While you have probably already heard the announcement about Father Alex Martinez leaving the parish, I wanted to reiterate some of the accomplishments during his time at Saint Ambrose Community. When Father Alex came to Saint Ambrose eight years ago, there was a small group of Latino parishioners coming to the 12:30 Mass on Sundays. Prior to his arrival the Sunday Masses were being celebrated by priests from the Congregation of the Divine Word but no one of them was assigned to pastoral ministry in the parish. Once Saint Ambrose had Fr. Alex as an assigned priest, especially since he was enthusiastic and hard-working, the Latino community began to grow rapidly. The community was greatly enriched with the addition of a religious education program and sacramental preparation programs in Spanish. In recent years Father Alex has also encouraged growth in groups such as Cursillo, Charismatic Prayer Group, Legion of Mary, and Caballeros de Colon. Fr. Alex also inspired members of these groups to go door-to-door and invite people to Saint Ambrose. Now seventy percent of the parishioners at Saint Ambrose come to the Spanish Masses. Father Alex will be progressing in his own priestly vocation and continue his studies in Madrid, Spain where he will be studying Canon Law. We will be very sad to see him leave, we are very grateful for his dedication to Saint Ambrose Parish for eight years, and we ask God’s blessing upon him and in all his endeavors.