New Pastoral Care Ministry Volunteers!

We were blessed with a number of new adults, children and families who were inspired to volunteer for pastoral care ministries ranging from Birthday Angels (birthday visits to nursing home residents), Communion ministers to the sick and homebound, Befrienders and Food Box volunteers. Thanks to all who signed up! You will be hearing from ministry coordinators soon. The need for volunteers continues! For more information, call the Pastoral Services office at 289-9617.

Mind, Body, Spirit

Our group had a wonderful gathering on Thursday, October 25. We talked about our favorite saints, the saints we were named for and named the living saints we've encountered in our lives. This was followed by refreshments and socializing.

Our next gathering is Thursday, November 15 from 2:00-3:30. We'll focus on Thanksgiving and all the people and events of our lives for which we are grateful.

Seniors and friends are welcome to join us! Please call the pastoral services office to RSVP: 289-9617.

Support for Laundry Workers

Members of the St. Martin of Tours Peace and Justice Commission under the leadership of William and Donna O'Connell recently spearheaded a support effort for 25 laundry workers who are on strike at Prudential Laundry in Milpitas. These workers have been on strike for several weeks and their resources have been exhausted. William and Donna have been visiting the workers and hearing their stories. Twenty-five food boxes including grocery certificates were packed and delivered to these workers in conjunction with the Food Box Ministry. Please keep these workers and all of the working poor in your prayers.

Mind, Body, Spirit

Mind, Body, Spirit is a support group for frail seniors. Pastoral care ministers provide transportation to the Community Building at St. Martin's and participate in a variety of activities including health education, a spiritual component, food and socializing. The sessions are held on the 3rd Thursday of the month from 2:00-3:30. 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.

Anti-Poverty Pledge

Stand up and Speak Out
Anti-Poverty Pledge
October 17, 2007

We stand here proudly as members of St. Martin of Tours, which supports the Catholic Campaign Against Global Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals.

We cannot stay seated when a child born in a poor country today will die thirty years earlier than a child born into a wealthy one – when tens of thousands of people die unnecessarily every day.

And we stand up not because we are asking for charity, but for justice. We know that in our names, world leaders have made mighty promises to bring this to an end. They are called the Millennium Development Goals.

What is needed is the political will to achieve and exceed these goals – so we are on our feet to say:

All:
To the leaders of wealthy countries: Be great. Fight to keep your promises – debt cancellation, more and better aid, and trade rules that help fight poverty. You know what needs to be done. Do it.

We also stand before the leaders of poorer counties to say: Be great. Make it your first responsibility to save the lives of your poorest citizens. We ask you to achieve real transparency and accountability in how your money is spent, to tackle inequality, to root out corruption. You know what needs to be done. Do it.

We wish to set a record for the number of people standing up to demand action on poverty – but the record we really want to break is the world’s record of breaking promises and just ignoring the poor every year for the rest of our lives.

We are six billion voices. We want justice now. No more excuses. We will not stand for them.

For more information, visit Catholic Relief Services at www.crs.org and the U.S. Bishop's Anti-Poverty Campaign at www.usccb.org/cchd/povertyusa.

Grief Support - Day of Healing

“Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before.
They are now wherever we are.” St. John Chrysostom

If you are grieving the loss of someone dear to you, you are invited to participate in a day of healing facilitated by Sr. Jane Garrison, chaplain with Hospice of the Valley.

Sr. Jane has helped many people deal with hurts and losses in their lives. This day will also help you to prepare for the upcoming holidays, which can be especially difficult.

Saturday, November 3, 2007
9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.
Bailey House, St. Martin of Tours
RSVP or Questions: 289-9617
Please Join Us!

Food Box Ministry

St. Martin's has a long tradition of serving the poor. One of the ways we serve includes collecting, sorting, packing and delivering food boxes to those in need. You are invited to bring non-perishable foods to Mass each weekend and place them in the entry-way bins. The third week of each month, the food is inventoried and prepared for packing.

On the third Friday, people of all ages are invited to join us in the gym from 6:00-8:00 p.m. to pack the boxes. As you can see from the pictures, this is a fun and lively event for all who participate!

A Day Away Retreat

Do you bring Communion to the elderly or homebound?

Do you visit the sick and lonely?

Do you work for the common good?

You're invited to a day of prayer, renewal and community building for Befrienders, pastoral care, social concerns and outreach ministers at St. Martin's.

Our facilitator will be Mary Ann Figlino, SJ. Sr. Mary Ann is a nationally known author, speaker and scripture scholar. She currently works with women making the transition from prison back to society.

JOIN US!

Saturday, November 10, 2007

Presentation Center - Los Gatos

19840 Bear Creek Rd.

Los Gatos, CA 95033

10:00-4:00 - Lunch Included

Please RSVP to Pastoral Services Office - 289-9617

Pastoral Care Week

The weekend of October 20, 21 we celebrated Pastoral Care Week. For over 20 years, this week in October has been set aside to honor and celebrate the dedicated contributions of caregivers throughout the United States. This year's theme is "Healing Faith," and identifies the importance of spiritual faith as an integral part of the healing process and invites us to celebrate the work of caregivers in such settings as hospitals, nursing homes, mental health facilities, visits to the homebound and many other outreach programs.

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!

Please call the Pastoral Services Office at 289-9617 for more information.