The Grand Annual Appeal

Advent 2024

Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Martin de Porres Parish,

Blessed Advent! My hope is that you enjoyed Thanksgiving Day and are ready to begin the season of Advent with a renewed heart and spirit as we quickly approach Christmas. As your pastor these past 3 ½ years, it has been a privilege to share in giving thanks at the Eucharistic table and witness vibrancy of the parish increase each weekend at Mass.

I have noted often that St. Martin de Porre is an active parish.  Our children – our parishioners – bring life and hope by increasing in numbers as junior lectors, servers, and choir members each week. My thanks to their parents, grandparents and guardians who encourage them to participate. We are blessed with an exceptional grammar school - St. Brendan School – Mrs. Burke, Dr. Tringale, administration and excellent SBS teachers educate, mentor and encourage our children to be active in the parish and community. The parish also has a wonderful relationship with the St. John Paul II Catholic Academy family – many of whom are parishioners.

The Youth Ministry program has been so successful that it had to be split in two this year and the parish sent six parishioners on a mission trip to Anchorage in June and has plans to attend Mission Krewe 2025 in Calgary.  CYO basketball and Vacation Bible School also attract many participants. Mrs. McCourt, the children’s choir and overall music ministry program enhance and elevate our experience at Mass and other liturgical events. All these programs and more support the mission of Jesus Christ and His Church. None of which is possible without your prayers and financial support.

The Grand Annual Appeal helps fund these ministries and an ongoing and increasing offertory deficit. Information concerning the financial status of the parish can be found on the parish website and by speaking to members of the Parish Finance Committee. Deacon Bill and I are also available to speak with members of the parish family to discuss the parish finances and any other matter pertaining to the faith. The Appeal goal is $100,000 and it is vital that you understand that we cannot sustain ourselves as a parish if we cannot fund our ministries or pay our obligations.

Please prayerfully consider generously supporting the Grand Annual Appeal and St. Martin de Porres Parish directly. For those who have already donated to the Appeal through the offertory envelope program – thank you! – but know that the Appeal is open through June 2025 and that you can make additional donations.  

You can give on-line through the parish website, using the in-pew donation cards where you can give to the Grand Annual and weekly offertory but also set-up weekly or monthly donations through our two giving portals and existing offertory donors can review and/or increase the established giving amount, too. For those paying by check, please make it out to St. Martin de Porres Parish.

Be assured of my prayers and gratitude,

                                                                           

Fr. Chris Palladino, JCL

Pastor