What Belongs to Caesar and What Belongs to God

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

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

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

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 

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