On September 15, 2019 St. Francis of Assisi Church welcomed their new pastor, Fr. Martin Schratz, O.F.M. Cap. during his installation as Pastor at the 10:30AM Mass celebrated by Most Reverend John W. Flesey, STD. 

Meet Our Pastor, Fr. Martin!

Get to know Fr. Martin. 
I am the oldest of 5 children with one sister and 3 brothers, born and raised in Lafayette Hill, PA.  Five days after graduating from high school in 1968 I enter the Brothers of Charity, a religious community of men dedicated to teaching and caring for those less fortunate. After nine years I discerned the call to priesthood and entered the Capuchin Franciscans in 1977. I had always had interest in the Capuchins from the 5th grade when a friar came to speak to our class. I took my final vows in 1979 and was ordained in 1983.  I have been stationed in NY, VA, NC, FL and now NJ. Also, this is the sixth parish where I have been pastor.

Tell us something about yourself we don’t know. 
My BA is in education and I taught elementary school for a number of years when I was a Brother of Charity. Until recently I was an avid NASCAR fan attending all the races in Charlotte and saying Mass before most of them at the track. I take care of the web site for our Province of the Sacred Stigmata and our parish, and keep the Facebook for both of these up to date. In my free time I like to explore the area where I live with day trips.


(Fr. Martin's First Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass)

What do you do at St. Francis of Assisi Parish? 
As pastor of St. Francis, my main role is that of leading God’s people on their spiritual journeys. As pastor you become a leader of prayer, a healer in the sacraments, a preacher, a teacher, a consoler, and the list goes on. Each person that comes to me brings a different need. To get more specific would take pages.  Leader and teacher as a man of prayer become the basis of my role as pastor.