Posted June 9, 2020

Celebrating his first public Mass since March due to public restrictions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Archbishop Nelson Perez visited the North Philadelphia parish Sunday, June 7. The Black Catholic congregation participated joyfully, along with their pastor, Father Stephen Thorne, while observing social distancing norms in the church. St. Martin’s is located at 24th and Lehigh Avenue in Philadelphia. See full coverage of the visit here. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

  • Father Stephen Thorne and altar server Joshua Brooks welcome Archbishp Nelson Perez to St. Martin de Porres Parish in North Philadelphia.

  • Archbishop Nelson Perez blesses parishioners with holy water during Mass Sunday, June 7 at St. Martin de Porres Parish in North Philadelphia, his first public liturgy in more than 11 weeks due to COVID-19.

  • The faithful of St. Martin de Porres Church are overjoyed to return to Mass in person.

  • Parishioner James E. Andrews and other faithful of St. Martin de Porres Parish in North Philadelphia participate in the Sunday liturgy June 7, 2020. (File photo by Sarah Webb)

  • Archbishop Perez preaches to the congregation on Trinity Sunday.

  • Rita Felder applauds for joy during the first in-person Mass after the stay-at-home order was enacted in March.

  • Lynne Kane wears a mask per the guidelines for returning to Mass as she prays at St. Martin de Porres Church in North Philadelphia.

  • Practicing social distancing while celebrating the Liturgy of the Eucharist are, from left, Father Stephen Thorne, pastor of St. Martin de Porres Parish; Deacon Melvin Burton Jr.; Archbishop Nelson Perez, Father Christopher Moriconi and Franciscan Father Richard Owens, director of the archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics.

  • People were spaced apart but prayerfully participating at the first public Masses in the Philadelphia Archdiocese in almost three months, including at St. Martin de Porres Church in Philadelphia. (Sarah Webb)

  • The archbishop distributes holy Communion to the faithful in the stately St. Martin de Porres Church.

  • Altar servers Joshua Brooks and Brian Caldwell Jr. lead the recessional at St. Martin de Porres Church in North Philadelphia.

  • Archbishop Nelson Perez greets parishioners after Mass at St. Martin de Porres Church.