Prayer

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

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

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

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

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