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Pastor Fr. Julio

About Friar Julio

Hi! I’m Friar Julio Alberto Martínez. I’m a Conventual Franciscan Friar and pastor of St. Julia. Although I have lived most of my life in the U.S., I am an immigrant. Together with my family, we sought political asylum here from Cuba. I grew up in Connecticut and have lived in various states and in Italy. I am most grateful to my Franciscan brothers for so many blessings and for the great gift of sharing life and ministry in this wonderful company of brothers.

I’ve done quite a number of things in my life: parish priest, youth center director, substance abuse counselor, high school counselor, high school and middle school teacher, adult ESOL teacher, trained spiritual director, retreat director, and now pastor. Yes, I’ve been around the block quite a few times and I am most grateful for God’s accompaniment through it all.

So, here I am at St. Julia in Siler City, North Carolina. What a blessing and what a joy it is for me to be in the company of such wonderful people.

I have to tell you that I love being here. I find myself in the company of good and friendly people who I have the great honor to call my sisters and brothers. We’re a good match, I believe, and we are present to one another in the best of ways through thick and thin. I constantly experience their support and love and I pray that they experience mine. The good people of St. Julia have brought me closer to God by their deep faith and love for their families and faith community. I am so grateful for such a blessing.

My search for God is a part of my life that I am devoted to. I try to live my life as compassionately as possible and to bring the compassion of God to those I serve and enjoy life with here at St. Julia. As a Franciscan Friar, my spirituality is definitely Incarnational. I respond to the incarnation of God in the person of Jesus with deep devotion and recognize it as God’s great demonstration of God’s love for creation. May God illumine me always with the keen awareness of God’s presence and care for us all. May we all, here at St. Julia, continue to grow in our commitment to one another and our devotion to God’s compassion.

May God bless you with much life and peace. May you feel God’s goodness in your lives.

Friar Julio

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