January 22, 2006



SATURDAY-January 21
 9:00 A.M        Deceased members of the Ames and Beaudoin Families by Ben & Rita Ames

SATURDAY-VIGIL FOR SUNDAY-January 21
 4:00 P.M.        Father Ronald Benoit by Steven & Janice Fuller

SUNDAY-January 22
 8:30 A.M.        For the Parishioners of St. Mark Parish
11:00 A.M.        Bernard Ferland by John Bove

MONDAY-January 23
 9:00 A.M.        Charlie Schifilliti by Curley Family
3:00 P.M.        Birchwood Nursing Home Mass John & Fred Myers by Marilyn Myers

TUESDAY-January 24 – St. Francis de Sales
 9:00 A.M        Eileen Lapan and the Souls in Purgatory by Winnie Gelineau

WEDNESDAY-January 25 – Conversion of St. Paul
 5:30 P.M.        Dan McNamara by Mary McNamara

THURSDAY-January 26 – Sts Timothy & Titus
 9:00 A.M         Margaret Naiden by John & Donna Harnish

FRIDAY-January 27 – St. Angela Merici
 9:00 A.M.        D.J. Bushey Family by family

SATURDAY-January 28 – St. Thomas Aquinas
 9:00 A.M.        Robert Lavilette by his wife Jo

SATURDAY-VIGIL FOR SUNDAY-January 28
 4:00 P.M.        Louis & Victoria Bove by Corinne Bove Maietta

SUNDAY-January 29
 8:30 A.M.        For the Parishioners of St. Mark's Parish
11:00 A.M.        For the improved health of Shirley Fuller and Joanne Burbo by Steve & Janice Fuller


December 15 Attendance at Mass 672
December 4 (195 envelopes) $4,389.90
Weekly Average since July 1st (28 weeks) $4,994.75
Weekly Goal $5,300.00


CALCUTTA NIGHT: We have planned Calcutta Night for Saturday, February 11, 2006. We are selling 100 numbers with dinner included for $50 each. If you come as a couple the extra meal will cost $10. Once the 100 numbers are sold, no other reservations will be accepted. Call Barb King, 862-8350 or Carole at the rectory, 864-7686 if you plan to attend.

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPEL
Committed adorers are needed for Saturday, 3 to 4 p.m. Please call Marge at 658-0228 or Winnie at 862-9598 to sign up to commit to spend one hour with our Lord.


Dear Friends,

At our parish council meeting this past Monday evening one of the topics that was discussed was parish council elections. In the guidelines for parish councils the diocese mandates that parishes hold annual elections every March. I am aware that it has been several years since an election has been held here at St. Mark's and so I would like to schedule an election soon. In the make-up of a parish council, any parochial vicars, deacons, and a representative from the religious are ex-officio members. But the guidelines stipulate that elected laity are always to constitute a majority. Lay members of the council must be members of the parish and in good standing. Those elected to the council must be willing to attend meetings eight times a year and participate as members of one of the parish commissions. (Worship, Religious, Education, Social Action, Stewardship).

In order to hold an election we will be needing candidates! In the coming weeks we will ask you to nominate others or offer yourselves as candidates for election. Please keep this process in your prayers and give some thought to how you would like to participate. As always, have a good week.
-Father Bill

GIFT BEARERS FOR WEEKEND MASSES We always need gift bearers for weekend Masses and this is one way that you and your family can participate in the liturgy. If you would like to volunteer to bring up the gifts, we ask that you come early to Mass and speak to one of the ushers. If they have already assigned someone to do this they will keep you in mind for future weekends. If the Mass is being offered for a family member and you would like to bring up the gifts, be sure to come early and volunteer to do so.

NEW SACRED VESSELS FOR MASS: A few months ago several parishioners donated funds to purchase new ciboria (the sacred vessels used at Mass containing the bread that becomes the Body of Christ). They are finally here and will be used at all Masses. The noble beauty of these vessels help to remind us that Jesus Christ is truly present in Holy Communion. Again, our sincere thanks to those who gave so generously.

SUPER BOWL SUBS: The Youth Group will be selling Super Bowl Subs after all Masses the weekend of February 4th & 5th. The subs include ham or turkey, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, onions and pickles. Please call the rectory, 864-7686, to place your order. The price is $5.00 and all proceeds go towards their trip to West Virginia. Please place your order by February 3rd so that we may purchase the proper amount of food. Thank you for your continued support of our Youth Group.



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM 2005-2006
FIRST RECONCILIATION: Our First Communion candidates celebrated their First Reconciliation on Saturday, January 21st. We ask you to keep these students and their families in prayer as they continue to prepare for Fist Eucharist.

TEACHER APPRECIATION DINNER is scheduled for Friday, January 27th at 6:30 p.m. Our parish takes this opportunity to express our gratitude and appreciation for the dedicated service and generosity of our catechists in all our religious Education Programs.

YOUTH LITURGY: The kindergarten and fifth grade students will participate in the different rituals next Sunday, January 29th, at the 11:00 a.m. Mass. We invite all the students and their parents to sit in the North Avenue section of the church.

PARENT MEETINGS will be conducted in January and February. This is an opportunity for the parents to meet their child's teacher and discuss with Sr. Helen spiritual development. All meetings are during your child's class time.
Parents of 2nd Grade students will meet Tuesday, February 7th.
Parents of 4th Grade students will meet Tuesday, January 24th or Sunday, January 29th.
Parents of 5th Grade students will meet Tuesday, January 31st or Sunday February 5th.
Parents of 6th Grade students will meet Sunday, February 12th.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR is looking for another adult to help lead the choir in song. If interested, call Sr. Helen, 864-3584.




ADULT NON-FICTION
How Now by Raphael Cushnir
Abraham by Bruce Feiler
The Story of Vermont by Christopher Klyza & Stephen Trombulak

CHICKEN & BISCUIT DINNER, St. Thomas Church in Underhill Center, Sunday, January 29th. Dinner will be served buffet style from 4 to 7 p.m. Menu will include chicken with gravy and biscuits, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, glazed carrots, peas, cranberry sauce, apple crisp and ice cream with coffee, tea and lemonade to drink. Take-outs available. Call St. Thomas parish office, 899-4632 to register for seats. Cost is by donation.

Readings for the Week of January 22, 2006
Sunday Jon 3:1-5, 10/ 1 Cor 7:29-31/ Mk 1:14-20
Monday 2 Sm 5:1-7, 10/ Mk 3:22-30
Tuesday 2 Sm 6:12b-15, 17-19/ Mk 3:31-35
Wednesday Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22/ Mk 16:15-18
Thursday 2 Tm 1:1-8 or Ti 1:1-5/ Mk 4:21-25
Friday 2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17/ Mk 4:26-34
Saturday 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17/ Mk 4:35-41
Sunday Dt 18:15-20/ 1 Cor 7:32-35/ Mk 1:21-28


FREE TAX HELP FOR SENIORS: The AARP Foundation, in cooperation with the IRS, will provide free and confidential tax assistance for low and middle income taxpayers age 60 and older. Membership by AARP is NOT required. This will be done at St. Mark's Family Center every Tuesday and Thursday through March and April by appointment. Call 862-2796 between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays or Fridays to set up your appointment.

BIBLE STUDY: THE BOOK OF REVELATION, 2006: A Bible Study Program, hosted by St. Pius Church will be held from February 8th to April 5th from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Rev. Paul Couture, S.S.E., from St. Michael's College will be the guide through the Book of Revelation. For more information, contact Paula Yandow at St. Pius Church, 878-5997.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OPEN HOUSE
Mater Christi, January 25th and February 15th from 9 to 11 a.m. If you plan to visit either of these dates, please call Mater Christi School, 658-3992, the day before your visit.

St. Joseph School, January 30th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Please call the school, 864-5623 if you plan on attending.

Christ the King-St. Anthony School, February 3rd from 8 to 11 a.m. Please call the school office, 862-6696 for more information.


YOUR PRAYERS ARE REQUESTED for the safety of our service men and women and support personnel working as peace-keepers throughout the world and for those who are seriously ill, especially Elizabeth Belair. Alma Houmiel, Tiz Mazza, Jean Popecki, Barbara Sanneman, Mikaela Sienkiewicz, Charles Snelling and Mary Wheel.

To have someone from your family enrolled in this list, please call the Rectory Office at 864-7686. Names will be listed for one month unless the office is notified that the condition continues and prayers are still requested.

The Mass Explained - Great Expectations

Before we examine the parts of the Mass, we must understand the essence of what the Mass is. The more we know about the gift of the Mass, the more we can have great expectations of what we will encounter. If we know what Jesus expects, we will never be disappointed; if we make up our own expectations, we set ourselves up for disillusionment.
On the eve of His passion, Jesus knew exactly what He was doing. He gathered the 12 in the upper room and celebrated the Last Supper with the Mass in mind. He wanted to be remembered - not so much for His life, but for His death! However, Mass is not simply a memorial service where we just fondly remember, but where we make the sacrifice of Calvary present. This act of worship involves an external dimension, but the chief element of the Mass must be interior. Every follower of Jesus must keep Him alive in our hearts and do all things “through Him, with Him, and in Him....” God cannot be honored unless our hearts and minds turn to Him. If we find ourselves disenchanted or bored with Mass, perhaps it is not an external problem with the Mass, but an internal problem with our mind or heart. We will not 'get anything from the Mass' if we do not bring everything to the Mass. “When minds are enlightened and hearts are enkindled, then signs begin to speak.” The Church helps us to avoid these problems by giving us four traditional themes:
Sacrifice: Jesus sacrificially gave His life for those surrounding Him, for those at whose hands He suffered and died, and still for us, 2,000 years later. John Paul II wrote in his encyclical on Eucharist that “it must not be forgotten that the Eucharist has a profoundly and primarily sacrificial meaning.” We hear this language at Mass when the priest prays the words of consecration, 'my body given up for you' and 'my blood...shed for you.'
Unity: He died, as St. John recorded “That they may be one, as you, Father are in me and I in you” as a source of unity.  The Incarnation showed visibly to the world how much God desired to be united to His people – both on earth, and with the promise of eternal life in heaven.  The union between God and man is most explicitly shown in the reception of the Bread of Life that nourishes us.
Heavenly Banquet: The Eucharist is inseparable from Jesus' passion, death and resurrection, because every time we gather to celebrate it at His command, we remember how He gathered with His disciples, and how He longed to have then united again for the eternal heavenly banquet.
Presence: Likewise, it was the risen Christ that showed Himself present in the breaking of the bread on the road to Emmaus, where He really was, but hidden in appearance. We do not see Jesus under the appearances of bread and wine, but He is there. It is not science, but faith that serves to compensate when our senses fail to see Him.

- Fr. Dan

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Last Update: February 2, 2006