Merry Christmas! We give thanks for your presence here today!

Transcription

1 2407 Laurel Brook Road Fallston, MD December 25 Christmas Merry Christmas! How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the one bringing good news, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, saying to Zion, Your God is King! Isaiah 52:7 As we sing out together in praise Joy to the World! We give thanks for your presence here today! The greatest gift has been given to us in Jesus! Let us celebrate each week as we gather to welcome and invite all to Know Jesus & Make Him Known!

2 PASTOR: Rev. Gerard Francik IN RESIDENCE: Rev. William P. Foley ASSISTING CLERGY: Msgr. Thomas Tewes UPPER CHESAPEAKE HOSPITAL CHAPLAIN: Fr. Roque Lim DEACONS: Deacon Mar n Perry Deacon Charles Hicks (Re red) PASTORAL ASSOCIATE: Charlo e Henderson ext. 103 chenderson@saintmarkfallston.org COORDINATOR OF FAITH FORMATION: Bridgit C. Goedeke ext. 111 bgoedeke@saintmarkfallston.org ADMINISTRATOR OF FAITH FORMATION: Sheila Bateman ext. 112 sbateman@saintmarkfallston.org DIRECTOR OF YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY: Maria Stoey ext. 113 mstoey@saintmarkfallston.org Business Manager: Joyce Shipley ext. 100 jshipley@saintmarkfallston.org Facili es Maintenance: Michael Baker ext. 107 Administra ve Assistant: Jane Marks ext. 110 Director of Music: Thomas Mackin tmackin@saintmarkfallston.org Pastoral Council President: George Hechter Deadline for items to appear in the bulle n is 9:00 am Monday. Dear Parishioners, The 4th Sunday of Advent and Christmas Eve all together this year it rushes the season this year just like the retail stores! With a shortened Advent season, our time of patient waiting comes to an end. No longer are we looking for the Second Coming of Christ, but we now turn our attention to his first coming, the birth of the child in Bethlehem. This birth, or Christmas, reveals so much about God that we can never have enough time to understand all of its significance. That is why we celebrate Christmas every year. God loves us immensely. This is one of the profound messages of Christmas. God did not wait for us to be ready. He did not wait for us to be perfect, to have our houses clean and in order either literally or figuratively. Jesus entered into our messiness to show us how to live in hope and to show us our true nature. In many subtle ways we are sold a bill of goods today. For much of the world we are seen as consumers and we are treated that way everyone wants to sell us something. They make great profit on us. On the other end of the spectrum, we are simply producers, people who make the goods that will be sold. When our jobs or our identity becomes only this, we are in great trouble. Because when we can no longer produce, or if there is someone who is not able to efficiently produce, then we are seen as less worthwhile. God sees differently. The birth of the Messiah in an obscure town, in a tiny country, to poor parents with no home, who have little or no education, tells us that God loves us for who we are - sons and daughters made in His image. This is the good news for us to ponder this Christmas. Fr. Jerry Francik Au revoir & Bienvenue The bishop informs me that my new parish is Pierre Payen, a small chapelle attached to my home town parish, Montrouis. I am close to my family. I have no problem to move to another parish but you know it is not easy to leave people you love, people you worked with, to move to unknown reality. I will need a lot of your prayers and your parishioners to face this change. You will always be in my prayers for the best of yourselves and your mission. I hope we still remain connected with that change. The name of the new pastor for Lalomas is Maxime YACINTHE. He is younger than I; I hope he knows a little bit English! I wish you, and your parish welcome Father Maxime to continue his mission. I will also ask him to do the same thing. Thanks for all service I personally receive from you and your parishioners. St. Mark will con nue to support St. Joseph. Please watch for informa on in the new year about a monthly giving opportunity to provide daily lunches for the children. Please con nue to keep Father Eveneau in your prayers and please pray for Father Yacinthe (especially that he speaks English!)

3 Maria Stoey CHILDREN S & FAMILY MINISTRIES Pre-School & Kindergarten 10:55AM Noon January 21st & 28th Sunday Elementary Sessions 10:10AM-10:55AM January 21st & 28th Tuesday Elementary Sessions 4:45PM-5:45PM January 23rd & 30th Follow St. Mark StMarkYouthandYA HIGH SCHOOL! Life Teen: Life Nights every other Thurs. 6:30pm-8pm in the Youth Room SPRING SERIES:TBA Youth Office Contact: Maria Stoey Director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries mstoey@saintmarkfallston.org Next Life Night: January 11th First Eucharist Preparation Parents should be working on pages 1 28 and chapter 1 in the student book prior to our first session on January 10th, Wednesday 6:30-7:30PM in the auditorium ADULT FAITH FORMATION Starting in January a Sunday Morning Adult Study Group Rediscover Jesus! Make your New Years Resolution to build a stronger relationship with Jesus & this is a perfect way to start! Meeting on Sunday mornings 10:10AM to 10:50AM in the White Hall starting January 7th at Coffee and Donuts! Please contact the parish offices or John at jmessler5252@gmail.com for more information or to sign up! Walking with Purpose is a women s Catholic Bible study held on Tuesdays, (mornings from 9:30-11AM or evenings from 7:00-8:30PM) at St. Mark in the Msgr. McCall Center now through March. For more information, contact Michele at mlbrob@gmail.com. MIDDLE SCHOOL! Middle School Youth Ministry: ROOTS Next meeting February 12th! All Middle schoolers welcome! Middle School Religious Education & YOUNG ADULTS We will see YOU in January!

4 Weekend December 23rd/24th Saturday 4:00 pm For the Parish Fr. Jerry 4th Sunday of Advent 7:30 am Michael Hicks/Rick Jones Fr. Jerry 9:00 am James Aldon/Jenna Aldon Fr. Foley NO 11:00 am Christmas Eve 4:00 pm CH Miriam Fitzsimmons Fr. Jerry 4:00 pm FHS Fr. Ed Msgr. Tewes 6:15 pm Richard Banz Fr. Foley 8:15 pm Judith Rollins (L) Fr. Jerry 12 midnight Frank Smidt Fr. Jerry Mass Intentions for the Week Dec. 25th 29th Weekday 9:00 am Monday-Friday Monday NO 7:30 9:00 Marie Burker Fr. Foley 11:00 Barbara Haley Fr. Jerry Tuesday Margaret Swinskie Fr. Jerry Wednesday Marie Preis Fr. Foley Thursday 7:30 Herbert Quaranta Fr. Foley 9:00 Michael Christopher Stone Fr. Jerry Friday Tim Thalheimer Fr. Jerry Weekend December 30th/31st Saturday 4:00 pm Joseph & Albi Bartuska Msgr. Tewes Sunday 7:30 am For the Parish Msgr. Tewes 9:00 am Ella Mae Roth Fr. Jerry 11:00 am Gabe Ingrassia Fr. Jerry Deceased of the Parish Please pray for Francis Lynch. May God grant him eternal rest. We Joyfully Welcome Sidney August McPherson and Trent James Liberto to the Church through the waters of Baptism! 1st Time: Shawn Michael Sponseller of St. Mark and Kristy Ann Desell of St. Mark Inclement Weather Policy If Harford Co. Schools are closed due to snow or ice Monday-Friday, there will not be 7:30 am or 9:00 am Masses or Prayer Service. If Harford Co. Schools are delayed 1 hour or 2 hours, we will celebrate the 9:00 am Mass. However, the 7:30 am Mass or Morning Prayer Service will be canceled. Food Pantry: Pantry will be closed until January 3, 2018 MERRY CHRISTMAS and may your holidays be filled with peace, love and happiness. Gabriel Network: Also closed until January 3, 2018! Our winter Aerobic Schedule is as follows: The night class of low impact aerobics will begin on January 8th, Class is held Monday and Wednesday evenings in the White Hall from 7pm to 8pm. The class is ten weeks and the cost is $40.00 For information or to sign up, please call Pat at The senior low impact aerobics will begin on January 9th, Class is held Tuesday and Thursday 9:30 to 10:30 am in the White Hall. Class is ten weeks and the cost is $40.00 For information or to sign up please call Kathy at Worldwide Marriage Encounter is searching for the longest married couple. For the eighth year in a row the annual search for the Longest Married Couple (LMC) in the United States has begun. The project runs from Oct. 10, 2017 to Jan. 10, 2018 with the national winners named in February One national winner and winners from each of the 50 states are recognized each year. This project is held to honor the commitment of married couples and to give hope and inspiration to younger couples that they too can have long and lasting marriages. Nominations must be received by January 10th, To nominate a couple you know, please visit us at or contact us directly at WOMEN: A Christmas gift idea to give your Husbands, Fathers, Sons, Brothers, Grandfathers, Nephews buy them a ticket to attend a Catholic Men s Conference centered on Our Blessed Mother, Saturday, March 10th, 2018 at St. Margaret s St. Mary Magdalene Mission. Register them today! Fathers and Sons ideal!

5 DEVOTION The Season of Peace on Earth is upon us. If you can attend, please join our Tuesday devotion for national and world peace on December 26 th. It will be held in the Chapel at 7 pm. Our Devotion consists of benediction, a rosary, a chaplet, a few prayers and a closing hymn. END-OF-YEAR GIVING THAT CAN BENEFIT BOTH THE PARISH AND THE PARISHIONER Church members can donate stocks, bonds, and mutual funds to the church (as well as cash). A donation of an investment can be used as a deduction to help lower taxes, as well as help the church. With the stock market reaching record highs, many portfolios have had significant gains over the past few years. By making a donation to St. Mark Church, the donor not only receives the tax deduction, but does not have to worry about any capital gains tax. It is a win-win for both parties. It is always recommended that you discuss these things with your accountant regarding the tax benefits and which items are best to donate. For information on how to donate in this manner, please call Joyce Shipley in our Business Office. (443) Ext. 100 BAPTISM: Expectant parents are encouraged to contact the Coordinator of Faith Forma on before the birth of their child to register for the Bap sm Prepara on Class and to set a date for the celebra on. Adults interested in Bap sm should contact the Pastoral Associate. CONFIRMATION: Students who request this sacrament are prepared through a program of immediate prepara on as early as 9th grade. Students must already be a ending religious educa on classes that are independent of this prepara on. Please contact the Director of Youth Ministry. Adults interested in Confirma on and non-catholic Adults wishing to join the Catholic Church should contact the Pastoral Associate. MARRIAGE: Couples preparing for marriage should contact the Parish to schedule an appointment with either the Pastor or a Deacon at least 6 months in advance of the desired wedding date. 2nd Annual Altar Server Dinner The 2 nd Annual Altar Server Dinner will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 5:30 PM in the McCall Center. All Altar Servers and their families are cordially invited to attend. An Italian Dinner will be served. Please RSVP to Mike Etzel, or by at mikeetzel@msn.com by Wednesday, December 20, KEEP CONNECTED TO YOUR PARISH Sign up for Flocknotes htttp:// flocknote.com/saintmarkfallston or text fallston to from your smartphone. This is an easy way to receive important updates. DOWNLOAD OUR PARISH APP! Get daily readings, prayers and more! Download at myparishapp.com or search your phone s app store for myparish. PARKING LOT: PLEASE DO NOT GIVE ANY MONEY TO ANY- ONE IN THE PARKING LOT! They are not authorized to do so and it can make for an unsafe situation for them and for our parishioners. If you see anyone asking for money direct them to come to the Parish Office on Monday morning when we are able to assess their situation and help them from the St. Vincent de Paul Society. Please then notify a member of the staff that they are in the parking lot. Our parish has a new Instagram account! Please follow to view encouraging posts and to receive the latest updates for parish events. RECONCILIATION (Confession): The celebra on of the sacrament is available on Saturday from 3:00 pm to 3:45 pm in the Chapel. First Reconcilia on prepara on is offered for children in the second grade and older, who were enrolled in a religious educa on program the year before. Students reques ng this sacrament must also be currently enrolled in religious educa on classes. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: The sacrament is available for all those in serious illness. Please call the Pastoral Associate, (443) HOSPITAL VISITATION: Due to the rule of confiden ality, hospitals will not no fy us when you are admi ed. If you would like prayer or a visit, please call the office of the Pastoral Associate, (443) EUCHARISTIC MINISTRY TO THE SICK & HOME BOUND: If someone cannot a end Mass because of hospitaliza on, serious illness, injury or similar circumstance, communion may be brought to parishioners in their homes, the hospital or nursing home. Please call the office of the Pastoral Associate, (443)

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