End of Year Pastor’s Report

Jenny Drzewiecki • January 19, 2024

We said goodbye to the Old and welcomed the New Year with prayer and gratitude three weeks ago. I believe it is a good moment now to look back and reflect on everything that happened in our parish community in the past year. I am convinced that 2023 was a good year for us at St. Martin of Tours. We must say “thank you” to God and to you dear parishioners for making it a successful and rewarding year. We had great plans and expectations, however not everything was possible to complete and achieve. At the end of the year, we are satisfied and grateful to God for the progress and growth.


I wanted to keep you informed with some numbers, new ministries, and explain our victories and challenges we encountered during the past year from my own perspective.


New Members and Ministries

First of all, I wanted to express my gratitude to the parish Staff, members of the Councils, many volunteers and those who minister in our community for their hard work, advice and willingness to serve at St. Martin of Tours. We have new trustees and a few new members on the Councils. Also, we gained two Staff members, Jenny Drzewiecki and Bro. Andy Gancarczyk. Both brought a lot of quality and substantial changes in our administrative work. I hope you noticed some improvement in communication, media ministry, and coordination of various ministries the last few months. Because of them we were able to begin a few new ministries like Family and Youth. Next steps are to strengthen these ministries and find even more ways to reach our young families and youth. We want to listen to them and build a future vision together. These are our priorities for this year.


Our stewardship and hospitality committees have grown and worked very hard by inviting and welcoming new members to our parish community resulting in growing new members and making every effort to be a welcoming church to the entire Franklin area. I learned a few days ago our Food Pantry was able to reach out and help many more people this year.

We are proud of this ministry.


Our first purpose as a religious community is to pray and worship. We had a meaningful and beautiful celebration of Easter, our patron feast St. Martin of Tours and Christmas. I was encouraged by your involvement, help and large participation. I am glad we have more opportunities and occasions to pray and organize social gatherings at St. Martin of Tours. We are committed to continuing these events and celebrations that strengthen us as one community of brothers and sisters in Christ. The social gatherings, hospitality, food and fellowship encourage people to come to church and join our religious community.


I also believe the Vietnamese community feels more at home at St. Martin of Tours and is growing in numbers. We will continue to make an effort to bring both our communities (Vietnamese and English) closer to each other in prayer and worship as well as social events with respect of course to our cultural difference.


The Vision Mission and Our Strategic Plan

I am glad we completed the Vision and Mission statement the end of the past year. This statement will enable us to create a 5-year strategic plan and will lead us in setting goals for our parish. We want to be a vibrant and growing community, listen to each other and reach those in need in the parish as well as in the larger community.

I am grateful to the Building committee for their discernment to maintain and keep in use the school buildings for at least the next five years. This decision gives us hope and possibility to welcome various groups and ministries to our large facilities. We are blessed to have enough space to function and welcome others. If we are serious about growing, we need the school building and space to welcome new ideas, ministries and groups. The 5-year strategic plan must include all of these.


Helpful Numbers

At this moment we are a community of 913 active families (2260 members). We welcomed 31 new families who joined our parish in 2023. We lost 29 of our members who died and 33 families who left or moved away. Sacraments in 2023 were: 24 baptisms (including two adults); 23 children received First Communion and 22 first reconciliation. We had just one sacrament of marriage. We provided catechism classes to 85 elementary children in the English and Vietnamese communities, and 24 in high school. We welcomed Catholic Schoolhouse group with 77 children that use our facilities weekly. In short, we are alive and there are signs of growth. I am grateful to Diane Winkowski for providing this information for us.


Difficulties and Challenges

Not everything was good and some of our initiatives and plans were not completed. Our community is getting older. Thus, inviting and welcoming young families and youth will be always a challenge. It is necessary to keep growing not just in number but also in spirituality. Another challenging mission is to find and train new volunteers to continue our long traditions, ministries and activities. Since we cannot reopen the school in the near future the maintenance of our buildings will be always a burden and matter of discernment. These are challenges we have to face but there are many other reasons to be satisfied and grateful to God as we are entering the New Year 2024.


Our Achievements and Victories

The Love One Another campaign was very successful. We were able to surpass the expectation assigned to us. We collected 105% of our goal and over 30% of our families took part in this campaign. It is a great result. We will receive over $660,000 over five years to invest/improve our facilities and upgrade technology in the parish office, school, and church. Thank you for your generosity.


We are stable financially and we are not carrying a debt. Contrary, the collections were larger in the past year but various fundraising activities gave us additional income which is being managed by our Investment committee. There are many needs and plenty of upkeep developments we have to encounter within the next five years, but I believe we are doing well. We are expecting the annual finance report with many details soon. I am grateful to our Finance Council and Investment committee for being good stewards of our money and for their professional work.


We were able to accomplish a few maintenance projects in 2023, which you probably noticed: Columbarium in the cemetery ($98,251); repair of the school roof ($25,000); replacement of the school doors ($10,700); landscaping around the church and office building ($3,000); playground for children ($15,000); patching asphalt on the road behind the school and parking lot near the cemetery ($18,540); replacement of bathroom stalls ($6,070); tuck-point work in a few places on our buildings ($4,630). We also began replacement of the heating and cooling units on the church and gym buildings. The five new units will cost us $137,180 and hopefully will last more than twenty years. Additionally, we must upgrade the internet and technology at the office, school, and church ($32,000). Both of the latter projects will be paid with money from Love One Another Campaign. Another major project we have to undertake this coming year is the road between the school and cemetery. We have many leaks in the kitchen and parish hall, and we have to fix the problem and improve the road as soon as weather permits. (Thank you to Denise Groniger for providing these numbers for us).

Thus, I am confident, this year will be another busy and successful year. I believe we will continue to grow in number but also in spirit. We will become an even more vibrant and growing community reaching out to those in need in the parish and larger community.



Lastly, thank you for your prayers and support. I appreciate your comments and encouraging words but also your suggestions for improvements. Please do not hesitate to give me your feedback and thoughts not just about this report but also about our parish life. Our effort as parish Staff and administration makes only sense with your willingness to collaborate and your care. I am blessed and proud to be your pastor.

Fr. Andrzej

Advent Reflection

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 25, 2025
As we enter the season of Advent, the Church invites us to begin again. Advent marks the start of a new liturgical year – a fresh spiritual chapter in which God offers us new opportunities for grace, renewal, and growth. Just as the calendar year gives us January to start anew, the Church gives us Advent as a sacred beginning, a time to reset our hearts and refocus our lives on what truly matters. Advent reminds us that God is always giving us opportunities to grow, to change, and to begin again.  Advent is a season of hope and quiet expectation. It asks us to slow down, to reflect, and to prepare. One important theme of Advent is peace – peace in our hearts, peace in our families, our parish community, and peace in the world. During these weeks, we are encouraged to look at our lives and ask where we need God’s peace. In a world often marked by noise, division, and haste, Advent calls us to become people of peace, open to God’s gentle presence and ready to bring reconciliation where it is needed. At the same time, Advent helps us to prepare for Christmas. We often get busy with shopping, cooking, and planning for the holidays. But Advent reminds us to prepare spiritually as well – to make room for Christ in our lives, to welcome him with renewed faith, and to approach the holidays with a deeper sense of gratitude and purpose. When our hearts are prepared, Christmas becomes more meaningful and joyful. May this Advent be for each of us a new beginning: a time of reflection, a season of peace, and a joyful preparation for the coming of Christ. Let us walk these weeks together as a parish family, ready to welcome the Lord who always comes to make all things new. Blessed Advent! Fr. Andrzej

Thanksgiving Message

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 25, 2025
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Feast of St. Martin of Tours – Patron Saint of our Parish

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 16, 2025
This weekend, we joyfully celebrate the feast of St. Martin of Tours, our parish’s patron and guide in faith. His life reminds us why our community bears his name – because we are called, like him, to live lives of compassion and mercy.  St. Martin was a Roman soldier who one day met a poor beggar trembling in the cold. Moved with compassion, he took his sword, cut his cloak in half, and shared it with the man. That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing that same cloak, saying, “Martin, the catechumen, has clothed me with this garment.” From that moment on, Martin dedicated his life entirely to Christ and to serving the poor, the sick, and the forgotten. Martin became a religious, priest and later a bishop of Tours, France. As a bishop, he was known not for wealth or power but for humility and love. He walked among his people, bringing comfort, healing, and reconciliation wherever he went. His simple yet profound acts of mercy revealed Christ’s love to all. St. Martin is venerated in the Catholic Church throughout the world. He is the patron saint of many groups including soldiers, the poor, and France itself. Saint Martin's Day, November 11th, is celebrated across Europe with various traditions. In Tours, France, where Martin served as bishop and where he is buried, the city hosts a special procession through the streets that includes a horse without a rider. This horse reminds everyone of the moment when St. Martin got off his horse to share his cloak with a beggar, a powerful sign of compassion. There's also a festive dinner, with the traditional Martin's goose as the main dish, and the local wine producers open their cellars for tastings of the new season's wine. As we celebrate our parish feast, we give thanks for the example of our patron saint. St. Martin’s spirit continues to inspire our parish community – in every outreach to the needy, every meal shared, every visit to the hospital or prison, every moment of forgiveness and any act of kindness. His legacy calls us to see Christ in those around us and to live as a true community of mercy and service. May this feast renew in us a deeper commitment to follow Christ with the same compassion and faith that marked the life of St. Martin of Tours. “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40) Fr. Andrzej

Why we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica?

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 9, 2025
Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica, the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome – the Pope. This feast honors the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, the oldest and highest-ranking of the four major basilicas. Built by Emperor Constantine around the year 324 AD, it was the first church officially dedicated to Christian worship after the time of persecution. Though many might think of St. Peter’s Basilica as the Pope’s church, it is actually the Lateran Basilica that holds this title. The Basilica of St. John Lateran is called the “mother and head of all churches in the world.” This celebration teaches us three important things. First, it reminds us about the role of the Pope. The Lateran Basilica as the “mother church” is a sign of the unity of the Church around the successor of St. Peter. The Pope’s mission is not about power but about serving others and protecting the faith. Through his leadership, the Church stays united in teaching, prayer, and love. We are invited to pray for the Pope and stay in communion with him as he leads us closer to Jesus Christ. Second, this feast helps us appreciate our churches. The Lateran Basilica, like every church, is not just a building of stone but a holy place where God lives among His people. When we enter a church, we come into a sacred space where heaven and earth meet. The beauty and peace we find there remind us of that God also wants to dwell in our hearts. Each of us is called to be a living temple where God’s love shines. Third, this day reminds us that we belong to one Church community. The Lateran Basilica, as the “mother church,” is a symbol of unity for all believers around the world. The Church is not just an organization but a family of faith. We are “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5), building up the Body of Christ through our love, faith, and service to one another. As we celebrate this feast, let us thank God for our unity in the Church, for our sacred places of worship, and for our mission to live as members of Christ’s living temple. May our own parish, St. Martin of Tours, always be a sign of that unity – a place where God is loved, the Gospel is lived, and everyone feels at home. Fr. Andrzej  Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jiuguangw/4982078131/in/photostream/

The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed

By Jenny Drzewiecki • November 2, 2025
Today we pray for all the faithful departed – our family members, friends, and all who have died and gone before us in faith. The Feast of All Souls reminds us that love never ends. When we pray for the dead, we show our love and trust in God’s great mercy. Death can make us sad, but our faith gives us hope. Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me will live even if he dies.” Because of this promise, we believe that those who have died are not lost – they are alive in God. We remember them with love, and we ask God to welcome them into his peace. This day also helps us think about our own lives. We are all on a journey toward heaven. By living with kindness, forgiveness, and faith, we prepare ourselves to meet God one day. Our prayers for others also remind us to stay close to God. As a parish community, let us pray for all souls – those we knew and those forgotten. May our prayers bring them closer to God’s light and peace. And may we live each day with hearts full of love and hope in the resurrection. Fr. Andrzej Indulgences for the Feast of All Souls The Church gives special indulgences during the Feast of All Souls to encourage prayer and charity for the souls in purgatory. These indulgences express our faith in the Communion of Saints – the spiritual bond between the faithful on earth, the souls in purgatory, and the saints in heaven. An indulgence is the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven. In simpler terms, even after we confess our sins, there can remain a need for healing or purification. Through indulgences, the Church – by the power of Christ – applies the spiritual treasury of Jesus’ sacrifice to help in this purification of the souls in purgatory. When we gain indulgences for the dead, we show love and mercy toward them, continuing the bond we shared in life. It is one of the most beautiful ways to live the Gospel of charity. Conditions to obtain these indulgences: To gain a plenary indulgence (full remission of temporal punishment) for a soul in purgatory during the days around All Souls (usually from November 1-8), the faithful must: · Visit a cemetery and pray for the departed (this indulgence can be applied only to the souls in purgatory). · Go to Sacramental Confession (within about 20 days before or after the act) · Receive of the Holy Communion · Pray for the intentions of the Pope (such as one Our Father and one Hail Mary) · Make a resolution to detach from all sins, even venial sins  If any of these conditions are not fully met, partial indulgence is still granted. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

Those Who Humble Themselves Will Be Exalted

By Jenny Drzewiecki • October 26, 2025
Last Sunday, we reflected on ‘work and prayer’ – two things that every disciple of Jesus needs. Both are important in our journey of faith. Work keeps us active in service, and prayer keeps us close to God. We need both in balance to live as true followers of Christ. This Sunday, the readings concentrate more on prayer. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the story of two men who go to the temple to pray: one is a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. The story is simple, but it shows us something very profound about how we stand before God. The Pharisee prays proudly. He thanks God that he is not like others. He talks about all the good things he does – fasting, giving money, and keeping the law. The tax collector, on the other hand, stands far away. He feels unworthy. He does not even lift his eyes to heaven. He simply says, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And Jesus says that it was the tax collector, not the Pharisee, who went home right with God. The difference between the two is not their actions, but their hearts. The Pharisee’s good deeds are fine, but his heart is proud. He thinks he can earn God’s love by praising himself. The tax collector knows he is weak and needs God’s mercy. His honest and humble heart opens the way for God’s forgiveness. This parable invites us to look at ourselves. How do we pray? Do we sometimes compare ourselves to others? Do we think we are better than someone else because we pray more or do more good things? Pride can quietly grow even in good works. True prayer starts with humility and gratitude – knowing that everything good we have is a gift from God. In the temple, only one man truly prayed – the one who knew he was a sinner. God can fill only an empty heart. If we are full of ourselves, there is no room for God. But when we come before God with open and humble hearts, God’s grace fills us with peace and love. May this Gospel remind us to pray with humility, gratitude, and trust. God does not look for perfection but for hearts that are honest and humble. As Jesus said, “Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14)  Fr. Andrzej
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