Social Justice Corner: Lenten Revival at St. Martin de Porres Parish

Lenten Revival at St. Martin de Porres Parish Submitted by Mary Ann Erdtmann "Oh, God. help us to remember who we are and whose we are; brothers and sisters in Christ." This was the prayer offered by Fr. Carl Gates at the recent Lenten Revival at St. Martin Porres, our sister parish. Fr. Gates, a member of the Society of the Divine Word, was the homilist at the prayer service on the second night of the 3-day revival. Twelve members of our racial justice ministry joined members of St. Michael's and St. Martin's parishes. "We are all children of God and we need one another. God has created you to set this world on fire," he said. An accomplished musician, Fr. Gates incorporated music and singing into his homily, inviting us to participate and we did so enthusiastically! He challenged us to "say you're a Christian is not enough. You have to be a Christian." At  the end of the service, Fr, Gates invited us to the sanctuary. Holding hands, we sang " God's Got a blessing." I  truly felt blessed to be part of that circle.