The statue of Saint Martin de Porres came from Our Lady of Fatima Church. It was the gift of Miss Mary Hussey when the church was renovated in 1952 to a Catholic church from its former Lutheran design. The statue stood at the right side of the sanctuary, opposite a statue of Saint Bridget of Sweden. Saint Martin was chosen to honor the large community of color living within the parish territory of Our Lady of Fatima, which remains true today in our parish. It may be a simple statue, but this is appropriate because Saint Martin was a simple man. As a child, Martin wanted be a missionary and die the death of the martyrs. But he was the son of a freed slave and of a Spanish nobleman, and by the racial laws of Peru in the Sixteenth Century, he could not join the Dominican Order. Therefore, he accepted the most lowly jobs and devoted himself to prayer and feeding the hungry. Eventually, he was accepted as a lay Dominican despite the laws, and so we see him wearing the Dominican habit, scapular, and cowl. Also, we see him clutching the crucifix in his hands. By this gesture, Martin teaches us how to be holy despite the challenges of life. We need to embrace the Cross and dedicate our lives completely to Jesus. Saint Martin de Porres, plead for us!