His appointment as pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Townsend was effective on Jan. 1, 2012 following Cardinal O'Malley's letter of appointment of Dec. 6, 2011.

Just a few days before his arrival, a fire gutted the parish center of the archdiocese's most northwesterly parish. Not exactly, the kind of "warm" welcome Father St. Martin desired, or that his parishioners wished. Nor was it at all like any birthday present he had ever received -- he celebrated his 39th birthday on Jan. 2. As Father St. Martin knows well "God often writes straight with crooked lines."

A Providence native he is the son of Ronald and Susan St. Martin of Little Compton, R.I. An alumnus of St. John's Seminary, Brighton, he was ordained at Holy Cross Cathedral by Cardinal Bernard Law on June 25, 2002.

His first assignment was as parochial vicar at St. Cecilia Parish in Ashland. He has been involved in ministry to the deaf and hearing impaired and with his transfer to Newton as part time parochial vicar at Sacred Heart Parish in May 2007, he was also named Coordinator of the Catholic Deaf Ministries within the Office of Cultural Diversity. He will remain in that position until early February.

Father St. Martin is a familiar face to many in the archdiocese as he is frequently a translator of American Sign Language at archdiocesan liturgical celebrations, especially those at Holy Cross Cathedral.

Used to helping people make limitations or obstacles into opportunities, Father St. Martin will bring those well honed skills to his new responsibilities at Townsend.