Working for justice for all communities.
The Racial Justice and Diversity Team encourages you to join in the celebration at Joy Reigns in support of our LGBTQ+ brothers and sisters in Anne Arundel. The Anne Arundel Affirming Alliance (A4) is a coalition of religious communities and groups in Anne Arundel County who are affirming of LGBTQ+ people. This means our communities are not just welcoming, but inclusive, encouraging, validating, and stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ individuals and communities. St. Martin’s congregation has been a member for a couple of years.
A Highlight for Hispanic Heritage Month
From time to time, the Justice Ministry will bring you a fresh perspective to keep us learning and growing in awareness and love for siblings of color and those of our family who identify in the LGBTQ community. Here, we are highlighting a Hispanic church leader.
First, if you don’t already know, our church is named after St. Martin of Tours. He is the patron saint of communities and organizations across Europe. He is best known for the story of using his sword to cut his cloak in two, to give half to a beggar clad only in rags in the depth of winter. Our church has a painting dedicated to him. His feast day is 11 November.
Second, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like you to meet a second St. Martin, St. Martin de Porres, born in Lima Peru. His father was Spanish and his mother was either a freed enslaved African or indigenous woman.
“As Martin grew older, he experienced a great deal of ridicule for being of mixed-race. In Peru, by law, all descendants of African or Indians were not allowed to become full members of religious orders. Martin, who spent long hours in prayer, found his only way into the community he longed for was to ask the Dominicans in Lima to accept him as a volunteer who performed the most menial tasks in the monastery. In return, he would be allowed to wear the habit and live within the religious community.” Wikipedia
According to Catholic.org, “Martin was praised for his unconditional care of all people, regardless of race or wealth. He took care of everyone from the Spanish nobles to the African slaves. Martin didn't care if the person was diseased or dirty, he would welcome them into his own home.” He set up an orphanage and children’s hospital. He is the patron saint of mixed-race people, barbers, innkeepers, public health workers, all those seeking racial harmony, and animals. His feast day, also in November is the 3rd.
Now you know of two St. Martins, one from Europe and a Latin St. Martin from Peru. If you are online and want to read more of St. Martin de Porres, click on the blue links in this text.