09/05/2026
Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission:
A Reflection on the Sowing Seeds of Faith Campaign
From the Desk of Our Pastor, Fr. Celso
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Last 23rd of June, our parish community joined Bishop Oscar Cantú and our sister parishes across the Diocese of San José for the official Bishop’s Kick-off of the Sowing Seeds of Faith campaign. It was an inspiring evening, marked by a profound sense of shared purpose and hope for the future of our local Church. As many of you know, St Martin of Tours has been designated as part of Wave 2 for this historic diocesan initiative.
Since many of our families travel to visit loved ones, rest, and recharge during the summer, we have decided to officially launch our active, parish-wide campaign phase on September 9th. This intentional window allows us to rest over the summer while carrying the spirit of this renewal in our hearts, ensuring that when autumn arrives, we can come together with undivided attention, fully present and ready to embrace this journey as an undivided parish community.
The Soul of the Plan is Spiritual Renewal
It is a beautiful reality that our diocese has designed a Pastoral Plan. However, I must be completely honest with you: it is a bit challenging to implement any pastoral plan if it is not rooted spiritually.
Throughout church history, many well-intentioned strategic plans, structural adjustments, and administrative reorganizations have been attempted. Yet, if they are treated simply as corporate restructuring or a mere fundraising mechanism, they fail to bear lasting fruit. A true Catholic movement must begin in the quiet of the human heart, kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, transformed by the grace of God.
Our diocesan theme says it perfectly: Renewed in Christ, Together in Mission. Notice the order of those words. We cannot successfully step out together in mission unless we are first profoundly renewed in Christ.
When a person is totally transformed in faith and becomes closer to Christ, the entire dynamic of church life changes. It is no longer about fulfilling an obligation or checking a box on Sunday morning. When we encounter the living God and realize the depth of His mercy, the radical nature of His love, and the reality of His presence in our lives our heart naturally softens. It becomes easier to open our heart and mind to the service of the Lord.
Spiritual renewal means shifting our gaze from ourselves to Him. It is a process of interior conversion, where we allow Jesus to break down our walls, heal our hidden wounds, and replace our hesitancy with holy confidence. This is the absolute foundation of the Sowing Seeds of Faith campaign. Before we discuss goals, initiatives, or projects, we must first ask ourselves: Lord, how are You calling me to grow closer to You this year? How can I allow Your Holy Spirit to transform my life?
May GOD bless you all.
