"EUCHARIST, PRIESTHOOD, UNITY" are the three words that summarize the legacy of Father Narcisse Martin (1845-1923), who spent the last 29 years of his life as PASTOR evangelizing and serving the entire area of Waldorf (St Peter) and Brandywine (St Michael and St Dominic). This large territory included the one now covered by our own parish OLHOC, which was 
established in 1980, 57 years later (territory served earlier by St Peter).

Before coming to Waldorf, and for over 16 years, Father Martin was SEMINARY PROFESSOR at three Sulpician Seminaries: Rodez, France; Montreal, Canada, and Baltimore, Maryland. He was known in his time for 
having written an extensive TREATISE ON THE EUCHARIST updating the approach developed by one of the giants of the Doctors of the Catholic Church, St Thomas Aquinas 600 years earlier. Undoubtedly two of Fr. Martin's legacies were (i) innovative teaching on the EUCHARIST and (ii) the formation of PRIESTS in three different countries.

While his heroic virtue (the basis for initiating the process of his canonization) was HIS ZEAL FOR EVANGELIZATION, he demonstrated a unique ability to reach out to a very diverse population, including recent 
immigrants from Germany, Austria, and France (German-speaking Alsace-Lorraine), native Americans, and African Americans. This can be considered his third main legacy: intercultural UNITY.

This week, I just celebrated the First Thursday Mass of the month on August 5th at 7:30 am at the SAINT PETER JULIAN EYMARD Chapel (Body of Christ Farm) as I have been doing every First Thursday since Fr. Robert 
Pittman, the founder, had a stroke and is now in residence at the retirement home of his religious order in Ohio: the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, established by Fr. Peter Julian EYMARD in France in 1856 (Feast Day last Monday, August 2nd).

This year, the First Thursday of August falls on August 5th, the Dedication of the first Marian Church (now called Basilica St Mary Major) established in Rome in the fifth century, just one day after the Feast of SAINT JOHN VIANNEY, the Patron Saint of all Priests, August 4, and one day before the Feast of the TRANSFIGURATION, August 6. These two dates are milestones in the last days of Fr. Martin: he celebrated his last Mass on August 4, 
1923, and died two days later on August 6.

This First Friday, August 6, will mark the 98th anniversary of the death of Father Martin. At the LATIN MASS "Novus ORDO” (7 pm), in Father Martin's memory, we will PRAY FOR UNITY IN THE EUCHARIST and for 
PRIESTLY VOCATIONS. Both the Church and the Family, the domestic church, are under attack by the devil. We know that the Church will overcome those attacks: the Head of the Church is Our Lord Jesus Christ, and HE makes himself really present at each Mass, the greatest 
MIRACLE on earth at every Mass every day. HE continues to feed us with HIS WORD and HIS BODY. HE is always with us. As HE prays to His Father just before entering into His Passion, HE prays for UNITY: "I PRAY 
THAT THEY MAY ALL BE ONE as you, Father are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me " (John 17:21).

We need more than ever to pray that we can reach UNITY IN THE EUCHARIST. THE EUCHARIST is truly JESUS, Body, Soul, and Divinity. Whenever we receive the Eucharist, we become ONE with CHRIST and 
therefore we become ONE with all receiving the Eucharist at the same time at the same Mass. THE EUCHARIST TRULY UNITES US: WE BECOME ONE IN CHRIST!

We need to pray for UNITY IN THE CHURCH. The existing divisions are not new. The Church has faced divisions since its institution by OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST 2,000 years ago. Jesus knew that there will be many challenges against the Unity of the Church. He also knows that nothing will overcome His Church and He keeps sending us His HOLY SPIRIT. This is our belief. This is the power of Our Lord Jesus Christ who is victorious over all evil and death.

The entire week, we have been praying for our 15 youth (and their chaperons including Fr. Jan, Deacon Bill, and Marlen Coles) in " pilgrimage" (Summer camp in Georgia). 

As they return " spiritually refreshed" to Waldorf this Saturday evening, may we pray that they may stay close to Our Lord Jesus Christ and His mother Our Lady! May they remain ONE with Christ in the Sacraments of Reconciliation and the Eucharist! May they keep their hearts OPEN TO THE HOLY SPIRIT and the CALL TO HOLINESS! May we pray that through the intercession of St John Vianney and Father Narcisse Martin, all young men at OLHOC be receptive to God's call to Holiness, including the call to the Priesthood, and also all young women at OLHOC be receptive to God's call to Holiness, Including the call to the Religious Life!

One in Christ,


Fr. Alain