January 29, 2006



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

MONDAY-January 30
 9:00 A.M.        Charles Schifilliti by the Boves

TUESDAY-January 31 – St. John Bosco
 9:00 A.M        James Fitzpatrick by Doris Smith

WEDNESDAY-February 1
 5:30 P.M.        Theresa Curley by famiy

THURSDAY-February 2 – Presentation of the Lord
 9:00 A.M         Gloria Constantino by George & Jean Divenuti

FRIDAY-February 3 – St. Blaise
 9:00 A.M.        Eileen LaPan by Pearl & Larry Pasha

SATURDAY-February 4
 9:00 A.M.        Margaret Naiden By John & Donna Harnish

SATURDAY-VIGIL FOR SUNDAY-February 4
 4:00 P.M.        Living and deceased members of CHS Class of 1945
SUNDAY-February 5
 8:30 A.M.        Joseph D. Sullivan (1st Anniv) by family
11:00 A.M.        For the parishioners of St. Mark's Parish


January 22 Attendance at Mass 695
January 22 (222 envelopes) $5,482.50
Capital Gains Collection $1,125.55
Weekly Average since July 1st (29 weeks) $5,012.09
Weekly Goal $5,300.00

Thank you for your continued generosity!

PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPEL

“The quiet and solitude of the night make it a favorable time for prayer and most suitable for those who watch. With worldly occupations put aside and the attention undivided, the whole man, at night, stands in the divine presence.” - St. Nicetas of Remesiana.

We are blessed that all hours for adoration are filled. Thank you to all our committed adorers. We are in need of a substitute for 2 months, from March 8th till May 3rd on Wednesday mornings from 4 to 5 a.m. Please call Marge at 658-0228 or Winnie at 862-9598 if you are able to help out for this short period.



Dear Friends,
        As I mentioned last week, we are hoping to have a parish council election soon. It has been a number of years since such an election has been held at St. Mark's. In the guidelines for parish councils, the diocese mandates that parishes hold elections annually. Parochial vicars, deacons, and a representative from the religious are always ex-officio members of any parish council, but the guidelines stipulate that elected laity should constitute a majority. Lay members of the council are to 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! Next week we will be giving you the opportunity 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.
Congratulations to our children who celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation last Saturday. They are now preparing for First Communion which will be held on Saturday, May 6th. Please keep them and their families in your prayers and have a good week.
-Father Bill

SUPER BOWL SUBS: The Youth Group will be selling Super Bowl Subs after all Masses the weekend of February 4 & 5 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 will 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.

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.



THANK YOU AND FAREWELL: Cathy Giannotta who has played the organ at the 8:30 a.m. Mass for the past two years is leaving us and moving with her family to Colorado. We wish her all the best and are grateful for her service at St. Mark's.

CHITTENDEN EMERGENCY FOOD SHELF: Next weekend is our opportunity to bring non-perishable food items for the Food Shelf. Last month St. Mark's donated 102 pounds of food plus $10 cash. Thank you.



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM 2005-2006

SUNDAY MORNING RELIGION CLASSES, today, January 29th, for grades Kindergarten through 5 from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m.

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL RELIGION CLASSES will meet this evening, January 29th, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. No classes next week, February 5th due to Super Bowl Sunday.

TUESDAY RELIGION CLASSES for grades 1 through 5, January 31st, from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.

FAMILY CELEBRATION: A potluck dinner is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14th at 5:45 p.m. in the Family Center. All families of Religious Education students in K through 5, from both Sunday and Tuesday classes are invited to participate. If you will be attending please call Sr. Helen at 864-3584 by February 7th. Thank you.

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 1st Grade students will meet Sunday, February 12th.
Parents of 2nd Grade students will meet Tuesday, February 7th.
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
Hazel's Journey by Sue Pieters Hawke & Hazel Flynn
Objection by Nancy Grace

ADULT FICTION
Mount Vernon Love Story by Mary Higgins Clark
Blue Heron by Avi
Mary Mary by James Patterson

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS OPEN HOUSE
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.

Mater Christi, February 15th from 9 to 11 a.m. If you plan to visit please call Mater Christi School, 658-3992, the day before your visit.

MOM'S MINISTRY MEETING, Friday, February 3rd at 7 p.m. at the Family Center. All mothers are invited.

Readings for the Week of January 29, 2006

Sunday Dt 18:15-20/ 1 Cor 7:32-35/ Mk 1:21-28
Monday 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13/ Mk 5:1-20
Tuesday 2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30—19:3/ Mk 5:21-43
Wednesday 2 Sm 24:2, 9-17/ Mk 6:1-6
Thursday Mal 3:1-4/ Heb 2:14-18/ Lk 2:22-40 or 2:22-32
Friday Sir 47:2-11/ Mk 6:14-29
Saturday 1 Kgs 3:4-13/ Mk 6:30-34
Sunday Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/ 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/ Mk 1:29-39


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 February through 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.

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 Alma Houmiel, Tiz Mazza, Jean Popecki, Barbara Sanneman, Mikaela Sienkiewicz, Charles Snelling, Mary Wheel and for the repose of the soul of Arlene Grant.

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: The Introductory Rites

The words and actions of the Mass are based on Sacred Scripture and the early centuries of the Church's life. Every word, every action is steeped in meaning. They begin as soon as we enter the church. We bless ourselves with holy water as a reminder of our Baptism - the Sacrament that welcomed us into the Catholic Faith. Furthermore, the Sign of the Cross confidently reminds us of the words in the Book of Revelation, “in this Sign of the Cross is salvation for all” (14:1). There is no other reason for us to worship at Mass than our salvation and the salvation of the world!
Before we enter our pew, we genuflect as a sign of adoration to Jesus Christ present in the tabernacle. Whatever church we find ourselves in, we just need to look for the flicker of the sanctuary lamp which leads us to Jesus. It serves as our guide in the same way the star led the Magi to the Christ-child on the first Epiphany. After entering our pew, we devote that time to silent prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to take away distractions and to help us offer undivided minds and hearts to God.
The procession begins with the processional cross, followed by the servers and the priest. When St. Thomas asked Jesus the way, He told that He is “the Way, the Truth, the Life” - and so we rightly follow Him. The crucifix reminds us that Christ has brought us together through His sacrifice and that He desires that we should “do this in memory of Me.” The priest comes last in the procession, because he stands in the person of Christ.
Upon reaching the altar, the priest kisses it as a sign of veneration. St. Luke records in his Gospel the encounter of Jesus and the sinful woman who showered His feet with kisses and tears (7:38). At that moment, the priest recalls his own sinfulness, but also God's mercy. The kiss of the priest also symbolizes the union between Christ and His bride, the Church. The Mass that is just beginning forges that union between the two. The top of the altar is always covered in white cloth to remind us of Christ's burial linens after His passion.
From the chair the priest begins the Mass with the Sign of the Cross. Making the Sign of the Cross is the oldest and most profound gesture of our faith. It signifies the sacrificial nature of the Mass where Jesus is offering Himself to the Father through the priest. The Sign of the Cross tells us of the oath we made (or was made for us) at our Baptism when we promised to offer worship and testimony to the one, true God. We come to Mass not as spectators, but as witnesses to His saving work.
The priest greets the people in God's name with a prescribed formula, (such as “The Grace and peace of God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.”) and the people respond, “And also with you.” We arrived at Church as individuals, but now are united as one. With these words, the faithful are united as the Body of Christ in our professed belief of Jesus Christ.
-Fr. Dan

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Last Update: January 29, 2006