The parish of St. Martin of Tours is presently staffed by two Divine Word Missionaries. Fr. Thomas Krosnicki came in 2005 to “fill in” for one year but continues to serve the community as pastor. In March, 2008, Fr. Manuel Antao was assigned to the parish for a three year term as assistant pastor. In view of the growing Hispanic Catholic population, a Spanish speaking priest is expected to arrive in the parish in 2009., Fr. Thomas, from the United States, was born in 1938 and joined Divine Word Missionaries in 1958. Ordained in 1966 he was asked to undertake post-graduate studies at The Catholic University of America, Washington, and a doctorate in Liturgy at the Pontifical Liturgical Institute in Rome, Italy. From 1972-82 he worked for the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (USA) in the Office of Liturgy. From 1976-1985 he served as consultant to the Vatican Congregation for Divine Worship in Rome. In 1983 he was invited to join the staff of the Catechetical-Liturgical Institute of the Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. After three years he was invited to return to Rome to help staff a renewal program for priests and Brothers. From 1990 to 2002 he was the Director of the Mission Center of Divine Word Missionaries in Techny, Illinois, where he was involved in promoting mission awareness and raising funds for the missionary work of his community. In 2002 Fr. Thomas was elected Provincial Superior of the Chicago Province of his international missionary community. Approaching retirement age, he came to St. Maarten at the request of Bishop Luis Secco in 2005 on a “temporary” assignment.,
Fr. Manuel Antao, from India, is also a Divine Word Missionary. Born in Goa, India, in 1970, he was ordained to the priesthood in 2003. His first assignment outside of India was to Hungary where, due to illness, he remained less than one year. After returning to India and regaining his health he became involved in recruitment of seminarians and youth ministry. Three years later he asked to be assigned to the Chicago Province of the Society of the Divine Word as he wished to minister in the Caribbean District. His request was honored and he began his nine month orientation program to the Caribbean in Jamaica in 2007. On March 1, 2008 he arrived at St. Martin of Tours Parish to begin his pastoral ministry on the island of Sint Maarten. Fr. Antao obtained a Masters Degree in Sociology after his ordination in India.