our attachment to sin. Going to the Sacrament of Confession is like leaving the slavery of Egypt to become totally free. It is like making a decision to return home, to our loving Father, who is constantly waiting

for me. It takes an effort and perhaps courage to realize our sinfulness and to confess our sins, but the result is great and rewarding.

The Sacrament of Reconciliation is complete when it becomes a moment of true conversion from evil to good. The word conversion in Greek is describe in two words. Metanoia stands for repentance, and Epistrophe, which means a turning point or changing mind. We are supposed to change our thinking, from negative to positive or from sinful to good and virtuous, when we decide to go to the Sacrament of Confession. We confess our sins and we make a decision to sin no more. But we struggle to do so, because we like our sins and we are attached to our old sinful ways. We are very similar to Israel from today’s first reading, who left Egypt but mentally was still in slavery for many years. We are also similar to the Prodigal Son who was challenged and suffered starvation but still hesitated to return home to his loving father. The Sacrament of Reconciliation can transform our life forever when we truthfully decide to turn away from evil and offer ourselves to God totally without any condition.

There are many occasions to receive the Sacrament of Confession during Lent at St. Martin of Tours. We scheduled two reconciliation services with a few priests available on April 2 @6 pm and April 12 @10 am. We will continue to offer the regular dates and time for confessions on Monday during Adoration at 6 pm, Saturday at 3 pm and First Friday after Mass at 8.30 am. Hopefully everyone will find a good occasion and willingness to receive and celebrate this wonderful Sacrament during Lenten Season.

Fr. Andrzej

God as a Hard-Working Gardener

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 18:38:29 GMT

Reflecting on the image of God could be one of the elements of our Lenten journey. The image of God that we created in our heart is vital to all of us. It determines our relationship with God and how we pray. Today’s gospel on the 3rd Sunday of Lent, encourages us to ask a question about our personal image of God. “Who is God to me and what is my relationship with God?”

The people of the Old Testament believed God to be a strict judge who watches people all the time. He rewards them for good and punishes them for evil deeds. The image of God was quite negative. According to the Old Testament, God followed the mentality, “life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, and foot for foot" (Deuteronomy 19:21). Furthermore, the Old Testament approach to the image of God was that every sickness, poverty, or childlessness were signs of the absence of God’s grace due to human sins.

The New Testament brings us a more positive image of God. According to Jesus, God is like a loving parent who loves his children unconditionally even when they fail. God is like a Loving Father, who waits for his prodigal son and welcomes him home without a doubt and without condition. Jesus called God “Abba” (Daddy) when he taught his disciples how to pray the “Our Father”. God is compared to the Good Shepherd, who finds his lost sheep. Similarly, God is compared to a Woman, who rejoices when she finds her lost coin. The New Testament offers us an image of God which is positive and encouraging.

In today’s gospel Jesus was confronted with two disasters in Israel. People who questioned him believed that those who were killed by Pilate and those who died during an accident in Siloam were punished by God for their sins. Jesus contradicted their belief with an image of God who is just, merciful, and loving.

Jesus tells a parable about a gardener and fig tree as an answer to the people who doubted God’s unconditional love. God was compared to a hard-working gardener, who takes care of a tree even if the tree is fruitless for years. According to this parable, God loves all people regardless of their effort and good deeds. God never gives up on people.

The Lenten season encourages us to reflect on our image of God. This is a good opportunity to think about the image of God we inherited from our parents and teachers in our childhood. Many of us were taught that God follows the Old Testament mentality of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” I know people who are afraid of God. This kind of image does not foster a close relationship with God, nor does it help us to pray. Perhaps our personal image of God has changed through the years, and we are not aware of it. Even if we believe in an image of God who is loving like a good parent, we can still have doubts. Let today’s gospel and our personal encounter with God during our Lenten journey dissolve our doubt and encourage us to trust in God completely.

Fr. Andrzej

Transforming Experience of Lenten Season

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 14 Mar 2025 19:49:59 GMT

The Lenten season is a blessed time during which we reflect and pray over the passion and death of our Lord, Jesus Christ. It is a unique time in the liturgical year which encourages us to slow down and make a spiritual effort to fast, pray, and help others. This makes sense when we grow and make progress in our spiritual life at the same time. It makes even more sense when we experience positive change moving away from evil to good. When we understand and take the Lenten season sincerely, it has a transforming effect on/in us. Accordingly, this positive change is necessary to truthfully experience the Risen Lord during Easter.

It is providential we reflect on the Transfiguration this Second Sunday of Lent. Transfiguration comes from the Greek word metamórfosi, which means change. In the gospel today Jesus went up to Mount Tabor and was transfigured before his disciples. His body and clothes were totally transformed, “his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white” (Luke 9:29). Today’s reading illustrates what Lent is about. Our effort like climbing a mount or even hill will be rewarded at the peak when we experience the Risen Lord. Additionally, transfiguration reminds us of our ultimate destination in heaven. Our body also will be transformed in heaven and become like the body of Jesus on Mount Tabor.

There are two great prophets who were present during the vision of the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah. Both of them spent their entire lives in the desert and were well known as prophets of the desert. They remind us we need a desert, detachment from our busy life, reflection, and prayer during Lent. We need to find a desert, special place and time for God, during our journey of Lent. This kind of personal desert makes our effort to grow spiritually more effective. Perhaps you noticed the theme in our church during Lent is about desert. There are not flowers and splendid decoration on the sanctuary. Also, there is no water in the baptismal font to remind us the necessity of a desert place during Lent.

Lastly, our spiritual effort and close relationship with God are very attractive. When we take it seriously and our effort becomes a habit of daily routine, we want to remain with God forever. At the end of the Transfiguration Peter suggested building tents to prolong his experience of the desert and the vision forever. He loved that place and moment. “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (Luke 9:33). Contrary to his offer Jesus asked his disciples to return to the town to meet the people. It is a good reminder and encouragement for us that our spiritual effort during Lent must be rooted in our daily realities. Whatever we decide to practice and offer during Lent, longer and more effective prayer, fasting or alms giving, our effort must be practical and include the needs of our neighbor. Our spiritual growth makes sense if it brings us closer to God and people.

Let us pray for each other to have a transforming experience during this blessed season of Lent.

Fr. Andrzej

You Are Dust, and to Dust You Shall Return

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 19:51:02 GMT

Last Wednesday we began the Lenten Season. We blessed and distributed ashes to everyone who participated in the Ash Wednesday liturgy. This ancient ritual of distribution of ashes with the blessing, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” has a special and profound meaning for us. Unfortunately, many Catholics do not like Lent and misunderstand the symbolism of distribution of ashes. Lent and ashes carry negative meaning of repentance, sacrifice and conversion for them. As a matter of fact, this profound ritual of distribution of ashes has a positive and very encouraging meaning.

These words of blessing, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” were taken from the Book of Genesis (3:19). When the first humans, Adam and Eve were leaving the Garden of Eden after committing the original sin, God gave them a message of hope. God reminded them that their dignity was created in His image and likeness. They were created in the Garden of Eden, from the soil (dust) of Paradise, and that Eden was created for them. The Garden of Eden, the heavenly home is their destiny. At the same time, God promised them to return to their place where they were born and meant to be, to the land (dust) where they came from. Whatever happens outside of Eden, God will await and make an effort to bring them back home.

This is good news! A great promise was offered to the first humans but also to all of us. And, it is not a coincidence that the liturgy of Ash Wednesday brings it back at the beginning of Lent. If we understand these words of God to the first humans, we will understand the true meaning of Lent. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” are key words of Lent and perhaps the most beautiful words spoken by God to the human beings in the Bible.

These words of God’s promise encourage us to begin Lent with enthusiasm and willingness to help God to bring us back to our heavenly home. We keep in mind theses words, when we make our resolutions to alms giving, fasting and prayer during this blessed time of Lent. May Lent become a meaningful journey with God for each of us individually and as a religious community of St. Martin of Tours.

At our parish, we will have many prayer services and spiritual events to help us to go through this blessed time meaningfully. I will just mention a few of the upcoming events in Lent.

Traditional Stations of the Cross will be led by various groups (including youth and children) on Fridays at 6pm. Lenten recollection weekend is scheduled on April 5-6. Sacrament of Reconciliation is scheduled twice, on April 2 at 6pm and April 12 at 10am. Hopefully everybody will have an opportunity to confess their sins before the celebration of Easter. The Pascal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Ester Sunday) culminate our Lenten Journey. It will be solemnly celebrated at our parish in similar form and time as in previous years.

Additionally, we have a few formation and social events during Lent and Holy Week. Everyone is invited to join the adult formation sessions organized by Christian Women and Men of Christ. There will be a traditional brunch on Palm Sunday. It is a great opportunity to invite whole families to begin the Holy Week with prayer and fellowship. There are many other ministries, prayer and social events during Lent. Please see the parish bulletin, TVs, and website for more information and details.

Have a blessed and meaningful journey of Lent.

Fr. Andrzej

A Blind Guide

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 02 Mar 2025 18:42:32 GMT

Today’s gospel contains three guidelines that Jesus offered to his disciples. These wise and practical rules are helpful to all followers of Jesus but especially to those who minster to others.

The first rule is about listening and being present to a person in need. “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39) An ability to listen is an essential element of ministry. Thus, Luke compares a person who is not attentive and cannot listen to a person in need to a blind guide. Also, today’s first reading speaks about listening more explicitly. According to Sirach, we must never judge a person by appearance and first impression. Instead, we must listen attentively to his or her heart first (Sirach 27:6).

Indeed, a good minister never jumps to conclusion without knowing the heart of a person entrusted to him. Listening is not an easy task. There are many people who have difficulties to speak their heart. They usually need time to trust, and to open their broken heart and speak out their problems. The second rule closely relates to the first one. “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own? (…) Remove the wooden beam from your eye first, then you will see clearly” (Luke 6:41-42). Jesus encourages his disciples to take care of themselves first before they go serve others. And it is not just about health, skills and another kind of training. These elements are vital and we must take care of them too, but the spiritual preparation is more important and essential for ministry.

We have no right to go and minister to others without making an effort regarding our own growth and spiritual well-being. It is understood that we are never perfect and our spiritual growth is life-long ongoing process, but our effort gives us a permission and confidence to minister to others. If we minister without our spiritual effort and growth, we are similar to a person who has a “wooden beam in his eye and he cannot see clearly.” We cannot have a proper disposition and discernment to serve. We cannot see and listen to someone’s heart attentively when our heart is preoccupated with our own disordered desires and sin. Our heart is blind and deaf without a spiritual effort.

The third rule speaks about good results, good fruits in our ministry and life. “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit” (Luke 6:43-44). This third wisdom of Jesus is often misunderstood. It does not mean that everything wrong and even evil we experience in our life is our fault. Unfortunately, people frequently blame themselves for every evil and live in guilt for years, for example for accidents, sickness, and children who left their religion and lost faith. In fact, the third rule does not speak about it at all.

The key element of the third guidance lies in the third sentence: “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil” (Luke 6:45). According to Luke, everything happens in our heart. Thus, it is up to us how we take care of our heart. We must protect our heart from evil and form to produce good. The third rule warns us not to contaminate our heart with unnecessary worries, disordered attachments and evil thoughts. These will produce evil fruit in our life and distract our ministry. The third rule encourages us to invite God into our heart and to strengthen our relationship with God. Prayer and spiritual exercises help in this responsibility. Every encounter with God produces a good fruit for us and people we meet in our ministry.

Fr. Andrzej

Where Your Heart Belongs

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 14 Feb 2025 14:39:35 GMT

The most common topic people come to talk with me about is their faith. I am glad about it. They often ask me questions during different parts of their faith journey. They ask, “Do I still have faith, or have I lost it?” “Is it ok to feel the absence of God in their life for a long time?” and “Is faith substantial for true happiness?”. These are important questions to answer. However these questions must be answered personally by each of us, and nobody else can judge our faith or happiness. It is a delicate matter and personal choice.

We often think true believers go to church regularly and call themselves Catholics. But this conclusion does not necessarily reflect truth. We must look into our heart and reflect upon where our heart truly belongs. The Bible talks about two main states of heart. We either make God the center of our life or we do not. Choosing to make our heart close to God will lead us to true happiness. Making any other choices may satisfy us temporarily, but it will lead in the end leave us disappointed and unhappy. This was clear to the prophet, Jeremiah, who is the author of today’s first reading. Jeremiah describes the two contrary states of a human heart.

The first state of heart belongs to a person who trusts just in a human effort and totally hopes in flesh. I know, this is an old language of the Bible that speaks about a human being who believes only in material things and does not really care about God and His commandments. This kind of person build his life without God, and often does it unintentionally. There are many things in his life which are more important than God. Jeremiah compares that person to “a barren bush in the desert…who stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth” (Jer 17:6). It is a dramatic and sad image of a state of heart of a person whose heart is far way from God.

The second image of Jeremiah, contrary to the first, is about a state of heart closed to God. Jeremiah describes a person whose heart hopes and desires God all the time. That person is like “a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream…In a year of draught it shows no distress, but still bears fruit” (Jer 17:8). This is a delightful and encouraging image of a person who trusts in the Lord and his heart totally belongs to God. It does not mean that everything is wonderful and there are not difficulties or challenges in that person’s life. We often feel close to God but still experience suffering, trials and other problems. Perhaps we even feel like the Biblical Job who lost everything and everyone in his life. Despite his suffering and loss, he kept his faith in God and kept his peace of heart.

Personally, I went through both states of heart in my life. I remember time I trusted too much in earthly matters and just in myself. My choices and desires took me far away from God. Everything, not just my relationship with God, was falling apart including my relationship with other people. I felt like “a barren bush in the desert.” But there also was time I totally trusted in God and I desire to do God’s will in my life. Perhaps I was like “a tree planted beside the waters” and felt strongly God’s presence beside me. Even when I had to face trials and challenges or loss, I knew I have true peace deep in my heart.

To conclude, there is a test where our heart belongs. There are questions that might help us to recognize our present state of our heart. How do I react on the difficulties and defeats in my life? How do I relate to God when I suffer and go through trails? Do I search for God and feel God’s presence in difficult times of my life? Please find some time to reflect upon your heart frequently. It is a wonderful prayer.

I would like to end my reflection with a meaningful quote of St. Augustin who often looked into his heart to find God there. “Where your pleasure is, there is your treasure; where your treasure, there your heart; where your heart, there your happiness.”

Fr. Andrzej

Put Out into the Deep

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 15:02:39 GMT

“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch” is a quote from Pope John Paul II that he used in a speech at World Youth Day in Czestochowa, Poland, in August 1991. The quote is based on Jesus' call of the first disciples in Luke 5. “Put out into the dep…” became a theme of the World Youth Day, which I experienced as a young man in Poland. I will never forget the enthusiasm and zeal of the Pope who preached to the thousands young men and women who gathered around the shrine of Black Madonna in Czestochowa. The Pope encouraged the youth not to be satisfied with

short-sightedness and shallow life but instead to “put out into the deep” when they plan and dream their future life. That experience with Saint John Paul II, and other youth who came to Poland from different part of the world, significantly impacted my faith and my vocation. It changed my life forever.

Today’s gospel from Luke 5 is basically a vocation story of Peter and his companions, who became the first disciples of Jesus. Jesus’ invitation to Peter was preceded with a great miracle of catching huge number of fish. According to John, who describes the same miracle in his gospel, there were 153 large fish in the two boats (John 21:11). Peter and his companions were stunned.

It was not the first time Jesus invited Peter to follow him as his disciple, but Peter always hesitated and refused. Peter’s usual excuses were his limitations and sinful life as well as his business. All the prophets and leaders in the bible used the same excuses to hesitate on God’s call. Jesus knew it very well.

This time Jesus used the language and mentality of a fisherman when he called Peter. Therefore, Jesus succeeded when he compared the call to his discipleship to fishing, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people” (Luke 5:10). Peter left everything behind, including his own comfort zone and tainted life, and became his close disciple. The fact that Jesus convinced Peter to follow him and leave the two boats full of fish behind, it is another miracle that Jesus performed on the same day, I believe.

I imagine, the gospel assigned for today is meaningful and profound for all people not just for youth or fishermen. We are all reminded and call to leave our tainted life and comfort zone, and “put out into the deep” of our faith and relationship with God. Our life is beautiful when we aim high, and we always strive to grow. I remember and when I reflect over the days God has called me for different kinds of ministries or even to perform a small task, a good deed, I hesitated to say yes, and often I used a similar excuse as Peter.

Perhaps all of us can relate to the story and call of Peter from today’s gospel. We have our own stories, calls and our own relationship with God. Nevertheless, we are encouraged to think positively and continue our good work even when we cannot see an appreciation for it. We must never be afraid or discouraged to do good and perform our ministry God entrusted to us. God did not guarantee us prosperity or an appreciation from people for our ministry and honest life. God promised us to be with us always, even when we go through trial and difficulties.

Fr. Andrzej

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 03:15:32 GMT

Today’s feast has a long and remarkable history and origin. The feast dates back to the 4th century in the East. In 542, Emperor Justinian ordered the feast to be celebrated in Constantinople to give thanks for the end of a plague. The feast spread to Rome in the middle of the 5th century and was approved as a universal feast.

The feast commemorates the event when Mary and Joseph took Jesus to offer him to God according to the Law of Moses. As it is written in the Book of Exodus, all the firstborn humans and animals had to be offered to God (Exod 13:1). It was to remember the fact God slew the firstborn of the Egyptians to save the firstborn of the Israelites and to free them from slavery. As a consequence, the young parents had to leave their first children in the temple for service and offered firstborn animals as a sacrifice to the Lord. When the tribe of Levi took over the service of the Lord, the Israelites could redeem their firstborn from the service by paying tithings and offering animals instead.

Today’s feast was previously called, the Purification of Mary. According to the Book of Leviticus, a woman had to be purified after forty days of giving birth. Thus, the feast was placed forty days after Christmas in the liturgical calendar. A woman could purify herself by offering to the priest a lamb and a young pigeon. If she cannot afford a lamb, two young pigeons or doves could be offered (Lev 12:6-8).

The conception and birth of Jesus did not defile Mary as other women. But to show the obedience to the Law of the Lord, Mary and Joseph submitted themselves to the rite of purification. They had nothing to cleanse themselves from, yet they did it to obey and revere God.

Today’s feast was also called Candlemas in the past. According to the tradition, this feast culminates the long celebration of Epiphany, revelation of Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God to the World. Jesus brought light to the people who lived in darkness. A lit candle symbolizes the presence of Jesus Christ among us. We light candles in a church, at the altar, during sacraments and when we read a bible to realize Jesus is with us. According to the author of the Golden Legend there are three parts in every candle, the wax, wick and fire. The wax is a sign of Jesus’ body. The wick symbolizes Jesus’s soul, which is hidden in his body. And the fire or light stands for Jesus’ divinity. Thus, there was a tradition in many churches to bring in a solemn procession and bless candles during today’s feast.

This profound and meaningful feast of the Presentation of the Lord was chosen by the Pope Saint John Paul II as a day of prayer for women and men in consecrated life in 1997. Today it is a good opportunity to pray for those religious who thought and form us in schools and churches, and inspired us to be good Catholics. Let’s also remember those religious Sisters and Brothers who have been working at St. Martin of Tours. We are grateful for their ministry.

Fr. Andrzej

2024 Pastor's Report

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 15:34:54 GMT

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

New Archbishop of Milwaukee

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 19:46:25 GMT

Bishop Jeffrey S. Grob will be installed as the 12th archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee on Monday

January 14, 2025. Bishop Grob, current auxiliary bishop of Chicago, will succeed Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki,

who submitted his retirement as required at age 75.

Bishop Grob, who grew up on a dairy farm just west of Madison in Cross Plains, attended Holy Name High School

Seminary in Madison and the Pontifical College Josephinum in Columbus, Ohio. He was ordained to the priesthood

for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1992. He completed graduate studies at the University of St. Mary of the Lake,

Mundelein Seminary in 1999. He received a Doctorate of Canon Law degree from St. Paul University and a

Doctorate of Philosophy degree from the University of Ottawa in 2007.

In his interview with the Catholic Herald, Archbishop Listecki expressed his joy after the appointment of Bishop

Grob as his successor in Milwaukee. Archbishop Listecki said that “Pope Francis has blessed the entire southeastern

Wisconsin community with his selection of Bishop Grob, whom I have known for years. He is a man dedicated to

Christ and his Church… He’s an excellent leader. He’s a listener. He gives guidance humbly, and sometimes only

when asked. He only gets involved when he has to.”

Also Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, expressed his congratulations and wishes to Bishop Grob for his new

appointment.

“For more than 30 years, the Archdiocese of Chicago and the People of God have been the beneficiaries of

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob’s compassion, scholarship, and commitment to service,” Cardinal Cupich said in a

statement. “Pope Francis has recognized Bishop Grob’s extraordinary gifts and is returning him to his native state

of Wisconsin as leader of the Milwaukee Archdiocese… Our deep gratitude and prayers go with him as he continues to follow Jesus and bring grace to the fortunate people of his archdiocese.”

We are very grateful to Archbp. Listecki for being a good pastor of our Archdiocese in the last few years. We welcome with joy Bishop Grob and we wish him many blessings in his new ministry. Bishop Grob’s installation to the archdiocese will take place at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on January 14.

Fr. Andrzej

Epiphany of the Lord 2025

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 19:49:09 GMT

Epiphany (or Theophany, as it is known in the Eastern Christian tradition) is a Christian feast day that celebrates the

revelation of God to the World. The word epiphany comes from the Greek word meaning “manifestation.” On the

other hand, according to English dictionaries, “epiphany” means a moment when you suddenly feel that you

understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you.

For us Christians, Epiphany is always linked to the revelation of God, who chose to incarnate (become flesh) in the

person of Jesus Christ. The mystery of the Incarnation totally changed the World and humanity two thousand years

ago. We are invited and encouraged as the community of St. Martin of Tours, and on personal level, to be a part

of it every year.

The feast of the Epiphany is one of the oldest in the Liturgical Calendar. In fact, Epiphany was celebrated much

earlier than Christmas. Originally, the Epiphany included a few events: the Nativity, Visit of Three Kings,

Presentation in the Temple, Baptism and the first miracle of Jesus in Cana of Galilee. These events, which reveal

Jesus as the Incarnation to us, is supposed to help in our personal Epiphany (our personal realization) that God is

with us (Emmanuel). God does not only exist somewhere far away in the world. God is very close to me personally.

Through the centuries, the feast of the Epiphany became associated with just one event of the original

understanding of Epiphany which is the visit of the Magi to the Christ child in Bethlehem. Thus, we often call the

Epiphany the Feast of the Three Kings. The feast of the Three Kings represents Jesus' physical manifestation to the

Gentiles. Jesus, the Incarnated Son of God, was revealed to the people who never heard about him.

The Magi (wise men) took a huge risk in following the star to Bethlehem, but they trusted that God was leading

them to something far greater than they could know. This is such a powerful example of how we, as followers of

Jesus, should live our lives. Trusting that God knows what is best for us and that his plan, no matter how challenging

things might seem on the journey, will lead us to where we need to be. We should also have the strength to see

Jesus in our lives in unexpected ways, and when we do, worship, and adore him.

Jesus was born two thousand years ago in Bethlehem, but wise men still seek him. We can also find him today. The

feast of the Epiphany is encouraging us to see and find God wherever we are, and whatever we are called to do

today.

Happy Epiphany!

P.S. I invite all of you to join us after the 10:30am bilingual Mass to our potluck lunch in the gym where both English

and Vietnamese Communities will celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany together. Both choirs will sing Christmas

carols during the celebration. If you can join us, please bring a dish to share.

Fr. Andrzej

Silent Night

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 22 Dec 2024 18:41:12 GMT

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

If you have ever had the experience of going for a walk on a trail during the winter, or especially if you have ever gone on

a hike in the winter, spent some time at the lake or in a park alone, you may have had the experience of silence and stillness that you cannot experience anywhere else. Another place of silence for me is the chapel of the novitiate where I live in Raymond. It is the beauty of quiet rest and silence space that gives me the opportunity to slow down and be in the moment.

One of the messages of Advent that prepared us for Christmas, was to slow down in our busyness and worries of daily life.

We must remember to give God a chance to speak to us, especially during our prayer. We can hear God when we silence

our hearts even during a busy day.

Being on the threshold of Christmas, we know that into the silence of that winter night, our God changed everything. Even as hearts and hands were cold, and politics and corruption were just the way things worked, into a world grown tired and fearful, to a people who had despaired of hope, a most wonderful gift had been given. They had yet to appreciate its wonder. Many were oblivious of the moment of its arrival, and most would miss it or choose not to receive it. But the Gift – the best Gift of all – lay there in a manger. The long-awaited Messiah, the only Begotten one of God, Emmanuel, came to be the Gift that would give light and warmth to a cold and lonely world.

Of course, that same Gift is for us today! Our times are not so different from those in ancient Israel. The need for a Savior is

just as great now as it was then. We, too, can become fed-up by political corruption, consumerism gone wild, daily worries

and struggles. Our lives are as busy and complicated as they were two thousand years ago.

It is up to us to continue to search for sense and truth to keep us going despite the difficulties and confusion of our times. It is up to us to choose to have firm purpose of amending our lives as Christians and to keep our faith. It is up to us to carve out some silence and make an effort to encounter God especially now, during this blessed time of Christmas. And when we do that, God pours out His grace: given to us in the form of a tiny child, who is the long-awaited One: Wonder-Counselor,

God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. He is the One who makes our lives bright and warms the world around us with

God’s presence. This Gift changes everything. Not what the world expected, but what it desperately, urgently needed – now

as then!

So, when we wish others a “Merry Christmas”, it is with more than a wish of fun times, nice gifts, and wonderful parties. It is

instead a wish for true peace, overwhelming love, and heroic mercy. Indeed a “Merry Christmas” is a wish that the other’s life would be filled with the presence of God who makes all things new, makes all things right, gives every needed gift, and provides grace for every situation.

Please know of my prayers for you every day during this holy time. On behalf of Father Francis Vu, my associate, Deacons

Chuck, Bruno and Tien, and all the staff of Saint Martin of Tours parish, we wish a blessed and very Merry Christmas to all of

you and your families.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Andrzej Sudol, Pastor

Gaudete Sunday

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 21:44:26 GMT

The Prophet Zephaniah, the author of today’s first reading, brings us a profound and powerful image of an exhausted and suffering woman. This image symbolizes a human soul. It seems the women is brought under trial in a court. Her hands are tired, and she cannot lift them up because she is tied up with chains. There are many persecutors around accusing her of many crimes. All of them are demanding a death sentence for her. The image described by the prophet Zephaniah is dramatic and miserable.

Suddenly, that depressing atmosphere is changed by a mighty Sevier (a great worrier in an original translation). His arrival is beneficial and very crucial for the woman. He has a great power to overturn the unjust trial, defend, and free her from the oppression. Indeed, it is a profound and very creative image to describe what happens with a human soul when God enters the human heart.

I believe each of us can relate to that dramatic image. Each of us has experienced a struggle similar to the woman’s. We feel depressed and exhausted when we cannot free ourselves from the same sins that bother us again and again. We are discouraged when our limitations and disordered attachments push us toward wrong choices in life. As a consequence, we feel spiritually dead during these difficult times.

Therefore, the prophet Zephaniah announces good news at the end of this image and story. We are not alone during our struggles. The great worrier (Mighty Sevier) is coming during this time to free us from our sins, limitations, and wrong choices. This message is even more meaningful during the season of Advent when we are awaiting our Savior. It is time to get ready to welcome Christ during this joyful season of a spiritual preparation.

The third Sunday in Advent is traditionally called Gaudete Sunday (Sunday of Joy). All of today’s readings, not just the first one, are announcing the great joy of the coming of our Savier, who is nearby. Let’s be joyful and grateful for today’s message. Let’s make even more effort to welcome Christ into our heart during the last part of Advent.

Blessed Gaudete Sunday!

Fr. Andrzej

Jubilee Year 2025

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 17:01:40 GMT

Last week we celebrated the new liturgical season of Advent and at the same time we began

the New Liturgical Year. Indeed, the season of Advent is the first season of the New Liturgical Year. This is a very special year this time. The Holy Father has announced that this year is a Jubilee Year, something which happens every 25 years. The theme for Jubilee 2025 is “Pilgrims of Hope,” and it is a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of wars, the

ongoing effects of COVID-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, social injustice and poverty in the World.

In his letter announcing the Jubilee Year of Hope Pope Francis indicated: "We must fan the flame of hope that has been given us and help everyone to gain new strength and certainty by looking to the future with an open spirit, a trusting heart and far-sighted vision. The forthcoming Jubilee can contribute greatly to restoring a climate of hope and trust as a prelude to the renewal and rebirth that we so urgently desire..."

The Jubilee Year will offer the faithful opportunities to participate in various jubilee events at the Vatican and in their own

dioceses. The great tradition of opening the Holy Door will begin when Pope Francis opens the Holy Door of St. Peter's

Basilica on December 24, 2024. This will be the beginning of many events to help people in their spiritual renewal. For

pilgrims who cannot travel to Rome, bishops around the world will designate their cathedrals or a popular Catholic shrine as special places of prayer for Holy Year pilgrims, offering opportunities for reconciliation, indulgences and other events

intended to strengthen and revive faith.

We will prepare and suggest you many events and opportunities for spiritual renewal at St. Martin of Tours parish as well. We want to make this Jubilee Year as a great opportunity to renew and strengthen the virtue of hope in community and on a personal level. Let’s make this Jubilee Year a very special and blessed year for all of us.

Fr. Andrzej

Thanksgiving and Advent Season

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 14:41:43 GMT

This is the Thanksgiving weekend. I hope everyone had a wonderful and happy celebration of Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving gathers people and families around one table. It is a great opportunity to say thank you to God and to those we love and care for.

Thanksgiving is also a good occasion to express my gratitude to you my dear parishioners for your faith, hope, and love. I am grateful for your active participation in the life of our parish community. I appreciate your constant support for our pastoral team and me. Thank you very much.

Today we begin the Advent Season. It is a liturgical season that precedes Christmas. It is a joyful and blessed time,

which prepares us to anticipate the coming of Christ. Advent reminds and celebrates the Nativity, when the Son of

God was born as a human for us as well as Parusia, the second coming of Christ, which we are expecting in the

future. Above all, Advent encourages us to meet Christ in other people in different circumstances of our daily life.

Our Christmas is meaningful when we are able to meet Christ personally during this preparation time.

There will be an opportunity to meet Christ in our parish community many times during Advent. We will have

prayer gatherings, Sacrament of Reconciliation, Advent recollection weekend, and many social events at St. Martin

of Tours. Please let me point out a few of them.

Next Sunday (December 8) we have Breakfast with Santa. It is a great occasion for children and whole families to

celebrate this great tradition of giving and generosity. It is in giving that we are receiving Christ. We must

remember to celebrate Santa but also to attend Holy Mass on that special occasion.

In the following weekend (December 14-15) we have Advent Recollection Day. Dcn. Steve Kramer from Sacred

Heart Seminary and School of Theology, who is the facilitator of that retreat, will encourage us to prepare

spiritually for Christmas. Dcn. Steve teaches homiletic class at the seminary and is well known for his beautiful

homilies. We are looking forward to his talks during the Masses on that weekend.

On December 19 at 6.30pm we offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confessions will be listened to by four

priests during adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Hopefully everyone who is willing will have a chance to confess

sins and prepare their heart for Christmas.

Finally, on Christmas Eve we have a Children’s and Family Mass at 4pm. We are preparing a very special surprise

on that occasion not just for children. Then, our choir will traditionally present a Christmas Concert with beautiful

carols before the 10pm Mass. Other Masses on the Eve and Christmas Day will be offered at the usual time. Please

see the parish bulletin or website for more details.

I hope and pray that each of us will take as much as we can from the richness of Advent season. God bless you.

Fr. Andrzej

The Only True Authority

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 15:04:49 GMT

We are approaching the end of Liturgical Year. We will begin Advent season and beginning of the New Year in

the Church in two weeks. Traditionally, the liturgy inspires us to reflect upon eschatological topics during this time.

Eschatology is the part of theology concerned with death, judgment, and the final destiny of the soul and

of humankind. We are encouraged to think and make an effort to prepare ourselves to meet the Lord at the end

our life. We believe our existence does not end on earth, and we are called to life eternally with God after death.

Eschatology prepares us for this transition.

All today’s readings speak about eschatology. Each of the readings written in different context by very different

authors use dissimilar images and stories to explain eschatological truth. The only common idea of all the

eschatological readings is to help us to prepare to meet the Lord after our death. We must never understand these

eschatological images and stories literally. Bible is not a historical, astrological or cosmological book. All the

numbers, names, and stories must never be understood as scientific proofs. They are given to us by God to interpret

them in pure spiritual sense.

Unfortunately, there were many false prophets in history, who interpreted the Bible about “the end of time”

literally. They created false ideas and even announced dates for the end of the world. But “the ends of the world”

have never happened. There were even religious sects, who were so sure about “the end” that committed mass suicide. This is what happens when people are led by a false prophet, interpret Bible literally and are not flexible

but rather fundamental about their believes.

On the other hand, there were religious groups of people also led by false prophets who believed that everybody

will end up happy in God’s Kingdom regardless of our efforts and whatever we do. Really? Why then would Jesus

have gone through so much in order to tell us it is important how we live our life now?

Eschatology found in the Scriptures must not make us sad, depressed and to live in fear. Contrary it is to encourage

us to reflect on and make an effort to life to the fullness of life and prepare for life eternal with God.

At the end, let me explain just one unusual image from today’s gospel reading. Mark, the author of the gospel, describes a disaster of falling stars. “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will

be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken” (Mark 13:24-25). As I mentioned above, this

passage is not about astrology and cosmology. It is not a scientific statement at all. Mark is encouraging us to appreciate Jesus Christ, our Lord, who is the true authority for us. The other stars on the sky represent our human stars,

authorities we created who are falling down. All the kings, political rulers, most popular celebrities and even religious authorities have fallen or will eventually fall. The only “star” that will never fall is Jesus Christ. We must never

forget this truth as his disciples. Thus, the Feast of Christ the King ends the liturgical Year next Sunday

Feast of St. Martin of Tours and Fall Harvest Fest.

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Tue, 12 Nov 2024 21:10:22 GMT

We are privileged and blessed to have St. Martin of Tours as the patron saint of our parish community. Martin of Tours, a soldier, good Christian, a saint, and follower of Jesus Christ. Martin of Tours, above all, was a person of mercy. He had a big heart, full of love and compassion, and he practiced his love in action.

The Vision and Mission statement of our parish, newly renewed and approved last year, was influenced by St. Martin’s virtues and example. The Vision and Mission statement is profound, courageous, and motivates us to leave our comfort zone to practice the corporal works of mercy to continue the mission of St. Martin with our brothers and sisters in our parish and larger community.

The Fall Harvest Fest, celebrated on the occasion of the feast St. Martin of Tours, is a newer tradition at our parish community. This celebration will be very special this year as we are celebrating two important anniversaries. Fifty years ago, the SCJs began their ministry at our parish, and twenty years ago the new church was dedicated. As St. Martin's community, we want to remember these two events and celebrate them with the SCJs who ministered here as well as the principals of the school, teachers, staff, benefactors, other workers, volunteers, and friends. It will be a good opportunity to express our gratitude for their ministry, hard work, sacrifices, and of help we received from them during these many years. Some of them will join us for the official celebration during the Fall Harvest Fest. Many of them cannot come on that day, and some have passed away, however they will be remembered in our hearts and prayers.

The Fall Harvest Festival will begin in the church on November 9. Fr. Tom Cassidy, SCJ, Rector of Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology, will say Thanksgiving Mass at 4pm. Fr. Tom will represent Fr. Vien, the SCJ Provincial Superior, and the entire US Province of the Priests of the Sacred Heart. After Mass we will move to the parish hall for less formal festivity with dinner, music, fellowship, presentations, and a silent auction. We are excited and looking forward to it.

At the same time, we are proud to celebrate the feast of our parish on Veteran’s Day. We are glad to have many veterans among us at the parish community. We would like to remember them during the same weekend of our parish feast. They will be mentioned and named during Masses on that weekend. We honor St. Martin of Tours, a great soldier with a big compassionate heart, by honoring our brother and sister veterans. Thank you for your service.

St. Martin of Tours, pray for us.

Fr. Andrzej

Whether Married or Not, Our Major Task in Life is to Grow in Love

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 06 Oct 2024 13:50:16 GMT

One of the things that confuses people is the difference between an annulment and divorce. A divorce is a legal matter. It is a declaration by the state that the marriage has ended. Sometimes a divorce is necessary. A spouse has to protect himself or herself from serious harm. However, I have seen too many divorces that were not

necessary, simply because one or the other gave up too soon. Sometimes young people are not well prepared for marriage. They expect heaven on earth from their marriage, and when this does not happen, they look elsewhere.

The Church does not grant divorce to end a marriage. The Church may grant an annulment after a marriage has broken up. An annulment is a statement that after serious investigation, a couple is not obligated to each other

under God because their vow is not valid and there was something seriously lacking in their commitment from the beginning.

Why is there no divorce in the Church?

Among many reasons, there is an essential one, that the sacrament of marriage is not a private arrangement. Its origin is from God as we heard in the first reading. Spouses vow to each other and to God to become one flesh. Jesus confirms it in today’s gospel. A man and women decide to marry each other as husband and wife “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until death.” They are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate (Mark 10:8-9).

I am not married and have no children. I have no experience and should not talk about how to be married. But growing up and being in a family, listening to married people during my ministry, and accompanying many couples through their divorce and annulment, I learned that without prayer together as family and daily forgiveness,

marriage – similarly to religious community – will not stand long and will not persevere even with first crises. Prayer and forgiveness are essential elements of living together.

In short, there are various vocations and states of life, marriage, single, religious life or priesthood... Every way of life has it joys and difficulties. Whether we are married or not, our major task in life is learning how to grow in love. That’s what it is all about and that is our joy in this life and will be in heaven.

Fr. Andrzej

P.S. We are about to begin a new ministry for young couples at

St. Martin of Tours. This ministry, which is run with the help of St. John Paul II foundation, is a good opportunity for young families regardless if they have children or not, go through crises or not. It is an opportunity to listen and share with other married couples, pray and support each

other in family life. Please register and sign up or contact us at the

parish office.

Quarterly Report from the Pastor - Summer 2024

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 17:44:09 GMT

We’ve recently entered into the fall season. Summer is over. Although many ministries and committees took a summer break, it was still a meaningful and quite busy time at St. Martin of Tours. Thus, I would like to offer you a quarterly report of some new ministries, projects and activities going on in our parish.

First, I am grateful to our volunteers and benefactors who support many ministries and activities in our community, to mention a few; the Ground & Buildings Committee, the Cemetery Committee, Liturgy & Worship, Stewardship and the Formation Ministries. I am grateful to those who prepared for the rummage sale in June, cooking egg rolls, those who took care of the parking lot during the Labor weekend, and those who organized many social and formation events. We are blessed with a good parish staff and councils. Without their hard work many of these events would not be possible including this report.

New Personnel and Ministries

We hired Abby Wass, who became the full-time Religious Education and Youth Ministry Director. We were able to organize Totus-Tuus summer camp for our children with cooperation of St. Alphonsus Parish in July. It was a blessing to have over 30 children who played on our playgrounds, prayed in the church and had fun. We hope to continue with summer program for children and youth next year.

We hope to begin a new ministry for married couples in fall. This ministry, which is run with the help of St. John Paul II foundation, is a good opportunity for young couples at our parish. Please register and sign up.

Incoming Projects

This year we are celebrating two great anniversaries: 50 years of the presence of SCJs at the parish, and the 20th anniversary of the dedication of the new church. We want to celebrate these occasions during the Fall Harvest Festival on the Day of our Patron Saint, St. Martin. We hope to invite and honor those who had a significant part in our history, the priests, principles, teachers, workers and benefactors on that day. We would like all our parishioners to be actively involved and participate in this important event on November 9th.

On the occasion of these anniversaries, we hope to decorate our church with stained glass windows. I am grateful to many of you for your feedback and constructive criticism to the proposals shown and displayed in August. We will inform you about any progress of this project.

Another significant project we started during summer, that we hope to complete this fall, is the parish photo directory. The most recent directory is almost 20 years ago. The directory is a vital tool for the staff, for ministry and it’s a good opportunity to get to know each other in the parish community. At this time, there are only 23% of families who took their pictures and participated in this project. We hope with your help to have the directory complete this fall. I would like to encourage everyone who did not yet have a chance to take a photo to do it soon. The last opportunity will be on November 22nd from 9:30 to 2:30pm.

Helpful Numbers

We are growing spiritually and in number as a parish community. We welcomed 17 new families who joined our parish since June 1, 2024. 4 children were baptized and 2 couples received the Sacrament of Matrimony. 5 of our members died and 4 families moved from our parish.

This year we have 75 students in total in our religious education programs: 43 K-8 students (excluding First Communion Students), 13 First Communicants, for a total of 56 K-8 Students. In our Lifeteen program we have 9 - 9th /10th Graders, and 10 Confirmation Students, for a total of 19 high school students. Additionally, we have 40 students in the Vietnamese religious education program. The numbers look good, but we have to keep in mind that there are 326 Catholic children and youth (5-18 years old) within the parish. This means that less than half of them joined the religious education program. We would like to reach out to them and welcome them into our formation programs. Please help us to contact them.

Besides our religious education program, we host a few other groups who use our church and school facilities weekly. Among them are two Catholic Homeschool groups with a total of 125 children. We are glad that we can welcome and serve children and youth in our parish and larger community thanks to our large facilities.

Capital Developments

We were able to accomplish a few maintenance projects in the last quarter. Besides cleaning the classrooms and repairing school equipment to get ready for the school year, we were able to improve the road and parking lot behind the school and food pantry. We patched concrete at the entrance to the church and parish office, we repaired and painted the entrance door to the parish office, and we fixed some equipment in the kitchen and parish hall. There were two major projects accomplished in July and August: replacement of the six remaining heating and cooling units on the church and gym buildings ($137,180) and the server transfer to the cloud with all our parish data ($25,000).

Lastly, thank you for your prayers and support. I always appreciate your comments, suggestions and encouraging words, but also criticism and complaints. 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 only makes sense with your willingness to collaborate and your care. I am blessed and proud to be your pastor.

Fr. Andrzej

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Jesus Does Not Give Up on us, Even When We Fail

pazmani@stmoftours.org (Pilar Azmani) — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 16:17:43 GMT

Jesus Does Not Give Up on us, Even When We Fail

We continue to read and reflect upon the gospel according to Mark this liturgical year. I like Mark very much. And no, it is not because Mark is the shortest and first written gospel. It’s because I like the method in which Mark chose to spread the message about Jesus Christ. In his gospel, Mark references all the followers of Jesus as weak in following Jesus’ teachings and failing to follow his mission. In fact, the disciples and those who followed Jesus failed all the time. Thus, the gospel of Mark is a really a story of failure.

There are many examples of Jesus’s followers and the disciples failing. Jesus’ closest disciples often did not understand his parables and recommendations. Their faith was frequently questioned and they often feared for their physical life. They betrayed Jesus during Holy Week and they left their Master alone to suffer and die. Peter denied Jesus three times during his trial. Additionally, many other followers of Jesus did not grasp the message of Jesus and failed to follow him as well. Lastly, even women, the most faithful followers of Jesus failed because they did not recognize Jesus after his resurrection. They thought he was the gardener. Because of this Jesus often expressed his frustration and disappointment after talking to his disciples in the gospel of Mark.

We see Jesus’ frustration in today’s gospel passage assigned to the 25 ^th Sunday in Ordinary time. Jesus made a lot of effort to explain to his closest disciples that he was going to suffer and die. To explain that His mission must end on Calvary, where he would die on the cross. Unfortunately, his disciples did not understand Jesus’ point. They ignored the message, which was important to Jesus. Instead, they argued among themselves “who is the greatest.” In his disappointment, Jesus showed them a child as an example of humility and meekness.

Why did Mark choose this kind of method to write about Jesus and his message? Why does Mark show Jesus’ disciples as weak and fragile?

Mark writes his gospel in 60AD. It was a time of terrible persecution of the first Christian community by Nero and Vespasian. Christians were tortured and martyred, families destroyed and others were hunted. Many of the followers of Jesus were not ready or willing to suffer and die for Christ. They betrayed their faith and left the Christian community. After, there was a dispute and division among the believers, “if those who failed can still call themselves Christians and if they are worthy to follow Jesus anymore.”

Mark writes his gospel to this kind of community of believers and in these circumstances of religious persecution. Mark understands the pain and dilemma of persecuted Christians. Mark’s intent is to make a clear point that it is OK to fail and still be a disciple of Jesus. In the last chapter of Mark, the Risen Christ calls his disciples to meet in Galilee (Mark 16:7). It is a very significant call. Although the disciples failed completely, Jesus did not give up on them, and they did continue his mission from there.

I like the gospel of Mark because we as human beings can relate to failing. We are all similar to Jesus’ followers and we often fail. Mark brings us good news though, that we are allowed to fail and still come back and follow Jesus again. Let’s be grateful for the gospel of Mark and the Good News which encourages us to follow Jesus closely and never give up on Jesus and our mission.

Fr. Andrzej

Dignity of Suffering and The Cross

pazmani@stmoftours.org (Pilar Azmani) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:47:00 GMT

Dignity of Suffering and The Cross

It is much easier to say what other people think about something or somebody than to give an honest answer and personal opinion. We were trained in school to quote others about the most important statements. These days it is super easy to “copy and paste” whole paragraphs and statements on our computers.

In today’s gospel Jesus was not happy with the initial answer of his disciples, thus, he asked for their personal opinion of who he is. Peter’s response was very correct. Jesus is the Christ, Son of God, the Messiah, who was foretold by many prophets and expected for centuries.

Jesus praised Peter for his correct answer. It was a result of his close relationship with God. Indeed, Peter was a man of prayer and his answer came straight from his heart. Although Peter recognized who Jesus was, he really had only a limited idea of what Messiah meant. Consequently, Jesus challenges his disciples when he introduces passion and the cross to the meaning of who the Messiah is. Suffering, rather than political power, belongs to his mission and to those who wish to follow him. This idea was misunderstood and rejected by Peter.

It is the problem of suffering that is precisely where a lot of people lose faith in God and Christ. We see so much suffering around us and naturally we question God. Like Peter, most of us want a Messiah who will take away our problems – not one who allows suffering and who tells us to take up our cross if you wish to follow him.

Jesus never promised his disciples prosperity, nor an easy life on earth. On the contrary, he promised them persecution, suffering and death. Above all, he also promised them that God will be with them, and God is always ready to enter into the suffering with them. It is up to God’s disciples to choose to try and run away from trials and deny suffering like Peter did, or rather to choose to see God present in their suffering and to see that God suffers with them.

The prophet Isaiah speaks about “an open ear to hear God” in the time of trial and suffering in today’s first reading (Isaiah 50:5). This is the right attitude of Jesus’ disciples, to listen to God’s voice and to be aware of God’s presence even during suffering and death. Listening to God and acknowledging that he is there in suffering isexactly what makes suffering meaningful and acceptable.

Today’s liturgical readings are inspiring us to look at suffering from a different perspective. A big part of who Jesus Christ is, and how he saved us, is about suffering. Jesus suffered and he encouraged his followers to receive suffering with dignity. Every suffering has meaning and sense. It is never forgotten by God. Additionally, it is easier to suffer with Jesus, knowing that he chose to suffer and save us through his passion and the cross.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me…

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long” (Psalm 23).

Fr. Andrzej

He Has Done All Things Well

pazmani@stmoftours.org (Pilar Azmani) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:37:12 GMT

He Has Done All Things Well

Jesus cures a deaf person, who had a speech impediment in today’s gospel. It is a meaningful and helpful story to reflect and examine our prayer and relationship with God.

A human being had a perfect relationship with God in Paradise. We read in the Scriptures man and God used to walk together and communicate freely in the Garden of Eden. Unfortunately, everything was changed and lost because of original sin. Since then, a human being struggles and must make a lot of effort to be able to listen and talk with God. Any kind of disorder attachments, materialistic temptations and busy life do not help to encounter with God. I am afraid many people do not even have a desire to contact God. This is an effect of the original sin in human nature.

The deaf person from today’s gospel symbolizes this kind of human being who lost his ability to listen and easily speak with God. Jesus was able to heal him. His ears and tongue were open to listen and praise the Lord. It was one of the missions of Jesus to reconnect people with God and encourage regular communication with God. It is helpful, in the spiritual sense to see ourselves in that deaf person. We are often spiritually deaf and struggle to encounter God.

There are two profound moments in today’s gospel that are helpful to explain our relationship with God. First, Jesus took that deaf person aside, away from the noisy crowd to perform his healing. I believe it is crucial to slow down and find a quiet place, away from “a noisy crowd,” to listen to and communicate with God. It is one of the reasons we struggle to encounter God, because we cannot disconnect from the noisy and busy world. We are too attached to the social media, materialistic worldview, sensational news, and other disorder attachments. God speaks in the silence of our heart. We must listen to God carefully.

Another meaningful moment of today’s gospel is when people comment on the miracle Jesus performed, “ He has done all things well ” (Mark 7:36). This simple statement recalls the creation story in the Book of Genesis. The author of Genesis uses that same phrase several times like a mantra. After creating the world and a human being, the author writes for the last time, “God saw all that he made, and it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). The healing of the deaf in today’s gospel must be understood as the second creation. Jesus heals and brings out of ashes the broken human nature lost in disobedience of original sin. Jesus creates a new person who is able to listen, talk and communicate freely with God.

We are encouraged to reflect and examine our ability to pray and communicate with God today. It is not an easy task. We must realize first our deafness and impediments. Then only, we can commit to find a place and time away from noisy and busy world to listen and talk to God. God speaks to us in the silence of our heart. It is a very gentle and pleasant voice that brings us peace, joy and fulfilment.

Fr. Andrzej

P.S. Please join us for a Eucharistic Adoration every Monday at 6pm in our church. We pray in silence.

Master, to Whom Shall We Go?

pazmani@stmoftours.org (Pilar Azmani) — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:28:11 GMT

Master, To Whom Shall We Go?

There is a clear distinction between body and spirit in the gospel according to John. The author, similar to other evangelists and writers of that time, is strongly influenced by the Greek dualistic philosophy. The Greeks brought division and conflict between the two worlds, material and spiritual. The material realities, everything that is visible and physical, were presented and taught as inferior to the spiritual world, invisible and supernatural realities. Moreover, the material things, including the human body, were understood as a necessary evil and as an obstacle to attain spiritual reality and infinity. In today’s

gospel we have a good example of that dualism that comes up many times. “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail” (John 6:63).

Today’s gospel is written in the context of the Eucharist. In fact, the entire chapter six is meant to explain the Eucharist. The paradox of John’s gospel is that the Eucharist is presented above John’s dualistic terminology. The Eucharist is like an exception of that dualistic law. In contrary, the Eucharist brings a holistic understanding of the two realities, spiritual and material. The Eucharist links and bonds the two conflicted worlds together as one reality.

Jesus explains the Eucharist as his flesh and blood to his disciples. It is divine food that leads them to eternity. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise on the last day (John 6:54) … This is the bread that came down from heaven… whoever eats this bread will live forever” (John 6:58). The Eucharist, as Jesus’ body and blood, spiritually nourishes their faith on earth, and leads them to life eternal. Such understanding of the Eucharist breaks the philosophical dualism, and brings the two realities, spiritual and material, together as one. This point, that exception of the dualistic rule, is very clearly made by the author of the gospel.

The disciples of Jesus could not understand Jesus’s words about the mystery of the Eucharist in today’s gospel. Many of them left and did not follow Jesus anymore. We are also affected by the Greek philosophy today. And it does not help in our understanding and belief of the Eucharist. It is just our pure faith, and not our reason and philosophy at all, that encourages us to believe in the Eucharist. This was the faith Peter showed when Jesus asked the Apostles if they were going to leave. He responded, “Master, to whom shall we go?” Peter did not understand what Jesus was saying any better than those who were leaving Jesus but, as he said, “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God”

(John 6:69). Sometimes Peter put his foot in his mouth, but this time he answered perfectly. It is as good an answer as we could give to anyone as to why we are here today.

Fr. Andrzej

Eucharist as a Way of life

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 21:11:32 GMT

Eucharist as a Way of life

St. Paul the Apostle is considered the greatest missionary in the first Christian community. He traveled through many regions and nations to preach the resurrection of Jesus. He organized the first Christian believers and he founded many communities. St. Paul shared his mission experience and his wisdom in his letters to different communities he founded. His observations and teachings are profound and meaningful, and at the same time it is written in simple words. I would like to reflect on his letter to the Ephesians today (Ephesians 5:15-20) and link it to the gospel assigned on the 20th Sunday in O.T.

There are five meaningful and practical observations of St. Paul in that reading. Starting with the first sentence, “Watch carefully how you live… making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.” Paul is advising Christians who live in difficult and challenging times to be dynamic and active members of society. He is not suggesting to his brothers and sisters to hide and avoid the evil world, but to be involved in searching and finding God in everything. As disciples of Jesus, we are called to use any kind of opportunity to recognize good and act upon it, instead of complaining and just criticizing the evil world. We are called to become a witness of God in a materialistic society.

Secondly St. Paul says, “Do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.” Disciples of Jesus must practice spiritual discernment. They must listen to their hearts and to God at the same time. They must be wise to distinguish good from evil and they must aspire to understand the will of God in their lives. As disciples of Jesus, we must reflect every day, what does God want us to do.

Next we have a reminder from Paul, “Do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery…” Paul’s advice is very practical and often expressed straight forward. Abuse of alcohol is often a reason of licentiousness and sexual immorality. Thus, it is a part of spiritual discernment to choose moderation in eating and drinking.

Additionally, Jesus’ disciples must be mindful of everything they consume in a broader sense. It is not just about food and drink, but what they listen to and watch, who they meet, and who they hang out with. In connection to the above, Paul encourages his followers to “be filled with the Holy Spirt, addressing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts.” According to him it matters how they “feed their hearts” and how they form their minds. As disciples of Christ, everything, what we listen to, watch and say to one another is significant for our spiritual growth.

Lastly, the final advice in today’s reading is about gratitude. According to Paul, everything is grace. Thus, disciples must be grateful when they pray, eat, work, at the beginning of and at the end of the day. “Giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father” is a wonderful prayer and humble attitude that disciples of Jesus must acquire.

The reminders of St. Paul are very much useful and practical for us today. Although the world and context have changed, the struggles of Christians are alike. We can learn a lot from St. Paul. Elsewhere in his letters, St. Paul underlines that we are limited and weak human beings, but with God, we can do everything. These words give us courage and hope. At the same time, we realize we need spiritual nourishment to grow and continue our earthly pilgrimage as followers of Christ. Eucharist, as a divine sustenance, is essential to our spiritual growth and discernment to find and chose good rather than evil.

Today’s gospel about the Eucharist, links well with our reflection on the letter of St. Paul. Jesus says to his disciples, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” The Eucharist is not just a one time-event, but rather a way of life by which we allow ourselves to be constantly nourished with Jesus’ body and blood. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him… and he will have life because of me.” Through the Eucharist, Jesus strengthens and enables us to be his disciples even in the difficult and challenging world of today. Let us be grateful for the gift of Eucharist in our lives.

Fr. Andrzej

St. Christopher : A Patron Saint of Travelers

pazmani@stmoftours.org (Pilar Azmani) — Thu, 18 Jul 2024 17:40:34 GMT

On July 25 ^th we traditionally celebrate the feast of St. Christopher, a patron saint of drivers and travelers. It has become our tradition at St. Martin of Tours to bless cars, motorbikes, bicycles and any kind of vehicle on the weekend before the feast. This weekend we will continue the tradition of blessing and prayers for drivers and those who travel a lot.

We do not know much about St. Christopher. Most of our knowledge about him is taken from undocumented stories and legends. According to those, Christopher lived in the third century in the Roman Empire. Christopher was captivated by the Gospel and converted to the Christian faith. He met a hermit who lived a holy life and he instructed Christopher in the Christian life and doctrine. Christopher asked him how he could serve Christ. When the hermit suggested fasting and prayer, Christopher replied he was unable to perform that service. The hermit then suggested that because of his size and strength, Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people to cross a dangerous river, where they were perishing in the attempt. The hermit promised this service would be pleasing to Christ.

According to the tradition, Christopher was carrying a child while crossing the river one day. Then, after talking to the child,

Christopher realized he had carried Jesus Christ himself. This story encourages us to serve each other as we would serve

Jesus Christ himself.

This beautiful legend about St. Christopher was kept in spoken tradition for centuries and made him a patron of travelers. Nowadays, many drivers pray to God through the intercession of St. Christopher at the beginning of their travel.

In fact, we are all travelers in our earthly journey, through difficulties and danger, to our final destination in the Heavenly Kingdom. We need the intercession of St. Christopher on a daily basis.

On the occasion of the feast of St. Christopher the blessing of cars, motorcycles, bikes, boats, and any means of transportation will be held. Therefore, after all masses this weekend(July 20-21) we will bless cars or any vehicles, we will bless the drivers and passengers at the same time. If you wish for your vehicle to be blessed, please remain a little longer in the parking lot. A priest or deacon will reach you as soon as he can.

St. Christopher, pray for us.

Fr. Andrzej

We Are All Missionaries by Virtue of Baptism

pazmani@stmoftours.org (Pilar Azmani) — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:04:21 GMT

We Are All Missionaries by Virtue of Baptism

We might think of “missionaries” as only those brave priests or religious people that travel to faraway lands

bringing the Gospel to local tribes. That is indeed one aspect, but not the only aspect for living as a missionary.

St. John Paul II explained that all baptized Christians are challenged to become missionaries in their everyday lives.

In a general audience on April 15, 1998 he said,

“Baptism is a source of apostolic dynamism. The missionary task of the baptized, in conformity with their own vocation, is extensively considered by the Second Vatican Council which, in the document

Lumen Gentium , teaches: ‘Each disciple of Christ has the obligation of spreading the faith to the best of his ability’ (17). In the encyclical Redemptoris Missio , I stressed that by virtue of Baptism all lay people are

missionaries (71).’”

The Catechism of the Catholic Church confirms this “missionary mandate” of the lay faithful.

“’Reborn as sons of God, [the baptized] must profess before men the faith they have received from God through the Church’ and participate in the apostolic and missionary activity of the People of God”

(CCC 1270).

Listening to Pope John Paul II does not mean, however, that everyone needs to travel to a faraway land, or stand at every street corner to share the Gospel. The Church believes that being a missionary can take multiple forms, always in accord with a person’s state in life. For example, a person could be a missionary through their marriage, showing others how a faithful, committed marriage is possible in today’s world. Another example is an elderly

person confined to their home being a missionary through prayer, offering each day to the Sacred Heart and praying for missionaries around the world.

Our parish community of St. Martin of Tours is a good place and

opportunity to become missionary disciples for others. In our new

Mission and Vision statement we read that “we strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ, to serve those in need, and to become the Good Shepherds for them.” We are encouraged to pray for and serve each other, help our neighbor and reach out to those who are lost. There is so much to do in our parish and larger community.

Today’s gospel is encouraging and reminding us that all Christians are called to be missionaries, each in our own unique way. Let’s be attentive to it and answer to that beautiful and vital call.

Fr. Andrzej

How to Receive God’s Grace?

Thu, 13 Jun 2024 20:00:00 GMT

It is not the first time the liturgical readings borrow an image and language of agricultural planting and farming to explain Divine matters to us. God’s grace is compared to seeds which are thrown by a farmer on the soil of human faith.

The farmer is generous and spreads the seeds on every kind of soil, poor, and rich. It is up to the soil, and the effort of the human being, if the seed will bear fruit. If the seed of God’s grace falls on rich soil and is grown with care, it grows slowly, quietly and eventually bears great fruit.

We are often impatient and negative regarding God’s grace. We try hard but we do not experience God’s grace and substantial fruit in our spiritual life. Then, we are discouraged and fall into a crisis of faith. Today’s gospel assigned on the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary time gives us a few practical ideas and conditions to experience and welcome God’s grace within us.

First, we must assess what kind of soil we are. We need to examine our disposition of faith. Perhaps there are many rocks and weeds in our soil of faith. Elsewhere in the gospel, Jesus explained the importance of good soil for receiving God’s grace. The parable of the Sower describes different kinds of soil. It is hard for God’s word to grow among weeds and rocks. Even if the Sower is generous and spreads a lot of seeds, it is impossible to bear a good fruit in ground too busy and rocky. (Matthew 13:3-23). Thus, the first condition to receive God’s grace and bear good fruit is to assess and prepare our disposition. Perhaps we are too busy to pray. We often have no time to cultivate the soil of our faith and we are too preoccupied with material things. We do not listen to our heart, which is a place where God speaks to us. If we want to welcome God’s grace and experience significant change in our religious life, we must first make an effort.

Second, God’s grace is compared to a mustard seed. God’s grace is very small at the beginning, like a little seed. God influences our faith and our life very gently by little tiny things. We must often carefully examine our day, and everything that happened, to realize it was God who motivated and inspired us for good. We often expect miracles and great signs in our life. Unfortunately, most of the time God’s grace does not work like that. Therefore, if we do not have time to recognize the small deeds of God and appreciate them, we cannot grow spiritually. Every good idea is implanted in us by God.

We often miss and ignore it because we are distracted and tempted by material and worldly things which look attractive and big.

Today’s gospel is suggesting us to become more attentive and appreciative of God’s small graces. Everything we receive and give, even the little spiritual good, is like a mustard seed. We must appreciate it and be grateful. We must never ignore or take it for granted. It can become something great in the future. Every charism, life of a saint, and great project began with a little seed; a spiritual idea or call given by God, heard and received by a human. Then, it grew and bore much fruit.

The third element suggested by today’s gospel are faith and humility, two necessary characteristics to welcome God’s grace. We must have a strong faith to see a potential spiritual miracle in a little tiny seed. We must have a lot of humility which is like a spiritual patience to accept and allow a little seed of God’s grace to grow within us. A biblical humility does not mean to put ourselves down, but to realize who we are with our strengths and grace as well as our limitations and weaknesses. Humility requires self-awareness and a lot of patience to examine our faith and religious effort.

In summary, today’s gospel encourages us to have a wonderful spiritual journey with God. God constantly pours a lot of grace on each of us. God is like a generous Sower who throws seeds on rich and poor soil. It is up to you and me to realize and accept God’s effort. God’s grace is like a tiny little seed that grows big when it is welcomed and raised with care.

Our faith and humility help a lot. Let’s be grateful for each grace we receive and share with others every day.

Fr. Andrzej

How to Build a Home?

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 17:03:35 GMT

I believe we all dream to build a happy and solid home for ourselves. To create a good home is an ultimate goal of our work, struggles, and sacrifices here on earth. Some people love to travel and visit other lands. But at the end of the day, we all need to return to a place where people who love us are and we feel safe. Today’s liturgical readings give us three ideas that are helpful to build a real home.

The first reading from the Book of Genesis describes a situation in the Garden of Eden after the original sin. Adam and Eve are hiding from God. Adam and Eve are aware of their nakedness, guilt, and sinfulness. Sin destroyed Paradise, a perfect place and harmony to be with God and others. Indeed, the first common reaction of guilt and shamefulness is hiding and running away from God and other people.

The first reading with the image of Paradise which was destroyed by sin, encourages us to bring back God’s harmony to our home. Paradise and perfect people do not exist. We must be realistic. But we can make an effort to create a space and home where people with their limitations feel safe and belong. They do not need to hide and run away. It does not mean we must welcome and agree to evil and sin. It is about welcoming people who fell into sin and are in need of help to get over their sinfulness and guilt without being judged. Home is not a building but rather a friendly disposition, hospitality, healthy relationship, and love. It is a place and space where people like to come, belong, and feel safe despite their imperfection.

The second reading today is from the letter to the Corinthians. It gives us a second idea of a real home. A real home is built on rock of spiritual values, rather than material things. St. Paul calls spiritual values as unseen matters, which are much more important than the seen ones. “What is seen is transitory but what is unseen is eternal” (2Cor 4:18).

The transitory values and things will sooner or later terminate but the eternal matters will last forever. The only things that matter to God, and we will take with us to eternity, are things and values we have given to others. Everything else does not matter. To build a real home we must invest in spiritual values, loving relationships and sacrifices for others. These unseen matters will not be lost or forgotten in heaven.

Finally the gospel reading gives us a third idea of a real home. Jesus points out his disciples and people who listen to him, and names them his mother, brothers, and sisters. According to Jesus whoever does the will of God is as much important as our family members (Mark 3:35). We are encouraged to love others as much as we love our family members and relatives. We usually favor our family members and friends in our life. Thus, we are challenged by today’s gospel to go beyond our family boundaries and love others as much as we are loved by God. Indeed, as disciples of Jesus we are instructed by the commandment of love to love our neighbor as much as we love our self and our family members.

Our neighbor does not mean our relative or friend but anyone who is in need. Unconditional love of our neighbor is possible with God’s grace. In fact, marriages can be a proof that unconditional love is possible. Two people who do not know each other, who are not family or related, began to love each other unconditionally.

Good marriages on earth are like a glimpse of that love beyond our family boundaries, which we will experience in the heavenly home. Elsewhere in the gospel Jesus mentioned marriages do not exist in heaven (Mt 22:30). We will be able to love others and everyone unconditionally without family limits.

We are encouraged to begin to build real homes by today’s liturgical readings. We must begin first with our self. Can we love others without egoism and favors? Is it possible to love our neighbor as our self and our family members today?

Then, I wish and pray our parish community of St. Martin of Tours will become a foretaste of real home for everyone who enters our parish threshold. A place where everyone is welcomed without pointing and judging, where spiritual values are more important, and everyone feels at home.

Fr. Andrzej

Easter Wishes

Mon, 10 Jun 2024 16:31:34 GMT

Alleluia, Christ is risen. He is risen indeed, alleluia.

May this beautiful Resurrection Day be a testimony to God's love and glory. May risen Christ inspire your faith and renew your hope. May God shower you with blessings, love, and peace this Easter.

It's time to celebrate God’s greatest miracle of all.

Have a blessed holiday filled with happiness, love, peace and faith.

On behalf of the Parish Staff and Pastoral Team I wish you and your family members blessed Easter!

Fr. Andrzej

Eucharist - Invitation to Service

Thu, 30 May 2024 20:28:20 GMT

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Confirmation Class 2024

Wed, 22 May 2024 21:28:09 GMT

We celebrated the Feast of Pentecost last Sunday. It is meaningful we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation at

St. Martin of Tours just a few days after the Feast of the Holy Spirit. There are ten candidates, high school students, who will receive the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit during solemn Mass on Saturday May 25. Bishop Jeffrey R. Haines, auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, will officiate the Sacrament of Confirmation this year.

The candidates are: Conor, Thien, Maive, Brayson, Kaitlyn, Brian, Paul, Kien, Gabriel, and Tram.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the candidates and wish they follow Jesus closely in their lives. Hopefully, similar to the first disciples of Jesus on the day of Pentecost, you will be open and enthusiastic about your faith and Christian values. You are becoming missionaries of Jesus in your own way and vocation.

I would like to congratulate and say thank you to their parents, families, and sponsors. The confirmation of your sons and daughters would not happen without your example and encouragement.

I am grateful to the teachers and spiritual leaders of our candidates who prepared them to receive this important sacrament. I would like to express my special gratitude to Dcn Chuck Schneider, Diane and John Winkowski, and Joan and Gracie Hansen in accompanying and teaching our candidates for Confirmation.

Confirmation is a Sacrament of Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We believe the Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts on us: wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord, to assist us in our mission and witness. The impact of these gifts accompanies us in the various stages of our spiritual development. Thus, confirmation is considered a significant step in Christian maturity.

Let’s be grateful for the gifts of the Holy Spirit which enable us to be mature Christians, and continue the mission of Jesus in our time with complete awareness and great joy.

Fr. Andrzej

“The Spirit Blows Wherever It Pleases….”

Fri, 17 May 2024 20:24:53 GMT

Similarly to Ascension of the Lord, there is inconsistency in the Scriptures regarding the date of the feast of the Holy Spirit. Traditionally we celebrate the feast fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus. Pentecost means fifty in Greek. This date is mentioned in the Act of the Apostles in chapter two. However, according to the gospel of John, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles on Easter Sunday, the same day Jesus raised from the dead (John 20:21-23). It is another proof the Bible is not a historical and scientific book. The Bible uses symbols, images, and stories to explain and lead us to God.

Additionally, this inconsistency on the date of the feast helps us realize we cannot control or explain the mystery of the Holy Spirit. Elsewhere in his gospel John writes about it: “the Spirit blows wherever it pleases. You hear it sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going” (John 3:8). The Holy Spirit works even within us, and everywhere God desires.

I was preparing for the feast of Pentecost and working on my homily a few years ago. It was Saturday evening, Eve of the feast. I was not happy when I received a sick call. I had to travel far to another village to perform the sacrament of anointing and bring Holy Communion to a dying man. I felt it interrupted my preparation, and Pentecost will not be celebrated profoundly as I wanted.

I realized very soon I was totally wrong. That visit was very meaningful. The old dying man was full of pain and fear of death. He was not able to receive the entire blessed host into his mouth. I had to break it to a tiny little piece. And then, after receiving Holy Communion a miracle happened. That person started to smile and felt at peace. He could not speak but I clearly sensed he was grateful. His family who gathered around his bed, experienced spiritual joy and felt at peace as well. They started to praise God for God’s sustenance and love. I strongly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit among us in the hospital room. I was grateful for that unexpected experience of God’s Spirit on the Vigil of the feast of the Holy Spirit.

It was a very meaningful Pentecost that year for me. I understood profoundly these words of the Scriptures: “the Spirit blows wherever it pleases…”

Jesus Christ lived on earth two thousand years ago. It was definitely a privilege and very special time for people who Jesus met, taught, and ministered to. It was just a limited number of people Jesus was able to meet, in limited time and a relatively small part of the world. That is why Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to reach everyone and everywhere in the world.

Thus, his love, grace, and all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are available to everyone who desires and is open for God.

The significance and power of today’s feast is the fact God can cross the limit of time, place, and even mentality of people to spiritually touch and heal everyone God desires to do so. It is possible through the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the world because indeed “the Spirit blows wherever it pleases…”

Let’s be open to the presence and light of the Holy Spirit in our life. The Holy Spirit is close to us even when we are not aware of it. We cannot pray, make good decision, study and be healed without the influence of the Holy Spirit. We cannot be saved without the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Let’s be grateful for today’s feast and the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the world and our life.

Fr. Andrzej

Our Home Is To Be With God

Mon, 13 May 2024 16:35:08 GMT

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First Communion Sunday

Thu, 02 May 2024 21:09:10 GMT

We are blessed to celebrate the Sacrament of First Communion in our parish. Nine of our religious education students will receive Eucharistic Jesus in their hearts during our solemn Mass at 10:30am on Sunday. It is always great to see the children wearing formal attire, crowning Mary, praying hard, and reading and singing during their First Communion Mass. I invited and encouraged other children and youth of our parish to join us on this special occasion. It is a good opportunity to remember the day we received the First Communion a few or perhaps many years ago. Children who will receive Holy Communion this Sunday: Bradley, Vivian, Ella, Lincoln, Mark, Diezel, Henry, Grace, Jocelyn.

I would like to express my gratitude to the children who will receive their First Communion. We wish them to follow Jesus closely, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We encourage them to continue their religious education at our parish in the following years, and receive another important Sacrament, Confirmation in a few years. I am grateful to their parents for their support and good example, and their family members for being with them and with us during this special day at St. Martin of Tours. To the teachers, especially Joy Heuser and Carey Logan, who have been preparing our

children for their First Communion. I am also grateful to those who prepared our liturgy, took photos, and decorated the church for this occasion.

At the same time, I will take this opportunity to remind a few principles about receiving Holy Communion and reverence of Eucharist at St. Martin of Tours parish.

It is a very special moment of encounter with Eucharistic Jesus during receiving Holy Communion. Holy Communion could be received as either bread or bread and wine. The wine (cup) is not necessary when receiving the Eucharist but we encourage our parishioners to receive Holy Communion in both forms. There are three essential requirements to receive Holy Communion:

1. The person must be baptized and have understanding of faith in the real presence of Christ in

the Eucharist.

2. The person must be in the state of grace, which is, at the moment of the Holy Communion,

be free from a mortal sin.

3. The person must fast at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion.

Fasting does not include taking medication and drinking water.

In short, we are encouraged to receive Holy Communion during Mass. Holy Mass without Communion is like a birthday party without dinner and a cake. However, we receive Holy Communion only in the state of grace, without a mortal sin.

Lastly, you can receive Holy Communion every day during Holy Mass. We have daily Mass at 8.30am (except Saturday Mass is at 4pm) in our church. You are welcome to join us for weekly adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and opportunity for confession on Monday at 6pm.

Fr. Andrzej

Good Shepherd and Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 21:23:10 GMT

Fourth Sunday of Easter is traditionally called “Good Shepherd Sunday.” This name is determined by the gospel passage about the Good Shepherd, which we always read on this Sunday. Today we read the gospel of John. We learn the Good Shepherd loves his sheep and he knows them by name. The author of the gospel makes an important point, the Good Shepherd has a close relationship with his sheep and, contrary to a hired man, he does not run away but stays with his sheep during danger and time of trial. Additionally, the Good Shepherd searches for the lost sheep, finds it and brings it back to his fold.

The first Christians knew and believed in Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In fact, the painting of the Good Shepherd is the most common of the symbolic representations of Christ found in early Christian art in the Catacombs of Rome, and was probably the most original image of Jesus Christ for the first Christian community (The painting of Christ as the Good Shepherd can be seen in the Catacombs of Priscilla on the Via Salaria in Rome).

Fr. Leo John Dehon, the founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart loved the image of the Good Shepherd as it is presented in the Gospel. When he visited the Catacombs in Rome, Fr. Dehon realized the image of the Good Shepherded represents well the truth of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Since then, Fr. Dehon often spoke and presented the Sacred Heart as the Good Shepherd in his homilies and writings.

Thus, Fr. Dehon beautifully described the Sacred Heart as Father, Mother, and Shepherd in his book, The Priestly Heart of Jesus , “The Heart of Jesus is overflowing with compassion for all those who suffer; those beset by troubles, difficulties, and hardships; for the hungry, the toilers, the destitute, and the sick and infirm. His is the heart of a Father, the heart of a Mother, the heart of a Shepherd” ( The Priestly Heart of Jesus, Thirty-Three Meditations , Chicago, 1947, p. 97).

Today many SCJs repeat these words of Fr. Dehon at the beginning of Mass, during the penitential rite, when they encourage people to recall the love of God in their lives, because “his is the heart of a Father, his is the heart of a Mother, his is the heart of a Shepherd.”

The Good Shepherd with a sheep on his shoulders, stands for Fr. Dehon as an icon of God, who is loving, kind, and merciful. God makes an incredible effort to reach everyone but especially those who are lost, unheard, and least among us. God sent his Son to save his people (Jn 3:16). It is God, in the person of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who loves his sheep and is ready to leave the ninety-nine to find the lost one (Lk 15:3-7). “Move out of the sacristy and go to the people” became an essential part of Fr. Dehon’s spirituality and ministry.

According to his biographers, Fr. Dehon did not only write and speak about God in the image of the Good Shepherd, but in his own life he also followed the idea and example described in the Gospel. Fr. Dehon loved the people with whom he worked and ministered to. He tried to reach everyone in his community, local Church and in the missions. He practiced the availability and kindness of a Good Shepherd during his ministry, and when he was at home with his community. He was able to listen and understand them. Because of his pleasant and warm personality, Fr. Dehon was known as “Le Très Bon Père” [the very good father] (Andre Perroux, Leo Dehon: Passion for Christ: A Passion for the World , Hales corners, WI, p.71).

We are encouraged by today’s gospel and the example of Fr. Dehon to see God as the Good Shepherd. God searches for our close relationship and takes care of us during trial and danger. We are encouraged to trust in God because we are safe in his fold. At the same time, we must spread and continue the mission of the Good Shepherd in our community and society. In our most recent Vision and Mission statement as St. Martin of Tours parish, “we strive to follow the example of Jesus Christ to serve those in need and to become the Good Shepherds for them.” Let’s remember to become the Good Shepherds to those in need and to each other in our parish and larger community during this Easter season.

Fr. Andrzej

Meeting the Risen Lord During Easter

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 21:16:58 GMT

Jesus has been meeting his disciples for forty days after his resurrection. He wanted to reconcile with them and

encouraged them to continue his mission on earth. Jesus met them in varied circumstances, during their work, traveling, praying, in the upper room, and on the seashore. There was always the same pattern to the meetings. The disciples were confused and closed, full of fear and doubt in faith before they met the Risen Lord. But after the meeting, they understood everything, their faith became firm, they were open and enthusiastic, wanted to go out to preach the good news of the resurrection, and they were ready to suffer and die for Christ. The meeting with the Risen Lord was absolutely crucial and totally changed their life.

The long training, listening to Jesus for three years, witness of all the miracles performed by Jesus, even Jesus’ passion and death on the cross were not convincing enough for Jesus’ disciples. It was necessary to experience the resurrection and meeting the Risen Lord for them to make everything meaningful and understandable. Without personal experience of the Risen Lord the cross would be just a cross, a symbol of Roman torture and death, and Jesus would be remembered as a great teacher who was able to perform miracles and helped those who were oppressed. The personal encounter with the Risen Lord changed everything and made everything meaningful to Jesus’ disciples. It totally transformed their life.

Today’s gospel this Third Sunday of Easter brings us an example of one of the meetings of Jesus with his disciples. Jesus met two disciples on the way to Emmaus. They were so preoccupied with their confusion and sadness their eyes were closed to others. They could not see Jesus who joined them on the way. Eventually they recognized Jesus during the breaking of bread. Their eyes were open to see the Risen Lord. It was a short but powerful experience for them. They understood the truth and everything became clear and complete. The two disciples decided to go to the roots and return to the community in Jerusalem. They felt like they received another life.

Similar to the disciples we need a personal experience of the Risen Lord during the Easter season. We must meet the Lord to understand everything, to have enthusiasm of faith and readiness to go to the people to spread the good news of the resurrection. Our resolutions, an effort during Lent, and meaningful experience of the Holy week is not complete without a personal experience of the Risen Lord.

Todays’ gospel is encouraging us to see the Risen Lord in different circumstances and situations in our daily life.

The Risen Lord is closer to us than we think. He is searching for us like he was searching for his disciples after his

resurrection. He might find us in church and sacred places praying but he might surprise us in the least expected

places and time. You will know when you meet the Risen Lord. You will experience spiritual joy, peace of heart, and another sense of life. This experience will stay with you forever.

Blessed Easter season,

Fr. Andrzej

Resurrection and Divine Mercy

dianew@stmoftours.org (Diane Winkowski) — Sun, 07 Apr 2024 21:47:47 GMT

The Second Sunday of Easter ends the Easter Octave. The Second Sunday of Easter was once called “Dominica in albis,” (Sunday in white) because it was on the eighth day the newly baptized at the Easter Vigil finally took off the white robes they were given at the baptismal font. They were considered as fully baptized and proficient in faith.

Octave, which comes from the number eight in Greek, has a symbolic meaning in the Bible. It means accomplishment, fullness, and beginning of new reality. When eight is mentioned it means something new or complete. God created the world in seven days and on the eighth day, the new world started to function. New creation, the harmony created out of chaos, began to function. Thus, every important event and feast has an octave to prolong and celebrate it to the fullness. After the octave it is accomplished. Number eight was significant for Jews as well. New babies must be presented in the temple on the eighth day after the birth. Many purifications, circumcisions, and offerings were prescribed on the eighth day in the Hebrew culture and faith.

We always read the gospel about Jesus and Thomas the second Sunday of Easter. Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus but his personal encounter with the Lord healed his unbelief. It is meaningful that Jesus met and reconciled with doubting Thomas on the eighth day after his resurrection. It is a beautiful message to all of us who doubt and hesitate to follow Jesus to the fullness.

Today ends the Easter Octave. We must believe to the fullness and spread the message of resurrection to the whole world. The Second Sunday of Easter is also celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast is one of the newest and has been

celebrated in the Church for twenty-four years. On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina Kowalska and dedicated the World to God’s Mercy. The same day, the Pope declared the Second Sunday of

Easter as "Divine Mercy Sunday.”

practicing the ‘works of mercy.’ Mercy means love in action. When we practice the ‘works of mercy,’ love in action, we

continue the mission of Jesus and are called “the face of the Father’s mercy” as well. The Pope challenges us to go to the people to practice charity. As Christians we are not just called to pray and enjoy our relationship with God, we are called to be for others and practice mercy. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13).

Divine Mercy Sunday reminds and encourages us to proclaim the resurrection of Jesus not just with words but to practice it with works of mercy. It is more authentic and meaningful when we practice what we believe. Divine Mercy message

encourages us to be “the face of the Father’s mercy” for those who are in need. Let’s make an effort and find those who are in need of God’s mercy at St. Martin of Tours.

“All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery … One thing alone is necessary; the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.”

( The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska , 1507)

Fr. Andrzej

Holy Week and Paschal Triduum

Sun, 24 Mar 2024 17:17:27 GMT

This week we begin Holy Week. It is the most important and meaningful week in the liturgical year. Not just the Lenten season but the entire Liturgical Year prepares us for the celebrations of the Holy Week. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his final entrance into Jerusalem, and culminates with Easter Sunday. As it has been a tradition at St. Martin of Tours, we will commemorate the solemn entrance of Jesus with a procession with palm branches before every Mass. Another tradition of our parish community on Palm Sunday is the brunch. Hopefully you will join us for a delicious breakfast with your entire family and friends. It will be a wonderful opportunity to begin this holy time with fellowship and community support.

Every day of Holy Week is holy. It is up to each of us to make it special in our personal, family, and community life. Make an effort to be closer to God and each other during these blessed days. As Holy Week progresses to its final days the solemnity heightens.

Sundown on Holy Thursday to sundown on Easter Sunday is considered the most solemn part, the pick of Holy Week.

This three-day period is referred to as the Easter Triduum, also known as the Sacred Triduum, or Paschal Triduum.

The name ‘Sacred Triduum’ comes from Latin words, and literally means ‘three holy days’ or rather, ‘three holy events,’ which totally changed the salvation history. We will once again celebrate the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ during these three holy events.

The evening Mass on Holy Thursday begins the first event, which is the celebration of the Lord's Supper. This is where the Church re-lives the institution of the Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as well as the institution of priesthood.

The Last Supper Mass is scheduled at 7pm at St. Martin of Tours. The beautiful ceremony of "washing of the feet," which is a meaningful part of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reminds us about Jesus, who “came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). It is an invitation to all of us to serve others.

The second sacred event of the Sacred Triduum is Good Friday. The Church commemorates and celebrates the day of the Passion and death of Jesus. There are many traditions and devotional celebrations on Good Friday. In our parish we have the Stations of the Cross at 3pm. This year we will have two different Stations of the Cross. One outside around the cemetery led by our religious education youth and children, and the other inside the church led by Human Concerns.

Feel free to join either group.

Then, as it is in our tradition we will serve soup at 5pm prepared by different groups and individual people.

This simple bowl of soup reminds us about fasting and abstinence on Good Friday.

The main Good Friday liturgy is scheduled at 7pm. We will read the Passion of Christ and Venerate the Cross.

Hopefully each of us will have a moment to encounter the cross of Jesus during the liturgy or afterwards at the tomb of Christ in the narthex.

Holy Saturday used to be called Black Saturday. ‘Black’ refers to the fact Jesus descended into hell (Apostles Creed).

Jesus enters the underworld to visit the dead, who were awaiting salvation. Upon his entering, Jesus frees them from the chains of death ( Liturgy of the Hours , Office of Readings, Holy Saturday). Holy Saturday is a day of silence, emptiness without singing, and decoration in the churches. Another beautiful tradition on Holy Saturday is the blessing of Easter baskets at 3pm. Please bring any kind of food you will have at the Easter table for the blessing on Holy Saturday.

The third sacred event of the Sacred Triduum is the celebration of resurrection. Easter Vigil will begin at 8pm with a meaningful celebration of darkness and light, fire and water, the World of God and Eucharist. We will sing solemn Alleluia and renew our baptismal promises during our celebration of Easter Vigil. It will be a wonderful celebration of new life, which Easter announces to the World.

Easter Sunday ends Sacred Triduum and begins Easter season. Masses are scheduled as usual on Sunday at 8:30 and 10:30am in English, and 12:30pm in Vietnamese. I am grateful and encouraged by the fact, both communities of our parish, English and Vietnamese, will celebrate the Sacred Triduum liturgies together, as one Christian family. Please join us for these most solemn celebrations of our Catholic faith.

Fr. Andrzej

Why We Veil Crosses During Lent?

Mon, 18 Mar 2024 16:30:15 GMT

Traditionally we veil crosses on the Fifth Sunday of Lent. Besides removing water from the baptismal font, simplifying decorations in the church, no flowers in the sanctuary, and keeping liturgy modest, veiling crosses is another meaningful symbol during Lent to bring us closer to the celebration of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

While it may appear surprising to veil crosses during the final weeks of Lent, the Catholic Church recommends this practice to heighten our senses and build within us a longing for God, who gave us his Son Jesus Christ to die for our salvation on the cross.

In fact, this custom of veiling crosses comes from an ancient tradition of the Middle Ages. In the east the tradition of covering of sacred items and places is well preserved even today. Everything considered sacred, sanctuary, tabernacle or chalice must be covered with a veil or holy icons. The western tradition lost this beautiful tradition but the liturgy preserved it during Lenten season.

Nowadays, Introductio n to the Roman Missal encourages us to continue this old tradition in our churches, “In the

Dioceses of the United States, the practice of covering crosses and images throughout the church from the fifth

Sunday of Lent may be observed. Crosses remain covered until the end of the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday...”

The theological significance of the veils is found in how they offer an outward and visible reminder of the penitential nature of the season. The veils obscure from our vision the holy images that enlighten our worship life, and in doing so remind us our sinful nature has obscured our vision of God’s truth. The veils and other symbols of simplicity in our church are one of many ways we are invited in Lent to embrace a penitential disposition — a disposition that engages our sinfulness and renews our vision of that which is good and holy.

The crosses are unveiled on Good Friday during the celebration of the veneration of the cross. When the veils are taken away, we are blessed with the unveiled truth of Jesus’ suffering and death for us, but at the same time, with unconditional love of God. The removal of veils serves to remind us of where our Lenten exercises and resolutions have sought to bring us, and that is to a place of renewal, spiritual nourishment, hope, and a clearer vision of the beauty of God.

Practically, veiling crosses heightens our spiritual senses to form within us a longing for God. We are even more encouraged to search for and contemplate God in simplicity of Lenten liturgy of the Word and Eucharist and in our neighbor, who is in need, rather than see God through images of the cross and holy statues.

Finally, the veils are not meant to be there forever. Crosses need to be unveiled. It is unnatural for them to be covered.

The unveiling of the cross on Good Friday, just before the Easter Vigil, is a great reminder of our own life on earth. We live in a “veiled” world, in exile from our true home. It is only through our own death the veil is lifted and we are finally able to see the beauty of everything in our lives.

Fr. Andrzej

True Conversion

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 21:37:25 GMT

Many commentators of the Scripture speak about the Fourth Sunday of Lent gospel as one of the most meaningful and beautiful. Indeed, there are many symbols and profound meanings in today’s gospel. I would like to mention just two valid elements that are helpful for our repentance and conversion during Lent, trusting in God and dying to sin. These two elements are necessary to turn away from evil and renew our relationship with God.

When Jesus explained conversion to Nicodemus, he used an example from the Book of Numbers in the Old Testament (John 3:14-21). It was about a nest of poisonous snakes, which was encountered by Jews during their journey through the desert. Many were bitten with a painful bite and many died.

God, however, told Moses to make a bronze serpent and put it on a pole and all who looked upon it were healed and saved. It is interesting how God chose to save his people asking them to look up while the snakes were on the ground.

The first reaction tells me it was illogical and confusing perhaps. But in fact, it is fascinating to know God’s ways to save his people. Like everything in the Bible, the scene with snakes has a symbolic and spiritual meaning. It is supposed to guide us when we struggle with evil in our life. Instead of spending all time and energy to fight against evil, and our wrong doing, we must learn to trust in God.

The gesture of looking upon the snake on a pole is an invitation to share our struggle with God. God does not want us to be alone when we struggle. We must trust in God and pray even more when we are challenged by temptation and sin. Instead of feeling unworthy and running away, God is asking us for total trust to God’s guidance through our challenges and sinfulness. Our fight for God and closeness with God is more effective than just fighting with our struggles and

weaknesses on our own.

Jesus recalls this example from the Book of Numbers and brings to Nicodemus this very request of God in today’s gospel. Nicodemus who came from darkness of night with his struggles and confusion, cannot resolve his problem alone. He must open up and trust in God totally. It is like being born again and becoming a new person.

Second condition of true repentance and conversion is dying to sin. In today’s gospel Jesus foresaw his death on the cross. Like that serpent lifted up by Moses in the desert, Jesus believed his crucifixion and death on the cross will save his people from their sins. We learn from Jesus it was necessary to die for sins. Indeed, we must die for our sins when we are serious about repentance and conversion. We realize our wrongdoings, confess our sins in Sacrament of Reconciliation, repent with a good intention, but we often fail to turn away from our sinfulness. We like our sins and our old ways, and thus, fall into the same sins again. Then, we are discouraged because our repentance and conversion does not work.

The Greek word for conversion is metanoia (μετάνοια). One of the literal translations of metanoia is changing one’s mind.

According to metanoia in such understanding, conversion is not just temporarily turning away from evil but totally changing our thinking. It is like dying for that sin that constantly bothers me and stands between God and me. This kind of disposition against sin, which we usually like and do not want to go, is not easy and even painful. That is why today’s gospel compares it to the crucifixion of Jesus, who fought sin to the point of pain, blood, and death on the cross. We must die to our sins after the example of Jesus. If we succeed to die with Christ, we will raise with him on Easter.

Today’s gospel is helpful to us as we pray and reflect about our spiritual growth during Lent. The two conditions, trusting in God and dying to sin, are necessary to experience true repentance and conversion. There are a few opportunities for Sacrament of Reconciliation before Easter at St. Martin of Tours. Please have courage and do not hesitate to meet your sinfulness and then, to experience God in your true conversion during this blessed time of Lent.

Fr. Andrzej

Sacrum and Profanum

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 21:27:34 GMT

Lent, as a season of preparation for the Paschal Triduum and Easter, encourages us to slow down and reflect upon the

essential elements of our life. One of the essential aspects which easily could be forgotten in our busy life is sacrum, which is sacred reality. Sacrum is God but also times, places, values and objects that must be always special to us. Lent reminds us about healthy balance between sacrum and profanum. We need both sacrum and profanum (sacred and profane) in

harmony and respect to each other. We need the profane realities as much as we need the sacred, because the profane makes the sacred special. We must accept and respect both, and certainly do not confuse or mix it up in our life.

I spoke about the sacred and profane realities during my homily the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2023. Third Sunday of Lent reminds us about it. Lent is time to look it over again. In today’s gospel, Jesus cleansed the temple of Jerusalem by driving out those who disrespected the holy place. “He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace” (John 2:14-16). Jesus was angry and his action seems forceful. This is how Jesus cared for a sacred place and reality.

Jesus’ care and passion for the temple was at the same time his care for people who used that sacred space to worship and encounter God. In fact, sacred places, time and objects are given to us to encounter God. We need the sacred to protect us from the profane and bring us closer to God. Sacred places and objects are consecrated to God, which means they are removed from regular use and reserved for God. For example, the church, sanctuary, altar, chalice and many items are consecrated, thus they must be never used for anything other than worship and liturgy. There are also places, things and values in our family and personal life that are sacred and we must respect and never misuse them with the profane. We all need special times and places to reflect and pray to God. Otherwise, our busy schedule and daily activities will take over everything. We need to reserve and protect certain places, times and things to make it possible.

Let’s remember the sacred reality in our personal, as well as our family and community life during Lent. Let’s be more aware, and perhaps, redefine what sacrum means to me and to us.

Let’s pray for guidance and our perseverance during Lent.

Direct, O Lord, we pray, the hearts of your faithful,

and in your kindness grant us this grace,

that, abiding in love of you and our neighbor,

we may fulfill the whole of your commands.

Through Christ our Lord.

(Adapted from Roman Missal, Third Sunday of Lent)

Fr. Andrzej

Transfiguration

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:28:40 GMT

Lent is a blessed season to prepare us for the Paschal Triduum and Easter. It is a unique time in the liturgical year which encourages us to slow down, reflect, and take care to experience and celebrate the Risen Lord on Easter Sunday. Thus, we make an effort to fast, pray, and help others. This makes sense when we grow and make progress in our spiritual life. It makes even more sense when we experience positive change moving away from evil to good. Accordingly, this positive change is necessary to experience the Risen Lord during Easter.

It is providential we reflect on the Transfiguration this Second Sunday of Lent. Transfiguration comes from the Greek word metamórfosi, which means change. In the gospel today Jesus went up to Mount Tabor and was transfigured before his disciples. His body and clothes were totally changed, “became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them” (Mark 9:3). Today’s reading illustrates what Lent is about. Our effort like climbing a mount or even hill will be rewarded at the peak when we experience the Risen Lord. Additionally, transfiguration reminds us of our ultimate destination in heaven. Our body also will be changed in heaven, and become like the body of Jesus on Mount Tabor.

There are two great prophets who were present during the transfiguration, Moses and Elijah. Both of them spend their entire lives in a desert and were well known as prophets of the desert. They remind us we need a desert, detachment from our busy life, reflection, and prayer during Lent. We need to find a desert, special place and time for God, during our journey of Lent. This kind of personal desert makes our effort to grow spiritually more effective. Perhaps you noticed the theme in our church this Lent is about desert. Also, there is no water in the baptismal font to remind us the necessity of a desert place during Lent.

Lastly, our spiritual effort and close relationship with God are very attractive. When we take it seriously and our effort becomes a habit of daily routine, we want to remain with God forever. At the end of the Transfiguration Peter suggested building tents to prolong his experience of the desert and exaltation forever. He loved that place and moment. “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; let us set up three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Mark 9:5). Contrary to his offer Jesus asked his disciples to return to the town to meet the people. It is a good reminder and encouragement for us that our spiritual effort during Lent must be rooted in our daily realities. Whatever we decide to practice and offer during Lent, more prayer in the desert, fasting or alms giving, our effort must be practical and include the needs of our neighbor. Our spiritual growth makes sense if it brings us closer to God and people.

Let us pray for each other to have a transforming experience during this blessed season of Lent.

Fr. Andrzej

Lent 2024

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 19:23:55 GMT

The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time is the last one before Lent. We are about to begin this blessed liturgical season to prepare us for the Paschal Triduum and Easter. Lent encourages us to slow down and reflect about essential aspects of our live. Moreover, there are many opportunities during Lent to reflect on our relationship with God and our neighbors. Perhaps there is a hurt or even hatred in our heart. The liturgy of Lent and Jesus’ example will encourage us to face these and forgive. The three spiritual pillars suggested by the Church for Lent, prayer, alms giving, and fasting, will make sense if they help us to reconcile with God, our neighbors and ourselves.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. Ash Wednesday, similarly to Good Friday, is an obligatory day of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. Additionally, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. There are three Masses on Ash Wednesday at our parish at 8:30am & 6:30pm in English, and 8pm in Vietnamese. Please join us for our Ash Wednesday liturgy to begin the journey of Lent with prayer and God’s blessing.

St. Martin of Tours parish offers many celebrations and events to practice our faith and prepare well for the Pascal Triduum and Easter. I will just mention a few.

Traditional Stations of the Cross will be led by various groups (including youth and children) on Fridays at 6pm. A Lenten Retreat will be facilitated by a guest speaker on March 6 at 6:30pm. Penance service and Sacrament of Reconciliation are scheduled twice, 6pm on March 6 and March 18. Holy Week liturgies, especially the Pascal Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday) culminate our Lenten Journey. It will be solemnly celebrated at our parish in similar form and time as last year. The details and time will be provided soon.

Additionally we have a few formation and social events during Lent and Holy Week. We encourage families to join the Children and Youth Mass on March 3. We will pray and explain to children the meaning of Lent. Everyone is invited to join the adult formation sessions on Thursdays about Eucharist and then, about the Bible with discussion and practical implementation. I am grateful to the Adult Formation Ministry for organizing these sessions for us. There will be a parish dinner on March 2 and traditional brunch on Palm Sunday.

We invite families to join us for a parish outing to cheer the Milwaukee Wave on March 10. This kind of social events bring us together as one community and give fraternal support to each other.

There are many other ministries, prayer and social events during Lent. Please see the parish kiosks, boards, and website for more information and details.

Let’s pray for each other as we begin this blessed season to make it more meaningful, effective, and holy.

“Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observance of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effort. May bountiful blessing come down upon your people that hope may grow in tribulation,virtue be strengthen in temptation, and eternal redemption be assured”.(Roman Missal, First Sunday of Lent)

Blessed Lent,

Fr. Andrzej

The Healing Power of God

jdrzewiecki@stmoftours.org (Jenny Drzewiecki) — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:43:37 GMT

Saint Blaise was the Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia (modern Turkey) around 1,700 years ago. There are many versions of his life but he is best known for healing the sick – even animals would come to him to be cured.

Some biographers tell of how Saint Blaise left Sebaste to escape Roman persecution. He made his home in a mountain cave and lived there until he was found, brought back to Sebaste and arrested.

On his way to prison, Saint Blaise met a mother whose son was choking to death on a fish bone. He cured the boy and to show her gratitude, the mother brought candles to light his prison cell. In another version of the story, Saint Blaise met a woman whose pig had been taken by a wolf. He commanded the wolf to return the pig and it was this woman who brought the candles for his cell.

In prison, Saint Blaise was ordered to renounce his faith. He refused so was beaten with wool combs and beheaded (+316 AD). After his death, he was made a saint and has become the patron saint of wool combers, wild animals, candle makers, and ailments of the throat.

Blaise’s cult spread quickly throughout Christian World. He was venerated as the patron of sufferers from throat diseases in the East by the 6th century and in the West by the 9th century. His feast day has been celebrated on February 3. One of the traditions associated with St. Blaise is the blessing of throats practiced and celebrated on his feast day. It is a ceremony of healing and asking the Saint for his strength and protection.

In short, we are not certain to which extent the Blaise’s biographers were accurate. But biographical details are not essential. Blaise is seen as one more example of the power those have who give themselves entirely to Jesus. As Jesus told his apostles at the Last Supper, “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you” (John 15:7). With faith we can follow the lead of the Church in asking for Blaise’s healing and protection.

We continue the tradition of Saint Blaise at St. Martin of Tours parish. The blessing of throats is celebrated At all Masses this weekend. Please join us for the blessing and believe in the healing power of God.

Authority of Jesus

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 19:50:39 GMT

In today’s gospel Jesus casts out an unclean spirit from a man. I believe the main reason to describe this event by the author at the beginning of his gospel was to reveal Jesus’ divine nature. Jesus performed this ministry many times and asked his disciples to do the same. We might think possession by evil spirts or demons was a problem two thousand years ago. In fact it is still a problem and ministry of healing from possession is still very much performed in our times.

A priest friend of mine is an exorcist. He is very busy in his ministry, and according to him the number of exorcists were doubled recently in his diocese. Personally I have prayed over and listened to confession of people who felt the devil had some power over them. It was always traumatic to see people slaved by evil and their aggressive reaction when the evil was confronted with prayer or sacred items. Unfortunately, Satan exists and does not rest even in our times. André Frossard in his book, 36 Proofs of the Existence of the Devil , writes the greatest victory of Satan today is the fact most people do not believe in his existence. I wonder, why people believe in good angels but do not believe in the devil. It is interesting how popular angels are right now and how unpopular it is to believe in the devil. The message of the gospel is clear. Satan exists and we must be aware of it.

There is a moment in today’s gospel when evil speaks in plural imposing an evil identity on the possessed person, “What have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” (Mark 1:24). Jesus stops and silences this rhetoric. A human being is not an evil. Then, Jesus casts evil away from that person. It is not true our nature and identity is evil. God created us good. Everyone is good. Our deeds and actions are sometimes evil. It must be distinguished and never confused. Today’s gospel encourages us to see good in every person, and separate people from their deeds.

Lastly, we heard Jesus taught and performed his action as one having authority, not like the scribes and Pharisees. “He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him” (Mark 1:27). The word authority used in the gospel of Mark comes from Greek exousia (ἐξουσία) which means divine authority or super power. People saw Jesus teaching and performing extraordinary deeds without hindrance, like a king or general. His authority was above the rules they knew or the prophets or even Moses. Jesus’ authority manifested the dominion of God, which was declared to be near (Mark 1:15) and was God’s reaffirmation of Jesus’ authority in the end-time.

We must never be afraid of evil spirits or possessions as followers of Jesus Christ. We must be aware of the devil and his works but always believe we are saved with Jesus. If we pray and receive Holy Communion and Jesus is in our hearts and minds, nothing can possess or separate us from him. Jesus’ authority is above unclean spirits and evil.

Fr. Andrzej

End of Year Pastor’s Report

Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:22:14 GMT

We said goodbye to the Old and welcomed the New Year with prayer and gratitude three weeks ago. I believe it is a good moment now to look back and reflect on everything that happened in our parish community in the past year. I am convinced that 2023 was a good year for us at St. Martin of Tours. We must say “thank you” to God and to you dear parishioners for making it a successful and rewarding year. We had great plans and expectations, however not everything was possible to complete and achieve. At the end of the year, we are satisfied and grateful to God for the progress and growth.

I wanted to keep you informed with some numbers, new ministries, and explain our victories and challenges we encountered during the past year from my own perspective.

New Members and Ministries

First of all, I wanted 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 have new trustees and a few new members on the Councils. Also, we gained two Staff members, Jenny Drzewiecki and Bro. Andy Gancarczyk. Both brought a lot of quality and substantial changes in our administrative work. I hope you noticed some improvement in communication, media ministry, and coordination of various ministries the last few months. Because of them we were able to begin a few new ministries like Family and Youth. Next steps are to strengthen these ministries and find even more ways to reach our young families and youth. We want to listen to them and build a future vision together. These are our priorities for this year.

Our stewardship and hospitality committees have grown and worked very hard by inviting and welcoming new members to our parish community resulting in growing new members and making every effort to be a welcoming church to the entire Franklin area. I learned a few days ago our Food Pantry was able to reach out and help many more people this year.

We are proud of this ministry.

Our first purpose as a religious community is to pray and worship. We had a meaningful and beautiful celebration of Easter, our patron feast St. Martin of Tours and Christmas. 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 Vision Mission and Our Strategic Plan

I am glad we completed the Vision and Mission statement the end of the past year. This statement will enable us to create a 5-year strategic plan and will lead us in setting goals for our parish. We want to be a vibrant and growing community, listen to each other and reach those in need in the parish as well as in the larger community.

I am grateful to the Building committee for their discernment to maintain and keep in use the school buildings for at least the next five years. This decision gives us hope and possibility to welcome various groups and ministries to our large facilities. We are blessed to have enough space to function and welcome others. If we are serious about growing, we need the school building and space to welcome new ideas, ministries and groups. The 5-year strategic plan must include all of these.

Helpful Numbers

At this moment we are a community of 913 active families (2260 members). We welcomed 31 new families who joined our parish in 2023. We lost 29 of our members who died and 33 families who left or moved away. Sacraments in 2023 were: 24 baptisms (including two adults); 23 children received First Communion and 22 first reconciliation. We had just one sacrament of marriage. We provided catechism classes to 85 elementary children in the English and Vietnamese communities, and 24 in high school. We welcomed Catholic Schoolhouse group with 77 children that use our facilities weekly. In short, we are alive and there are signs of growth. I am grateful to Diane Winkowski for providing this information for us.

Difficulties and Challenges

Not everything was good and some of our initiatives and plans were not completed. Our community is getting older. Thus, inviting and welcoming young families and youth will be always a challenge. It is necessary to keep growing not just in number but also in spirituality. Another challenging mission is to find and train new volunteers to continue our long traditions, ministries and activities. Since we cannot reopen the school in the near future the maintenance of our buildings will be always a burden and matter of discernment. These are challenges we have to face but there are many other reasons to be satisfied and grateful to God as we are entering the New Year 2024.

Our Achievements and Victories

The Love One Another campaign was very successful. We were able to surpass the expectation assigned to us. We collected 105% of our goal and over 30% of our families took part in this campaign. It is a great result. We will receive over $660,000 over five years to invest/improve our facilities and upgrade technology in the parish office, school, and church. Thank you for your generosity.

We are stable financially and we are not carrying a debt. Contrary, the collections were larger in the past year but 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 five years, but I believe we are doing well. We are expecting the annual finance report with many details soon. I am grateful to our Finance Council and Investment committee for being good stewards of our money and for their professional work.

We were able to accomplish a few maintenance projects in 2023, which you probably noticed: Columbarium in the cemetery ($98,251); repair of the school roof ($25,000); replacement of the school doors ($10,700); landscaping around the church and office building ($3,000); playground for children ($15,000); patching asphalt on the road behind the school and parking lot near the cemetery ($18,540); replacement of bathroom stalls ($6,070); tuck-point work in a few places on our buildings ($4,630). We also began replacement of the heating and cooling units on the church and gym buildings. The five new units will cost us $137,180 and hopefully will last more than twenty years. Additionally, we must upgrade the internet and technology at the office, school, and church ($32,000). Both of the latter projects will be paid with money from Love One Another Campaign. Another major project we have to undertake this coming year is the road between the school and cemetery. We have many leaks in the kitchen and parish hall, and we have to fix the problem and improve the road as soon as weather permits. (Thank you to Denise Groniger for providing these numbers for us).

Thus, 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.

Fr. Andrzej

Wise Men Still Seek Him (Matthew 2: 1-12)

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 14:23:52 GMT

There is a famous story “The Other Wise Man” written by Henry van Dyke in 1895. According to the author there was a fourth wise man, who wanted to go to Bethlehem with Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar to meet the new born king. His name was Artaban. Although Artaban agreed to join the caravan of the three wise men, he was late for the caravan (convoy) because he stopped to help a dying man on the way. Thus, Artaban decided to travel alone. Unfortunately, he missed

Jesus in Bethlehem. Artaban had a good heart and he could not pass by a person in need. It delayed his travel. The same happened on his journey to Egypt, and then to Nazareth. Artaban was delayed by many poor and crippled people on his way. His journey took Artaban thirty three years before he reached Jerusalem. In Jerusalem he met a prisoner who was sentenced to death. Artaban accompanied him up to his cross when he was crucified. Only then, Artaban recognized Jesus in that prisoner, the king of Israel who was born in Bethlehem, when Jesus quoted his gospel, “whatever you did for the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me” (Matthew 25:40). Artaban understood he had met Jesus many times during his journey.

“The Other Wise Man” is a beautiful story we usually talk about on the feast of Epiphany. This story has a meaningful message (moral) helpful not just for children.

Artaban dedicated his entire life and wealth to follow and find the Truth, Jesus Christ the great King. Through practicing his works of mercy he never lost his focus and goal. Artaban was faithful to the star, which led him toward the right direction and destiny.

Epiphany is a feast of the star, wise men and the truth, the ultimate Truth, which is Jesus Christ to us. Are we determined enough to seek and find the Truth in our life? Are we aware of the star each of us was given by God? It is so easy to be distracted and lose focus on our journey of life by short lasting pleasures, and shiny stars that lead to false truths. The feast of Epiphany, and example of Artaban, encourage us to continue our mission to find the Truth and reach the ultimate goal, which each of us received. Jesus was born two thousand years ago in Bethlehem but wise men still seek him. We can also find him today.

Happy Epiphany,

Fr. Andrzej

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…

Tue, 12 Dec 2023 18:38:37 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Today we celebrate the Third Sunday of Advent. The color of the liturgical vestments and candle on the Advent wreath is rose, which symbolizes joy and excitement. Traditionally the Third Sunday of Advent was called Gaudete in Latin, which means Rejoice. Gaudete Sunday begins the second part of Advent. We are approaching Christmas very soon. The Church’s liturgy begins to make a shift: the first part of Advent is far more eschatological, focusing on Jesus’ Second Coming and our need, here and now, to prepare for it. In the second part, the last nine days of Advent, the focus moves to the historical events that led to Jesus’ First Coming in Bethlehem over two thousand years ago.

The liturgy has a totally different mood and readings the second part of Advent. We are given the example of John the Baptist, Mary, the mother of Jesus and her spouse Joseph, who welcomed Jesus in the flesh. We will listen to their struggles and excitement while waiting for Jesus in the liturgical readings these days. The last part of Advent is indeed exciting and joyful, and prepares us for the celebration of the Mystery of the Incarnation. God became a human being like us for our salvation. It is a great honor and mystery for us to be part of and celebrate it.

Hopefully it will be a wonderful and blessed Christmas for all of us this year. There are many activities, traditions, and celebrations planned and scheduled at St. Martin of Tours these days. It is to encourage us to make Christmas even more meaningful.

Today we bless the Baby Jesus during Masses. It is an old tradition to commemorate the image of the baby Jesus, which we place in the nativity set in the church and our houses on the night of Christmas Eve. Another tradition is the oplatki (Christmas wafers), we blessed last week. Oplatki symbolize Jesus, who comes to share his divinity with us. Like oplatki, Jesus must be shared with people but especially with those who need him more than others.

Oplatki are still available in the church and at the parish office.

A vital element of preparation for Christmas is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There is an opportunity for confession every Monday and Saturday in our church. We scheduled three priests to be available for individual confession on Monday, December 18 at 6pm. Please do not wait for the last minute to go to confession. Priests are not available in the last moment before and during Christmas.

The last Sunday of Advent falls on December 24 this year. It is unusual to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent on the day of Christmas Eve. Thus, we had to make some adjustments to our regular Mass schedule and reduced 10:30am Mass on December 24. Please see the printed schedule in the bulletin and on the website for details.

We begin our Christmas celebration on December 24 with Children's Mass at 4pm. There will be a Nativity play prepared by children at 3:30pm. We hope to see all the young families with children attending that Mass. There will be a surprise for children during and after Mass. Christmas Eve Mass in Vietnamese is scheduled at 7pm as in past years. Our Midnight Mass is scheduled at 10pm which will be preceded by a Festival of Carols at 9:30pm. Please respect the choir and do not arrive late, which would interrupt their performance.

Masses on Christmas Day are scheduled as regular Sunday.

Christmas is not just a season but also an experience and feeling. It is easy to become homesick and sad on Christmas. Let’s be more sensitive this year and make sure no one around us is lonely and unhappy.

Christmas is about giving. We are usually overwhelmed with gifts and food. But there are people who are vulnerable and in need in our community, and perhaps neighborhood. There are people who are not as fortunate as we are. I am thinking about the sick, those in the hospital, elderly, and prisoners. Let’s also remember them in our prayers and generosity. Christmas encourages us to find them and share our happiness with them.

I wish you a meaningful and blessed preparation for Christmas.

Fr. Andrzej

Advent as a House and Journey

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:38:37 GMT

Today we begin Advent. It is a liturgical season that precedes Christmas. It is a joyful and blessed time, which prepares us to anticipate the coming of Christ.

Among many spiritual aspects of Advent, I will just mention two main parts.

First, Advent prepares us for the second coming of Christ. Our Creed and the Catechism of the Catholic Church teach us about Parousia. Christ will come again to judge the living and the dead (CCC, 668-682). We believe the coming of Christ is unexpected. We do not know the day or the time. We are encouraged to get ready to meet the Lord at any time. In this first part of Advent, we listen to Isiah and other prophets who wrote extensively about (the) coming of (the) Messiah at the end of time.

The second part of Advent, after December 17, is about Mystery of Incarnation. Advent recalls the first coming of Christ on earth and prepares us to celebrate the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. The liturgy has a totally different mood and readings during the second part. The liturgical readings bring up the example of John the Baptist, Mary, the mother of Jesus and her spouse Joseph, who welcomed Jesus in the flesh. We listen to their struggles and excitement while waiting for Jesus. The second part is profound and joyful, and prepares us directly for the celebration of the feast of the Nativity of Jesus Christ.

Additionally, Advent as the first liturgical season begins the New Liturgical Year. We celebrate New Year’s Day in the liturgical calendar today. Advent, like every beginning, is an opportunity to start over. Advent as a season and journey encourages us to leave the old and evil, and begin the new and good. The liturgy every day, and especially on Sundays, gives us advice, variety of images, or encouragements for a meaningful journey of Advent. It is to keep us on track to meet and welcome the Lord during our journey.

Today’s gospel presents us with an image of a house and man on a journey. Before his departure the man entrusted his house to his servants. The owner of the house hopes to be welcomed and find his house in a good shape upon his return.

This passage is taken from the second part of the gospel of Mark. Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure and hopes his disciples will continue his mission here on earth and take care of the community of believers during his absence.

While Jesus is referring to a house, he is not really thinking about a regular house, built out of bricks and wood. Definitely, Jesus is not talking about a building. Indeed, Jesus did not have his own house. He always traveled and stayed with other people since he left his family in Nazareth.

I believe Jesus speaks about a house in a spiritual sense in today’s parable. It is a house as a dwelling place with a close relationship with his followers. It is a house of living faith and unconditional love, a house of prayer and place of mercy.

It is providential this gospel passage from Mark is assigned the First Sunday of Advent. We are encouraged to take care of our houses, our homes and family members in Advent, but above all, we must take care of our hearts as dwelling places to welcome returning Jesus. Jesus who is on his journey must find a dwelling place, home and shelter, in our hearts and our families upon his arrival.

Advent is usually understood as a time of waiting and watching for Christ. For me it is more of a venture or journey towards God. It is a beautiful and joyful time, but above all a dynamic and hard-working period of preparation for Christmas. I must make an effort to search and find God first in my heart, and then, in the people around me.

Have a wonderful journey of Advent.

Fr. Andrzej

Voice Crying in the Desert

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 18:38:37 GMT

Advent is the first season of the liturgical year and encourages us to start over. Like every beginning in our lives Advent is an occasion to make a resolution to leave the old and evil, and begin the new and good. Today’s gospel, taken from the beginning of the gospel according to Mark, reminds us once again about new beginning.

John the Baptist is the prophet of Advent. His entire life was dedicated to waiting and preparing for the coming of the Messiah. The first condition to welcome the Messiah according to John is repentance and conversation. John lived in the desert where he taught and baptized those who chose to change their lives, renounced evil, and followed good. The author of the gospel calls John “a voice of one crying in the desert” (Mk 1:3). There were many messengers of God throughout the history of salvation who were like a voice crying in the desert because no people listened to them.

On the other hand, there are many people who chose repentance, left evil, and followed good and God, but still fall into the same sin over and over again. St. Paul went through the same struggle when he wrote, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do (…) As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me” (Rom 7:15-17). That struggle of leaving evil and choosing good is common to many people. They know they must never give up, but perseverance on starting over again and again is very hard on them. And certainly, they feel like a voice crying in the desert in their struggle of conversion. Does God listen to them?

The expression “a voice of one crying in the desert” does not originate from Mark. It is quoted by Isiah and found in the story of Hagar and Ishmael in the Book of Genesis.

Hagar was a slave of Sarah, who was the wife of Abraham. Sarah was childless and asked Abraham to have his offspring with Hagar. Hagar gave Abraham a son, Ishmael. But when Sarah miraculously got pregnant and bore Abraham her son Isaac, there was a conflict between Sarah and Hagar. As a consequence, Abraham decided to send Hagar and her child away to the desert. They received only bread and a skin of water for their journey. The bread and water were gone after a few days in the desert. Now, they were about to die. Hagar did not want to see her son Ishmael die and decided to die far away from him. She left him in a place far away from her so she could not listen to her son crying to death. Scripture says God heard a voice crying in the desert in that moment of terrible drama and struggle. The cry of the little boy saved them. God sent his angel to Hagar and showed her a spring of water that saved them both. Additionally, God promised to make a great nation of Ishmael (Genesis 21).

This wonderful story reminds us God always listens to our prayer, even if it feels like a voice crying in the desert. God appreciates our struggle for good and gives us a helpful hand. John the Baptist reminds us repentance and conversion is an essential part of preparation to welcome the Messiah during Advent. And our struggle to turn away from evil to choose good is heard by God, and will be rewarded when we meet the Lord during Christmas time.

Fr. Andrzej

Advent at St. Martin of Tours

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 14:35:35 GMT

Solemnity of Christ the King begins the last week in Ordinary Time. It reminds us we at the threshold of Advent. It is blessed time, which prepares us to anticipate the "coming of Christ" from three different perspectives: the physical nativity in Bethlehem, thereception of Christ in the heart of the believer, and the eschatological Second Coming of Christ. Advent is a joyful and meaningful liturgical season of meeting Christ in different circumstances and other people every day. I hope our parish, our families, and each of us will take as much as we can from the richness of this blessed season.

The liturgy is very unique during Advent. There are additional services and occasions which will be held at our church and parish this blessed season. Please join us for both, the regular services and celebrations as well as the special events and activities.

Here are a few festivities I encourage you to take part in.

We would like to make Advent more accessible and meaningful for our families and children. The monthly family and children Mass will be on Sunday, December 3 at 10.30am. It will be a good occasion to introduce Advent, as a time of preparation for Christmas, to our children.

Breakfast with Santa will take place on December 3 at 8am-12pm. We hope to see your whole family during this traditional event at our parish. During the same weekend (December 2-3) we will have a Christmas Craft Fair. It is a good opportunity to complete our home decorations, support local artists, and buy gifts for loved ones.

Katie Delemont, director of Religious Education, is preparing a special liturgy and Children’s Christmas Pageant during Christmas Eve Mass. It is a good opportunity for you and your family to be more involved and participate. Your presence and active involvement will make our Advent and Christmas even more beautiful.

A vital element of preparation for Christmas is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We scheduled reconciliation on December 4 and 18 and will have multiple priests available to listen to confessions during Eucharist Adoration at 6pm.

On December 6 at 7pm we will have a reflection on Advent and the Eucharist by Dr. Michael Brummond, a professor at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology. Dr. Brummond will help us to deepen the mystery of the Eucharist in the context of Advent.

Another parish pasta dinner is scheduled on December 9 from 5-6.30pm. This is a great opportunity to meet for good food and fellowship.

Our food pantry will have a few food drives during Advent. We hope to collect plenty of food and reach out to as many families as we can during this blessed time. Perhaps you have some extra food at home which you are willing to share with those in need. The number of families we are helping is increasing and our need for food is growing.

We will bless and sell oplatki during Advent. Oplatki will be available to pick up before or after weekend Masses, or at theparish office during the week. We will also bless Baby Jesus during Masses the week before Christmas. It is an old traditional custom to bless the Baby Jesus you are planning to place in your home nativity set during Christmas.

Theses are just some of the activities and celebrations during Advent at St. Martin of Tours. If we missed something or you would like to suggest other activities or celebrations, please let us know. I am looking forward to seeing you all during this blessed Advent season.

Blessed Advent,

Fr. Andrzej

The Lamp and the Oil

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 15:58:00 GMT

The parable about the wise and foolish virgins, assigned as a gospel reading for the Thirty Second Sunday in OT (Matthew 25:1-13), teaches us about our faith and personal relationship with God.

My reflection last Sunday was about November. November is a month to remember our faithful departed but also to reflect about the mystery of death. We are encouraged to think about our own death and meeting with the Lord in our due time. Meeting the Lord face to face is the ultimate goal of our existence and our faith journey on the earth. The essential element of our preparation for that meeting with the Lord is our personal relationship with God. If we have a close and lively relationship with God, the meeting face to face will be wonderful and we will be happily welcomed to enter God’s Kingdom. Our transition from this earthly life to heaven will be smooth. Therefore, today’s parable about the relationship with God is very helpful and is given to us in the right time.

The two key elements of today’s parable are lamps and oil. A lamp is useful in darkness but only when there is oil inside the lamp. A lamp without oil, which fuels and makes the lamp shine, is useless.

I remember oil lamps in the Philippines. The lamps were still in use in the remote places where there was no electricity. The lamps were fueled with a coconut oil produced by local farmers. It was always crucial to have enough oil to light the lamps during the night otherwise an empty lamp was not helpful at all.

As mentioned above, the author of today’s parable used these two elements, lamps and oil, to illustrate our faith and relationship with God. The lamp symbolizes our faith and the oil our relationship with God. Similar to the virgins in the parable, we were entrusted with the virtue of faith given to us by God through our parents and teachers. They gave us the tool and opportunity to grow in our faith and relationship with God. The oil is the effort to be aware and to contact with God. It sometimes requires our hard work to see and relate to God during our busy days and life. But only this effort, our relationship with God, enables our faith and keeps our spiritual life going.

There is a moment in the parable when the foolish virgins were asking to borrow some oil from the wise ones. But it was not given to them. The oil, the personal relationship with God, must be fetched by each individual personally. It cannot be borrowed or shared. It is our own personal responsibility. There is no other way to get it but only directly from God. Our parents gave us the lamp, but they cannot give us the oil. It is our own responsibility and task during life to make sure there is an oil in our lamps of faith.

The virgins who had enough oil are called wise in the parable contrary to the foolish, who had no oil. And at the end, when the foolish wanted to enter inside and join the banquet, the Lord answered to them, “I do not know you” (Matthew 25:12). There was no relationship between the foolish virgins and the Lord. They did not know each other. The foolish virgins were rejected upon arrival of the Lord.

Let’s be grateful for today’s parable and helpful encouragement to keep in touch with God. It is up to you and me to know God and to make sure God knows us personally as well. It depends on our individual experience with God. The month of November reminds us to make a constant effort to keep our lamps of faith full of spiritual oil, which is given to us directly from God.

Fr. Andrzej

Prayer for our Faithful Departed during November

Thu, 02 Nov 2023 15:07:33 GMT

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches about Communion of Saints. It is an article of our faith we frequently repeat in the Creed. We express our faith in three sets of people who are or will become saints, people who belong to the Pilgrim Church here on earth (we are included in this group), Triumphant Church in heaven, and Suffering Church in purgatory. We believe these three different groups pray and support each other. Due to the mystery of Communion of Saints we, as people on earth, the Pilgrim Church, have a link with the Church Triumphant and Church Suffering.

The Church Triumphant in heaven enjoys the vision of God and we can pray to those saints asking for their intercession to God. The Church Suffering in purgatory is in the process of purification. CCC reminds us our prayer is necessary to accompany those who have died to easier transition from life on earth to heaven.

November is a month dedicated to the Suffering Church. We remember our loved ones, family members, friends, and benefactors who have died. We need to pray for them. They count on our remembrance. At the same time, when we pray for them we pray for our faith in life eternal. The celebrations of All Saints and All Souls strengthen our faith in resurrection and life eternal. We believe life does not end here on earth. Death is just a gate through which we all must go to another, better life, where we are called to be with God.

We are encouraged to visit the cemetery frequently and offer Mass intentions for our faithful departed. One of the forms of our prayer mentioned by the CCC are the indulgences. It is a special prayer with an intention offered for the dead. (CCC, 1471-1479). Indulgences remove all temporal punishment accumulated for sins for the souls in purgatory. There are a few conditions: faithful devoutly receive Holy Communion, visit a cemetery and pray, and pray for the departed reciting “Creed, Our Father, Hail Mary, and for the intentions of the Pope.

The month of November also reminds us we will be united with our brothers and sisters in purgatory and hopefully in heaven one day. We do not know the day. We are encouraged to prepare and be ready to meet the Lord in our due time. We have our whole life to accept this and get ready. Let’s be united in prayer this November for our faithful departed, especially those who are buried in our parish cemetery.

Finally, it is a good opportunity to express my gratitude to the Cemetery Committee for the successful completion of the columbarium project in our cemetery. Thank you to everyone who worked hard to donate and collect money, those who ordered this beautiful columbarium and finalized the details. The columbarium will be blessed and open soon. It will serve our parishioners for many years to come.

Fr. Andrzej

The Commandment to Love God and Our Neighbors

Tue, 24 Oct 2023 15:16:14 GMT

I was assigned as a missionary in India in the late 1990s and beginning 2000s. It was an adventure and wonderful experience for me, but at the same time, it was a challenge. As a young priest I had to live and work in a totally different country and culture. I had to compromise many of my customs and things I used to do in Europe.

One of the difficulties I had to encounter was travel. Beside my parish and formation ministry I was asked to help in vocation work. Thus, I traveled a lot to visit our new candidates throughout the country. We did not have a car or even a motorbike in the religious community at that time. I used public transportation all the time.

One day I had to go to Mumbai, Maharashtra. I took a train from Cochin, Kerala to Mumbai and it was an adventure indeed. Those who have ever visited India and are familiar with Indian trains will know what I am writing about. First, the trains are very slow. You could sometimes get on and off while the train was running. Second, the trains had a few classes of comfort. The last one, usually at the end of the train, did not even have chairs inside. People, together with animals, packages and any kind of products, were sitting on the floor.

On that day it took me 29 hours to travel to Mumbai. I bought a middle-class ticket. I had a chair and little table but still I was extremely exhausted. When I got off the train, I found a little bench outside of the train station where I sat down. I was resting before taking another trip by bus to my final destination. Suddenly a young man greeted me and offered me a ride by rickshaw. I graciously accepted his offer and he brought me to the address I intended to travel. During that long ride, I learned his name was Manish. He traveled around the town and searched for people who were lost, sick, homeless, and in need. I presume I looked terrible when Manish noticed me at the train station. At the end, when I wanted to pay, he refused. He had a terribly messy life before his conversion. Now, helping others kept him going and gave him a purpose to live.

I left India twenty years ago, but I still remember Manish, who helped me in need. I am still impressed with his good heart, and with what he was doing. His example helps me to listen and understand the Book of Exodus (today’s first reading) where God is asking his people to have compassion and take care of the widows, orphans, aliens, debtors, and those in need. God has a good heart, especially for those who are in need. Like Manish, God searches and finds those who suffer and are vulnerable. Manish was not a Christian. He believed in Hinduism. But he had a heart which was similar to God’s heart.

In his encyclical, “Fratelli Tutti,” Pope Francis speaks about non-Christians who have hearts similar to the heart of God, even more than the heart of those who are believers in Jesus Christ. Then Francis continues, ”Paradoxically, those who claim to be unbelievers can sometimes put God’s will into practice better than believers” (#74). I presume Pope Francis spoke about people like Manish.

The greatest commandment to love God and our neighbor (today’s gospel reading) reminds us to have hearts similar to God’s, full of compassion for those vulnerable and in need. We are encouraged to listen to our good hearts, make an effort to go out of our comfort zones, and find those who are in need. We have many of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, at St. Martin of Tours and Franklin, who need our help. We must open our eyes and ears to see and listen to them.

Fr. Andrzej

What Belongs to Caesar and What Belongs to God

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 15:18:25 GMT

The Pharisees sent messengers to Jesus with a vital dilemma regarding paying taxes. It was to test Jesus, who was considered by many people as a wise Rabbi. The question was tricky. Any answer would not be good, either not politically correct or not popular for people who were occupied by Romans at that time. Therefore, Jesus took the dilemma of the Pharisees to another level, theological and spiritual.

“Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” (Matthew 22:21). I believe this famous answer of Jesus from the Gospel reading this 29th Sunday does not speak about politics of finance matters at all. It is about priorities and values that must never be compromised by disciples of Jesus. It is about a clear understanding of what is essential and less important for us. Both realities, sacrum and profanum (sacred and profane) must be clearly distinguished in our personal, family, and community life. Both realities are vital, appreciated, and never confused with each other.

We need things that are holy and consecrated for the Lord. We must never give up our essential values as Christians and human beings. We need vacation, feasts, and holidays. There is no doubt about it. At the same time, we must cherish and appreciate the ordinary times, informal realities, and things that are less important. We must appreciate the vital elements and sacred realities because they are surrounded by ordinary times and things. We would be bored and never appreciate the sacred without profane elements of our existence and world. There must be a balance between sacrum and profanum in our lives. We must respect the difference and distinguish holidays from ordinary times, value from no value and deficiency, as well as good from evil. And we must never mix these two realities as followers of Jesus. Although the answer of Jesus “Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God” sounds familiar and very old, it is useful for our reflection and spiritual growth today.

Fr. Andrzej

Eucharist Foretastes the Heavenly Banquet

Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:40:58 GMT

The Gospel for 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time offers us another meaningful parable to describe the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom ofGod is like a wonderful feast banquet prepared by God. As children of God, we are invited to that banquet.

The concept of a feast banquet as an image of eternal life and God’s Kingdom is not new in the Bible. The prophet Isiah (first reading)describes a plentiful feast prepared on the mountain of God as a reward for a good life. It is a “feast of rich food for all peoples, a
banquet of aged wine — the best of meats and the finest of wines.” Additionally, according to Isiah, “God will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples on that holy mountain” (Isiah 25:6). The shroud is usually used to cover dead people. God does not want to feast with the dead but with those who chose life. The invitation to join the banquet is an invitation to remove the shroud that makes us slaves of sin and death. It is an invitation to live life to the fulness instead of choosing death.

For us Catholics the Eucharist instituted by Jesus Christ for us on earth is the foretaste of the banquet in heaven. The first Christians believed the Eucharist was the gate to enter the agape feast or heavenly banquet promised by God and described by prophet Isiah.
There are many artful depictions, which illustrate the banquet feast and painted in the catacombs in Rome where the first Christians celebrated Eucharist. According to that art, Jesus Christ with the Father and Holy Spirit, together with all the Saints of Heaven, are
present when the Eucharist is celebrated. It is a wonderful witness and encouragement for us today who are struggling to believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

The Sacramental Blood of Christ Returns at Mass

It is providential this weekend we are bringing back the administration of the Blood of Christ (cup) during Holy Communion.

Archbishop Listecki has encouraged the clergy to restore the cup a few months ago. There are many parishes of the Archdiocese that
brought it back. Listening to you dear parishioners, I believe it is time for St. Martin of Tours to do the same. We do it with watchful care and respect for those who cannot receive the Blood of Christ or afraid to do so.

The tradition encourages us to receive Jesus, with his Body and Blood during Holy Communion. The moment of consecration during every Mass, which recalls and celebrates the Last Supper, has been always celebrated with both, bread and wine. This is how Jesus, his disciples, and then, the first Christians celebrated Eucharist. However, this tradition has often been simplified and adjusted to the needs and circumstances throughout the world.

Now, it depends on every diocese how the Holy Communion is encouraged and given to the faithful. Thus, it is perfectly correct to receive Holy Communion in just one form as bread (blessed host) which is the Body of Christ.

At the same time, there are many people in our parish who requested the Blood of Christ (cup) during Holy Communion. Thus, we decided to return and we will offer the cup for those who wish to receive it during weekday Masses. It is also a good opportunity to say thank you to the Eucharistic ministers at St. Martin of Tours. We are blessed to have many Eucharistic Ministers but we will need even more now. If you wish to serve as a Eucharistic minister or you used to serve let us know.

The official installation of our Eucharist Ministers will take place during every Mass this weekend. I would like that every Eucharistic Minister serving at St. Martin of Tours will be trained and officially installed.

Forgiveness Seventy Seven Times

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 19:59:51 GMT

The gospel passage assigned this Twenty Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time does not intend to teach us economy nor encourage us to pay our debts. It is rather about relationship with our brothers and sisters, and with God. It challenges and inspires us for spiritual growth.

The first thing that comes to my mind after reading today’s gospel is forgiveness. Limitless forgiveness is an essential element of our relationship with God and each other. The gospel strongly encourages us to forgive others because God forgives us much more than we can even imagine. An authentic forgiveness of those who sinned against us is necessary to receive forgiveness from God, and to honestly pray “Our Father.” In fact, forgiveness to others is the only condition I ask people who are coming to confession before I give them absolution. It is a “must” before receiving God’s forgiveness for our wrongdoings and mistakes. We are encouraged to forgive even if it is hard to do so. Otherwise, we will be similar to that “wicked servant” from today’s parable, who received a huge forgiveness of his debt but was not able to forgive a little debt of his co-servant.

Today’s gospel links God’s forgiveness with our forgiveness. We need both forgiveness (God’s and ours) to grow spiritually and to enter the Kingdom of God. It is a challenge but this challenge enables us to grow in the eyes of God.

I am always encouraged when I recall the great act of forgiveness by the Amish community, who were able to forgive Charles Roberts when he killed their innocent children in school in 2006 in Pennsylvania. I am always inspired by John Paul II who forgave Mehmet Ali Ağca his attempt at killing him in 1981 in Rome. These heroic examples of forgiveness build up our faith and courage us to forgive those who sinned against us. Similarly, my faith is uplifted when I hear your own stories of forgiveness and struggle to reconcile. Thank you very much for your example and effort.

Peter struggled to forgive and was seeking compassion from Jesus because it was “his brother” who sinned against him. Indeed, it is hard to forgive those who are family members and suppose to love us. We do not expect sin but rather love and kindness from our loved ones. When they hurt us it is very painful. It is really hard to forgive them again and again. I believe it is easier to forgive our enemy once than to forgive “our brother” always.

Lastly, forgiveness is an act of my free will. It is up to me to forgive or not. Even if I am not ready for reconciliation I can forgive in the silence of my heart. I am the first beneficent of this act. An act of forgiveness liberates my mind and heart. In fact, when I forgive I first help myself. I cannot honestly pray and freely relate to God and other people when there is hatred in my heart. Thus, Christ asked us to forgive always.

Today’s theme of forgiveness reminds us about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is a place and moment to forgive and receive forgiveness. I encourage you dear brothers and sisters to take advantage of this sacrament more often. We offer confessions in our church on Mondays during Eucharistic adoration at 6pm, and on Saturdays at 3pm before evening Mass. Additionally we offer confessions on First Fridays during adoration in the morning and evening. Besides, you can always make an appointment with a priest and make confession anytime you need. Do not hesitate to make us priests busy with confessions. It is one of the most beautiful ministries we can offer to you.

Fr. Andrzej

Prayer For God's Wisdom

Thu, 27 Jul 2023 20:06:46 GMT

The first reading this 17th Sunday in Ordinary time describes the prayer of Solomon and the declaration he made as he prepared to take the reins of government from his father David. "Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of yours?" (1Kings 3:9). It is a wonderful prayer for God’s wisdom to be able to discern good from evil.

Before his death, King David had charged his son to walk in God's ways and to keep God statutes, commandments, feasts and testimonies. The young king was instructed to govern according to all that is written in the Law of Moses... for to do so would ensure his success.

Solomon appeared to put his father's advice into practice, for when the Lord appeared to the young king and asked him what he would like the Lord to do for him, Solomon requested an understanding heart so he could judge God's people wisely. He asked to be equipped to discern between good and evil. He did not ask for wealth, power, or a long life, and his unselfish answer pleased the Lord.

Solomon made many mistakes and failed many times during his long reign like every human being. However, he was a successful king, who was faithful to God, loved people entrusted to him, and judged them according to God’s wisdom. As a culmination of his meaningful reign, Solomon was also able to build the House of God, also known as "the First Temple" in 931 BCE. It was very significant and a symbolic venture to show that God is present among his people.

Today’s gospel brings up the topic of Kingdom of God, which is at hand and among us. Kingdom of God is like a priceless treasure or pearl and it is worthy of spending our lives to search and find it. As Jesus’ disciples we are encouraged to search for it, recognize it, and make it known. Although it is at hand, it is not always obvious God lives among us and created this world, which seems full of evil. Indeed, we need to make an effort to see God and his Kingdom in our realities and daily life. After the example of Solomon, we must pray to God to give us an understanding heart to judge this world wisely and be able to discern between good and evil.

St. Christopher - Patron Saint of Travelers

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:54:37 GMT

On July 25 we traditionally celebrate the feast of St. Christopher, patron saint of drivers and travelers. We do not know much about St. Christopher. Most of our knowledge about him is taken from undocumented stories and legends. According to them Christopher lived in the third century in the Roman Empire. Christopher was attracted by the Gospel and converted to the Christian faith. He met a hermit who lived a holy life and instructed Christopher in the Christian life and doctrine. Christopher asked him how he could serve Christ. When the hermit suggested fasting and prayer, Christopher replied he was unable to perform that service. The hermit then suggested that because of his size and strength Christopher could serve Christ by assisting people to cross a dangerous river, where they were perishing in the attempt. The hermit promised this service would be pleasing to Christ.

After Christopher had performed this service for some time, a little child asked him to take him across the river. During the crossing, the river became swollen and the child seemed extremely heavy, so much so Christopher could barely carry him and found himself in great difficulty. When he finally reached the other side, he said to the child: "You have put me in the greatest danger. I do not think the whole world could have been as heavy on my shoulders as you were." The child replied: "You had on your shoulders not only the whole world but God who made it. I am Christ your king, whom you are serving by this work." The child then disappeared.

This beautiful legend about St. Christopher was kept in spoken tradition for centuries, and made him a patron of travelers and drivers. Nowadays, many drivers pray to God through the intercession of St. Christopher at the beginning of their travel. In fact, we are all travelers in our earthly journey, through difficulties and danger, to our final destination in the Heavenly
Kingdom. We need the intercession of St. Christopher on a daily basis.

On the occasion of the feast of St. Christopher many parishes and communities bless cars, motorcycles, bikes, boats, and any means of transportation. When we bless cars or any vehicles, we bless the drivers and passengers at the same time. I am glad and I hope the St. Christopher blessing will become a regular tradition at St. Martin of Tours parish.

The source: John J. Crawley. "Saint Christopher martyr third century," (2014).

WHEAT AMONG WEEDS

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 13:48:54 GMT

Today’s gospel brings us another parable that uses an image of a sower and farm. Similarly to last Sunday, today’s readings are not about agriculture at all. Instead, the image of a sower, wheat and weeds, as well as the harvest described in the gospel teach us a lot about our spiritual growth and relationship with God.

In this short interpretation, I will mention just two morals (out of many) from today’s parable.

First, the wheat among weeds symbolizes our virtues, and limitations or weaknesses in relationship with God. God planted many gifts and good values within us but we have learned many vices and developed limitations during our lives.
Some of the vices and limitations became habit and it is impossible to detach from them. Instead of fighting our whole life, we can make friendship with our limitations. Then, we can place them in a proper place and live beside them in peace. Our spiritual journey is more difficult because we must carry additional burden of our limitations, which are slowing us
down, and make our spiritual journey with God less enjoyable and fruitful. But it is still better than to fight our whole life without any progress towards God. I believe God in his mercy and compassion allows us to continue our earthly journey and will welcome us as we are, with our vices and limitations at the time of harvest.

Second, the image of wheat among weeds symbolizes our prayer. Prayer is like a nourishment and necessary element of our spiritual growth. We have a good will and make an effort to pray. We use a variety of methods and kinds of prayer but our prayer is often interrupted and disturbed by our temptations and crazy thoughts anyway. Our prayer becomes like a place of
battle of good and holy thoughts against the evil ones. And indeed, we often choose to battle during our prayer.

Today’s gospel offers us a compromise that might be helpful. Instead of battle, we can include the interrupting thoughts into our prayer and make them part of reflection. We can embrace them and learn of who we are from them. This kind of prayer will definitely keep us humble.

One thing is certain. Whatever way and kind of faith journey we choose, it is always a struggle. We need a lot of effort and hard work. As long as we continue and not give up, we grow spiritually and journey with God. Let’s be encouraged and grateful for today’s gospel.

God's Farm

Tue, 11 Jul 2023 14:01:04 GMT

I used to visit a fishermen’s village, Bualan, Mindanao during my missionary work in the Philippines. That village belonged to my parish and I was blessed to minister to them on a monthly basis. Everything was about fish and sea food in that village. Whenever I visited Bualan, people expected me to listen to them, understand, and wanted me to talk about the sea and fish, even during my homilies as well. Everything was about who they were and what they did. They were delighted when sometimes the gospel reading was about fish, fishing, or at least about the sea.

Being at St. Martin of Tours more than a year, I learned it is a parish of farmers and those who used to farm. Thus, I presume today’s readings about a sower will be well received and appreciated here.

I believe those who are farmers will not necessarily agree with the sower and the way he was sowing the seeds. I am certain there are easier and better ways to sow today. Moreover, I do not think the author of the gospel was a farmer and intended to teach people to farm.

The liturgical readings assigned for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time use the image of a farmer but it is not about agriculture at all. It is about God and our spiritual growth, thus let’s say, the theme of today’s liturgy is about “God’s farm.” The readings speak about generosity of God, who like a Sower pours out his Word and grace everywhere and to everyone. The Word of God and grace, which are the seeds in the parable, are given and accessible to everyone regardless who they are and what they do. Even the greatest sinners are loved by God unconditionally. Everyone is invited to “God’s farm” and to take part in God’s work.

We are the soil. Some of us are poorer, others had a better start to life, and some were lucky to be brought up close to God. We are all different and unique to God. It is up to us to accept God’s seed, reflect, understand and implement it in our lives. God wants us to be successful and happy. It is up to you and me to produce good fruit. Some of us are meant to bring thirty-fold, others fifty-fold and still others hundred-fold harvest.

Dear brothers and sisters wherever you are and whatever you do, you are included in “God’s farm.” As the community of St. Martin of Tours we try our best to do God’s work. Do not hesitate to come and join us. Please reach out to those who feel rejected and excluded. It is easier to be with others to do the work of God, and produce much fruit in the community, in “God’s farm,” rather than alone.

Fr. Andrzej

Jesus' Yoke and Burden

Mon, 10 Jul 2023 14:03:37 GMT

My yoke is easy and my burden light (Mt 11:30). I understand these words form today’s gospel as an invitation to those who are tired, overwhelmed by their busy life, and struggle to make ends meet. I believe this passage of Matthew relates to the passage from the previous Sunday, when we were invited to take up our cross in following Jesus (Mt 10:38). Jesus is not promising to his follower a journey without a cross. Contrary, our crosses are necessary requirements of discipleship. We understand our cross as the daily work, responsibilities, sickness, and perhaps people we have to relate to. We carry our crosses and often take it negatively. It is like a burden to us. It does not need to be like that. Instead, Jesus invites us to take his yoke that is easy and burden light. How to reconcile these two passages from Matthew about the cross and easy yoke, which seem contrary to each other?

The word “cross” has a broader meaning in the original language. The Greek word “σταυρός” (stavrrós) could mean a piece of wood that was used to torture and crucify people by Romans 2000 years ago. We usually take this meaning and interpret the entire passage negatively. But the word “stavrrós” has a few other meanings. It could be translated as a support or tool to make somebody’s task or job easier to accomplish. I believe the author of the gospel of Matthew used “stavrrós,” in the latter meaning. In a spiritual sense and our context “stavrrós” means God’s grace and call to accept the way Jesus shows us. Jesus offers us the beatitudes, the ommandments to love, and the sacraments – these are the spiritual tools – to make our journey possible and meaningful. Jesus’ offer, when received and implemented, leads us to life, contrary to offers of the World that lead to distress and spiritual death.

If we graciously accept “stavrrós,” which God offers to each of us, and when we embrace it and make it our own, we realize our journey can be meaningful and easy. You feel at peace, harmonious and close to God. The conviction that you are in the right place and on the right way makes you stronger to complete your task and mission “for the yoke is easy, and burden light.” When the yoke is right, realizes the energy, and makes the mission possible and the burden light.

There is another profound element of this meaningful passage from today’s gospel. The words “burden light” does not necessarily mean light in weight. Often the burden is heavy anyway. The word light could mean a visible radiant energy, that kind of light which shines in darkness. The spiritual sense of light means a sign, encouragement, a way to safe place, especially to those who are broken, confused, and stuck in darkness. Anyone who accepts Jesus’ yoke and follows God’s way makes their burden as the light of Christ, a sign and encouragement for those in darkness.

100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRIESTS OF THE SACRED HEART IN THE USA

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 16:05:54 GMT

2023 is the year when we celebrate the centennial anniversary of the SCJs in the USA. It is a wonderful opportunity to refresh the history and names of those who brought the congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart (SCJ) to our country. St. Martin of Tours parish has its own part of the SCJs history. The SCJs have ministered at our parish for fifty years. However, the SCJs presence in the USA did not begin at St. Martin of Tours in Franklin, WI. The first SCJs presence was established in South Dakota, where the pioneer SCJ missionaries began their ministry to the Lakota People.

The SCJs are also known as Dehonians. Dehonians comes from the name of the founder, Fr. Leo John Dehon, who began this religious congregation in 1878 in France. Dehon built his charism on the spirituality of the Sacred Heart and Jesuit’s discernment. Dehon asked his brothers and priests to leave the sacristies and go out to meet people where they were. He sent his first priests to a local textile factory in Val-des-Bois, and others, to foreign missions in Ecuador and Congo. Dehon was a holy man but also a man of vision and mission. His congregation was attractive and grew fast. Dehonians spread throughout France, and then, moved out to neighboring countries in Europe, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Finland, and Italy. Then, the SCJs moved to Africa, Asia, and South America. At present, the SCJs minister in 40 countries throughout the World. Dehonians moved eventually to the USA one hundred years ago.

The first SCJ who arrived in the USA was Fr. Mathias Fohrman, a Luxembourger priest. He arrived in 1919 but it took time and much effort before the Dehonian presence was stabilized in our country. Fr. Forhman, who is considered the founder of the SCJs in the USA, was invited to South Dakota to serve Native American people. He began his ministry in 1923. Fr. Forhman was soon joined by a bigger group of Dehonian missionaries from Europe.

For the Feast of the Epiphany in 1923, Fr. Fohrman visited Lower Brule, SD and was introduced to the Native American culture. During Palm Sunday on March 25, 1923, Father Fohrman said Mass for the first time at St. Mary’s Church in Lower Brule and the work of the Priests of the Sacred Heart “in service to the mission” began in the United States. The official presence and ministry of the Congregation became a fact and reality. (Claudia M. Duratschek, Builders of God’s Kingdom. The History of the Catholic Church in South Dakota (Chamberlain, SD: Register-Lakota Printing, 1989), 282; see also: Joseph Golden, “Work of Divine Providence” (Cor Unum, November 1951), 10-12).

It is quite significant the day from which the SCJs officially began to count the presence of the SCJs in the USA is that day on March 25, 1923, when Fr. Fohrman celebrated the first Mass in South Dakota. In fact, there were many arguments about which day should be commemorated and written down in the acts (papers) as the day of the beginning of the presence of the Congregation in this country. Wayne Jenkins, SCJ, in his work, We the Congregation in Service to the Mission: Tale of Two Beginnings, provides a detailed history of the US Province, describes the possible beginnings, and dates well. Hence, it is not the day when Fr. Fohrman arrived in America, nor when he arrived in South Dakota, nor when the SCJs decided to establish their first community and bought a house, nor even when the United States was declared as a Province, but instead, it is the day when the SCJs began their ministry among the Lakota people. (Jenkins, We the Congregation, 4-5).

The first Dehonian community spread to other States and missions in the Midwest, Mississippi, Texas, California, and East Coast. It became a large Province in the 70s and 80s. Nowadays, the US Province continues its mission in South Dakota, Wisconsin, Mississippi, Texas, and Florida. We serve parishes and operate schools. We support social service ministries and family

outreach programs. One of our oldest ministries in the United States is St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, SD., just a short drive from the location of that first Mass. Through Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology in Hales Corners, WI, we prepare men from around the world for ordained ministry and serve lay students through our master’s program. And just as the Dehonian presence in the United States was begun by missionary outreach, the US Province is committed to building the Church by supporting missions throughout the world including Vietnam, India, the Philippines, South Africa, DR Congo, and Indonesia. The Province also invited SCJ members from other countries, ethnic groups and cultures to join and support their missions in the USA. As a result, the US Province became intercultural. Over 30% of their members are international today.

As we celebrate the centennial anniversary of the SCJ presence in the USA, I would like to invite St. Martin of Tours community to take part in our jubilee. We will have many opportunities to learn about the SCJs and our missions. Perhaps some of us will have a chance to visit South Dakota in October for the Mission Education trip at St. Joseph’s Indian School. I am grateful for your support and taking an active part of the Dehonian mission at St. Martin of Tours and throughout the country. If you wish to know more about the origin and SCJs history in the USA, please go to our parish website and find a few articles about it.

Fr. Andrzej

June, the month of the Sacred Heart

Tue, 13 Jun 2023 16:13:21 GMT

June is known as the month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus most simply because the solemnity of the Sacred Heart is celebrated during this month. This year, the solemnity was celebrated on June 16. Unlike in previous years, we celebrated this feast at our church with a simple reception that followed after Mass.

The feast dates back to 1673, when St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1647-1690), a French nun who belonged to the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary, began to receive visions about the Sacred Heart. Jesus appeared to Margaret Mary with request to venerate his Sacred Heart and explained the immense love he has for humanity. These mystical visions continued for 18 months. On June 16, 1675, Jesus told Margaret Mary to promote a feast that honored his Sacred Heart.

The Vatican was hesitant to declare a feast to the Sacred Heart, but the devotion spread throughout France and around the World quickly. Eventually, in 1856, Pope Pius IX designated the Friday following the feast of Corpus Christi as the feast of the Sacred Heart for the universal Church. Ever since, the month of June has been devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and his immense love for us all.

The spirituality of the Heart of Jesus was popularized by St. Margaret Mary but, in fact, its origin goes back to the gospels. It began with the pierced heart of Jesus at the Cross, which is described by the gospel of John (19:32-35). The founder of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, Fr. Leo John Dehon, asked his followers to promote his charism, based on the spirituality of the Heart of Jesus in our religious communities and among people we minister to.

Fr. Dehon gave us two beautiful images of the Heart of Jesus, the wounded side of Jesus on the Cross, and the Good Shepherd. Similarly, to the wounded side of Jesus, the image of Good Shepherd is also meaningfully described in the gospels. The Good Shepherd is well-known by the sheep and they listen to his voice. He goes to his sheep, knows them well, and eventually lays down his life for them. He extends the love of God to his sheep (Jn 10:14-18). In fact, the painting of the Good Shepherd is the most common of the symbolic representations of Christ found in early Christian art in the Catacombs of Rome, and was the most original image of Jesus Christ for the first Christian community. This is how the first Christians understood and imagined the love of God in his Son Jesus Christ.

The Good Shepherd with a sheep on his shoulders, stands for Fr. Dehon as an icon of God, who is loving, kind, and merciful. God makes an incredible effort to reach everyone but especially those who are lost, unheard, and least among us. It is God, in the person of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd, who loves his sheep and is ready to leave the ninety-nine to find the lost one (Lk 15:3-7). Thus, there is a large statue of the Good Shepherd in front of Sacred Heart Novitiate and welcomes everyone who enters our community in Raymond, WI, where I reside.

According to Fr. Dehon, we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart, who represents for us the love of God, which is unconditional. Jesus’ Heart is the heart of a Father, the heart of a Mother, and the heart of a Good Shepherd.

Fr. Andrzej

PENTECOST AND CONFIRMATION

Tue, 30 May 2023 16:35:38 GMT

Pentecost commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks. This important event in the Christian faith is described with details in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 2:1–31). According to Acts, the disciples of Jesus were gathered together in one place. The descent of the Holy Spirit was a powerful experience for all. There were signs to signify the Holy Spirit, like sound of wind, tongues as of fire, enthusiasm and spiritual energy among the disciples as well as ability to communicate with others through different languages. There were many people in Jerusalem on that day, who came from different countries and regions to celebrate the Jewish Feast of Weeks. All of them gathered in Jerusalem were able to understand the disciples speaking to them in their own languages and dialects.

People who received the Holy Spirit were impressed and spiritually amazed.

I do not agree with some commentators, who claim Pentecost founded the Church. Foundation of the Church of Christ was a long process initiated and completed by Jesus Christ himself. However, there is no doubt the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other followers of Jesus Christ on the fiftieth day after resurrection significantly changed and confirmed the first Christian Community. Pentecost was like a confirmation of faith of Jesus’ disciples and put an end to their doubts. The disciples received a holy enthusiasm and powerful encouragement to preach their faith in the resurrection of Jesus. Pentecost opened up the first Christian Community for the diversity of other cultures and nations. The disciples of Jesus were confirmed to carry on the mission of Jesus “Into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15).

It is providential we celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation on the Feast of Pentecost at St. Martin of Tours this year. There are nine candidates, high school students, who will receive the Sacrament of the Holy Spirit during solemn Mass on Saturday May 27. Bishop James T. Schuerman, auxiliary bishop of Milwaukee, will officiate the Sacrament of Confirmation this year. The candidates are listed on page 3.

I would like to congratulate and say thank you to their parents, families, and sponsors. The confirmation of your sons and daughters would not happen without your example and encouragement.

I am grateful to the teachers and spiritual leaders of our candidates, who prepared them to receive this important sacrament. I would like to express my special gratitude to Dcn Chuck Schneider, Diane and John Winkowski, and Joan and Gracie Hansen in accompanying and teaching our candidates for Confirmation.

Confirmation is a Sacrament of Christian commitment and a deepening of baptismal gifts. It is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation. It is most often associated with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. We believe, the Holy Spirit bestows seven gifts on us, wisdom, understanding, knowledge, fortitude, counsel, piety, and fear of the Lord, to assist us in our mission and witness. The impact of these gifts accompanies us in the various stages of our spiritual development. Thus, confirmation is considered a significant step in Christian maturity.

Let’s celebrate Pentecost with full dignity and gratitude for who we are. Let’s be grateful for the gifts of the Holy Spirit which enable us to be mature Christians, and continue the mission of Jesus in our time with complete awareness and great joy.

Holy Trinity as a model for families and our Parish Community

Tue, 30 May 2023 16:32:54 GMT

Feast of the Holy Trinity, also called Trinity Sunday, is celebrated in honor of the Holy Trinity, which is one God in three persons. Although it wasn't until 1334 Pope John XXII officially established the feast for universal observance, the mystery of the Holy Trinity has been the life pulse of the Church since the very beginning.

The word "Trinity" comes from "Trinitas," a Latin abstract noun that most literally means "three-ness" or simply put, "three are one." Trinity refers to three persons in one God, the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. The Trinity was revealed numerous times in the Gospels and the most clearly by Jesus Christ. Jesus often prayed to the Father and spoke about his love and kindness. The Father revealed his Son during Jesus’ baptism upon the river Jordan and during the Transfiguration on Mount Tabor. Jesus introduced the Holy Spirit and together with the Father sent the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and other disciples on the day of Pentecost.

Even earlier books of the Bible give us a glimpse of the Holy Trinity by making distinctions within the single divine identity of one God. Wisdom literature expresses the mystery of plurality in one God in three terms as ‘Wisdom,’ ‘Word,’ and ‘Spirit.’ These three divine attributes, which correspond to the three persons of the Holy Trinity, were in exchange and collaboration for saving work with the chosen people of God. They were present from the beginning of creation and always accompanied people throughout various stories of the Bible.

It is not a coincidence the liturgical readings these days, not just on Sunday but every day, talk about the relationship between the three persons in one God. We learn a lot about the nature of God and who God is.

Additionally, the Greek word for Trinity is “Perichoresis” (περιχώρησις – perikhōrēsis) and literally means "rotation." Perichoresis is a term referring to the relationship of the three persons of the triune God to one another. The relationship between the three persons of the Holy Trinity among themselves and people on earth is dynamic and full of love.

Moreover, the Holy Trinity as a perfect unity and harmony of three different persons but one God is often used as a model for families and communities in the Catechism and in Theology. The Trinity is dynamic, not static. It is perfect communion and communication. It is a reality in which unity and diversity exist together and at the same time. In terms of human relationships, we will never reach such perfection but we are called for openness and readiness to listen, understand, and minister to each other after the example of the triune God. It is a life-long commitment. When we are hospitable and become kind to each other, we are at the beginning of the journey with the Holy Trinity.

To conclude, let’s remember that even the ‘Sign of the Cross,’ which we make with awareness at the beginning of a day, becomes a beautiful prayer of praise of the Holy Trinity. At the same time in this unique moment of our prayer, we ask the triune God for grace and guidance to continue our spiritual relationship with God, our families, and the parish community of St. Martin of Tours. In this simple but powerful sign of our faith, we renew our commitment to follow the example given to us by the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit, community of three persons but one God.

Fr. Andrzej

Love One Another Campaign – second phase

Tue, 16 May 2023 16:37:43 GMT

The Feast of Ascension is a kick-off-day for another phase of the Love One Another (LOA) campaign in our parish. The kick-off and update will be announced by the campaign chairs and volunteers during all Masses this weekend. We are proud to inform you 57% of our goal ($621,925) has been pledged to-date. Thank you for your generosity. This means we only need to raise the final 43%.

The LOA campaign will last five years at St. Martin of Tours. Our parish will receive 60% of the funds raised from the campaign. We are excited to be able to update some of the parish facilities from the funds. Please note we have suspended the HOTROD fund during this campaign.

Among many maintenance needs are replacing HVAC units, windows, roof, as well as the parking lot and road behind the school to the cemetery. Another project, which the LOA campaign will sponsor, is an upgrade of the Wi-Fi and phone system in our buildings. We want to minister to our parishioners more effectively. The remaining 40% of the funds raised will support vital ministries throughout the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, including Catholic education and schools, priest and deacons’ formation, rural and multicultural parish, and Corporal Works of Mercy. We are a missionary church and we must share with those in need.

Please watch for your personal pledge information in the mail if you have not yet received it. We are seeking the final $477,064 to be pledged. Your pledge is payable over the next five years. We will be grateful for any pledge you can make towards meeting the needs of our parish. Once you have discerned your pledge amount, please complete the pledge card and return it to the parish no later than the middle of June, 2023. We have a group of volunteers who will be making calls about the campaign, please accept their call.

Thank you for your continued support of the ministry and mission of St. Martin of Tours parish. Through the LOA campaign we can make a difference in our place of worship, formation of future generations, and needs of our local community.

Fr. Andrzej

First Communion

Tue, 09 May 2023 16:39:39 GMT

We were blessed to celebrate the Sacrament of First Communion in our parish. Twelve of our religious education students received Eucharistic Jesus to their hearts during solemn Mass last Sunday. It was great to see the children wearing formal attire, crowning Mary, praying hard, and reading and singing during Holy Mass. Their parents, family members, and friends accompanied the children. Everyone who attended the First Communion Mass were happy and encouraged by the enthusiasm of the Communicants. The children were: Amelia Blazer, Brady Bosch, Charlotte Conger, Gwendolyn Delemont, Lucas Domzil, Caleb Foster, Mila Janusz, Lydia Klein, Kayden Ryan, Napoleon S. Tayone III, Alana Thomsen, and Anthony Wiesner.

First Communion is a sacrament, usually the third, after Baptism and Reconciliation. It is given at the “age of reason,” so the child will understand and believe in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Children usually go through a yearlong preparation for this special event. That year of preparation includes their first Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Catholics must be in the state of grace when receiving Holy Communion, not just for the first time, but always. Holy Communion could be received as either bread or bread and wine. It depends on the custom and tradition of the local diocese. The wine (cup) is not necessary when receiving the Eucharist.

As a reminder to all of us, there are three requirements to receive Holy Communion:

1. The person must be baptized and have understanding and faith in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

2. The person must be in the state of grace, that is, at the moment of the Holy Communion be free from a mortal sin.

3. The person must fast at least one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Fasting does not include taking medication and drinking water.

I would like to express my gratitude to the children who received their First Communion last Sunday. We wish them to follow Jesus closely, who is “the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We encourage them to continue their religious education at our parish in the following years, and receive another important Sacrament, Confirmation. I am grateful to their parents for their support and good example, and their family members for being with us during this special day at St. Martin of Tours. To the teachers, especially Joy Heuser and Carey Logan, who have been preparing our children for their First Communion. Additionally, thank you to Katie Delemont, Director of Religious Education, for her hard work. I am also grateful to those who prepared our liturgy and decorated the church for this occasion. Lastly, to you dear parishioners of St. Martin of Tours, I am always thankful for your continued support and prayers.

THE CHOSEN - WORDS OF GRATITUDE

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:43:54 GMT

Thank you to the adult formation committee and volunteers for their hard work in the planning and implementation of the successful and fruitful Chosen Movie & Discussion series! It is truly a blessing to be part of a group who comes together on behalf of the parish: sharing ideas, exploring opportunities, contributing talents, and working together to make opportunities for faith growth happen in the parish. It is done within a safe, respectable space where everyone is heard and able to contribute: extroverts and introverts, those with both large and small amounts of Biblical knowledge, etc. We have created this space together and I pray we can spread this same environment into the parish. A special thanks to: Barb Ludka for her creative advertising, Char Goering in being a welcoming presence as soon as attendees entered the building, and Dianne Pardee in making sure there were always delicious treats and beverages available. Season 1 was truly fruitful! Attendees were unanimous in stating their understanding of the Old and New Testaments was improved, Biblical figures were made more relatable, and this program increased their faith and walk with God. Comments shared: “The characters are relatable and down to earth.”, “All the characters seem so much more real to me.”, “I saw what they gave up, went through, and they were willing to do whatever God asked.” God came through each week through the brief synopsis after each episode: He provided the material He knew we all needed to hear. The Holy Spirit was present each week in guiding the small group discussions. I’m excited to see where the Holy Spirit guides us as we continue to come together in working to provide opportunities in the parish to grow in faith and relationship with Christ and for others within and outside our parish.

~Jen Moscatello

On behalf of the Parish Staff, I would like to congratulate and express my gratitude to the Adult Formation Committee for organizing and implementing The Chosen at our parish. My special appreciation goes to Jen Moscatello for her initiative and hard work to make The Chosen possible and meaningful in our parish community. I have received a lot of positive comments and feedback. Thank you very much.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 16:47:00 GMT

The Second Sunday of Easter is celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast is one of the newest and celebrated in the Church for twenty-three years. On Divine Mercy Sunday, April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Saint Faustina Kowalska and dedicated the World to God’s Mercy. The same day, the Pope declared the Second Sunday of Easter as "Divine Mercy Sunday.”

Faustyna Kowalska was spiritually visited by Jesus and asked to become an apostle of God’s Mercy. She recorded the message of Mercy in her “diary.” The Diary of St. Faustyna Kowalska became very popular soon after its publishing in 1981.

Although the message of Divine Mercy was popularized by St. Faustyna the beginning of the 20th century, it originates from the Scriptures. In fact, God’s Mercy is at the center of the Gospel and one of the essential messages given to us by God.

The celebration of Divine Mercy Sunday is an opportunity to reflect on God’s Mercy in our time and situation.

In his Bull, Misericordiae Multus, introducing the Jubilee Year of Mercy (2015), Pope Francis calls Jesus Christ “the face of the Father’s mercy.” According to Pope Francis, Mercy does not mean forgiveness of sins and mistakes. It is rather about practicing the ‘works of mercy.’ Mercy means love in action. When we practice the ‘works of mercy,’ love in action, we continue the mission of Jesus and are called “the face of the Father’s mercy” as well. The Pope challenges us to go to the people to practice charity. As Christians we are not just called to pray and enjoy our relationship with God, we are called to be for others and practice mercy. “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” (Mt 9:13).

Let Divine Mercy Sunday be a good opportunity to reflect on God’s Mercy for us and practice it with others.

Let’s be “the face of the Father’s mercy” for those who are in need. Let’s make an effort and find those who need God’s mercy at St. Martin of Tours this Easter season.

“All grace flows from mercy, and the last hour abounds with mercy for us. Let no one doubt concerning the goodness of God; even if a person’s sins were as dark as night, God’s mercy is stronger than our misery.

One thing alone is necessary; that the sinner set ajar the door of his heart, be it ever so little, to let in a ray of God’s merciful grace, and then God will do the rest.” (The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, 1507)

Easter Message

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 17:26:51 GMT

The common understanding of the word Easter is not necessarily religious. Many associate it with Spring, warmer weather, new season, and beginning of something exciting. For us, as Christian community, Easter above all is a religious and principal celebration, which commemorates and re-lives the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The Resurrection represents Christ's victory over death and promise of eternal life for those who follow him.

Undoubtedly, Easter brings hope of new life, not just for the catechumens who just received sacraments of Baptism, First Eucharist, and Confirmation, but to all of us who believe in Jesus Christ. We are encouraged to choose and celebrate life, instead of death, life with God, that Jesus won for us during these Holy Days.

Furthermore, Easter is a wonderful celebration of faith and love. Our love is restored and faith strengthened through our experience of God’s love during Easter. Our eyes were opened and we believe. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn 3:16). “Therefore, overcome with paschal joy, every land, every people exult in your praise and even the heavenly Powers, with the angelic hosts, sing together the unending hymn of your glory…" (Easter Preface, Roman Missal). Alleluia, which we sing frequently in the liturgy these days, encourages us to rejoice in the Lord. The Lord is risen, He is risen indeed.

One of the most powerful messages of Easter is Peace. Resurrection of Jesus brings Peace into our hearts. “Peace be with you” is the first greeting of Jesus upon meeting his disciples after his resurrection. It is a message of forgiveness and reconciliation, which Jesus offers to his disciples who betrayed him during Holy Week. Easter brings Peace to all of us. It is true Peace, which will not be taken away from us. The Peace of Christ.

My Easter wish for you, dear brothers and sisters, is the Peace of Christ. Receive the Peace of Christ. Be aware of it. Find peace in your hearts. As community we always pray for peace in the world during Holy Mass. I often add additional prayers for peace in Ukraine, our country, city, and families. Above all we pray for peace in our hearts. The Peace of Christ means presence of God. Find the peace in your hearts during Easter, and stay with it.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Andrzej

SACRED TRIDUUM

Fri, 31 Mar 2023 17:30:01 GMT

Holy Week is the most solemn and glorious week in Christianity, the pinnacle of the liturgical year. Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday, when Jesus made his final entrance into Jerusalem, and culminates with Easter Sunday.

As Holy Week progresses to its final days the solemnity heightens.

Sundown on Holy Thursday to sundown on Easter Sunday is considered the most solemn part of the liturgical year. In fact, it is the primary and most important liturgical season. This three-day period is referred to as the Easter Triduum, also known as the Sacred Triduum, or Paschal Triduum. The name ‘Sacred Triduum’ comes from Latin words, and literally means ‘three holy days’ or rather, ‘three holy events,’ which totally changed the salvation history.

The evening Mass on Holy Thursday begins the first event or first to refer to Mass of the Lord's Supper. This is where the Church re-lives the institution of the Eucharist and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as well as the institution of priesthood. The Last Supper Mass is scheduled at 7pm at St. Martin of Tours. The beautiful ceremony of "washing of the feet," which is a meaningful part of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, reminds us about Jesus, who “came not to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many” (Mt 20:28). It is an invitation to all of us to serve others.

The second sacred event of the Sacred Triduum is Good Friday. The Church commemorates and celebrates the day of Passion and death of Jesus. There are many traditions and devotional celebrations on Good Friday. In our church we have the Stations of the Cross at 3pm led by our religious education children. The main Good Friday liturgy is scheduled at 7pm. We will read the Passion of Christ, Venerate the Cross, and unite in prayer with the universal Church. There will be an opportunity for personal adoration of the tomb of Christ following our liturgy.

Holy Saturday used to be called Black Saturday. ‘Black’ refers to fact Jesus descended into hell (Apostles Creed). Jesus enters underworld to visit the dead, who were awaiting salvation. Upon his entering, Jesus frees them from the chains of death (Liturgy of the Hours, Office of Readings, Holy Saturday). Holy Saturday is a day of silence, emptiness without singing and decoration in the churches.

The third sacred event of the Sacred Triduum is the celebration of resurrection. Easter Vigil will begins at 8.15pm at our church, and in the entire Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Easter Vigil is a meaningful celebration of darkness and light, fire and water, the World of God and Eucharist. We will baptize two new catechumens from our community. It will be a wonderful celebration of new life, which Easter announces to the World.

Easter Sunday ends Sacred Triduum and begins Easter. Masses are scheduled as usual on Sunday at 8:30am, 10:30am and 12:30pm in Vietnamese. I am grateful and encouraged both communities of our parish, English and Vietnamese, will celebrate the Sacred Triduum liturgies together, as one Christian family. Please join us for these most solemn celebrations of our Catholic faith.

Parish Website Redesign

Tue, 21 Mar 2023 19:01:31 GMT

I would like to introduce and encourage you to use our parish website www.stmoftours.org. You will find our website has been updated with a new graphic layout and additional information about what is going on in the parish. Jenny Drzewiecki, our Director of Ministry and Communications, has been working hard to make our website attractive and practical.

When you visit our webpage, you will see a few rotating banners with an invitation for recollection days, penance services, Holy Week, Palm Sunday brunch, and the complete schedule of Paschal Triduum. These banners will be changed according to the season and events in the parish. The website will provide reliable and firsthand information regarding regular schedule of Masses, events, as well as emergency situations, and extraordinary happenings. Please check it often.

When you click on News and Events, you will find all the upcoming celebrations as well as liturgical and social events happening in our parish. These celebrations will take place in the church and parish facilities, hall and gym, or outside, on the sport grounds. Hopefully, our website will help to plan out our calendars and bring more people to the parish community.

You will also find many pictures from various happenings and ministries. We encourage different ministries and groups to send us more information with plenty of pictures. We would like to know what is happening in our community. Most of us are not aware of the many activities, ministries, and wonderful work going on at St. Martin of Tours. Hopefully it will improve our communication and transparency in various aspects.

Additionally, we will be adding more information about the parish staff, pastoral and finance council, and our administration. We regularly see the minutes from the pastoral council, and hope to do the same for the finance council. Details will be available if you wish to know what the leading bodies of the parish discuss every month.

We would like to keep you informed about our work and decisions step by step. At the same time, we need your advice and feedback to improve our work and decision making. Hopefully, this new website will become a tool to communicate and discuss our ministry. Please do not hesitate to contact us regarding topics being discussed.

I also have a blog, Fr. Andrzej’s Blog, with simple reflections and questions to the parishioners. As of now, we received quite a few responses regarding the most recent question of returning the sacramental Body of Christ (cup) at Mass. Thank you for reading and answering the blog. Your answers will help determine the final decision.

The website is still under renovation. It will take time to update the layout and the content. I wish eventually it will become a good place to introduce new members who joined our parish, newly baptized and married, and those who died. I hope there will be a section to recognize our anniversaries and feasts, not just the parish ones, but also the personal ones. It will be a place to ask for prayer and spiritual support. I believe our website will become a place to meet, inform, and discuss each other on our doubts as Christians, theology, and tradition. A place, forum, to meet and talk.

Dear parishioners, please visit our website. Let us know what you like and what can be improved. Let us know if it is practical and friendly to use. Give us your feedback and send us any information, pictures, data, and corrections. We love to hear from you.

Please note, our parish has a Facebook page as well called, St. Martin of Tours. The profile picture is a picture of the church. Follow our page to receive notifications on upcoming events and updates on what is going on in our parish. The food pantry also has a page, St. Martin of Tours Food Panty, with the same profile picture as our Facebook page. Please follow both of these pages as we want to connect with as many people as possible to share the wonderful things going on in our parish.

Fr. Andrzej

When will the sacramental Blood of Christ return at Mass?

Tue, 14 Mar 2023 19:04:25 GMT

Life at St. Martin of Tours Parish has largely — but not completely — returned to normal in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the remaining casualties of the pandemic has been the administration of the Blood of Christ (cup) during Holy Communion. Experts caution COVID-19 is with us for the long haul, which leaves churches around the world wondering whether or how to return to receiving the wine. That is a challenge in the Church we must face or at least discuss among ourselves. Archbishop Listecki has encouraged the clergy and parishes of the Archdiocese to restore the cup. We must discuss it at St. Martin’s as well.

Some parishes and communities, including St. Martin’s, have not yet restored the Blood of Christ for the congregation. Others have recently restored the cup. Some practice “intinction,” or dipping the bread into the wine. Receiving Holy Communion in two forms, Body and Blood of Christ, is not mandated but meaningful and vital. The tradition encourages us to receive Jesus, with his Body and Blood. The moment of consecration during every Mass, which recalls and celebrates the Last Supper, has been always celebrated with both, bread and wine. This is how Jesus, his disciples, and then, the First Christians celebrated Eucharist. However, this tradition has often been simplified and adjusted to the needs and circumstances throughout the World. Now, it depends on every diocese how the Holy Communion is encouraged and given to the faithful.

I learned Holy Communion had been distributed in both forms, Body and Blood of Christ, at St. Martin of Tours before COVID-19. It seems this is the tradition at our parish and in the Archdiocese. Shall we return to this practice? Are we ready for it now? I would like to listen to your opinion dear parishioners regarding this matter. I will make the decision with your advice. Please let me know what you think about this.