19 JULY 2015 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

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1 ADMINISTRATION CENTER 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania Telephone: MARK (6275) Fax: Father Rowan Hall: Parish Nurse: x102 Religious Education & Youth Ministry: x105 Mon Yough Catholic School: Victim Assistance Hotline: JULY 2015 SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME The Church Evangelizing! Be a friend. Be a friend of Jesus. Make friends for Jesus. LIBERTY SITE (LB) - Saint Eugene Church 3210 Liberty Way McKeesport, PA MASS SCHEDULE Mon., Wed. & Fri... 8:30am Sat. Vigil... 6:00pm Sunday... 11:00am PORT VUE SITE (PV) - Saint Joseph Church 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, PA MASS SCHEDULE Tues., Thurs. & Sat.... 8:30am Sunday... 8:00am SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION 5:15pm Saturdays at our Liberty site and anytime upon request. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Engaged couples are to participate in a Marriage Preparation Class. Please contact our Administration Center six months prior to the anticipated wedding date. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM SAINT MARK PARISH MISSION STATEMENT (Promulgated January 2014 by the People of Saint Mark Parish) Baptisms are the 1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday of the month after the 11:00am Mass. Pre-Baptism Class is required. Please contact our Administration Center three months prior to the anticipated birth. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM We are Saint Mark Parish, a family of brothers and sisters alive in Christ. Protected by Saint Mark the Evangelist, we continue to thrive with Strength, Vibrancy, Humility and Sacrifice. The Grace of the Holy Spirit guides us; the Eucharist nurtures us; and we embrace our mission to spread the Gospel message to all. We welcome new members at Saint Mark Parish. Those wishing to join are invited to introduce themselves to Father Daniel and contact our Administration Center. MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND SHUT-INS OFFICE HOURS: 9:00am to 1:00pm Our Parish Nurse and Ladies of Charity are available for home visits and distribution of Holy Communion. Please call if you want a visit or need assistance. Classes are held at our Port Vue site for Grades K-8 on Sundays from 9:30am 12 Noon, September thru April. NEW PARISHIONERS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday BULLETIN DEADLINE: Thursday 12:00 Noon Submit written requests to stmarkparish1101@comcast.net

2 SAINT MARK PARISH SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 19 July 2015 Rosary prior to daily morning Mass MONDAY, 20 July 2015 (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Private Intention... LB TUESDAY, 21 July :30am Legin, Hreha, Bedzik Families... PV (Mary Frances Legin) WEDNESDAY, 22 July :30am Margaret Gala... LB (Helen Shalako) THURSDAY, 23 July 2015 (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Private Intention... PV FRIDAY, 24 July :30am Donald Puckey... LB (Pamela Pucky) SATURDAY, 25 July :30am Margaret Pancurak... PV (Michael Pundzak) 6:00pm The People of Saint Mark Parish... LB SUNDAY, 26 July :00am Angelo Palestra... PV (Robert and MariAnn Palestra) 11:00am Victor Bertoty... LB (Bertoty Family) Low Gluten Hosts available - please see Priest before Mass Read the Bible! Pray over Sacred Scripture! You can keep whatever you find! Readings for the Week of 19 July 2015 Sunday: Jer 23:1-6/Eph 2:13-18/Mk 6:30-34 Monday: Ex 14:5-18/Mt 12:38-42 Tuesday: Ex 14:21--15:1/Mt 12:46-50 Wednesday: Ex 16:1-5, 9-15/Jn 20:1-2, Thursday: Ex 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b/Mt 13:10-17 Friday: Ex 20:1-17/Mt 13:18-23 Saturday: 2 Cor 4:7-15/Mt 20:20-28 Next Sunday: 2 Kgs 4:42-44/Eph 4:1-6/Jn 6:1-15 Stewardship 12 July 2015 MCKEESPORT, PA Offertory Collection....$5, Maintenance / Buildings & Grounds....$ Thank you! Donations Food Bank: In honor of Dolores Crossen: The Crossen Family $ Kathleen Crossen. $25.00 Michael and Amanda Crossen......$95.00 Patrick and Nancy Crossen.....$25.00 Timothy and Mary Crossen....$50.00 Sanctuary Lamp/Bread & Wine This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Liberty site Saint Eugene church burns in memory of Raymond Skip Zajicek from Staff and Volunteers. Activity Schedule Monday, 20 July :30-7:30pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, LB Tuesday, 21 July 2015 Wednesday, 22 July am, Miraculous Medal Novena, LB Thursday, 23 July 2015 Friday, 24 July 2015 Grief Recovery Support Group Meets the third Wednesday of the month 7-9pm in Father Scanlon Lounge Saint Robert Bellarmine Church 1313 Fifth Avenue East McKeesport, PA August 2015 Dr. Barbara Coyne, professional Grief Counselor facilitates the meeting. Anyone who has experienced a loss is invited and welcome! For further information call Sponsored by Forgie-Snyder Funeral Home and The Hilltop Ministerium of East McKeesport and North Versailles. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you.

3 What is the RCIA? The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a way for adults Who would like to learn more about and/or become a member of the Catholic Church. Who have never been baptized or have been baptized in another faith and are interested in the Catholic Church. Who are Baptized Catholics (over 18 years old) and have not received the Sacraments of Confirmation, Eucharist or Reconciliation. Our area RCIA Journey begins September Have questions, need more information, want to register, or want to become part of the RCIA Parish Team? Please contact Sister Joel at: th of July Winner The winning ticket number was *68 for the 4th of July. Congratulations to our winner of the $1000. Supplies for Students The Port Vue Police Department is launching a campaign to help the less fortunate elementary school children in our district. They are requesting donations of school supplies for elementary age students, such as: pencils, erasers, glue sticks, crayons, rulers, notebooks, binders, calculators, plastic child-safe scissors, colored markers, pens, construction paper, loose-leaf paper filler, index cards, age-appropriate coloring books, folders, mathematics flash cards, spelling flash cards, and ageappropriate picture flash cards. Donation receptacles will be provided at the Port Vue Police Department and the Borough of Port Vue Municipal Building. Thank you for your time and attention to this crucial matter. If you have any questions please contact Lieutenant David J. Petruski at ext. 11. Evening of Recollection This coming Wed. 22 July at 7pm, Catholics from across our diocese will again join hands in prayer for On Mission for The Church Alive! All are invited to pray in an Evening of Recollection to be held at 12 parishes throughout the diocese. Please choose the best location for you: Holy Family, New Brighton; Holy Sepulcher, Glade Mills, Holy Trinity, Robinson, Immaculate Conception, Washington; Our Lady of Grace, Scott; Our Lady of the Valley, Donora; Sacred Heart, Emsworth; St. Andrew, Center (Bishop Zubik, Presider); St. Bartholomew, Penn Hills; St. Charles Lwanga/Corpus Christi Church, Pittsburgh/East End; St. Therese of Lisieux, Munhall; St. Wendelin, Carrick. Visit OnMissionChurchAlive.org to learn more. By helping our parish we are helping ourselves. Your support is needed and appreciated. Parish Share 2015 To enable us to continue and thrive, we need the support of every parishioner. Please be generous! Total Assessment: $63,391 Total Paid: $36,967 Donations to Parish Share are not assessed as income for the parish. Also, once we meet our assessment, anything above that amount is ours to keep (again, non-assessed income). Please be generous! Parish Share cards were already mailed to all registered parishioners. If you did not receive your materials, please contact our office at We thank all our parishioners for contributing to the Parish Share program in the past year. And we ask all parishioners to pledge $40.00 per month to support our efforts for this new year. If you can offer more, please do so. Every pledge, no matter the amount, helps us reach our goal. The benefit of going beyond our assessment is that all funds we raise above our goal are kept in the parish for us to use as we need -- and these funds are not assessed. If we do not meet our assessment by donations, we have to pay the balance with funds from our operating account and savings. So, again, please be generous! As stewards of God s many gifts, let us rejoice and share our gifts with others. $20 Ticket for August Win $1000 Only 100 tickets sold. $20.00 donation. Winning number is determined by the last 2 digits of the first 7:00pm Daily Pick Three drawing on Sunday, 9 August, Tickets will be available before and after all Masses beginning the weekend 11 and 12 July. Thank you to ALL Volunteers! You ALL help sustain our wonderful parish! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Confirmation photos are in! Photos are available at the church office 1125 Romine Avenue, Port Vue during office hours. If you need to make other pickup arrangements please call Lori DiMarco at Also, don t forget your First Communion photos! Many have not been collected yet. Welcome into the Faith With great joy, our Saint Mark Parish Family welcomes Cally Leeann Berta into the Faith during 11am Mass. We pray her family and friends may always be her best example of Faith. Praise God!

4 OUR SAINT MARK PARISH FESTIVAL is 6, 7, 8 August 2015 Benefits our entire parish family! Volunteers for the Festival Inside the envelope with the Festival Tickets, there is a flyer with information about the Festival as well as a Volunteer Form. We really need you to check these areas that absolutely need help to function for three days of the Festival. Please pick an area where you feel most comfortable volunteering your time. If you don t have any preferences, the food booth is very much in need of help for morning preparation as well as evening clean up. These are very important areas of our three-night Saint Mark Festival. Please be a part in some way of this most important fundraising and fellowship event in our Parish. Thank you! Wheelbarrows of Cheer for our Festival One Wheelbarrow of Cheer will be given each night of our Saint Mark Parish Festival. Donations are greatly appreciated. Sports, beach and summer theme items, coolers, beach chairs, alcohol-of all kinds, wine, wine coolers, beer, soda, mixers, snacks & party food items are all needed. Donation drop off information: Deb Urda, please call for arrangements, ; or at Cathy Esack Hair Styling Center at 2713 Liberty Way during business hours only. Hours are Monday and Wednesday, 9am-9pm; Friday, 9am- 4pm; Saturday, 9am-1pm. Please do not leave items if the shop is not open. Please contact Deb Urda with any questions or for more information: Remember, please, please do not drop off and leave any items unattended. Thank you for your continued and generous support!! Any donation is appreciated! Patio Umbrellas and Picnic Tables We are in need of Patio Umbrellas with bases and Picnic Tables for our Parish Festival. If you have any of these items or are willing to let us borrow them for our Festival, please call the Parish Administration Center: Thank you for your generosity! Saint Mark Festival Specialty Baskets It's July! That means the Saint Mark Parish Festival is near. The Basket Team is so grateful for all your donations so far. We are really starting to see a few completed baskets. But a few is not where we would like to stop. Please consider the After 4th of July Sales, the going back to school sales and others. We would like to make at least three Red, White, Blue baskets, and of course Back to School - elementary, high school and Off to College. If you do not like to shop, but would like to contribute, we accept cash donations. These can be placed in the collection baskets with Specialty Baskets on the envelope. Thank you. Red White Blue This time of year there are many items to celebrate our country. How about our Parish, too! College Pitt, Penn State, WVU. Duquesne, Chatham, Point Park, CCAC, RMU, Cal U, any logo items. Back to School right after the Festival, attention turns to the start-up of another school year. These baskets are very popular. Items such as pens, backpacks, glue sticks, folders, notebooks, pencil cases, small hand sanitizers, book covers, desk lamp washable markers and highlighters, and flashdrives. We like to make baskets for college students as well as high schoolers and little ones. Wide Wired Ribbon Our tradition is to have a beautiful bow on every basket. Please donate a spool or two to help us make the baskets really eye-catching. Your support is critical and we appreciate everything you donate. Thank You!! New items can be placed at the entrance to both worship sites in the marked specialty basket. Parish Festival Set-Up, Tear-Down & Clean-Up ATTENTION Men, Women and all Kids!!! WE NEED YOU! On Sunday, 2 August, we need help setting-up tables and tents for the Parish Festival. Come in work clothes to the 11am MASS and we will work together for the day. Monday, 3 August, we need help setting-up booths and running the power lines. Saturday, 8 August we need your help in starting to tear-down at 10pm. Sunday, 9 August, we need your help to tear-down the tents, tables and booths and clean-up the church grounds. Food, drinks and blessings will be offered. ALL are welcome!

5 Festival Prayer Dear God, as we quickly approach our annual Parish Festival, we pray that You send down the bright rays of sunshine and keep the dark clouds of rain away. May we be blessed with fun and fellowship. May all who attend realize that we truly are a family coming together in support of our parish and community. We ask You to bless all who volunteer their time and service to help make this a successful event. Please watch over us all and hear the prayers we hold in our hearts. Amen. Holy Mary, Mother of God, and our Mother, pray for us! Saint Mark, pray for us! Festival Flea Market We are in need of gently used, but loved items that you may be discarding in your spring cleaning for our parish festival flea market. All donations must be in WORKING CONDITION. The following items will not be accepted: clothing, draperies, tires, computers or broken electronics and dirty/unclean items. Drop off dates are July from 6-8pm in Father Rowan Hall. Saint Mark Parish Bake Sale We are asking our parishioners to donate their favorite baked goods for our Festival Bake Sale. The following schedule is suggested: Families with last names beginning with: A-I are asked to bake for Thursday J-R for Friday and S-Z for Saturday. Drop-off begins at 3pm each day so the Bake Sale can open at 5pm. All donations are greatly appreciated. Advanced Ticket Sales for Festival Rides Five rides will be featured at our festival this year. We are offering a strip of ten ride tickets at a discounted rate of $ (Each ride takes one ticket) This discounted rate is only good for tickets purchased prior to the Festival. If purchased at the Festival, a strip of ten tickets will cost $ (Individual ride tickets will also be available at the Festival. Cost is $2.50/ticket.) The discounted tickets can be purchased at our Saint Mark Parish Administration Center and Cathy Esack Hair Styling Center. For detailed information about the five rides, please see the posters on display at both of our worship sites. Festival Tickets If you would like additional festival tickets or if you have yet to receive your festival tickets, they are available in the Administration Center or by seeing Elena Plan or Cathy Esack. Please remember to return your ticket stubs and money to the Administration Center or in the Offertory Collection. Thank you! Saint Mark Crafters Our festival is one month away and we are in need of your crafts. We are looking for blankets, pillows, afghans, flower arrangements, door wreaths, wood working and any sports themed materials. If anyone has festival crafts completed call Kathy DeCarlo arrangements will be made to pick them up. Final craft drop off date is 20 July at Father Rowan Hall. Thank you for your generosity! Festival Donations: Ladies of Charity If you would like to donate a gift card or donate toward the purchase of a gift card for the -GIFT CARD EXTRAVAGANZAfor our Saint Mark Parish Festival, please place your donation in an envelope marked "Ladies of Charity - Festival" in our weekly offertory collection or send it to our Parish Administration Center. Thank you for your generosity! BE A BOOTH SPONSOR FOR OUR PARISH FESTIVAL For a $50.00 donation, your name or business name will appear on one of our booths for all three nights of the Festival. A complete list of Booth Sponsors will be an insert in the bulletin before the Festival. Thank you for your support!! Please detach and return in offertory basket or to our Parish Administration Center: 2015 SAINT MARK PARISH FESTIVAL BOOTH SPONSOR: NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE NUMBER: AMOUNT OF DONATION: NAME TO READ AS:

6 Life is Change. Growth is Optional. Choose Wisely. Parish Nurse In support of the Pastor s ministry to the parish, the Parish Nurse is a paid parish ministry involving a holistic approach to health with focus on the mind, body and spirit. Its purpose is to offer pastoral care and assistance to the sick, elderly and/or homebound. The Parish Nurse does not provide hands-on nursing care, but visits the elderly and/or the sick parishioners in nursing homes and hospitals, and the homebound on behalf of the Pastor. Role of the Parish Nurse: Make home and hospital visits. Act as a liaison and patient advocate. Help to clarify information. Provide health education, and emotional and spiritual support. Distribute Holy Communion to the homebound, or those in the hospital or nursing home. If anyone is in need of pastoral care or wants a visit by the Parish Nurse, please let us know by calling: All Ministry is to support and effect unity, strength and vitality. When we work together as the Body of Christ Head and Members, Priest and People for the sake of one another and our entire family, we allow the glory of God to shine in us and through us, and it is easier and better for everyone. Thanks for working together for the sake of our entire Saint Mark Parish Family. Love, and live for others, and we all will certainly live more joy-filled lives. O GOD, come to my assistance! O LORD, make haste to help me! Volunteers Needed Volunteer HELP is always needed with various tasks around the parish, including lawn work, basic painting, cleaning, office work, etc. We need HELP!!! We need YOU!!! If you can help, please call Saint Mark Parish 50/50 In your offertory packet, there is a special envelope marked 50/50 Drawing--Donation $5.00. At the end of each month, one lucky winner is drawn to win half of the take. Congratulations to Janice Matyasovsky, our June winner! Anointing of the Sick What is it? Who can receive it? Anointing of the Sick gets its' roots from Jesus whose words and touch brought healing to those who were sick or afflicted. This is one of the 7 sacraments of the Catholic church, a sacrament of healing. Anyone, adults or children, experiencing problems of mind, body, or spirit should seek this sacrament. If you are experiencing any of the following please consider receiving the Anointing of the Sick: + Seriously ill + Health issues + Facing or recovering from surgery + Depression + Alcoholism + Mental disorders + Addictions + Weakness due to old age + Family problems causing physical, mental, or spiritual illness + Caregivers caring for seriously ill family member During the Anointing of the Sick, those present will pray for healing and forgiveness. The priest will lay his hands on the head of the sick person and pray. Next, the priest will make the sign of the cross on the forehead and palm of the hands of each person with the Oil of the Sick. This sacrament is given so that if it is God's will, the sick will be healed of their illness. Also, it gives the sick person strength, peace and courage needed to endure the sufferings of their illness or old age. For your convenience, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is to be offered AFTER the 11AM Sunday Mass on the LAST Sunday of each Month. If you or someone from your family desires to receive the Sacrament, please inform the Priest and remain in the church AFTER MASS. The Diocese of Pittsburgh is once again planning its annual Golden Wedding Celebration for couples who are celebrating their 50 th wedding anniversary in This year s event will begin with Mass at Saint Paul Cathedral on Sunday, 11 October 2015, at 2:30pm. Bishop Zubik will be the main celebrant. A reception will follow in the lower hall at the Cathedral. Cathedral and hall are both accessible. If you are one of the couples celebrating your 50 th anniversary any time in 2015 and would like to receive an invitation to this event, please call the office or drop a note in the collection basket no later than 9 August 2015.

7 SAINT MARK PARISH To live our Faith, we need to know our Faith! MCKEESPORT, PA " They called the Church together and reported what GOD had done with them and how He had opened the door of faith..." (Acts of the Apostles 14:27) Prayer for On Mission for The Church Alive! Father of Mercy, we ask you for your guidance as we journey On Mission for The Church Alive! Endow us with your gifts of courage, collaboration and compassion so that we can continue to fulfill the mission of Christ and His Church through vibrant parishes, dynamic schools, religious education programs, and effective ministries. Raise up selfless, energetic leaders lay, religious, deacons and priests to serve the Church in fidelity and with care. May we the Church of Pittsburgh in Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Greene, Lawrence and Washington Counties all be sustained and strengthened by your grace. Help us to learn Jesus, love Jesus and live Jesus. Hear this prayer and grant it through Jesus Christ our Lord, with the help of our Blessed Mother, who protects us under the mantle of her love. Amen. 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time "His heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things." Jesus felt pity... and so he taught? Yes. Jesus gave his teachings out of love and concern. He gave them because he knew that they were what his followers needed. He did not teach in order to control, manipulate, brainwash, or coerce us. He did not teach in order to show his wisdom or prove his superiority. Jesus gave us his teachings as a way of guiding us, protecting us, and walking alongside us--like a good shepherd. It's important for us to welcome the teachings of Christ and his body, the church, in this spirit. Too often, people misconstrue church teaching as something restrictive or controlling instead of understanding that Jesus handed down these teachings to us in order to help us find happiness and fulfillment. When we live according to church teaching, we are doing more than just being "good." We are also staying close to the shepherd of whom today's psalm speaks: "In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; he refreshes my soul." These benefits are ours when we follow the voice of the One who loves us. Sometimes, we may not like what the voice is saying. Sometimes we may be drawn towards a different path or think that the grass is greener elsewhere. But by humbly acknowledging that the Shepherd--and his church--have great wisdom and a unique perspective to share, we will be led in the right direction. Though it may feel like a sacrifice at first, ultimately this loyalty to the flock will enable us to enjoy the contentment of those who declare, "The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want."