My name is Xochitl Martinez. I was born in Mexico, and I have been living here in Raleigh for 17 years. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. As a professional I had the desire to work in large companies such as PEMEX (Mexican oil). However, I am now in this country where God has shown me that He had other plans for me, and I am here now serving with great love in the Church and my mission as a good administrator is to take care of the goods that God has given me to produce good fruits.

As a new Pastoral Council member I look forward first, to enjoying this opportunity that God is giving me to put my gifts and charisma at the service of this community. To helping to be the ears and eyes of our pastor so that together with the other members of this Pastoral Council, through prayer, mutual listening, and friendly sharing we can move forward with the vision of the parish and what Jesus wants to achieve in this beautiful community with so much cultural richness. In addition to seeking and studying proposals to pastoral and charitable initiatives related to the parish, I would like the St. Raphael community to be a parish with open doors full of passionate disciples who welcome everyone who comes thirsty for God and that we can all together serve and love God in everything and in all things. Pray, pray, and discern together to continue the work of Christ.

Since I arrived in Raleigh (2005) Saint Rafael has been my home, where God has been molding, forming, and transforming my life. I have a great love for the beautiful family of Saint Rafael. It was in the charismatic prayer group that I felt God’s call to serve. I responded to the invitation to serve as a children’s catechist for 5 years; providing training sessions to 15-year-olds; I am currently a member of the Hispanic choir and from 2011 to date, I support the coordination of the RCIA process for adults. My passion is to serve others with love and joy. I have always enjoyed listening and helping people and serving as an instrument of healing and being a bridge to bring souls to the feet of Christ.

Currently, I work in the Diocese of Raleigh in the Office of Evangelization and Discipleship as Coordinator of Formation for Hispanic Adults which I enjoy everything I do in this beautiful diocesan work. I visit the parishes of the diocese to meet, listen to the needs for catechists and servers, and thus provide the necessary resources, training, and formation, in addition to providing training on the RCIA process in Spanish. One of the objectives is to create bonds of friendship with each Pastor and the community and work together in the vineyard of the Lord. The main mission with these formations, trainings and resources is to lead people to have a personal encounter with Christ and help with the follow-up to create disciples in the communities of our diocese.

My husband of 11 years, Rafael Guarnizo, and were married here at Saint Raphael. He was born in Colombia and is currently the Music Director of the St. Raphael choirs in English and Spanish. He is an excellent husband, father, and son to his parents. God blessed us with 2 beautiful children, Rafael Uriel, 8 years old and Miguel Angel, 6 years old. They like to play the piano and sometimes serve at Mass. We enjoy spending time with our children in the park, eating pizza, and playing soccer.

I feel very privileged, excited, and very blessed to be part of the Pastoral Council. I ask the Holy Spirit to continue to guide me and give me the wisdom so that together with the pastor and the other members of this pastoral council we can joyfully follow the vision of the parish. Finally, I would like to share one quote that has helped me to persevere in the mission that Christ has entrusted to me, which is to bring souls to his feet. John 15: 5-11 “I am the Vine: Bear fruit in me.”