Saint Martin of Tours Parish

Roman Catholic Church 

5450 Roosevelt Boulevard      Philadelphia, PA 19124

Office: 215-535-2962              Fax: 215-535-3091

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome to St. Martin of Tours Parish !                Welcome to St. Martin of Tours Parish !

 

 

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Monsignor's Corner

                            Sursum Corda - Lift Up Your Hearts

            

Last Sunday I felt the need to preach about Hurricane Katrina and the Church’s response to what may well be the biggest natural disaster in our living memory.  My Blog, as well as today’s message, continues to express a need to put memories into words.

As I said last week, I never had an idea that a hurricane striking so far away from home would affect me personally and pastorally.  But it did.  Seeing first hand the destruction in January 2006 and then again in May 2006 reminded me of how vulnerable we are, of how much we take for granted and of the preciousness of human life and of all that goes along with our existence.

I was privileged (and I underline privileged) to travel to the Gulf Coast with 38 parishioners of St. St. Agnes Parish in West Chester.  The mission trip was largely Laity-Driven.  Folks ask me “what can I do”?  When we figured out what the possibilities were, I immediately gave my blessing—with one proviso, I wanted to go too.  My local nihil obstat set in motion an unforgettable experience of Church,

Taking yourself back five years, you may recall that our federal government was caught off guard and there was a slow response to basic needs like shelter, water, medicine, reunification of families, bodies lost and never recovered.  They were churches and faith-based groups that rose to the occasion and began to take the necessary steps to get things going along the Gulf Coast.  Churches and volunteer groups expressed their solidarity with a people who would not admit defeat and who, almost before the last gust of wind, were out assessing damages and rebuilding.  All they needed were more hands.

No group that went to help would ever say they were heroes because of what they did.  The heroes were the people they met.  People who were familiar with the unpredictable temperament of mother nature.

So, we went.  Men and women ages 18 to 76.  They all shared a gym floor, learned to stand in line for some precious bathroom time, laughed at one another’s lack of skills, rejoiced in how quick one can learn a skill, experienced how southern hospitality trumps broken spirits and saw light emerging from the darkness.

The seminary never prepared me for a week in Bayou la Batre, Alabama.  I also never had a course in basic roofing.  But, with hammer in hand and an apron full of roofing nails, I was becoming pretty good at “striking a line” and tacking down a new roof.

Humility is what is needed.  Putting all pride aside, I always kept in sight and within earshot someone who knew what they were doing.  We novices were never embarrassed to call for assistance.  Cooperation meant the job got completed.

The Lutherans sponsored us—providing a gym and a kitchen facility where we were prepared to cook our meals. But that’s not what happened.  The Heroes of the Gulf Coast insisted on preparing dinner for us each day.  At first it seemed strange.  After all, we came to help them.  But in the final analysis, everybody was doing what they could do best and jobs got done in record time.

The 38 missionaries prayed together at the beginning and end of each day.  We prayed at each work site and every evening reflected on the ups and downs, successes and failures of each day.  Mass renewed us at each sunrise and sent us “Ite Misa  Est” to live out the Paschal Mystery with our new friends.

At the end of the week where my crew completed a new roof, the family invited us into their overcrowded FEMA trailer (remember those!)  They asked us to pray with them.  But, not in the FEMA trailer,  We were invited into the home where a new roof had just been installed.  With very little under that roof, the owner said: “I want to pray here.  This is my home”.

I returned north along with 37 others humbled.  God’s ways are not our ways.  Katrina was catastrophic.  Its aftermath devastating.  The rebuilding,  a resurrection and a witness to faith, hope and charity.

 

Pax et Bonum—Peace and all that is good.

Monsignor Deliman

 

Clarification:  The Saturday Afternoon Vigil Mass Will Remain at 4:00 PM Until the Spring of 2011

Confessions Remain at 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM

 

Come to church this week ...

Try it - You’ll like it!

 

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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

 

 

SMT is on Facebook !

 

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. Small                                 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..

  • September    $ 164.40

  • October          $ 164.20

  • November      $ 164.40

  • December      $ 173.00

  • January          $ 219.20

  • February        $ 118.05

  • March              $ 183.40

  • April                 $ 169.80

  • May                  $ 161.20

  • June                $ 194.80

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!

 

 

 

Earth Day 2010 at SMT School !

 

Click on a Photo above to enlarge

(Thanks to Fr. Small for the photography)

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We invite all to deposit their household paper, newspapers, catalogs, magazines, old mail, school and office papers.

Bins are for everyone in the community to use!

 

 

 

RECTORY OFFICE HOURS

Monday through Friday:  9:00 AM to 7:00 PM

Saturday:  3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Sunday:  9:00 AM to 1:30 PM 

SCRIP PROGRAM - CLICK HERE


 

Come See Sandy Zaleski for all your

Notary Public Needs !

 

Monday to Friday from 9AM to 4PM

in the Rectory Office

(or email Sandy for More Information)

 sandy.zaleski@smtparish.org

 

 

 

ATTENTION:  ALL SMT ALUMNI !!

 

We are in the process of updating our Alumni Database.

Many of the email addresses that we have are invalid.

Please take a moment and update your contact information,

even if you believe our records are accurate. 

CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATE FORM

Thank You !

 

 

THE KING'S MEN GROUP at SMT

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:

 

We meet in the rectory conference room

 

 


 

Click here for Parish Announcements & Current Events!

 

Schedules for Altar Servers, Extraordinary Ministers, Lectors & Ushers

 

Click for New Photo Pages

 

Mr. Pavonarius' Web Site for his 6th Grade Class

 

Mr. Smith's Web Site for his 8th Grade Class

 

Mrs. Wilcox's Web Site for her 6th Grade Class

 

 

 

SMT LOVES THE

 

 

SMT THANKS THE FLYERS FOR A GREAT  SEASON !

 

 

 

 

SEPTEMBER 2010 - SCHOOL CALENDAR

Click on the Calendar to Download a Copy

Click HERE to Download a copy of Back to School Information

 


 

Our Mission Statement...

 

We are many people:
Created in the image of God,
embracing the diversity among us through our
many cultures.

We are one family:
Disciples of Christ united at the Eucharistic Table
and in the celebration of the sacraments, praying
in the language of our souls, under the patronage
of Mary, our Mother.

We are a Parish:
Young and old, married and single,
strong and weak.

We are serving Christ:
Guided by the Holy Spirit, through stewardship,
Welcoming all, educating our youth,
comforting those in need, actively proclaiming the Good News.

 

Click Here for Links to Other Catholic Websites

 

 

 


 

RCIA... Is it for you?

 

The Catholic Church invites you, and those you invite, to come and see.

Consider the following questions:

 

Are you interested in becoming Catholic?

Are you a baptized Catholic but have yet to receive the Sacraments of Holy Eucharist or Confirmation?

Have you been baptized into another Christian religion yet possess the desire to become a Catholic?

 

If you have answered YES to any of these questions, the RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS is for you.

RCIA is a loving and learning journey in which a conversion of heart will bring you to a deep relationship with Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

If you are interested in joining the RCIA journey, please call Sister Elizabeth at the rectory office (215) 535-2962 ext. 408 and leave a message.

Sister will contact you.

 


 

 

Contact SMT Parish at this link ...

Contact Page

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(Website last updated on 9/5/10)

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