Never I and Me, always Us and We!

On Tuesday 1st September as a community we celebrate St Martin Founder Day. House Leader Mr Dan Jans challenged us all to call to mind our presence and action in a world where prejudice and injustice needs us as a voice to break it. "Let’s use this day to be people who want to be more informed, more educated, and more engaged in challenging racism."

St Martin de Porres was born in 1579 in Lima, Peru, Martin was the illegitimate son of a Spanish conquistador and a freed slave woman from Panama who was African or Native American. Because of his ‘tainted’ heritage, Martin was ridiculed throughout his childhood. His mother brought him up as a Christian, and at age 15 he began work as a lay helper at the Dominican Convent of the Rosary. While Martin was close to God, Peruvian law stated that no mixed-race person could become a full member of religious orders. Nevertheless, he continued volunteering at the convent as a jack-of-all-trades, from nurse to cloister sweeper. His charity, obedience and humility impressed the community such that after nine years of service, they insisted the racist rule be dropped and he be accepted as a Religious.

After that, Martin founded an orphanage and a children’s hospital. He also worked on the streets, caring for victims of the bubonic plague. In his religious life, he would show care and compassion to everyone regardless of their race.
Please take a few minutes to watch and consider this video

Happy St Martin's Day Damascus
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