History

The Word Proclaimed Institute is a natural outreach of Fr. Francis Martin Ministries (FFMM). When Fr. Francis Martin retired from teaching in June 2010, he made a retreat in order to discern what God wanted him to do. The Lord told Fr. Francis specifically, “Help my priests with their preaching.”

It became clear to him that the Lord wanted him to serve his brother priests by providing them with exegetical resources that would help them in preparing their homilies. He founded Fr. Francis Martin Ministries as a way to offer video, audio and print materials.

In November 2011, Fr. Francis went on weekend retreat with the FFMM advisory board to discern the next step. The idea for The Word Proclaimed Institute soon developed into a vision of a preaching institute for clergy, an institute that embraced the call of Verbum Domini. This new institute was created to train priests, seminarians and deacons to “be in close and constant contact with the sacred text”, as authentically taught by the Magisterium of the Catholic Church, so that they can preach the Word of God with “conviction and passion” (Verbum Domini).

The first official activity of The Word Proclaimed Institute is our inaugural conference in July 2012.

Testimonials

"I have had the privilege of knowing and working with Fr. Francis Martin for many years. His profound knowledge of and love for the living Word of God continues to inspire me. He continues to help people in all walks of life to open their hearts to Christ, the living Word Incarnate. I warmly recommend Fr. Francis Martin Ministries to one and all."

Most Rev. William E. Lori
Archbishop of Baltimore


"What a blessing to be a priest in a time such as this! Our world is in such desperate need of the love and truth you can offer. Please know that I pray for you and your priesthood. I am joined in this prayer by my long-time friend Fr. Francis Martin. He has been the main teacher at our priest conferences over the years since their beginning in 1975. I encourage you to... take advantage of his offering. I know you will be blessed by this spiritual resource."

Fr. Mike Scanlan, CFR


"What good news to hear that Fr. Francis Martin's daily preaching on the lectionary as well as his longer talks on biblical themes are now readily available through his website. Fr. Francis' teaching on the scripture is academically sound, spiritually enlightened and pastorally applicable. It would be hard to overestimate the importance of Fr. Francis' teaching to the life of individual Christians as well as the life of the Church today. Highly recommended."

Ralph Martin
President of Renewal Ministries and Director of the Graduate Theology Program in the New Evangelization, Sacred Heart Major Seminary


"I have known and worked with Father Francis Martin for 15 years. He has been a close colleague in our work in Evangelicals and Catholics Together. While he is a great scholar and thinker, he is one of the most gentle, loving people I have met anywhere. No matter how accomplished he has become in his intellectual and theological pursuits, he has never lost the pastor’s heart.I have learned much from him, and I can encourage you to draw on the rich resources Father Martin offers. I can think of no one better to teach Catholics seeking a closer relationship with Christ than a man who has devoted his life to it so ably."

Chuck Colson
Founder, Prison Fellowship


“I have known Fr. Francis Martin for many years as a lecturer and a good friend. His knowledge of the Scripture is like the spring of living water that Jesus refers to in John Chapter 7. I whole-heartedly recommend these talks. They will enrich your mind and draw you closer to the Father through Jesus, His Beloved."

Sister Briege McKenna, OSC


"Whenever I have a question about Sacred Scripture, the person I turn to without fail is Father Francis Martin. He is an unparalleled scholar, a consummate teacher and preacher, and a man of deep prayer. His profound understanding and presentation of Scripture makes it plain how "God the Father wills to give us birth by the Word of truth" (James 1:18)."

Fr. Peter John Cameron, O.P.
Editor-in-Chief, Magnificat