ANNUAL THREE KINGS' PARTY   On Saturday, January 7, 2012, the St. Martin de Porres Women's Guild held their "Annual Three Kings' Luncheon," at the Fairdale Banquet Center.  The history of the guild including memories of the past projects and fund raisers were shared with the supporters. Past activities included the following:  

• Annual Membership Tea with Mass and program
• First Communion Donation with gift and cake
• Woman's Day Mass with donation toward church mortgage
• Donation to help van ministry
• Poinsettia Christmas sale
• Time donated and volunteered for Christian work as partners with other parish organizations

The Women's Guild officially began September 18, 1993 and still boost participation of some original members.  The St. Martin de Porres Women's Guild is nondenominational.   Mission Statement  

1. SMDP Women's Guild is organized to serve the church and community through it's activities - spiritual and secular.
2. It's aims and goals are to promote Christian fellowship in church and community.
3. It's programs are planned with respect to the values determined by the teachings of Christ, and exemplified by the works and spiritual acts of blessed Martin de Porres.

  St. Martin de Porres' New Year Eve Annual Gala   Each year the St. Martin de Porres' Holy Name Society sponsor a "New Year Eve Gala" for our church community and friends.  Our New Year Eve's Mass is held earlier in the evening and participants are able to end the year in a very prayerful and spirit filled service.   The gala provides an environment for the parishioners to gather and celebrate the blessings of the past year and well wishes for a prosperous new year.  The evening was full of family, friends, prizes, fun, excitement, and good cheer.   From our church family to yours we wish you a very "Happy and Blessed New Year!"  

History
On March 7, 1993, a new parish was born in Buffalo after four others - St. Matthew, Our Lady of Lourdes, St. Benedict the Moor and St. Boniface - petitioned the Bishop of Buffalo.  They believed that they could better serve their communities as one.  A new modern church facility  was built in the heart of the city.Upon arriving at the Church one is greeted with beautiful marble benches and bricks engraved with names of our supportive families and friends.once inside the gathering space we are greeted by the image of St. Martin de Porres and the Parish Mission Statement.  " Inspired by the missionary zeal and example of St. Martin de Porres, we are prompted by the working of the Spirit and empowered by baptism."  Guests may sign the register. As we prepare to enter the Church our eyes gaze upwards to behold an Ethipian Canvas Painting by Nagred Gediy  of Jesus' Entry into Jerusalem.  This oil on canvas was a gift from Bizantine Rite priest, fr. Joseph Bertha.  The Aramaic text of Matthew 21:9 is written on the bottom left: "The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying Hosanna to the Son of David".  The Aramaic text also notes the action of the man at the lower right: "He threw his cloak," and also the man up in the tree is identified as Zacchaeus. Perhaps the most powerful image within the church greets us when we enter through the gathering space doors.  The contemporary stained glass window as a gift from the Huefner and Hiemenz families.  It contains meaningful symbols from the life of our patron.  Visit us in person to identify them all.

• Book & Bell.  Martin loved children and opened an orphanage for them.  How blessed we are that our church is built on what was once a play area for the Roman Catholic German Orphanage of Buffalo.  Read more.
• "M" in blue Filed.  This is the symbol for Mary, to whom St. MArtin was particularly devoted.
• Red Flame & Yellow Snake.  Martin was of mixed race.  His mother was a freed African slave in Peru, South America.  His father was a Spaniard of noble decent.  His mixed parentage resulted in many insults during his lifetime.
• Barber Shears & Scalpel.  The patron of barbers and beauticians, Martin was a skilled barber.
• Tau Cross & Yellow Snakes.  (Look for the Greek letter "T" hidden behind the wooden crucifix).  This is the symbol for the medical profession.  Martin was known for his healing ability.
• Broom.  The broom was the symbol of the lay brother.  The priests of the priory performed Sacraments and preached.  The lay brothers often did manual labor in the priory.

The box frame for the crucifix was made in Buffalo.  The Africo-centric corpus of the image is made from wood and was hand carved in Chicago.  Our main altar came from St. Monica Church in Buffalo's first ward.  The black iron ambo with a Holy Spirit Medallion came from St. Matthew  Church.   The Black Wooden Gospel Book Throne was carved in Ghana.  This piece is traditionally for the village chief to sit upon when rendering a judgment.  An Infinity symbol is carved into the base and a metal book stand is mounted upon it to hold the Book of the Gospels.
Other special items are located here:

• Hammond Organ from Our Lady of Lourdes
• Boston Baby Grand Piano from Fr. Louis Dolinic
• Blue Choir Chairs from St. Boniface
• Church Pews from St. Stephen, Grand Island
• Main Celebrant chair from St. Joseph New Cathedral
• The running water of the Baptismal Font helps to remind us that it is only when we die and rise with Christ in Baptism that we are welcomed into the Kingdom of God.  There is a carved wood statue of our patron holding a Baptismal shell in this area.  The Williamsville Franciscan Sisters gave the beautiful carved Stations of the Cross.   
  

You might also want to visit our beautiful chapel.  The carved wood altar was used for the 10th Black Catholic Congress held in Buffalo in July 2007.  It was donated by the Sisters of St. Mary Namur.  The altar stone is from the Marian Altar of St. Matthew church.  The Batik-style work (made in Tanzania) on the right is of the Last Supper, a gift from the community of St. Bernadette in Orchard Park, where current pastor, Fr. Ron Sajak once served as associate.  The sanctuary lamp once lit the tabernacle area at Our Lady of Lourdes.  The beautiful "Keys of St. Peter" window is located behind the sanctuary.  It came from Our Lady of Sorrows in Takoma Park, Maryland.   An interesting painting of Jesus being taken from the cross, done by Rhode Island artist, Ron Dabelle, features the image of the first pastor of our parish, Fr. Roderick Brown.  St. Boniface church is remembered further by the statues of St. Joseph with the child Jesus, statue of Mary and the crucifix.  Another symbol of the merger of these four parishes exists in the Tabernacle (St. Matthew) which sits upon a stand made from the Baptismal font of St. Boniface church.  The beautiful image of the Vierge Africaine was a gift from Roland Autry in honor of his mother.

When you join us for prayer and worship you will find that we are open and welcoming of all.  We'd love to pray with you!