Messages from Fr. Ryan and Mrs. Patton

 Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Dear Parents, Parishioners, and Friends of St. Martha Parish and School,

The tragic events that occurred today at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, MN are heartbreaking and deeply unsettling. Our hearts are with the students, families, and community of Annunciation, and we join together in prayer for their well-being, healing, and peace.

Understandably, such a tragedy causes all of us to reflect on the safety and security of our own school community here at St. Martha. Upon learning of the incident, we immediately contacted Chief Rick Grillo of the Meridian Township Police Department to discuss our current safety measures.

Chief Grillo shared the following statement:

“Ensuring the safety of every child in our community is a commitment that comes from the heart of the Meridian Township Police Department. That’s why we’ve partnered with Fr. Ryan Riley, Principal Andrea Patton, and the dedicated staff at St. Martha to take a proactive approach to school safety. Together, we have worked hard to ensure the school and parish are a secure place where children can learn and grow without fear.

Our security site expert has spent hours carefully assessing the building, and over the last three years, the parish staff has made incredible strides in upgrading its security. The security upgrades have made St. Martha the safest and most secure school in Meridian Township.  This is more than just a collaboration; it’s a shared promise to protect the most vulnerable members of our community.”

As a reminder, some of the safety enhancements we’ve implemented include:

• Comprehensive installation of interior and exterior security cameras with cutting edge technology including tracking capabilities
  

• The Lockout SmartBoot system throughout the entire building
  

• Upgraded IT infrastructure, including new servers and data drop points
  

• Biannual Lockout SmartBoot drills for students
  

• ALICE active shooter training for all faculty and staff, in partnership with the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Department
  

• Ongoing evaluation and updates to our Crisis Response Plan and our Emergency Operations Plan, in line with best practices

• Rekeying the exterior of the entire building and select interior doors while, at the same time, installing electronic key card access

The safety and well-being of every student, staff member, and visitor on our campus remains our highest priority. While no system can guarantee absolute protection, please know that we are doing everything within our power - through preparation, vigilance, and collaboration - to ensure a safe environment for your children.

As we continually pray for both spiritual and physical protection, please join me in praying the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel as we do at the end of each Mass:

St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snare of the devil.  May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou O Prince of the Heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls.  Amen.

With faith and care,

Fr. Ryan Riley            Mrs. Andrea Patton

Pastor                        Principal

Dear Parishioners, Families, and Friends of St. Martha,

Today we continue to grieve the terrible tragedy that occurred at Annunciation School in Minneapolis, MN.  Whenever a member of the Body of Christ suffers, we all suffer.  Jesus Christ suffered with us, continues to suffer with us, and we do the same for the victims, their families, the parish and school community, and the entire community of Minneapolis, MN.  Come Holy Spirit!  

I want to thank the Meridian Township Police Department for their continued support and collaboration with us as we strive to keep our students, families, and parishioners safe while on campus of St. Martha.  I thank them particularly for their presence this morning during drop-off and our all-school Mass as it put all of us at ease allowing us to pray intentionally for those in Minneapolis.

Mrs. Patton also deserves a tremendous thank you and I encourage you to offer her your support and encouragement.  She is a fantastic principal, mother, and educator.  She unequivocally loves our students, families, and parishioners with a mother’s heart.  Please lift her, and all of our teachers, in your prayers through Our Lady, Mother of the Church.    

I also want to share a few updates regarding our own safety and security measures here at St. Martha in light of yesterday’s events.  In collaboration with the local pastors within our Lansing Deanery and the Meridian Township Police Department, we are implementing the following measures effective immediately:

• The South Door (nearest Grand River; Door 6), currently the only unlocked door, will be locked 10 minutes after Mass begins (8:30am) on Mondays, Thursday, and Fridays while our school students attend Mass with the parish-wide community.  Please be aware of this and please ensure you arrive such that you can attend Mass.  The doors will not reopen to allow anyone in who is late for Mass.  I realize this will take some getting used to.      

• The South Door (nearest Grand River; Door 6) will reopen at 9:00am on Mondays and Fridays for confessions.  The South Door will reopen at 9:20am on Thursdays to allow the students time to exit the church and get back to their classrooms.

• The South Door (nearest Grand River; Door 6) will remain open during regular business hours, Friday adoration, and Wednesday evening Mass.    

• Students staying after Mass for confession are reminded that the confessional is equipped with a Lockout SmartBoot and will fit an entire class.  

• We are currently working with the Meridian Township Police Department to conduct lockdown and active threat training and drills with the faculty, staff, and students while they are in Mass. The lockdown and active threat procedures for Mass will be communicated parish-wide for those attending Mass on Sundays.  

• Ballistic shields, similar to what has been installed on the other exterior glass doors throughout the building, will be installed on the South Door (nearest Grand River; Door 6) and the North Door (narthex; St. Martha entrance).  These will take time to manufacture and install so we beg your patience.

• Jackie Rosalez and Andrea Patton are both working with the Lockout Company to schedule our regular lockdown drills for both faith formation and the school students.

Again, please know that we strive to keep our students, families, and community safe while on campus.  As stated yesterday, please also understand that no systems, measures, or procedures are 100% effective in ensuring safety and security.  If something seems or appears out of the ordinary please say something to administration or local law enforcement.  

Finally, please pray for us as your pastor, administration, faculty, and staff as this weighs heavily upon us.  We take safety and security very seriously and are doing all we can to achieve that goal.  

Please pray with me:

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created,
and you shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, who have taught the hearts of the faithful
by the light of the Holy Spirit,
grant that in the same Spirit we may be truly wise
and ever rejoice in his consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. Ryan Riley                 Mrs. Andrea Patton

Pastor                             Principal

Thursday, August 28, 2025
Feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In the wake of yesterday’s fatal shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis, I extend my condolences to the Most Reverend Bernard Hebda, Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, and to the school principal, Mr. Matthew DeBoer, as a representative of his school community. May they be assured of the prayers, sympathy, and support of the people of the Diocese of Lansing at this tragic time.

News reports suggest the gunman had scrawled "Where is your God?" on a rifle magazine used during the deadly attack. As ever, Sacred Scripture provides us with a divine riposte: “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Through the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Luke 1:26–38), God broke into human history to save us through suffering. We have a God who was betrayed and beaten and killed (Mark 14–15). We have a God who mourned and wept at the death of his loved ones (John 11:35). We have a God who is always near to us, especially in moments of trial and torment.

As Saint Augustine, whose feast we mark today, rightly observes: "God is profoundly and intrinsically close, more intimately present to us than we are to ourselves" (Confessions Book 3, Chapter 6).

Please pray for the repose of the souls of those who were killed; for healing for those who are injured; and for solace for those who are grieving.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for them.

Our Lady, health of the sick, pray for them.

Our Lady, comfort of the afflicted, pray for them.

Assuring you of my prayers, I am sincerely yours in Christ,

+Earl Boyea

Bishop of Lansing