All is well at St. Elizabeth’s Church. The new pastor has arrived.

Ever since the passing of the late Rev. Marinaldo A. Batista, who died unexpectedly in his hometown in Brazil on April 1, 2021 due to COVID-19, parishioners of St. Elizabeth’s Church have been without a full-time pastor. Luckily, they received a respite when the retired Father Jose F. Rocha stepped in on an interim basis to serve Mass daily at the church. Anyone will tell you Father Rocha went above and beyond the call of duty.

On Aug. 5, the Rev. Vander S. Martins arrived as St. Elizabeth Church’s new full-time pastor. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Word had gotten out that a new pastor was being lined up for the church, but no one really knew who he was or when he would arrive.

Just 48 years of age, Father Martins has been a priest for just over 19 years. He will celebrate his 20th anniversary in the priesthood next year.

“My parents are of Portuguese origin and have always lived on a farm in the interior of the city of Mariana in the state of Minas Gerais,” he explained. “My father passed in 2001 when I was still in the seminary, but my mother is doing fine.”

Father Martins also has five brothers all living and working in Brazil, and a sister.

Although he’s only been here briefly, Father Martins says things are going along smoothly.

“So far so good,” he smiled. “Even though I’m away from my country, I feel at home as a family here. After all, we are one family, the people of God, and children of the same Father. We have the same faith and form the only Church of Christ. In the Church, we are all citizens of heaven, living in the hope of full happiness.”

Said parishioner Patricia Faria, “My first impression of Father Martins was his humility… he asked us to pray and have patience with him. I just smiled, if he knew how so many in our parish was praying for him. I myself, every day after morning and evening prayer, prayed that he would be able to come soon. But, God was calling him to be pastor of Saint Elizabeth’s Church.”

She continued, “Father Martins has a great devotion to Our Blessed Virgin Mary. I thank God for him and any priest that has devotion to Our Blessed Mother and the Eucharist. I am looking forward to getting to know him. If we all do a little to help him, even if we can’t leave the house, the greatest thing we can do is pray for him.”

Patricia Enos, another longtime parishioner and faithful servant in the St. Elizabeth’s Church community, added, “The only thing I can say is Father Martins is sincere in his homily and wants to make St. Elizabeth’s his home. Plus, he’s very nice and easy to talk to.”

Father Martins also has his long-range plans for St. Elizabeth’s Church mapped out.

“I am coming to continue the work that was begun here before my arrival,” he said. “By so many other pastors who have passed through here, like Father Marinaldo Batista, who was also my friend when we were students in Rome. Therefore, I am not coming to begin, but to continue the work of evangelization here.”

He added, “First of all. I want to meet and get to know the parishioners. I also need to know how things work around here. For me, it’s all very new, so I’ll need some time to understand the rules of the Diocese of Providence.”

“I know I will miss my country, the work I did there, my family members, etc.,” he continued. “The distance is too big. Sometimes I’m even scared, but I’m also excited to be able to attend the needs of this church here. I ask all of you to pray to God always for me. As a priest of the Catholic Church, I have the mission and responsibility to work hard to keep alive the faith of the people of this parish. Therefore, let us celebrate all the sacraments with great devotion and piety. Let us strive for God to better known, loved, and praised in this parish.”