Reverend Patrick A. Martin

He was born on March 18, 1944 to David and Amanda Martin in Caribou, Maine. He was the nineteenth of 22 children. He is preceded in death by both parents and sixteen of his siblings. He is survived by one brother, Paul, and four sisters, Lorraine, Germaine (Stiles), Anita (Vachon), and Patricia (Kozar), and well as numbers nieces, nephews, and cousins. Not to mention the countless Priests and religious friends throughout his life.

His life was marked with disability from an early age. He contracted meningitis at 9 years of age, which caused him to be visually impaired from that point on.

Despite this difficult, he graduated from high school and received a Bachelors degree as well as two Masters degrees. He accomplished this by learning to read one letter at a time. He became a Brother of Christian Instruction in his early 20s. As a Brother, he worked in library sciences at the Main Library in New York City where he also developed programs to primarily assist others with special needs.

After having received a Special Indult (due to his blindness) from Pope Paul VI, he was ordained a Priest in Norwich Connecticut on October 7, 1978. After this he began a life of Missionary Priesthood where he took the work of The Lord to ALL in all parts of the world.

He often referred to himself as a Servant of The Lord and quite affectionately referred to himself as "That Blind Priest who goes everywhere that he is called". Some knew him as "the Wild Canary".

He also managed to author 5 books throughout his travels and often said that 'The Lord just lets me know when to sit still and start writing."

With a little assistance (as needed) he went everywhere he was requested to be to provide Mission Retreats at various parishes (seemingly) everywhere that one could imagine. He would say that one of his favorite things that The Lord allowed him to do was to hear confessions. He he did just that for hours at a time wherever he was. He often said that it brought him great joy to help others in that way...because he knew that it brought The Lord great joy as so many returned to their faith.

During his last few years, he did slow down and stopped traveling as much and only provided a few small Mission Talks. He resided at Padua Place, a retirement home for Priests and Deacons in San Antonio, Texas where he continued to celebrate Mass until last year and continued to hear confessions until just this last month.

Rest in peace, Father Pat. You have been so loved and are already missed more than anyone can express.