What is MARTHA?

MARTHA is not a ministry. Nor is it a committee. Nor is it a program.

MARTHA is people. People with gifts from God. People with specific needs.

MARTHA is sharing and stewardship in new ways to match gifts and needs.

In the Gospel, Martha was the ultimate hostess. In the story of Martha and Mary hosting our Lord, we hear of Mary having the heart, the spirit, and spending the time with Jesus. We hear of Martha working to host and make them comfortable and tend to their needs. Martha worked and gave and sacrificed to be certain to meet the needs of the other.

Given our challenging economic situation, particularly in light of the specific challenges facing our city with the temporarily idling of Granite City (US) Steel, layoffs from large regional employers like Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Citibank, and others, MARTHA seeks to integrate and encourage a new lifestyle of community sharing, charity, and stewardship that is based upon the earliest models of the Christian Church.

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread and to the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their property and possessions and divide them among all according to each one's need. Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple area and to breaking bread in their homes. They ate their meals with exultation and sincerity of heart, praising God and enjoying favor with all the people. And every day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." - Acts 2: 41-47

MARTHA Background

The groundwork for MARTHA was laid during the December 2008 Holy Family Parish Pastoral Council meeting. At that meeting, the pastoral council discussed the immediate needs of members of our parish community who were facing devastating economic situations in the current business & industrial climate.

Key to the discussion were a few significant points:

• Ensuring Holy Family School parents had the support they need to be able to keep their children in Holy Family School through these difficult times.
• Enabling parishioners to share their goods, their time, and their talent in new ways for these new times.