Martin's Old Blog

Last week we had a group of 25 people in our workshop on the curriculum entitled Power to Serve.  It was very hopeful to see so many people dedicated to lay leadership formation in their dioceses.  The Church in the US recognizes the importance of lay formation especially among Hispanics who now represent 40% of the Church.  The 2 questions that are key in this formation come from the bishops' document [url=http://www.usccb.org/hispanic...]Encuentro and Mission[/url]: What model of leadership will Hispanics offer the Church? and how will this model strengthen the unity of the Body of Christ in increasingly culturally diverse communities? We at MACC are committed to this integral formation so that the gifts Hispanics offer may be for the entire Church, not just the part that is Hispanic.

We have been praying for the bishops as they met in Washington this week.  May the Holy Spirit guide them in their decisions and may we be able to discern the Spirit's presence in any difficult decisions they make.

Today is my feast day! My mom is very devoted to San Martín de Porres and so that is why I was given the name.  San Martín is probably the most popular saint among Hispanics, second only to Mary (of Guadalupe). I ask San Martín to pray for us and to help us to be wise, obedient, and humble as he was. This saint was also a healer, having learned much from his mother Ana Velásquez, and so I ask for healing for all those who are in need of it.

    & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p;     ;         & nbsp;   &n bsp;   &nb sp;   &nbs p; 

Today is All Souls Day, or for many Hispanics "el Dia de Los Muertos".  Today I would like to remember my dad, Natividad, he was born on Christmas day that is why he is named "Nativity".  To me he is a very holy man who showed me what it really means to be a man: love God, family, country, and culture.  He was a member of my parish Holy name society, of which I later joined, and a cursillista, as I am now.  Even though he died when I was 14 yrs old, I believe he has been a guiding force in my life.  Many people remember him for his wisdom and guidance th at he offered, especially those going through particular struggles in life.  I hope I have inherited some of those traits as I now raise my own children and try to live a life worthy of the calling I have received (Ephesians 4:1). I pray for his intercession to continue to guide me as I walk on this earthly journey.