| Description
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xxxxxSt. Martin de Porres Catholic Church is not large, but it has a quiet majesty to it all the same, in the way of many old churches. A tall stone building tucked into the center of Harlem, it is one of the earliest Catholic churches in the city, and it looks it. Inside, the wooden pews stretch off towards the alter, the crucifix an immense and solemn wooden carving that presides over it all. Most of the windows are stained class, rich and vibrantly colourful depictions of various saints and Biblical scenes. Small recesses along the wall hold the Stations of the Cross depicted in intricate stone carvings, and the prayer alcove holds real flickering votive candles unlike many modern churches who have switched over to electric. The vaulted ceiling has detailed painting done between its arches, and the distinctive scent of frankincense often lingers faintly in the air.
Below, the basement of the church has been heavily modernized; there is a pair of meeting rooms for classes, a pair of bathrooms with showers, a door leading out to the tiny adjoining rectory building where the pastor lives. In tribute to the church's namesake, ministries for the poor are a large part of the church community; one room holds a wealth of donated clothing that is free for any to take. With the large dining room and industrial kitchen that serve hot dinners six days a week and distribute donated bags of groceries every Monday, there are frequent visitors through here who are often in need of the helping hand.
Right now, there's a good deal of construction going on; with a giant hole smashed in the side of the church and scaffolding up where they are trying to rebuild it, the church is closed until rebuilding can be finished.
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| Notes & Trivia
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- Temporarily became sort of a sanctuary for fugitive mutants, until HAMMER smashed it down.
- St. Martin de Porres, the namesake of the church, is the patron saint of social justice and race relations, as well as the unoffically adopted (but likely to be made official) patron saint of mutants.
- With a strong social justice/community-oriented focus, St. Martin's was a haven for the poor even before its role in harboring fugitive mutants. Their soup kitchen (every day but Sunday, serving dinner at 5:30 pm) is always welcoming regardless of genetic status and they have a weekly grocery giveaway and clothing as well. The pastor is often happy to let people stay at the church if in need of shelter for the night, especially in winter.
- In the wake of the destruction, the congregation holds services in the basement of a Methodist church down the street, though they plan to move back as soon as reconstruction is through.
- Ion, Jackson, Leo and Steve are active members of the parish.
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| Important Events
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- A number of mutants running from the police took harbor in the church, declaring it a safe haven for mutants in August-September, 2013.
- 26 September, 2013 - Law Enforcement raided the church; no arrests were made but the fugitives living in it all were forced to flee.
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| St. Martin's Church
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| Neighborhood
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Harlem
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| Type
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Catholic Church
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| Mutant-friendliness
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Vocally Supportive
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