Christian Humility. Join Us for Mass: Upcoming Events. Who is a Christian Steward?

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1 October 21, 2012 Join Us for Mass: Mon-Fri 10 am Tues -Fri 7 am Sat 8 am & 5 pm Sunday 9 & 11 am website: parishcenter@saintmark-mn.org Dayton Avenue Saint Paul, MN Fr. Humberto Palomino, P.E.S. Pastor of the Church of St. Mark A Strong Family United in Christ Christian Humility Let us start by saying that Jesus never condemns a person s valid desire for greatness and importance. Nor does He speak badly of the person who is striving to be first. At least, that is not His purpose in today s gospel. The point today is to find out where true importance comes from, and what first place really means. Without this understanding, we cannot know what Christian humility is. It doesn t mean that we need to pretend we don t have desires and wants. It is about directing that desire and interest according the mind of God, who knows better and loves more. The greatness of service: On the other hand, in the first reading, God is also inviting us to change our personal opinion of things. Many people think that to be considered great or important comes from people seeing us doing great and important things. In reality, greatness comes not from what people can say about us, but from our WORKS, and our DEEDS. The Suffering Servant in the first reading is presented as a model of self-sacrifice, but even more so as a model of fruitfulness: he shall see his descendants, He will give him a long life, the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him. It is never an attitude of pain for the sake of pain. It is not an inferiority complex, or the reaction of cowards, like the idea of Christian humility that Nietzsche had. The message is to more seriously understand the price of a good future and the immense fruit that comes out of Love when it is true and constant. Who is a Christian Steward? Guided by Scripture, the Christian steward is a person whose prayer leads to a constant awareness that God is the creator of all blessings in life. He is the origin of life, giver of freedom, and the source of all things. Jesus presented the ultimate gift to God the gift of His life and we, too, are called to follow in Jesus footsteps by: Receiving God s gifts gratefully Cultivating them responsibly Sharing them lovingly in justice with others and Returning them with increase to the Lord Lord Jesus, I come to listen to your words of life and of wisdom. I turn to you to know what your holy will is for me, today. I need to know Lord so that I can live a life that is pleasing to you. Look kindly on your servant and grant that I may know and love and perfectly fulfill your most holy will this day. The weekend of November 3-4 is Stewardship Commitment Weekend at St. Marks. On that weekend parishioners will be Graciously grant me, my God, your grace that I learn to serve others with charity. asked to make their annual financial pledge of support to the Lord Jesus, you came to serve, not to be served. You established a new way to exercise authority, one that confounds my self-love and vanity. Grant me the grace to parish by returning their pledge follow your example and exercise the authority you have given me with due respect cards. In the coming weeks you for those that you have placed in my charge, especially for my children. May anger will listen to a personal witness of never be present in my words nor in my deeds, let your love, the love of service in the stewardship from fellow truth, be the support and motor of my actions. parishioners and receive a letter with your pledge card along with an appeal from Fr. Humberto for Upcoming Events your full participation. 50th Reunion for the class of 1962 Youth Group Meeting 7-10pm in Parish Center Library Bible Study: A Biblical Walk Through the Mass - 7-9pm in Carolyn Hall Oktoberfest - Everyone Welcome! 4-8pm in the school cafeteria 4th Annual CCW Wine & Cheese Party - 7pm in the Community Room Coffee and Donuts after Sunday Masses in Carolyn Hall Youth Group Meeting 5pm in the school gym Stewardship Lay Witness Speaker - At all Masses Pastoral Care Meeting - 10:45-Noon in the Parish Center Holy Day of Obligation - All Saints Day - Masses at 7am, 10am & 7pm All Souls Day Mass at 7pm, reception following in the Community Room Pledge Sunday Oct 20 Oct 20 Oct 23 Oct 26 Oct 27 Oct 28 Oct 28 Oct Oct 31 Nov 1 Nov 2 Nov 3-4 Please be prayerful and give most generously.

2 Page 2 October 21, Acts of C.A.R.E.-ing Today s Readings: #950 Is 53:10-11; Heb 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-45 or 10:42-45 As part of C.A.R.E.-a-thon during this special centennial year, we are collecting stories of caring from the Saint Mark s School family. Here is another for you to enjoy: I am lucky that my school has such a warm welcoming community. C.A.R.E. truly means something here at St. Mark s School. We have such a phenomenal staff, helping us through each and every day. Their time and dedication is unimaginable. I am here to give credit to one particular teacher though. A teacher who set aside her own free time to help explain things I didn t understand. She definitely helped me through the sixth grade. Math has never come easy to me. Usually, I need people to explain things a couple of times before I get them. In sixth grade, I was embarrassed that I was having trouble with something others found so easy. I needed help, and after a little while, I found what I needed. My puzzle was solved, my case was closed, you could say any term you like, but I m using the one that means the most to me. I was saved. My mom helped me set up an after school math-help opportunity. My math teacher, Mrs. Kieffer was going to stay after school with me to help me understand math more easily. At first, I was nervous. I really didn t want to mess up a problem in front of my teacher, but it was made clear that there was no need to worry. Mrs. Kieffer was easy to talk to, and she didn t mind repeating things if I needed that. She kept a calm attitude through the session, and it was contagious. I felt completely more comfortable about math. By the end of the year, I was really proud of how hard I worked and the grade I earned. Thank you so much for caring and for helping me. Sally Hand, Saint Mark s School 7th Grader If you have a story to share, please it to mjentz@hotmail.com or drop it off at the Parish Center. Magnuson Benefit Thank You: The benefit for Steve was a huge success thanks to generosity and support from the entire Saint Mark s community church, school, friends and family. Special thanks to parish band Tipper Road for the fantastic live music; Blue Door Pub whose generous donation stocked the bar completely; Kemps, and Sweet Martha s Cookie Jar for supplying the desserts; and Rebel Ink Baby for subsidizing the t-shirts. Special thanks as well to all the volunteers and supporters who donated their time or silent auction items, and to everyone who came out to celebrate Steve s valiant ongoing fight against cancer. The goal was to cover the burgeoning medical expenses and that was achieved for this year and next. Thanks you and please keep the Magnusons in your prayers. From the benefit committee: Manny Palomo, Cathy Bitney & Brad and Kristine Erickson. Psalm #33: Lord let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you Next Sunday: Jer 31:7-9; Ps 126; Heb 5:1-6; Mk 10:46-52; Mass Intentions for the Week Mon 10:00am + Paula Alden Tues 10:00am + Mary Ann Gagner Thurs 10:00am + Michael Wilken Fri 10:00am + Agnieszka Sypula Sat 8:00am Cindy Luloff The Year of Faith In the Acts of the Apostles, we learn that God has opened the door of faith for the early Church. But did you know that God has opened the door of faith for each one us and he invites us to step through the threshold into a deeper relationship with him. The upcoming Year of Faith is an opportunity for every Catholic to turn towards Jesus Christ, encounter him in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and rediscover the Faith and Church. With his Apostolic Letter of October 11, 2011,Porta Fidei..., Pope Benedict XVI declared that a "Year of Faith" began on October 11, 2012 and conclude on November 24, October 11, 2012, the first day of the Year of Faith, was the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council... (Vatican II) and also the twentieth anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. During the Year of Faith, Catholics are asked to study and reflect on the documents of Vatican II and the catechism so that they may deepen their knowledge of the faith. The upcoming Year of Faith is a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord, the One Savior of the world (Porta Fidei 6). In other words, the Year of Faith is an opportunity for Catholics to experience a conversion to turn back to Jesus and enter into a deeper relationship with him. The door of faith is opened at one s baptism, but during this year Catholics are called to open it again, walk through it and rediscover and renew their relationship with Christ and his Church. The 'door of faith' (Acts14:27) is always open for us, ushering us into the life of communion with God and offering entry into his Church."---Pope Benedict XVI, Apostolic Letter Porta Fidei for the Indiction of the Year of Faith Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Spend time with the Lord in quiet and prayer. To assure the Blessed Sacrament is never left unattended the goal is to have two people scheduled as Adorers for each hour. We still have hours that are in need of an Adorer or two. For more information and to sign up, please call Anne Duffy at We re especially looking for help to cover the following hours: Wednesday: 12 midnight 1am; 1 2am; 12noon-1pm Thursday: 2-3pm Friday: 6 7pm; 7-8pm; 8-9pm If you re not signed up, please join us any time during adoration hours. Come pray with us!

3 Page 3 Parish Ministries School News Respect for Life Team: The Respect Life Team has an open meeting the third Sunday of every month, at Coffee and Donuts after the 11:00 Mass. Here are some upcoming events: 40 Days for Life pro-life prayer campaign from 9/26/12 11/04/12. Sign up to pray for an hour!! Hundreds of babies are spared from abortion each year during this campaign. Pilgrimage - It's not too early to register for the Pilgrimage for Life to Washington DC, in January Contact Sharon Wilson at wilsons@archspm.org to learn more about this archdiocesan trip recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Roe v Wade decision. Registration ends at the end of October. Counseling - If you are one of the many suffering with the pain of abortion, contact Project Rachel for confidential individual referrals or respectlife@archspm.org. Mass of Celebration of Adoption will be held at St. Peter Claver on Saturday, November 17th at 4:00pm. Welcome Home class of 1962! The community of Saint Mark's welcomes the graduating class of 1962, revisiting the school, stories and old friendships, during their class reunion on Oct Blessings and bon voyage on your stroll down memory lane. We need help! The CCW is looking for women to help clean the church. We clean in teams of two and each team takes one Friday a month. If you would like to help us keep St. Mark's church clean please call Vickey Hobza at Thank you. CCW Wine and Cheese: It s Party Time! Women of St. Mark's, come raise a glass and indulge in mouth-watering appetizers at the fourth annual Wine and Cheese Party. Enjoy this opportunity to reconnect with old friends and welcome new on Saturday evening, October 27th at 7 pm in the Community Room at St. Mark s. You don t want to miss it! Free-will donations will be accepted to help cover the costs. Please call Jane Cagle-Kemp at or janecagle@msn.com if you'd like to bring an appetizer or help with party set-up. Sponsored by St. Mark s CCW. Music for 9:00 Sunday Mass: The music ensembles for 9:00 Mass are looking for new members, high school age and older. Experienced guitar players, singers and instrumentalists who can commit to two Sundays a month are encouraged to contact Cindy Holupchinski ( ; cholupchinski@saintmark-mn.org) to find out more information. Marriage Matters: Activists in support of same-sex marriage claim redefining marriage has no consequences for society. This is false. Gay marriage has existed in Canada for years, and there have been hundreds of Canadian proceedings in courts, human rights commissions, and employment boards against critics of same-sex marriage. Religious groups and leaders have been punished for their belief in man-woman marriage, professionals have lost their careers, and parents have been told they have no right to opt their children out of school instruction that includes same-sex marriage. To learn more visit Minnesota Catholic Conference s website: mncc.org. 7th Grade Chore Group: St. Mark s 7th Grade Chore Group workers are anxious for opportunities to start earning money for their trip to Washington, D.C. in the Fall of Get one of those 7th graders to do light housework/cleaning, babysit, walk the dog., rake leaves, and yes, eventually shovel snow!! Please contact Mary Beth Casement at or mbcasement@earthlink.net to get a student lined up for work you need done. Min. hourly wage is $7/hr. Contact Jana Hayden-Sofio at the school or jana.haydensofio@markerspride.com about your class reunion." Please Support Saint Mark s School C.A.R.E.-a-thon: An army of C.A.R.E.-a-thon helpers were out in force last week, putting their Catholic values to work. Your help is very much needed to reach the fundraising goal of $30,000 by October 26th. All funds raised through C.A.R.E.-a-thon directly support the Saint Mark s School operational budget. Donations can be dropped off or mailed to the Parish Center or School Office. You can also donate online through GiveMN.org. From GiveMN.org, find the project by searching on 2012 C.A.R.E.-a-thon. Preschool & Childcare: The St. Mark's Preschool and Child Care Program has started another fabulous year. The preschoolers began the year with a brand new playground they have been using daily. They have enjoyed getting to know their classmates, teachers, and the school. Our preschool children have the opportunity to go to Art, Music and Physical Education every week, and Spanish every other quarter during the school year. They also participate in our annual St. Mark's C.A.R.E.-a-thon fundraising event. This year for the service day they decorated and distributed door hangers in the neighborhood, decorated bags for "Meals for Wheels" and helped pick up around the school yard and nearby neighborhood. They learned more about the importance of helping others and what it means to be a part of a community. Participating in CARE-a-thon helped them see that even as young children, they too can contribute and make a difference in the world. We are excited about our preschoolers and the fun year of learning and discovery ahead. Youth Group Upcoming Youth Group Events: Senior High Movie Night: Saturday October 20, 7:00-10:00 pm in the Parish Center Library. We will be watching October Baby. Grades 9-12 welcome, bring your friends! Gym Night: Sunday October 28, 5:00-6:30 pm. All grades, 6-12, are invited to join us in the gym for an evening of fun and games!

4 Page 4 October 21, 2012 Parish Staff: Father Humberto Palomino, P.E.S. Pastor [frhumberto@saintmark-mn.org] Father Carlos Farfan, P.E.S. Associate Pastor Judy Miske Pastoral Care Coordinator Patricia Hartshorn Liturgy Coordinator Keely Wojda Director of Religious Ed. Cindy Holupchinski Director of Music Sharon Suess Parish Administrator Molly Whinnery School Principal Parish Center Fax No Brigid Kostka, Secretary LuAnn Hanrahan, Secretary Parish Center Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m. Tuesday & Thursday 8:00a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday CLOSED Sunday 8:45a.m.-12:30p.m. Parish Pastoral Council: Craig Anderson Brian Bergson Faith Carlson Don Kieffer Kevin Lewis John Mayhew Cindy Morrissey Paul Ruff Robert Tibesar St. Mark s School Barb Sonntag, Secretary/Notary Public Cherry Lundgren, Secretary Child Care Center Cassie Schwingle, Director School Advisory Committee: Kevin Brennan, Co-Chairperson Colleen Howard, Co-Chairperson Bulletin Content Welcomed Please submit bulletin content to parishcenter@saintmark-mn.org by 10am Thursday (or earlier) for the bulletin available 10 days later. We re looking for Strong Family Stories, Parishioner Spotlights, Q & A s, as well as events. You may also drop off your article at the Parish Center. Financial Stewardship Last 2 Sundays Fiscal YTD Actual Stewardship $ 19, $ 184, Budgeted Stewardship $ 23, $ 212, Net: ($ 3,712.54) ($ 28,474.50) What is stewardship? It is a lifestyle. It is a life of gratitude that stems from the knowledge that God is the creator and owner of all. We are stewards when we care for God s gifts. Gratitude for these many gifts can be expressed in our prayer, worship, financial contributions, how we care for those around us, and in all we do. Stewardship is a way of being aware of all that God has given us and giving thanks. Our love and gratefulness lead to a desire to share our gifts in return.

5 Page 5 Schedule of Celebrations Saturday Evening Mass: Upper Church, 5 pm (Sign Language Interpretation at this mass) Sunday Masses: Upper Church 9 am Upper Church 11 am Weekday Masses Monday - Friday 10 am Tuesday - Friday 7 am Saturday 8 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 10:45 am Mon to 8:00am Sat in St. Mary s Adoration Chapel (St. Mary s Adoration Chapel is located at N.E. Corner of church) Saturday Confessions: For Baptisms: Baptism Enrichment: 3:30-4:30 pm Call the Parish Center to arrange. Please call Sharon at the Parish Center. For Weddings: The bride or groom, or their parents must be a registered Parishioner of St. Mark s. Wedding arrangements must be made at least 6 months in advance with Fr. Palomino. Rosary: 6:45 pm Monday, May through October (except Holidays) and daily after 10 am Mass (except School and Funeral Masses) Divine Mercy Chaplet: Daily at 3pm in St. Mary s Adoration Chapel Prayer Chain: For prayer requests, call the Parish Center at Welcome Home St. Mark s School Class of 1962 All Souls Day Mass - 7pm Friday, November 2 All Souls Day is a Feast to remember all those bothers and sisters in Christ who were buried from St. Mark s in the past year, and for any of your loved ones who have died. We invite you along with any family members or friends who would like to join you. After Mass, we will have an opportunity to gather for conversation and refreshments in the Community Room in the lower Church. Catholic Studies at St. Mark s Beginning in November, graduate students and alumni from the Center for Catholic Studies at the University of St. Thomas will be at the Parish to teach a series of minicourses on subjects within the field of Catholic Studies. The program will have both Fall and Spring sessions and is appropriately titled Catholic Studies at St. Mark s. The mini-courses will be held on Tuesday, Nov 13, Sunday, Nov 18 & Sunday, Nov 25 at 7pm in the Carolyn Hall and will focus on Catholic Culture. All are encouraged to come and fortify their Catholic-worldview! Group discussions will follow each presentation. For more information visit our web site