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The Spirit of Giving Hope 2023 Holiday Program

Christmas food collection: November 13 to December 8.
Families will pick up baskets on Sunday, December 10.
Our goal is to provide families with everyday meals.
Items to donate: Boxed potatoes, canned vegetables, cereal, oatmeal,
jams, peanut butter, granola bars, pancake mix, syrup, Ramen noodle
packs, boxed pasta, jar sauce, canned fruit, soups and mac & cheese.

Please bring frozen turkeys to the parish center during business hours.
 Do not leave them in church or outside the parish office.
Non-perishable food items can be placed in the baskets that are
located behind the last pews in church before Mass.

Giving Trees will be up in church on November 15 to December 6.
Gifts will be collected at the Tree Trimming Celebration before the
11:00 a.m. Mass on Sunday, December 10.
If unable to attend, please make sure to drop off gifts to the parish
office. Gift cards may be placed in office mail slot.
Please do not leave gifts in church.

All food baskets and gifts will be distributed to the families on Sunday
December 10. Please make sure your donated gift cards and gifts are
dropped off no later than December 10 before Mass.

Cash and check donations will also be accepted.
Make checks out to St. Martin de Porres.
Please make sure your envelope states “The Spirit of Giving Hope”.

 Click here to view a PDF with details of Thanksgiving, Christmas,
and Giving Tree schedules and donations needed 

PRAISE TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, KING OF THE UNIVERSE…
Today is the 34th Sunday in Ordinary Time. This last Sunday of Ordinary Time is also called the Feast of Christ the King, or the longer name above. The First Reading from the Old Testament Book of Ezekiel pre-figures Jesus as the Good Shepherd. “I myself will look after and tend my sheep.” The Second Reading from the New Testament First Letter of Paul to the Corinthians makes reference to the Eternal Kingdom Jesus Christ will establish for all people for all time. The last thing to be subject is death. Then He will return all things seen and unseen back to the Father. The Gospel for today’s feast challenges us as the fit or unfit servants of the King of the Universe. How do WE proclaim the Kingdom of God by our thoughts, words and deeds? We will have to stand in judgement before the King of the universe and face the consequences of our choices and our behavior on earth. “Whatever you did to my least ones, you did it to Me.”

PRAYERS FOR SR. PAT…
Our Worship Coordinator, Sr. Pat Whalen, suffered a stroke on November 2nd, and was taken to a local hospital. I am happy to report that on Tuesday, November 14th, Sr. Pat
and her nurse advocate made it safely by ambulance to the Congregation of Saint Joseph Motherhouse in Nazareth (near Kalamazoo) for therapy and assisted living. Sr. Jackie from her order, the Congregation of St. Joseph, visited Sr. Pat at the hospital, extending the love and prayers of her community of sisters to us for Sr. Pat. If by some miracle, Sr. Pat regains her mobility and strength, she may very well make her way back to us. Speaking of miracles, Sr. Jackie told us that Blessed Fr. Solanus Casey only needs one more miracle for sainthood. The Sisters at Nazareth are united in praying to Blessed Solanus Casey to intercede on Sr.  Pat’s behalf so that she may be that last miracle. Let’s unite our prayers for Sr. Pat with theirs! In case you would like to drop a note of encouragement at the parish office, we will see that Sr. Pat gets it.

Fr. Nick Zukowski,
Your Praying Pastor