Father Vander Martins installed as pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish

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On Saturday, May 20, Father Vander Martins was installed by Bishop Richard G. Henning as the pastor of St. Elizabeth Parish in Bristol. Bishop Henning served as the principal celebrant with Father Martins as concelebrant. Also in attendance concelebrating Mass was Father Adauto Alves, of the Company of St. Paul, a clerical secular institute, in which Father Martins is also a member. Several senior priests formerly associated with the Society of St. Columban, a priestly missionary society were also present. Father Martins, a native of Brazil, entered into the seminary at the age of 17, and was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Mariana in Brazil eleven years later in 2003. After studying systematic theology in Rome, he went on to serve as a professor of philosophy at the local seminary and archdiocesan university while also serving as a parish priest. In his homily, Bishop Henning focused on the essential role of a pastor, noting, “On the day of your ordination to the holy priesthood, you were called by God and set apart for the purpose of being driven ever closer to that Heart of Jesus, and learning to serve His People by magnifying that Heart of Jesus, His love, His Grace, His Mercy, to the people that you serve.”