Welcome to St. Martin of Tours Parish !

Monsignor's Corner

~ Lenten Message ~

I read an article recently entitled “The Lost Art of Conversation”. The author articulated much of what has been on my mind as daily life becomes increasingly insular and isolated from the rest of Homo Sapiens due to technology.

We text instead of a personal phone call. We email rather than write a letter. And voice mail replaces the real thing. Whatever happened to conversation?

And, have you ever handled a theological discussion or a pastoral dispute via email? Without necessary body language such a dialogue, if you want to call it a dialogue, is unproductive. The absence of the human component allows for serious and frequent misunderstanding.

I recently received a text message and I replied in like manner. Upon finishing the transaction, I felt a cold emptiness that continues to haunt me. I like the person at the other end. I would have enjoyed hearing their voice and hearty laugh. The personal vs. the impersonal here is not a matter of time. It is a retreat. The person himself becomes an extension of the impersonal tool that we call progress and instant communication.

The ever present phone vibrating in your pocket or loudly interrupting a sacred human moment threatens all manner of human interaction. To borrow a quote: “We’re in danger of becoming a nation of hyper-connected hermits, thumbs furiously working our BlackBerrys.”

Conversation encourages new ideas. Debating sharpens the mind. Laughter lifts the spirit and soothes the soul.

A Harvard M.D. suggests that we move a lot, and that widens and weakens our connection with people. He further implies that technology creates the same widening and weakening. These devices intrude on many traditional venues of good talk, namely, a meal in a restaurant, an afternoon at the ballpark, the privacy of your car, the holy ground of the church, even a graveside service.

I’m still trying to integrate all of the above into my ministry. My first self-taught lesson was: don’t palm your device in public, at a meeting or in a “one-on-one”. Enjoy the sweet cadences of the human voice and give thanks to God for the gift of conversation.

Pax et bonum - Peace and all that is good.

Monsignor Deliman

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Msgr. maintains a web log (blog) online where he shares his thoughts with us all. You can view it by clicking here

Daily Readings

YES, IT’S TIME TO THINK ABOUT LENT !

Announcing a Lenten Series…

HOLINESS IN PHILADELPHIA

Sundays of Lent at 3:00 P.M.

Lower Church

March 14: St. John Neumann, C.Ss.R.

Presenter: Rev. Donald Miniscalco, C.Ss.R.

3:00 P.M. Presentation

3:45 P.M. Lenten Vespers and Benediction

Plan on attending and learning about our models of holiness in

Philadelphia. May your Lenten resolve be:

Be Perfect as the Heavenly Father is perfect.

Let us strive for perfection !

CONGRATULATIONS !!

SMT Varsity Basketball Team Wins League championship !

On Sunday, February 28th, in the League Championship Game at Father Judge High School, SMT won a great game vs. Resurrection to capture the Trophy. Both teams deserve accolades for a well-played, fierce contest and a great season.

Congratulations to the Players and Coaches of both teams !

We are most proud of your accomplishments.

Job Well Done !

St. Martin of Tours School Reunion

FOR ALL CLASS YEARS !

Friday, April 23rd

8:00 P.M. to Midnight

In the School Hall (Gym)

Tickets Now Available in the School and Rectory !

$ 30 each

Includes food, beverage & entertainment

- Beef & Beer -

Special Appearance: Woodland String Band

Proceeds Benefit Technology & Tuition Assistance

For More Information, Call: (215) 535-2962

School - Ext. 420

Rectory - Ext. 401

Come & See Your Friends from School !

a benefit for a hero from smt ...

Steve D’Angelo, (SMT Class of ’73) is a Philadelphia Firefighter who retired 2 years ago, after 30 years of dedicated service. Upon retirement, Steve and his wife, Rita, (SMT Class of ’77), bought a new home and planned for a happy future .

Unfortunately, within a year of his retirement, Steve was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease (ALS). It has ravaged his body at an alarming rate and the prognosis is not good. Rita quit her job to care for Steve 24/7, and has dedicated herself to making his remaining time as enjoyable and comfortable as possible.

They have four children, all in their 20’s, some still in college and living at home. Needless to say, they are in dire straits financially and now need the kind of support that Steve gave to the city he served for 30 years.

Friends from Oxford Circle and St. Martin’s have organized a benefit for Steve and Rita at Paddy Whacks Sports Bar, located at 2^nd & South Sts. in Philly on Saturday, April 17 from 6-10 pm.

Click Here for More Information

Please help the friends of Steve & Rita do something special for a true Philly hero.

Thank you.

Sixth Annual Communion Breakfast

Saint Martin of Tours will hold its Sixth Annual Communion Breakfast on Sunday, April 18, 2010 beginning with the 9:00 AM Mass. For those who attended last year, I’m sure you would agree it was wonderful. This year is gearing up to be even bigger and better. As in the past we will honor alumni, as well as former and present members who have distinguished themselves in:

Service to the Church, Service to Catholic Education, Service to School, Service to our Community and Service to our Parish.

As in the past we are asking for your nominations. These individuals will be honored at the Communion Breakfast on the 18^th of April and their names will be inscribed in the Saint Martin of Tours Hall of Fame Plaque.

You may recommend any alumnus or former or present member of our parish in any of the categories above. Simply fill out the form in the Weekly Bulletin. You may drop it in the collection basket at Mass or bring it to the rectory anytime before March 15, 2010.

There will be more information concerning the Communion Breakfast in the weeks to come. However, please mark April 18th on your calendar for this wonderful event.

THE NEW KING'S MEN GROUP at SMT

You may remember, we had an information session on October 21st. Since then we've had leadership orientation and we've now begun regular meetings of our group at SMT.

We meet in the rectory conference room.

Wednesday Evenings - from 7:15 to 9:00 P.M.

MEN: If you are interested and would like more information,

please contact any of the following:

Charles Hunt         hunt9906@comcast.net                215-535-5920

Joe Goldberg          techteam@smtparish.org              267-228-7531

Joe Henwood         poppyjoe530@comcast.net           215-535-5742

John Little               jelittle@usatoday.com                   215-535-8938

Mark Pennington    mpennington1@hotmail.com        484-213-2467

Volunteers Needed..

We are in need of volunteers to maintain our appearance and enhance our liturgies - painters, cleaners, singers and musicians. Whatever your talent, we'd love to have you! All are welcomed! Please contact the following people if you are able to help.

Decorating the Church - S. Elizabeth Sewing Liturgical Items - S. Elizabeth
Cleaning/Painting/Repairs - Mr. Rick Kirk Lectors - Fr. Di Gregorio CYO/Altar Servers - Fr. Cooke School Volunteers - S. Stephen Frances Gardening - Barbara Knobbs
Singers & Musicians - Darlene Silbering

S. Eileen can always use volunteers for various odd jobs. Please call the rectory if you are interested at: (215) 535-2962

Thank You !

GOING GREEN AT SMT !

Attention School Families and Parishioners:

Job well done!

Our Paper Recycling Program is doing well..

June                $ 178.48

July                  $ 99.60

August            $ 164.20

September    $ 164.40

October          $ 164.20

November      $ 164.40

December      $ 173.00

January         $ 219.20!

This is another way of helping your Parish and School.

Keep up the good work!

Bring all your old paper, newspapers and magazines to the SMT Parking Lot. You'll find a HUGE BIN to deposit your waste paper. Turn your TRASH into CASH and help SMT raise some much needed funds!