Holy Cross Church - Social Concerns

Parishioner of the Year 2011: Francis X. Martin

Holy Cross Parish has been blessed to have a dedicated, unassuming volunteer in their midst. Francis has been a member of our parish since its founding in 1961. He has always been behind the scenes quietly helping wherever needed. He serves as an usher and money counter on a weekly basis.

Francis is a most dependable volunteer driver for “parishioners without wheels.” He answered the Bulletin request from the Social Concerns Committee over 10 years ago. Apparently, Francis does not know how to say “no”. He provides rides to Mass each week for at least three parishioners. One very special parishioner is “Miss B,” a developmentally challenged young woman. She sits next to Francis each week at the 5 PM, Saturday evening mass. After mass, several others pile back into Francis’s car for their ride home. Rides to the grocery store are also provided during the week.

Another most valued service that Francis provides is driving the sick and elderly of our parish to their doctor appointments. This might be an occasional visit to a doctor or an every week, (three times a week) visit for special treatments or therapies. Francis waits patiently for each person and then drives them home.

Francis also participated for many years in the monthly Social Concerns project of making sandwiches for Martha’s Table. He brought “Miss B” to these meetings providing her with valuable social interaction. If our driver was not available to pick up the sandwiches, Francis was one of those called to make the emergency delivery.

Francis Martin is truly an example of a Christian, living his life according to the Spiritual and Corporal Works of Mercy!