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Saint Martin of Tours Parish Roman Catholic Church 5450 Roosevelt Boulevard Philadelphia, PA 19124 Office: 215-535-2962 Fax: 215-535-3091 |
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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
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Volunteers Needed..
Decorating the Church - S. Elizabeth
Sewing Liturgical Items - S. Elizabeth S. Eileen can always use volunteers for various odd jobs. Please call the rectory if you are interested at: (215) 535-2962
Thank You !
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GOING GREEN AT SMT !
Attention School Families and Parishioners: Job well done! Our Paper Recycling Program is doing well..
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!
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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!
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| 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
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)
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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 !
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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:
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Monsignor's
Corner
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SEPTEMBER 2010 - SCHOOL CALENDAR
Click on the Calendar to Download a Copy Click HERE to Download a copy of Back to School Information
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Our Mission Statement...
We are
many people:
Click Here for Links to Other Catholic Websites
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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.
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Contact SMT Parish at this link ... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (Website last updated on 9/5/10) Site best viewed in 1024 x 768 Resolution
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