Ways to give in the spirit of St. Martin of Tours, our patron saint

November 9, 2020

This coming Sunday we celebrate the Feast of our parish patron, St. Martin of Tours. (His actual Feast Day is annually on November 11). It's a great opportunity to explore and celebrate the value of giving to one another, to the parish, and to the greater community.

We gather in parish pledges on our feast day, in celebration of a saint who gave half his cloak to a beggar, who turned out to be Jesus.

Ways to celebrate St. Martin’s Feast Day:

• Help us conclude our Stewardship campaign by St. Martin’s Sunday, Nov. 15 by turning in your annual pledge of financial support for the parish. Learn about pledging and view the We Are St. Martin’s video here. This special video provides a wonderful reminder of all who make this community a vibrant source of faith and life in Philadelphia. Here are some additional tips to talking to your children about participating in parish stewardship.
• In the spirit of St. Martin, who gave half his cloak to a beggar, your family can serve others who struggle to meet their needs. On Friday mornings at 9 a.m. you can drop off baked goods and personal care items in the parking lot at St. Martin’s to support St. James School’s feeding outreach, The Welcome Table. We also continue to collect non-perishable items (no dairy or produce, please) for St. Luke’s feeding ministry.
• At dinner time or bedtime pray the collect for St. Martin. Read and discuss the scriptures that go with his day. Find them both here.
• In Germany many celebrate St. Martin's Day with a lantern-lit procession. Take an evening walk in your neighborhood, carrying paper bag luminaries lit with battery operated candles. Or try this lantern decorating craft.

Image: Page 8 art from parishioner and artist, Ned McConaghy's graphic-novel style retelling of the story of St. Martin of Tours, created for us in 2016. Please contact Zach Dean in the office if you'd like a copy of the comic.