The Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of St. Joseph’s R.C. Church in Rosebank, will be installed as national Chaplain of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks on Thursday at the organization’s national convention in Reno, Nev (Staten Island Advance/Jan Somma-Hammel)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - The Rev. Michael Martine, pastor of St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Rosebank, will be installed Thursday as national Chaplain of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.

He is the first Staten Islander and the second priest from New York state to hold the position.

The installation will take place at the Elks national convention, held this week in Reno, Nev.

"I am deeply honored and grateful to have been appointed to this position by the Elks National Advisory Board," said Father Martine. "I look forward to serving the organization to the best of my ability over the next two years. The office of Grand Chaplain is another facet of my ministry as a priest, in which I will work to bring members of the Elks closer to God and to bring God closer to them."

His journey as an Elk began 22 years ago, when his father, Gustave, a past district deputy of the Southeast district and secretary and lodge sponsor of Staten Island Lodge 841, initiated him into the order in 1991.

As a member of the Elks, Father Martine has served as the New York State Chaplain for the past seven years, giving spiritual guidance and advice to other members.

The Elks have been serving the community since 1868; recent initiatives include special youth programs like free-throw contests and drug awareness.

As a charitable, non-denominational organization, they donate more than $3.6 million each year in the form of scholarships to students who plan on going to college. With more than 1 million members, this organization is one of the leading charitable orders in the country.

The Elks have also donated their time to United Cerebral Palsy, which is the designated charity of the New York State Elks.

The Staten Island Lodge 841 has held barbecues, a charity ball at the Staaten in West Brighton, and Halloween and Christmas parties for United Cerebral Palsy in Port Richmond.

Father Martine has been a priest for 16 years, the last four spent at St. Joseph's R.C. Church in Rosebank. Effective Aug. 1, he will be pastor of Holy Rosary R.C. Church in South Beach.

As the Grand Chaplain of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, his responsibilities include offering mass at the state and national conventions, giving invocations and benedictions at meetings and conventions and furnishing spiritual guidance and advice to other members.

"Being state and now national Chaplain of the Elks is not a job, it is a ministry in and of itself," said Father Martine. "The conventions and meetings are a great opportunity to provide spiritual support and advice to the membership when asked to do so. I am grateful to have been given this opportunity to serve the organization on the national level for the next two years."