February 5, 2006




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

MONDAY-February 6 – St. Paul Miki
 9:00 A.M.        Teresa & John Ireland by family

TUESDAY-February 7
 9:00 A.M        Eileen LaPan by the Curley Family

WEDNESDAY-February 8
 5:30 P.M.        Deceased members of Lalime and James Families by Senen & Jeanine Encinas

THURSDAY-February 9
 9:00 A.M         John Nolan (5th Anniv.) by family

FRIDAY-February 10 – St. Scholastica
 9:00 A.M.        Margaret Naiden by John & Donna Harnish

SATURDAY-February 11
 9:00 A.M.        Charles Schifilliti by Pierre Pepin

SATURDAY-VIGIL FOR SUNDAY-February 11
 4:00 P.M.        Joseph & Rose Pasha by Pearl & Larry Pasha

SUNDAY-February 12
 8:30 A.M.        Pat Dietsche by Bob & Patty Geffken
11:00 A.M.        John Jennings (1st Anniv) by Patrick

January 29 Attendance at Mass 711
January 29 (206 envelopes) $5,276.68
Catholic Education Collection $1,178.24
Weekly Average since July 1st (30 weeks) $5,014.91
Weekly Goal $5,300.00

Thank you for your continued generosity!


PERPETUAL EUCHARISTIC ADORATION CHAPEL

We have one hour to fill with a committed adorer. We need someone from 6 to 7 a.m. on Saturday mornings. We are also 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 or to commit to spend an hour with our Lord.




Dear Friends,
One month has already passed in the new year and the arrival of February brings us closer to the end of winter. Winter has never been my favorite season and I always look forward to the springtime with its promise of new life. Valentine's Day, the Winter Olympics and the beginning of Spring Training come in this short month. This year Easter is a bit later than usual – April 16th – and Ash Wednesday comes only on the first day of March. Before we know it we will be celebrating First Communion and Confirmation with our young people. Memorial Day will be here, the unofficial beginning of summer – time for cookouts and parades. I guess I'm getting a bit carried away. I better get back to my mittens, scarf and snow shovel. I need to endure them a bit longer before I “hit the links”. Oh well, every day now is a day closer to golf and the Red Sox! Enjoy the rest of winter and have a good week.
-Father Bill

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.

SUPER BOWL SUBS: The Youth Group will be selling Super Bowl Subs after all Masses this weekend. The subs include ham or turkey, lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, onions and pickles. The price is $5.00 and all proceeds will go towards their trip to West Virginia. Thank you for your continued support of our Youth Group.

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, 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.

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 to bring up the gifts, be sure to come early and volunteer to do so.



RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM 2005-2006

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

MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL RELIGION CLASSES No class this week, February 5th due to Super Bowl Sunday. Classes resume February 12th.

TUESDAY RELIGION CLASSES for grades 1 through 5, February 7th, from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.

CHILDRENS' LITURGY: The second and third grade students will participate in the different rituals of the 11 a.m. Mass next Sunday, February 12th. We invite all students and their parents to sit in the North Avenue section of the church.

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 continue in 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. (Mandatory meeting)
Parents of 6th Grade students will meet Sunday, February 12th.

RELIGIOUS ED ADVISORY BOARD MEETING, 7:00 p.m. on Monday, February 6th.

CHILDREN'S CHOIR rehearsal, Wednesday, February 8th, at 6:15 -7:00 p.m., in the church. The Children's Choir is looking for another adult to help lead the choir in song. If interested, call Sr. Helen, 864-3584.

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CHILDREN'S VIDEOS
Dora Saves the Prince – Dora the Explorer
Swing into Action – Dora the Explorer
Blue's Clues – Stop, Look and Listen
Blue's Clues – Reading with Blue
Blue's Clues – Magenta Comes Over

ADULT NON-FICTION
Inside the Vatican by Bart McDowell


PLEASE NOTE: For the month of February, no book fines will be collected. We encourage you to check your bookshelves and under the beds to return any and all books. Many thanks.

Readings for the Week of February 5, 2006
Sunday Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/ 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/ Mk 1:29-39
Monday 1 Kgs 8:1-7, 9-13/ Mk 6:53-56
Tuesday 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30/ Mk 7:1-13
Wednesday 1 Kgs 10:1-10/ Mk 7:14-23
Thursday 1 Kgs 11:4-13/ Mk 7:24-30
Friday 1 Kgs 11:29-32; 12:19/ Mk 7:31-37
Saturday 1 Kgs 12:26-32; 13:33-34/ Mk 8:1-10
Sunday Lv 13:1-2, 44-46/ 1 Cor 10:31—11:1/ Mk 1:40-45


GOSPELFEST 2006, Sunday, February 19th, 5 p.m. at the Flynn Theater. For more information call Wanda Grant, 879-0076.

CATHOLIC SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

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.

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 John Cote, 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: The Introductory Rites Continued

        As the priest's greeting reminded us that we are united in faith, we also become aware that we arrive at Mass with our failings. Every sin - no matter how small - is first of all an offense against God, and secondly an offense against His Church. There is no such thing as a private sin! We regret even the smallest sins because they hurt the One whom we love, and our neighbors whom we are called to love like ourselves. Furthermore, nothing is more destructive to the unity of the Church than the hurtful division of sins. This rite never replaces the Sacrament of Reconciliation, but makes us aware of how far we are from where we need to be. We are on a life-long pilgrimage to live for all eternity with God. Every Mass is a help and a foretaste of that day.
There are several variations of this Penitential Rite available to the priest. The Confiteor (“I confess...”), the Kyrie (“Lord, have mercy”) or the Sprinkling Rite are interspersed. The Confiteor is the most detailed of these rites and it is directed to God and to those around us. It includes those things that “we have done, and have failed to do.” It's not a time of placing blame, but courageously saying, “I have sinned through my own fault!” During these words, we strike our breast with our right hand, which is an ancient sign of mourning. After Jesus' death on Calvary, the crowd returned home “beating their breasts” in sorrow. Also included in the Confiteor is the prayerful intercession of Mary, all the saints, and the brothers and sisters in our midst to “pray for me, to the Lord our God.” Again, we are reminded that no one comes to Mass alone.
After calling to mind our sins, we sing the Gloria (except during Advent and Lent). It has been called 'the song of Christmas' because it was first proclaimed by the angels greeting the shepherds. The Gloria is one of the oldest hymns of the Church (if not the oldest) and it reminds us to no longer focus on our actions, but on the work of God. The Mass is His continued work for our redemption.
Finally we end the Introductory Rite when the priest announces the Opening Prayer. The priest instructs us with the words, “Let us pray.” It simply means, 'let us ask' our Father who is the giver of everything that is good. Then the priest reads the prayer with his arms open, symbolizing his role in collecting the prayers of God's children and presenting them to the Father. The people respond “Amen,” which means 'So be it.' More than a conclusion to the Introductory Rites, the 'Amen' is an important part of the faithful's participation because it signals their approval (that what the priest has asked for in their name, is indeed their desire). To be able to say “Amen” means that we must listen attentively to the words of this prayer as we prepare to go even deeper into the mystery of Mass, as the Liturgy of the Word begins to unfold.
 
- Fr. Dan

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Last Update: February 3, 2006