Our Founder
David Martins is the founder of Communion of Hearts Ministries, a spiritual community created to help people rediscover peace, compassion, and clarity in a time when so much of public life feels loud, anxious, and divided.
David’s journey has been shaped by a lifelong love of both faith and thoughtful inquiry. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from Providence College and a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Theology from Saint Joseph College. He also served for a few years in Roman Catholic Religious Life. In time, David would be ordained to the Priesthood in the Independent Catholic Movement. In 2010 David founded Saint Therese Old Catholic Church (now known as the Chapel of St. Therese of Lisieux), a progressive Independent Catholic Parish where he served as Pastor for nearly a decade. Though separated from Rome, Independent Catholicism is a fulfilling alternative for many progressive Catholics and other Christians.
As a progressive Christian, David believes the Gospel calls us not toward exclusion, but toward radical love. He understands faith not as a weapon to win arguments, but as an invitation to transformation. He believes that following Jesus means continually returning to humility, mercy, justice, and the difficult work of loving even when love feels costly.
Alongside his ministry work, David has spent many years serving in nonprofit leadership and public health settings, where he has worked closely with individuals and communities navigating vulnerability, stigma, and structural barriers to care. His professional life has continually reinforced what his spiritual life teaches: that dignity matters, compassion heals, and small acts of care can change the trajectory of a life.
