Giving Trees
Each year, during Advent, you will see our parish Giving Trees in the back of the church, filled with 1,000 ornaments. Each tag has a gift suggestion for a resident in one of the seven Nursing Homes in our parish along with those who are homebound.
Parishioners are invited to select a tag, purchase the gift and then wrap it, placing the tag securely on the outside of the package. They bring the presents back to church and place it under the Giving Trees. The gifts are then brought to the homes and distributed during their Christmas parties.
We are grateful to our parishioners, along with our many Nursing Home ministers, for remembering these special people at Christmastime and helping to make their season brighter.
Memorial Mass
Every January, after the holidays, our parish has a special Mass in which we remember all our loved ones who have died, either recently or many years ago. We invite relatives, friends and parishioners to gather for this special liturgy, which will be on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. in the church.
The loss of a spouse, child, parent, sibling or friend is never forgotten, and our parish family comes together on this evening to remember. You are encouraged to bring photos or framed images of your deceased loved ones, which will be displayed in remembrance of them.
If you would like to attend and need transportation, please call the Pastoral Services Office at 289-9617.
Mind, Body, Spirit
Mind, Body, Spirit is a support group for frail seniors that is a lively gathering full of love, support, senior friendly activities, and healthy, tasty treats. It's open to parishioners 60 years old and above and is held on the second Friday of the month, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. in the Community Building.
Pastoral Care Ministers are available to provide transportation to and from the Church. If you would like to participate or know of someone who would benefit from this gathering, please call the Pastoral Services Office at 289-9617.
Celebration of Life Day
Every year in the spring, St. Martin's Parish invites members of the seven nursing homes in our parish, along with homebound parishioners, to our "Celebration of Life Day." This very special day gives us the opportunity to welcome, in a loving way, these frail elderly to our parish for a celebration of their lives. Special vans bring residents, along with their caregivers, to our parish for a day consisting of a Mass with Anointing of the Infirm, followed by lunch and special entertainment for our guests. Priests often come from the nearby parishes, hospitals and Jesuit schools to assist in the sacramental anointing.
This year's celebration is scheduled for Saturday, April 26, 2008 . People begin arriving from the Convalescent Homes at 10 a.m. and the Mass of Anointing begins at 11:00 a.m. If you have a family member or know a neighbor who can come and celebrate with us, please invite them and call to let us know that they will be coming.
We need the help of many people to make this day truly special. If you would like to volunteer to help set up, drive, serve lunch or help clean up, please call the Pastoral Services Office at 289-9617.
Are you called to this ministry?
Here at St. Martin's we have a dedicated group of active caregivers who support a host of programs at the 7 nursing homes, O'Connor Hospital and others, that bring faith and hope to many of our elderly, ill, marginalized and dying parishioners, and those who have experienced loss.
This is your invitation to participate in the legacy of St. Martin caregiving! The number of those who need care continues to grow and all of us, children, youth, women and men are challenged by the Gospel to respond. Those who sit waiting for a visitor, to see a face younger than theirs, who long to stay connected with their faith community of so many years, pray in faith for you to come and are so grateful when you do.
You don't need to be a "professional," just be yourself. This is a wonderful ministry for families to do together. What a gift to your children to grow up with the understanding that they can give of themselves and participate in God's healing work with you!
Are you called to this ministry? Pray about it, then call the Pastoral Services Office at 289-9617 for more information.
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