St. Martin Catholic Church

06/22/2026

ARE YOU TOO JUDGEMENTAL OF OTHERS? ARE YOU CRITICAL OR HYPERCRITICAL OF OTHERS? DO YOU JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER? From The Word Among Us for June 22, 2026:
Why do you . . . not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? (Matthew 7:3)

Why did Jesus use this strange metaphor about splinters and wooden beams as he warned his disciples against judging other people? He wanted to make a point. We know that even the tiniest irritant in our eye, much less a splinter, can disrupt our vision. Unfortunately, our tendency to judge other people is no mere splinter—it’s like a beam that keeps us from seeing straight!

But imagine for a moment the way that Jesus looks at you. He’s not counting up your every sin; he’s offering you mercy. He doesn’t just see your flaws and your failures; he sees all that you can become. He looks on you with great compassion and mercy. He sees in you someone made in the image of his heavenly Father.

It’s true; Jesus sees you through the eyes of his mercy and love—and not just you. This is how he looks upon everyone. Every single person is precious to him, and he longs for us to look at each other in the same way.

Do you want a little more inspiration to let Jesus change the way you look at people? In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, “The measure with which you measure will be measured out to you” (Matthew 7:2). While Jesus looks upon us with compassion and mercy, he warns against “measuring” our compassion and mercy in a stingy way. It sounds similar to the Lord’s Prayer, when we pray, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

So let’s examine our hearts. Let’s uproot and bring to the Lord the ways we tend to look down on other people or find it easy to point out their faults or refuse to give them the benefit of the doubt. Let’s come to the Lord to receive his forgiveness. When we allow his mercy to lead us to repentance, the “beam” is removed from our eyes, and our hearts are changed. Then we can begin to see differently.

“Jesus, I bring to you anything that prevents me from seeing my neighbor clearly, as you see them, with eyes of mercy and compassion.”

06/20/2026

Bulletin announcements for June 21, 2026.

06/19/2026

GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN WHILE ON EARTH: The second aspect of heavenly treasure is what we can experience here and now. For those who follow Christ, life on earth is filled with glimpses of heaven. Freedom from guilt. Power over persistent sin. A dynamic, personal relationship with the Creator of the Universe. Clarity and purpose for living. Deep friendships with brothers and sisters in the Lord. Conviction of the truth and clarity about right and wrong. The ability to forgive. Strength in times of weakness. Peace in times of trial. Joy in the knowledge of salvation. Hope for the future. Divine wisdom for everyday situations. Healing and miracles.

“Jesus, thank you for filling me with the good gifts of your kingdom!”

06/13/2026

Bulletin announcements for June 14, 2026.

06/12/2026

June 12, 2026. Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us. (1 John 4:16)

Have you ever heard about the difference between “head knowledge” and “heart knowledge”? When it comes to our faith, head knowledge is important. We need to understand what the Church teaches. But without heart knowledge, it can get us only so far. Because we also need to understand, from the depths of our being, how precious we are to the Lord and how much he loves us.

That’s what today’s feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is all about. As the incarnate Son of God, Jesus’ heart is aflame with love for each one of us. Before you were even born, Jesus loved you. Even when you were lost in sin, he loved you enough to die for you. And even today, he wants you to “know and to believe”—in your heart as well as in your head—this unquenchable, unending love (1 John 4:16).

Writing about St. John Henry Newman’s devotion to the Sacred Heart, Pope Francis had this to say:

St. John Henry Newman took as his motto the phrase cor ad cor loquitur [heart speaks to heart], since, beyond all our thoughts and ideas, the Lord saves us by speaking to our hearts from his Sacred Heart. This realization led him, the distinguished intellectual, to recognize that his deepest encounter with himself and with the Lord came not from his reading or reflection, but from his prayerful dialogue, heart to heart, with Christ, alive and present. (Dilexit Nos, 26)

We can deepen our knowledge and belief in God’s love as we spend time with Jesus in our own “prayerful dialogue,” as we come “heart to heart” with him in prayer. We can speak to him of our joys and burdens, our dreams and desires. We can express our love for him and our gratitude for all he has done for us. Then we can listen for his word to us, a word that will reassure us that he holds us, now and always, in the depths of his own Sacred Heart.

To honor this great feast, try to set aside some time to speak to the Lord heart to heart—and come to know, ever more deeply, the love Jesus has for you!

“Jesus, help my heart to burn with love for you!”

06/11/2026

He was a good man, filled with the Holy Spirit and faith. (Acts 11:24)

June 11, 2026. St. Barnabas, whose feast we celebrate today, had an impressive résumé. He was a pioneering missionary, evangelist, and teacher. He also had a gift for relating to people. He’s the one who convinced the apostles to welcome Paul, the former persecutor, as a brother in the Lord (Acts 9:26-28). When the apostles sent Barnabas to Antioch, where Jewish and Gentile believers had come together to form a new church, he encouraged them all to persevere in love for one another (Acts 11:23).

How did Barnabas accomplish all of this? He was, of course, a dedicated disciple. But as today’s first reading tells us, he was also “filled with the Holy Spirit and faith” (Acts 11:24).

Today’s reading gives us one example of how the Holy Spirit took Barnabas’ natural gift of encouragement and filled it with divine grace. But there are others. When he sought to ease the apostles’ concerns about Paul’s sincerity, it wasn’t just his words that convinced them. The Spirit, working through him, helped calm their fears. And at Antioch, Barnabas’ humility and openness to the Spirit made it easier for the believers there to receive his encouragement to remain united in Christ.

Today the Church honors Barnabas, not just as a great hero of the faith, but also as a model for us to follow. We can all become like Barnabas because every one of us who has been baptized has received the same Holy Spirit that he did. Like Barnabas, each of us can invite the Spirit to can take our natural gifts and fill them with his grace and power.

It’s good to remind yourself every now and then that you are “filled with the Holy Spirit and faith.” Whether you are working, studying, or parenting, he is with you to increase your patience and your faithfulness to your calling. When you are in the midst of a difficult conversation with someone, he is with you to help you choose your words wisely and to give you his compassion and peace. The Spirit is always ready to fill you and empower you to share your gifts with everyone around you.

“Lord, help me to remain open to your Spirit today.”

06/07/2026

Eucharistic Miracles: The Miracle of Lanciano, 750 AD

As Longinus beheld the water and blood flow from the site of Jesus, he proclaimed, “ Truly, this was the Son of God.” The Miracle of Lanciano has inspired the same sentiment in the minds and hearts of people for centuries, and perhaps it can do the same for us today.

06/07/2026

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (often called Corpus Christi) is a major Catholic feast. It celebrates the belief that Jesus is truly present in the Holy Eucharist (the bread and wine). It is celebrated on the Sunday following Trinity Sunday.What It Means The Eucharist: Catholics believe that during the Mass, the bread and wine truly become the literal Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is called transubstantiation.The Celebration: This day is a special time to pray, adore, and thank God for this gift.The Tradition: Many churches hold special outdoor walks with the Eucharist, called processions, through their local neighborhoods.Meaning for Your Life Real Presence: Think of it like a visit from a close friend. You know they are in the room with you. On this day, Catholics remember that Jesus is truly present with them.Never Alone: Because of the Eucharist, Catholics believe Jesus is with them in every single part of life—the good and the bad.

06/06/2026

Bulletin announcements for June 7, 2026.

05/30/2026

Trinity Sunday is the first Sunday after Pentecost to honor the Holy Trinity—the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Although the word “trinity” does not appear in Scripture, it is taught in Matthew 28:18-20 and 2 Corinthians 13:14 (and many other biblical passages). The concept of the trinity can never be completely understood or rationalized, but it is clearly taught in Scripture. Understanding of all scriptural doctrine is by faith which comes through the work of the Holy Spirit; therefore, it is appropriate that this mystery is celebrated the first Sunday after Pentecost, when the outpouring of the Holy Spirit first occurred.

On Trinity Sunday May 31, 2026, the Christian Church ponders with joy and thanksgiving what the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have done to accomplish the salvation of sinful humanity. It is brought to remembrance how Christians should respond to the love God has shown us, praising Him and giving Him glory. We remember the Father as our Creator, the Son as our Savior and the Holy Spirit as our Comforter. Scriptural readings for the Trinity Sunday ceremony may include Psalm 8, beginning and ending with, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” Second Corinthians 13:11-13 appeals to believers to aim for perfection and live in peace, ending with the prayer that the grace of Christ Jesus, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all, including again the commission Jesus left for believers in Matthew 28:16-20.