Question of the Week. News from Father Todd. Sunday, August 9, 2015

Transcription

1 Sunday, August 9, 2015

2 News from Father Todd Dear friends, Welcome back to all students as we begin a new school year! St. Mark, like many area schools, opened its doors to the school year this past Wednesday. We are blessed with a large enrollment and a wonderful group of teachers and aides. Thank you to all parishioners who generously support the ministry of Catholic education at St. Mark. Next weekend our Sunday Morning Religious Education Classes (SMRE) will begin for all of our parish sons and daughters attending public schools. The Sunday morning classes care for students from the age of 3 through 9 th grade. Please pick up schedules and registration forms this weekend in the narthex. I cannot stress how important it is for parents, grandparents and Godparents to fulfill the responsibility undertaken on the day of the baptism their children. At baptism we promise to raise our children in the ways of faith. Our parish religious education classes help parents fulfill this very important and sacred duty. This year we are expanding a catechetical program called Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. We have used this program very successfully in lower grades for several years and we will now be expanding the program to eventually include all of the elementary grades. Parishioners who would like to serve as catechists and catechetical aides are asked to contact our parish Coordinator of Religious Education, Angi Swiezy, at , extension 104. Question of the Week Q. How is it possible that the videos that show members of Planned Parenthood discussing the sale of body parts from aborted babies have not caused a national uproar? It makes my blood boil! A. You are not alone. These videos depict high level officials from Planned Parenthood discussing how to abort babies in such a way as to safeguard the organs that are in demand and that will bring the greatest price in the market place. That is has not created a national uproar and that a congressional vote to defund Planned Parenthood failed is difficult to understand. Unfortunately, as human beings we are able to justify many things. And, unfortunately, people are not only turning a blind eye to the practices of Planned Parenthood but actually justifying them. There are those who say that since the babies have already been doomed to death by a mother s decision to have an abortion, their deaths are not entirely in vain if their body parts can help another baby who has not been condemned to death. This reasoning is dangerous and violates an important moral principle that states that the end does not justify the means. Both the end we desire and the means we use to achieve that end must be moral in order for an act to be moral or good. Imagine if we used the reasoning of those who justify the practice of selling the organs of aborted babies in other areas. To steal a woman s purse and take her money to give to a family in need or to harvest the organs of an elderly nursing home patient to use for a younger person would also have to be justified. High School students in grades who have not yet been confirmed are invited to sign up for our parish Confirmation program that prepares students to know, appreciate and embrace the Catholic faith in their own name. Watch for dates and times in the bulletin. For the past eight weeks our parish has been blessed with the presence of Deacon Meril Sahayam. Deacon Meril has inserted himself in the life of our parish in many ways. As school resumes for area students, it will also resume for Deacon Meril who will finish his service to the parish next weekend and the return to St. Meinrad for his final year of preparation for his ordination to the priesthood. Deacon Meril s ordination will take place in India on May 29, After all of the Masses next weekend we will have the opportunity to greet Deacon Meril in Monsignor Schafer Hall and thank him for his generous service to St. Mark. We will take up a special collection next weekend at all of the Masses to share with the Vocations Office to help cover Deacon Meril s expenses while he served our parish community. May that collection be a sign of gratitude to Deacon Meril and to the Archdiocese for entrusting us again this year with a transitional deacon. Others argue that since Planned Parenthood provides other services that are helpful to women such as cancer screenings we should turn a blind eye to these uncomfortable practices that have been revealed by the videos that have recently surfaced. The same argument was made in Nazi Germany as many Germans argued that the government was doing many good things to strengthen the country s economy and to restore Germany to its place of honor in the community of nations and, as such, reports of the atrocities taking place in the gas chambers should be ignored. There are no services that Planned Parenthood provides for women that cannot be provided by community clinics except the practice of abortion. Perhaps the most appalling response has been from those who think that those who provided the videos should be investigated and prosecuted rather than the representatives of Planned Parenthood who calmly discuss the murder and dismemberment of aborted babies and the illegal sale of their organs over dinner and drinks. Evil is insidious. And there is no clearer example of this in recent times than the perverse response we have seen to the videos that have surfaced exposing the evil that is Planned Parenthood. For many years the mantra of the pro-abortion folks has been that abortions should be rare, safe and legal. Truth be told that mantra must now read that abortions should be rare, safe, legal and profitable. See you at Mass!

3 Readings for 8/9 ~ 8/16/2015 Mass Intentions Sunday: 1 Kgs 19:4-8, Eph 4:30 5:2; Jn 6:41-51 Monday: 2 Cor 9:6-10; Jn 12:24-26 Tuesday: Dt 31:1-8; Mt 18:1-5, 10, Wednesday: Dt 34:1-12; Mt 18:15-20 Thursday: Jos 3:7-10a, 11, 13-17; Mt 18:21 19:1 Friday: Jos 24:1-13; Mt 19:3-12 Saturday: 1 Cor 15:54b-57; Lk 11:27-28 Sunday: Prv 9:1-6; Eph 5:15-20; Jn 6:51-58 Please pray for Eleanor Sowder, Lorraine Braasch, Samantha Hampton and Baby, Chris Gough, Mark Smith, John Perkins, Linda Lilly, Elaine Alexander, Don Bowling, Ron Shockey, Noah Duffer, Sue Marshall, Charles & Mildred Ragon, Barbara Beaton, Betty Newman, Sarah Clements, Jim Reed, Betty Mouser, Elizabeth Wilhite, Steve Chaplin, Lisa Engelking, Joan Matthews, Molly Brown, Mike Hendrickson, Carolyn Walters, Margaret Strack, Kim Huffman, Melanie Brady, Penny Bowling, Lucy Hopkins, Brenda Wheeler, Tanja Wozniewski, Nicole Richards, Judy Weaver, Alex Stavrou, Vince Huber, Cyril DesJean, Bill Rowley, Bernard & Elizabeth Price, Nick Kreuzman, Michelle Oberting, Jane Rosebrock, Don Pearson, Pat Courteau, John Conover, Jean Nightingale, Katie Nightingale, Alicia Keaton, Joanne Scifres, Dick Schott, Molly Russell, Margaret Payne, Pat Ward, Hazel Risch, and Terri Rottler-Means. MILITARY: Please pray for our women and men in the Armed Forces and their families. Sunday, August 9 - Nineteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time 7:30 a.m. Anthony Swiezy 9:30 a.m. Parishioners of Saint Mark 11:45 p.m. Mary Lynn Cavanaugh Monday, August 10 - Saint Lawrence 9:00 a.m. Communion Service Tuesday, August 11 Saint Claire 9:00 a.m. Nap Ramilo, MD Wednesday, August 12 - Weekday; Saint Jane Frances de Chantal 9:00 a.m. Fran Maguire Thursday, August 13 - Weekday; Ss Pontian & Hippolytus 9:00 a.m. Daniel Morrison Friday, August 14 - Saint Maximillian Kolbe 8:15 a.m. Jim & Mary Berger 7:00 p.m. Mary Ann Daeger Saturday, August 15 - The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary 9:00 a.m. Harold Matthews 5:30 p.m. Matthew J. Dillane, Sr. Sunday, August 16 - Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time 7:30 a.m. Raymond Osburn 9:30 a.m. Roland Daeger 11:45 p.m. Parishioners of Saint Mark Vocations Joseph Herring Home Parish: Saint Nicholas Sunman, IN Bishop Simon Brute College Seminary Sr. Susan Elizabeth Rakers, OSB Second Year Novice Sisters of Saint Benedict, Beech Grove, IN You re Invited, Holy Hour for Vocations at Saint Barnabas on Monday, August 10, 2015 at 7:00pm Bring the family! Deacon Tom Horn will be leading the holy hour. Prayer for Vocations Most generous Father, thank you for calling men and women into Your service especially those You are calling to serve as priests or religious. I prayer especially for them during times of doubt and fear. May they be open to Your protection and love and trust in Your plan. Amen.

4 Parish Life Feast of the Assumption Mass We will celebrate with a Mass of Anticipation on Friday, Aug 14 at 7:00pm and Mass on Saturday, Aug 15 at 9:00am. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED: have you been looking for something you can do as a ministry for our church? There is a group of men and women who take turns keeping the church altar, sacristy, chapel, courtesy room and statues dusted and linens used during mass cleaned and ironed. If you are being called to this ministry please contact Jean Milharcic, or jean.milharcic@att.net or call the parish office. INCLUSION MINISTRY: Blessed are you who with a smile, encourage me to try once more. BURMESE MINISTRY: If you would like to get involved in this ministry, please contact the parish office. HOPE AND HEALING SUPPORT GROUP: Our ongoing support group is for those who have attempted suicide and their loved ones, for those whose loved one has died and for those trying to prevent suicide. If you have questions please contact Judy Proctor, or, Saint Mark will provide; chicken, paper plates, napkins, and eating utensils. The Annual Parish Picnic is scheduled for Sunday, August 23 Mass at 12 noon (in place of 11:45am) School ENGLISH CLASSES Central Nine is pleased to offer English classes at St. Mark Catholic School! These classes are free of charge and focus on reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. Classes meet two evenings a week for three hours. The first step is to register and attend an orientation. To sign up for an orientation or for questions, please call ext 222. Para preguntas en Espanol, contactar a Evelyn Cruz al ext 320. If you would like to register in person, Central Nine Career Center is located at 1999 U.S. 31 South, Greenwood, IN OPEN ENROLLMENT: Any St. Mark Parishioner that does not currently have children enrolled at St. Mark Catholic School and is interested in enrolling their children for the school year, please contact Mr. Albertson, Principal, to set up a tour of the school, ralbertson@stmarkindy.org or call him at St. Vincent de Paul Your local St. Vincent depaul Conference continues to help local families in need. Most recently, families have been helped with furniture needs, delinquent utility payments, grocery and medical expenses. The moment of grace in all this is that while our SVdP parish volunteers are a pretty small group (additional volunteers are ALWAYS welcomed), without your generosity in the fifth Sunday SVdP envelopes, Blanket Sunday collection, and other special donations, these efforts would not be possible. All St. Mark parishioners are an important part of our parish St. Vincent de Paul team! Thank you for your support. We ask you to bring; salad or dessert to share with 8-10 people, your own drinks, and lawn chairs. YOUR HELP IS NEEDED: St. Mark parishioners are asked to recycle your plastic grocery bags to our friends of SVdP. Many clients walk to the food pantry and this is one way that we can save the organization money to spend on food for the pantry. Your clean plastic bags can be placed in the wooden octagon container located on the south end of the Narthex. Handicapped parking behind the school look for signs.

5 Faith Formation Mark your calendars! Sunday Morning Religious Education (SMRE) Resumes August 16 th 100 Years Young Henrietta M. Lawrence Born on August 12, 1915 in Lafayette, Indiana. As summer comes to an end, we once again begin a season of Sunday Morning Religious Education (SMRE). Registration will begin Sunday, August 2nd and Saturday, August 8th after Masses of ages 3 years thru 9th grade. You may also pick up registration forms in the Narthex or Parish Office. Any questions? Please contact Angi Swiezy at , ext. 104 or aswiezy@stmarkindy.org. We look forward to seeing you! RCIA If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the Catholic faith, classes for the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults are forming now and will begin meeting 7:00pm to 8:30pm on September 16th, 2015 in the school Media Center. Please contact Deacon Tom for additional information. Christ Renews His Parish Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP-pronounced chirp) MEN: the next men s retreat is scheduled for Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16. Come as you are to this 2 day retreat that is presented by St Mark parishioners. You will experience a time of renewal, reflection and reconciliation. Please consider attending for a weekend of spiritual renewal, fellowship, new friends and good food. The CRHP weekend is offered to parishioners at no charge. Information regarding sign-up will be in future bulletins. Reserve the date and join us for an opportunity to deepen your relationship with Jesus Christ and your awareness of God in your life. If you should have any questions, please contact Mike Swift at or swiftpromo@comcast.net. She married Robert H. Lawrence and together they had 5 children, 8 grandchildren and 8 greatgrandchildren. You may remember Mrs. Lawrence as a Third Grade teacher at our beloved Saint Mark School where she taught for over 25 years and twice named Teacher of the Year. She retired from Saint Mark at the young age of 77 years. If you would like to send her a birthday wish and shower her with your love as she did so many of us over the years, her address is; 501 N. 17th Avenue, Room 149A, Beech Grove, IN CYO SOUTHSIDE FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUE: St. Mark Athletic Committee is accepting flag football registration for Boys and girls entering grades K-2 are eligible to play and the registration fee is $55. Registration forms can be downloaded from the St. Mark web site CYO Athletics page located at and returned to the St. Mark Parish Office by August 14. Practices will begin after Labor Day with the first games scheduled for September 19. Games are held on Saturdays at St. Mark with one game being played at Roncalli Stadium. For further information, please contact Patrick Collier at collierfamily8@att.net Golf Outing Saint Mark Men s Club is sponsoring the annual Golf Outing and Fundraiser, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2015 At Valle Vista 755 E. Main St., Greenwood Beginning at 1pm

6 Youth Ministry NCYC meeting All those signed up to attend NCYC should attend a meeting August 9 from 5-6:30 p.m. in the Schafer Hall basement. We will be creating some of our items to trade during this year's NCYC conference November FAITH FORMATION: Confirmation Preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation for high school students in grades will begin Sunday, September 20th at 7 p.m. in the church. Watch the bulletin for more information to come. Questions? Julie Albertson at jalbertson@stmarkindy.org or call the parish office. Young Adults The Young Adult Ministry meets in the Cenacle every Monday evening. If you are between the ages of 21 and 35 and would like to share your Catholic Faith with others your age, this is a great opportunity. Every Monday night begins with dinner at 6:30 p.m. then we study the bible or reflect on the readings for the next Sunday or work on a particular study that was chosen. If you would like more information contact Julie Albertson at jalbertson@stmarkindy.org or Matt Sierp at mattsierp82@gmail.com. NEXT MEETING: Mon Aug 6:30pm in the Cenacle Sister Circle CALLING ALL LADIES! HELP NEEDED FOR THE PARISH PICNIC! Sister Circle, the women s ministry of St. Mark, invite you to the annual parish picnic on Sunday, August 23, at 12:00 noon (in place of the 11:45 Mass). We need lots of help to set up, run the children s games, serve food, and greet parishioners. If you would like to help at this event, please use the link below to sign up in the area you would like. Thanks for your help! Serve like Martha, listen like Mary ~Sister Circle~ Safe and Sacred-All Parish Volunteers ALL PARISH VOLUNTEERS As a community of faith, we are committed to safeguard our children and youth, the most important gifts God has entrusted to us. The following rules and regulations reflect that commitment and apply to clergy, employees, and volunteers. All volunteers, CYO coaches, CYO concession workers, school volunteers, Men s Club volunteers, Choir members Committee members and Eucharistic Ministers to mention only a few of our volunteers. In short, all who volunteer at St. Mark should participate in the Safe and Sacred program. This program is designed to broaden the focus of the training to increase awareness of all forms of child abuse. Not matter what your area of the parish volunteerism is, please sign up for the Safe and Sacred program. Safe and Sacred is an online line program designed to provide easier access to child protection training for clergy, employees and all volunteers. There is 24/7 access on line with paper copies upon request. The program takes just 45 minutes to complete and covers all forms of abuse (sexual, emotion and physical) and neglect. Each volunteer will receive a certificate upon completion. All volunteers the link to the Safe and Sacred Program, This link is posted on the Archdiocesan website, under Child Safety and Misconduct Reporting. Thank you for all you do for the St. Mark Community! For more information please sweeneyk@stmarkindy.org.

7 Calendar Of Events Sunday, August 09, 2015 MASS - Church 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 11:45 AM CRHP W19 - Media Center School (3:30 PM) CRHP M19 - Cenacle House (6:00 PM) Monday, August 10, 2015 Communion Service - Church (9:00 AM) Quilters - Parish Center Upstairs (10:00 AM) ELS-program - CR 1, CR3, CR 4 (5:30 PM) Back to School Night - School (6:00 PM) YOUNG ADULT - Cenacle (6:30 PM) Men's Club - SH Gym (7:00 PM) Tuesday, August 11, 2015 MASS - Church (9:00 AM) CRHP MEN #2 - Cenacle (7:30 PM) Wednesday, August 12, 2015 MASS - Church (9:00 AM) ELS-program - CR 1, CR3, CR 4 (5:30 PM) Finance Committee - Parish BR (6:30 PM) Quilters-Parish Center Upstairs - (7:00 PM) Thursday, August 13, 2015 MASS - Church (9:00 AM) Friday, August 14, 2015 CRHP weekend - School MASS - Church (8:15 AM) O.A. - Parish BR (12:00 PM) HOOP - School Kitchen (3:30 PM) Saturday, August 15, 2015 CRHP weekend - School /Schafer Hall Basement Reconciliation - Courtesy rm (4:00 PM) MASS - Church (5:30 PM) Sunday, August 16, 2015 MASS - Church 7:30 AM, 9:30 AM,. 11:45 AM CRHP weekend - School / Schafer Hall Basement CRHP W19 - Media Center School (3:30 PM) CRHP M19 - Cenacle House (6:00 PM) Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10:00AM - 6:00PM Parish Center Phone: Pastor Ext. 106 Administrative Assistant Ext. 100 Dir. Of Youth Ministry Ext. 101 Business Manager Ext. 102 Music Director Ext. 105 Pastoral Associate Ext. 103 Coordinator of Rel. Ed Ext. 104 School Principal Ext. 201 Fr. Todd Riebe ft@stmarkindy.org Chris Guedel cdguedel@stmarkindy.org Julie Albertson jalbertson@stmarkindy.org Kevin Sweeney sweeneyk@stmarkindy.org Andy Eagan aeagan@stmarkindy.org Deacon Tom Horn deacontom@stmarkindy.org Angi Swiezy aswiezy@stmarkindy.org St. Mark Catholic School 541 E Edgewood. Av Indianapolis, IN School Admin. Assistant Ext. 200 CONTACTS Rusty Albertson ralbertson@stmarkindy.org Beth Leszcynski bleszcynski@stmarkindy.org