August 24, 2006

00I remember that first day of school back in September 1972. Sr. Madonna Maria was the principal and I was the first male teacher in the school: Brother Martin de Porres, F.C. At the time I was a Brother of Charity living in Oak Lane.

00For four years I enjoyed teaching at St. John of the Cross, always staying in the 5th grade, Room 15. During that time I also got involved in the parish community. I was an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and worked close with the Charismatic Prayer Group. We even did a radio program and had a workshop at the Charismatic Convention in Atlantic City. Those were wonderful years.

00In June of 1976 I left St. John's and as part of my discernment process, I moved to St. Timothy's on Levick St. and taught 6th grade there. After a year I realized it wasn't a different teaching position that God was calling me to but rather to the priesthood. In the Brothers of Charity there are no priests. After much prayer and discernment I left the Brothers and was accepted into the Capuchin Franciscan Friars, Province of the Sacred Stigmata.

00In August of 1978 I received my Capuchin habit and in July of 1979 I professed my Solemn Vows. In September I began my formal studies for the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary, Darlington, NJ. I was ordained a priest June 11, 1983 and said my first Mass at St. Philip's in Lafayette Hill. A number of folks from St. John's were there for the celebration.

00Since that time I have been stationed in Lafayette, NJ at our Seminary as Director of Students. I then moved to parishes in Passaic, NJ, Orange, NJ, Woodstock, VA, Purcellville, VA and Charlotte, NC. I was pastor of three of those parishes. In July of 2006 I was transferred to Most Holy Redeemer Church in Tampa, Florida (right near Busch Gardens).

00I learned so much during my time at St. John's and continue to cherish my years and experience there. I am thrilled to have been able to "hook up" again with the parish through the convenience of Internet.

God bless you all.

In Christ and St. Francis,
Fr. Martin Schratz, O.F.M.Cap.
(formerly Brother Martin)

Our Lady of Consolation Church 
2301 Statesville Ave, Charlotte, NC 28206