A Black American priest who left his country because prejudice wouldn’t allow him to practice his ministry in the United States is ironically the seventh and most recent African American to be considered for beatification.

The Servant of God, born in 1918 as Matthias DeWitte Ward in Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood to an interracial couple, he grew up as a Methodist. During his childhood, he, his parents and 11 siblings moved to Washington, D.C., where he experienced prejudice from both whites and Blacks.

While a teenager in Washington, he was introduced to Catholicism, and he often found himself in the city’s St. Augustine Church. While attending Mass with a friend at age 17, he decided to convert and was confirmed in St. Matthew Cathedral in 1940. Not long thereafter, he discerned a religious calling; and in 1942, he entered the Salvatorian Fathers’ seminary in St. Nazianz, Wisconsin, where he stayed until an infectious lung condition forced him to leave.

For uncertain reasons, he moved to Brooklyn. There, he was introduced to the Franciscan Conventual Friars Minor. At the time, most seminaries wouldn’t take Black men, but the Conventual Franciscans accepted him into St. Francis Seminary on Staten Island, making him the first African American to join the order.

Before applying for entrance, he wrote the vocations director, “I received your application blanks but before I have them filled out, Father, I wish to state that I am colored. I do not know if I mentioned this before, but you did not ask nationality. Now kind Father Celestine, I would not want to cause an embarrassment on anyone’s part. Dear friend, if you think it not wise to accept me, I shall not in any way feel hurt, but perhaps, it might be your policy not to accept colored just now. Please write very soon to me concerning this, Father. I will return the application blanks if you cannot accept me. Now good Father Celestine, don’t feel hurt to tell me the truth, please. God bless you dear Franciscans. I am, sincerely yours in St. Francis, Matthias Ward.”

The Conventual Franciscans saw no problem with his being Black, and so he entered in late 1945, taking the religious name of Martin Maria de Porres to honor both the saint from South America and Our Lady, to whom he had a devotion. After completing initial studies on Staten Island, he transferred to St. Anthony-on-Hudson Major Seminary in Rensselaer, New York.

His conversion to Catholicism had alienated much of his family, but he found a surrogate family at St. Anthony-on-Hudson in his fellow religious and the people they served at nearby parishes. (It should be noted that Father Martin baptized his father on his deathbed.)

After ordination in nearby Albany, New York, in 1955, he volunteered to work with his order’s Brazilian missions. This offer was accepted, as it was a common thing to do by Black American priests, since many of the era’s U.S. bishops wouldn’t allow them to serve in their dioceses.

His first assignment was in Andrelândia, Minas Gerais state, where he quickly learned Portuguese and began teaching school. Later, he would serve other cities such as Rio de Janeiro, become a pastor, serve as a chaplain to the Sacramentine Sisters of Our Lady, guide as his order’s director of vocations and as a spiritual director, and teach as a seminary professor. His comical style endeared him to many.

Indeed, his fellow friars described him as possessing “an engaging personality, who loved to laugh and get others to laugh. Living with him in community was a sheer delight.”

“When Friar Martin shared his vocation story with those desiring to join the Order, he would talk about the difficulties he faced — the prejudice he faced because he was Black, and being stricken with infectious pulmonary disease. He would then talk about how all the difficulties were overcome by faith in Divine Providence and devotion to the Immaculate Virgin to whom he consecrated his vocation,” Franciscan Voice recalls.

In 1985, Father Martin was transferred from Goiatuba, Brazil, to his order’s seminary in Andrelândia, where he spent the rest of his life.

With his humor and evident piety, he endeared himself to many. According to the Conventual Franciscans Our Lady of the Angels Province (OLA), “Even in the corridors of the Seminary, he never passed before the image of the Blessed Virgin without reverently bowing. This in our eyes as postulants, sometimes seemed a bit excessive but over time we learned to value it as a gesture of love and veneration for Our Lady.”

An article in Black Catholic Messenger states:

“He is most noted as being a very compassionate confessor who was always available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Many people sought him out to hear their confession. He was able to bring many people back to the Church and was able to deepen the faith of others.”

On June 20, 1999, as he celebrated Mass, a heart attack struck him. He nonetheless continued at the altar until concluding the Mass. He was taken to a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where he died two days later.

Frei Valdomiro Soares Machado, the Brazilian provincial custos said at the time, “Andrelândia will no longer be the same; the Seminary will no longer be the same because his rocking chair will be empty in front of the television. They will miss the jokes, the playful puns, the scares and the happy laughter. We will miss the teacher, the confessor, the peacemaker … but, we have an intercessor in Heaven.”

Buried at the São Francisco de Assis Seminary cemetery in Andrelândia, one can often find the faithful praying for his intercession at his tomb.

His beatification cause gained local permission to begin from the Diocese of São João del Rei in 2020. It received Vatican approval to proceed in June of this year, the 25th anniversary of his passing. There were two miracles attributed to his intercession by 2022. These alleged miracles are being investigated.

Prayer for the beatification of Father Martin Maria de Porres Ward:

O Glorious, most high God, who deign to glorify in heaven
the souls of those who served and glorified You on earth,
hear our prayers for [petitions in silence]
and according to the design of Your Divine Providence,
Deign to glorify your Servant Martin Maria de Porres,
who by his love desired to offer his life
for the education and service
of the youth, the poor, and the sick,
that, like our ‘compadre,’ we too may progress
in the service of the most needy.
Amen.

O’Neel, Brian: (c) 2024 EWTN News, Inc. Reprinted with permission from the National Catholic Register – http://www.ncregister.com.

The Franciscan Center of Baltimore is a ministry of Our Lady of the Angels Province. This story originally aired on WMAR-TV.

As a member of the Franciscan Friars Conventual of Our Lady of the Angels Province, community is very important to Friar Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv. That was on full display at The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Md., on Nov. 14, 2024, when Bishop Martin was presented with a crozier designed and crafted by two of his brother friars at the beginning of a Mass celebrating jubilarians from Our Lady of the Angels Province.

Friar Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., (right) with Friar Peter Tremblay, OFM Conv.

Friar Joseph Dorniak, OFM Conv, designed the crozier, which resembles a shepherd’s crook and symbolizes the bishop’s role as shepherd of his diocese. Friar Peter Tremblay, OFM Conv., a self-taught wood worker, said he spent about 120 hours on the project. Friar Joseph is assigned to the St. Francis of Assisi Friary (novitiate house) in Arroyo Grande, Calif. Friar Peter is Catholic Campus Minister at Elon University in Elon, N.C.

“This crozier is a gracious gift not just from the hands and creativity of two of our friars, it is a gift from the heart from all of our friars that I will treasure for a lifetime,” Bishop Martin said. “A sincere thank you to Peter and Joe for designing and crafting such a wonderful gift that is such a powerful symbol of the episcopacy that I am coming to better understand each and every day.”

Friar Peter spent about 120 hours crafting the crozier.

“This was the most meaningful thing that I have ever made in my workshop,” Friar Peter said. “Michael is a friend, a brother, and a huge mentor of mine. I have always wanted to use my hobby to make sacred objects and the opportunity to craft a crozier has been incredibly exciting and rewarding.’

The staff of the crozier is black walnut. The central medallion is made of hard maple with 24 karat gold leaf gilding filling in the San Damiano Crucifix. The cord and knots were carved from the finest synthetic ivory. The solid brass connecting hardware had to be custom made by me for this project. Friar Tremblay said he could not source the hardware that he wanted so he fabricated it himself. He also built a carrying case of black walnut with hand-cut dovetails and custom made fitted and satin lined interior to store the crozier.

The wooden box to store the crozier was also crafted by Friar Peter.

“I carry you with me wherever I go,” Bishop Martin told the friars.” I hope you know I don’t need a crozier to do that, that you are carved into my life, into my heart, into the way I think, and hopefully into the way I live my life as a friar. This outward expression of that means a tremendous amount to me.”

24 friars from Our Lady of the Angels Province who have a combined 950 years of service were honored at a Mass at The Shrine of St. Anthony in Ellicott City, Md., on Nov. 14, 2024. 15 of the jubilarians celebrated their professions with another nine marking their ordination anniversaries. Friar Bishop Michael T. Martin, OFM Conv., bishop of Charlotte, was the principal celebrant. Concelebrant was Friar Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Atlanta.

Eight friars renewed their vows of profession. L-R: Fr. Santo Cricchio, Fr. Andrew Santamauro, Fr. Gregory Spuhler, Fr. Lawrence LaFlame, Fr. Emmanuel Acquaye, Fr. Robert Benko, Fr. Robert Schlageter, and Fr. Paul Gabriel.

 “I am honored to be here today in the presence of our brothers who have dedicated so much of their lives to the ministry but more important, the walk of St. Francis of Assisi that has inspired all our lives to give of ourselves in service of the Gospel,” Bishop Martin said.

The Mass which was attended by 11 of the jubilarians and about 70 friars. “We give God, thanks for our jubilarians who encourage all of us friars to be faithful to our vows and our ministry to the people of God. I’m glad we’re here to celebrate that,” said Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, OFM Conv.

Six friar priests renewed their preistly commitment: L-R: Fr. William Robinson, Fr. Jude DeAngelo, Fr. Michael Lorentsen, Fr. John Ruffo, and Fr. Marek Stybor.

In his homily, Friar Andrew Santamauro, OFM Conv., a 25 year priestly ordination jubilarian, said, “The kingdom is manifest in our friaries when we’re patient, kind, merciful, empathetic, and yes, forgiving. As we look back on the years that have brought us to this jubilee, in those same friaries, among those same friars, we see countless instances of God’s grace — times when we have experienced His love, mercy, and guidance. We just had to have our eyes open to the possibility. “

Friar Priest Jubilarians with Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, and Bishop Michael T. Martin.

Friars celebrating ordination anniversaries:

Friar Paul Varga, OFM Conv. – 60 years

Friar Germain Kopaczynski, OFM Conv., Friar William Robinson, OFM Conv., and Friar John Ruffo, OFM Conv. – 50 years

Friar Jude DeAngelo, OFM Conv. and Friar Daniel Fink, OFM Conv. – 40 years

Friar Michael Lorentsen, OFM Conv. – 30 years

Friar Abelardo Huanca Martinez, OFM Conv. and Friar Marek Stybor, OFM Conv. – 25 years

Friar Jubilarians with Minister Provincial Friar Michael Heine, Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, and Bishop Michael T. Martin.

Friar Jubilarians celebrating profession anniversaries:

Friar Raymond Borkowski, OFM Conv. – 70 years

Friar Joseph Angelini, OFM Conv. and Friar Julian Zambanini, OFM Conv. – 65 years

Friar Robert Schlageter, OFM Conv. – 50 years

Friar Santo Cricchio, OFM Conv. and Friar Lawrence LaFlame, OFM Conv. – 40 years

Friar Robert Benko, OFM Conv., Friar Pedro De Oliveira, OFM Conv, Friar Michael Lasky, OFM Conv., Friar Vincent Rubino, OFM Conv., and Friar Gregory Spuhler – 30 years

Friar Emmanuel Acquaye, OFM Conv., Friar Paul Gabriel, OFM Conv., Friar Daniel Lutolf, OFM Conv., and Friar Andrew Santamauro –   25 years

Friar Santamauro concluded his homily by saying, “As we continue to celebrate our jubilee anniversaries, let us give thanks to God for His faithfulness and grace. Let us rejoice in the many ways His Kingdom has been revealed among us and commit ourselves anew to being instruments of His love and peace.”

Friar Santamauro: “As we look back on the years that have brought us to this jubilee, in those same friaries, among those same friars, we see countless instances of God’s grace—times when we have experienced His love, mercy, and guidance.”

Bedford, VA – The National D-Day Memorial will host its annual Veterans Day observance ceremony on Monday, Nov. 11, 2024, at 11a.m., at the Memorial in Bedford. Veterans in attendance will be recognized during the ceremony. Memorial admission on November 11 will be free until noon for the public and free all day for all veterans.

Mitchell Yockelson, Keynote Speaker

Mitchell Yockelson manages the National Archives and Records Administration Archival Recovery Program, leading investigations of thefts of historical documents and museum artifacts. Additionally, Yockelson is a professor of military history at Norwich University and author. His latest book, The Paratrooper Generals: Matthew Ridgway, Maxwell Taylor, and the American Airborne from D-Day through the Normandy Campaign was published by Stackpole in 2020. Yockelson’s next book, The Lion and the General, a story about the friendship between Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower, will be published in fall 2025. Yockelson will sign books following the ceremony. Books are available online at store.dday.org and in the Memorial’s gift shop.

Name Addition to Memorial Wall

After years of research and verification, the Memorial will add the name of Father Ignatius Maternowski, OFM Conv., to plaque W-48, on the Memorial Wall. The Memorial Wall represents the world’s most complete account of D-Day fallen, with this addition bringing the total to 4,427 Allies killed on June 6, 1944, during the Normandy invasion. In his address, Yockelson will share Friar Maternowski’s story of valor before a special blessing of the plaque. The Memorial will also dedicate a narrative plaque honoring the 102nd Calvary Group and brick additions to the Annie J. Bronson Veterans Memorial Walk.

Whiskey 7 Flyover

The ceremony will include a flyover by the famed C-46, Whiskey 7. Among the more than 900 C-47s that flew on D-Day was Whiskey 7 (W7) part of the 9th Air Force, 316th Troop Carrier Group, 37th Troop Carrier Squadron. Whiskey 7 was the lead plane of the second wave of airborne paratroopers on D-Day. She carried 21 members of the 82nd Airborne, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, H Company with the designated drop zone of Sainte-Mère-Église.

On Saturday, Oct. 19, Our Lady of the Angels friars and faithful gathered for the Third Annual Franciscan Pilgrimage at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. Drawing from the thought and spirituality of St. Maximilian Kolbe, Friar Louis Maximilian Smith gave an inspirational conference entitled, “Mary, Mother of the Church in the 21st Century.”

To celebrate an essential element of our charism, namely our devotion to the Immaculate Conception, our minister provincial, Friar Michael Heine, presided at a Votive Mass of the Immaculate Conception, at which our former Provincial, Friar James McCurry, gave a much appreciated homily that wonderfully complemented Friar Louis’ conference. At the end of Mass, the friars and faithful gathered for a group photo.

Friar Paul Lininger, OFM Conv, director of the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Commission (JPIC) of Our Lady of the Angels Province, and Friar Cristofer Fernández, OFM Conv., who also serves on JPIC, were among the attendees at Siena College’s Laudato Sí Integral-Ecology Symposium in Albany, N.Y., Oct. 10-11. Laudato Si’ is an encyclical of Pope Francis published in May 2015. It focuses on care for the natural environment and all people, as well as broader questions of the relationship between God, humans, and the Earth. The encyclical’s subtitle, “Care for Our Common Home,” reinforces these key themes.

During the conference, Friar Cristofer and Gabriela Martinez (pictured below) from the Franciscan Action Network presented, “Integral Ecology: A Franciscan Response to the Cry of the Poor and of The Planet,” addressing the importance of young people engaging the issues of climate change.

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres delivered the keynote address, “Global Perspectives on the Climate Crisis and Urgency to Act Now.” He noted St. Francis and the Holy Father in his recorded remarks: “The patron saint of ecology has much to teach us about making peace with nature. So, of course, does Pope Francis. Including through his inspiring 2015 encyclical Laudato Sí, after which this Center is named. Pope Francis tells us that, ‘When we exploit creation, we destroy the sign of God’s love for us.’ He reminded us that human beings are “custodians” of this creation, not masters of it.

“We must stop intentionally destroying our natural world and its gifts. We must protect people from the destruction we have unleashed.  We must deliver climate justice for the vulnerable. And, crucially, we must limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius – as countries agreed to do in the landmark international climate pact – the Paris Agreement,” the secretary general said.

People shared their stories about the storm and its impacts. (Gabriel Swinney)

SWANNANOA, N.C. — About 200 people lined up outside St. Margaret Mary Church in the small mountain town of Swannanoa, one of the area’s hardest hit by the Sept. 27 floods. They waited for a visit by Bishop Michael Martin, OFM Conv. – some with smiles, but also many in tears or shocked despair.

They brought the bishop stories of ruined houses, lost possessions and life without electricity or water – and no idea when those things would be returned to them. Many also knew of worse stories from farther up the Swannanoa Valley, where some people went looking for family members or friends and discovered they were missing, their houses washed away.

The bishop comforted people and prayed with them, listened to dramatic and frightening stories of living through the storms, and blessed babies and children.

A look at the devastation just outside St. Margaret Mary Church in Swannanoa.

To get to the church, many had to make a grim drive through downtown Swannanoa, where the town’s namesake river exploded from its banks a week ago and left much of the area looking like a war zone. Houses, trailers and cars were torn apart by the water and flipped upside down. Roads have washed away into jagged small cliffs, water pipes and propane tanks litter the riverbanks, and people’s possessions – bed sheets, clothing, a child’s wading pool, a picnic table – dangled from trees along the river.

“The bishop has lifted a lot of people up by coming here,” said Claudia Graham, secretary at St. Margaret Mary Parish, who has been leading relief efforts as they await the appointment of a new pastor. She announced Bishop Martin’s visit on Thursday afternoon and by Friday morning people had come from all around the area – many taking long circuitous routes because their usual roads were wiped out.

Whole families came out to greet the bishop, who wanted to survey the damage firsthand and offer spiritual comfort.

Parishioners Joe and Mary Lewis drove 40 minutes instead of their usual 10 from Scenic Mobile Home Park, a senior citizens community in east Asheville, just for a moment of prayer with Bishop Martin. While their home and most of their neighbors wasn’t destroyed, the complex is without power or running water, and residents have been collecting buckets of water from a community swimming pool to flush toilets.

“This whole thing is devastating, but I know we’re going to get through it,” Joe Lewis said.

Mary Lewis wiped away tears and said the couple is coping by providing what help they can. They own a generator so have opened their home to neighbors who need to charge cell phones or get some cool air.

“Those who help people don’t realize how much they’re doing for others,” she said. “We had some people show up the other day who had a carload of dog food. They don’t realize that with a gesture like that, they’re not just feeding somebody’s dog but also feeding people’s souls.”

Candy brought by the diocesan team was a hit with local kids.

While the bishop greeted people outside, inside the small church some people prayed, seeking a moment of peace against the constant buzz of helicopter blades above the Swannanoa Valley. A fleet of helicopters – Chinooks from the U.S. Army, Coast Guard search and rescue, Forest Service and some privately owned ones – crisscrossed the sky overhead, some surveying damage and others transporting supplies and flood survivors.

Parishioner Cecilia Meredith was happy to see the bishop and said her faith has helped her get through the past week as she’s worked on one of the medical response and search-and-rescue teams in the area.

The bishop joined in prayer and offered spiritual consolation to those who had gathered on the church lawn. (Gabriel Swinney)

“We’ve been doing wellness checks, looking for some missing people, and bringing supplies to people,” Meredith said. “I woke up crying this morning because I know people who have died and I’ve had to see people suffering.”

Directly across from the church, Grovemont Park is serving as a green island of peace in the middle of the flooded valley. For the past week, area residents have met there daily for support and fellowship. Volunteers cook free hot meals and others offer supplies including fresh vegetables, household cleaners and toiletries.

“This is one of the good things that has come out of all of this,” one woman said, gesturing at the crowded park. “People are connecting with each other again.”

You can make a disaster relief donation to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Charlotte through this link.

— Christina Lee Knauss

Reprinted with the permission of the Catholic News Herald