105 Randall Road Shoreham, NY Fax stmarksrcc-shoreham.org

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1 Roman Catholic Church of St. Mark 105 Randall Road Shoreham, NY Fax stmarksrcc-shoreham.org THE PASTORAL STAFF REV. MSGR. JEFFREY MADLEY, Pastor REV. THEODORE J. HOWARD, Pastor Emeritus REV. ALLOYSIOUS MELLY, Associate Pastor Permanent Deacons Rev. Mr. Patrick Gerace Office Manager: Mrs. Susan Schena Parish Outreach: Mrs. Jane Fagan, Coordinator Religious Formation: Mrs. Lynn Fein, Director Music Director: Mrs. Carrie Logan Social Committee: Betty Pizza Teenage Rap Directors: Mrs. Lynn Fein Mr. John McNamara ACTS Mrs. Jane Fagan MASSES: BAPTISMS: The parish community celebrates this SATURDAY EVENING: 5:00 P.M. sacrament at 1:00 P.M. on the third Saturday of each SUNDAYS: 8:00, 9:30, 11:30 A.M. month. Please contact the rectory before your child is born WEEKDAYS: Monday-Friday 9:00 A.M. to make arrangements for the Pre-Baptism program. HOLY DAYS: Vigil 7:30 P.M. (Day) 8:45, 10:00 A.M. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Periodically we have a RECTORY OFFICE HOURS: parish celebration. However if you or someone in your Monday thru Friday: 9:30A.M. - 5:00 P.M. family is seriously ill or going to the hospital for a serious Closed for lunch from 12:00 Noon till 1:00 P.M. operation, then call the rectory. Anyone going to a hospital Saturday: by appointment only or who may be sick at home should inform the rectory so Sunday: closed the parish can pray for you. Emergency - Anytime SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION: R.C.I.A.: Adults seeking to become Catholic; or adults Confessions celebrated Saturday from 4:00-4:45 P.M., or wishing to receive First Communion or Confirmation you may schedule another time with a priest at the rectory. please call Mr. John McNamara at MARRIAGE: Please call the rectory at least 7 months prior A.A.: Meetings held every Sunday Evening at 7:00 P.M. in to your wedding, and before a date is finalized with the the Parish Center. reception hall. PRAY WITH THE PARISH: Rosary daily before the 9:00 A.M. Mass WEDDING TIMES: Eucharistic Devotion & Benediction - First Friday Saturday: 1:30 and 3:00 1:00 P.M. to 4 P.M. Sunday: 2:00 and 3:00 (Ceremonies only) Miraculous Medal - Mondays after 9:00 A.M. Mass Fatima Devotions - First Saturday after 9:00 A.M. Mass PRO-LIFE COORDINATOR: John McNamara WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE Y OU WORSHIP GOD WITH US! PLEASE FEEL AT HOME. IF Y OU ARE NEW TO OUR AREA, PLEASE REGIS TER AFTER MASS WITH AN US HER OR COME TO THE RECTORY DURING THE WEEK. WELCOME TO S T. MARK S PARIS H.

2 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 2 FROM THE PASTOR S DESK Happy Easter! As we celebrate Our Lord s resurrection we thank him for the people who were confirmed at our Easter Vigil: Amanda O Berry, Richard Laurino and Joseph Wall. We also thank God for Jorge Estuardo Bethancourt who was baptized at the Easter Vigil. I would like to thank the many people who combined to make Holy Week special for us: Carrie Logan and her combined choirs, Deacon Pat, our ushers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers. Our faithful altar servers always do a wonderful job. The ladies that do the altar cloths are some of the unsung heroes of the parish. Father Melly and I appreciate your help. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter season. Father Jeff MASSES FOR THE WEEK Monday, March 28, :00 AM Darren Maresca - Stephanie Brewster Tuesday, March 29, :00 AM Frank Scalia - Mr. & Mrs. Rudy Mastrocinque Wednesday, March 30, :00 AM Helen Jantzen - John & Jean Hogan Steven Ferruggia - Mother Thursday, March 31, :00 AM Fred Grant - wife, Theresa George Gulino - Tom & Katie Dietzel Marie Pereda - Mae Maloney Friday, April 1, :00 AM James McGuire - wife, Harriet Saturday, April 2, :00 AM Return to Good Health, Ryan Capone - Michael LaFata 5:00 PM Joseph Scrocco - Pamela & Joseph Dwyer Sunday, April 3, :00 AM Richard Ostrove - Kevin & Maureen Ward 9:30 AM For the People of the Parish Wedding Banns III Tom Knudsen St. Marks, Shoreham, NY & Lindsay Farrell St. Marks, Shoreham, NY 11:30 AM Nicholas D Amico - Ron & Peggy D Amico St. Mark s is accepting weekly donations for our altar breads and/or sacramental wine used at all Masses during the week. These donations may be memorialized in whatever manner you may wish. Altar Flowers You have the opportunity each week to donate the altar flowers in memory of a loved one or for a special intention. Please call the rectory office for details.

3 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 11 Celebrating the Year of Mercy in Our Diocese Pope Francis has called for all of us to be on a pilgrimage of mercy this year (Dec. 8 th, 2015 to Nov. 22 nd, 2016). Our diocese will be celebrating this pilgrimage at 4 locations: Saint Agnes Cathedral, Rockville Centre; Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, Southampton; Shrine of Our Lady of the Island, Eastport; and Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, Huntington according to the following schedule: Tuesdays, Cathedral of St. Agnes, 1 Quealy Place, Rockville Centre: Mass at 12:10pm; Exposition and Adoration; Confessions; Chaplet of Mercy; Benediction at 4pm Wednesdays, Seminary of the Immaculate Conception, 440 West Neck Road, Huntington: Optional Lunch at 12Noon; Tours of the Seminary at 1pm; Rosary at 1:45pm; Exposition and Adoration at 2pm; Confessions at 2 to 4pm; Vespers and Benediction at 4pm Thursdays, Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, 168 Hill Street, Southampton: Mass at Noon; Confessions; Exposition and Adoration; Tours of the Basilica (as arranged); Devotions to Divine Mercy in Spanish at 3pm; Benediction at 4pm Saturdays, Shrine of Our Lady of the island, 258 Eastport Mannor Road, Manorville: Mass at 11:30am; Exposition and Adoration; Confessions; Chaplet of Mercy; Benediction (4pm) Special Indulgences: make a pilgrimage; go to confession; receive the Holy Eucharist with a reflection of mercy ; make a profession of faith; and pray for the Pope and his intentions(for the able-bodied); living with faith during an illness; receiving the Eucharist; or attending Mass even through the various means of communication (for the elderly, confined, and ill) Thank You... St. Mark s Church. The Parish Blood Drive was a success with a total of 24 pints of blood donated by the community. A WARM WELCOME TO OUR NEWEST MEMBERS WE ASK ALL PARISHIONERS TO JOIN US IN PRAYER FOR THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN WHO HAVE RECENTLY BEEN INITIATED INTO OUR FAITH THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. ENLIGHTENED BY CHRIST MAY THEY WALK ALWAYS AS CHILDREN OF THE LIGHT AND KEEP THE FLAME OF FAITH ALIVE IN THEIR HEARTS. WE WELCOME THE NEWLY BAPTIZED TO OUR FAITH COMMUNITY AND EXTEND OUR CONGRATULATIONS TO THEIR FAMILIES. Thomas Michael Babb Finn Michael McGann Emilee Catherine Tola

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5 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 4 FINANCIAL CORNER Preview of next Sunday s Readings By: Susan Schena SUNDAY COLLECTION OF MAR. 19TH & MAR. 20TH: The collection will be reported next week. Reading I: Acts of the Apostles 5:12-16 (45C) Psalm: Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, Reading II: Revelation 1:9-11a, Gospel: John 20:19-31 PRAY FOR THE SICK AND THEIR CAREGIVERS When you next update your estate plan, would you please consider continuing your lifelong support of your parish by remembering St. Mark s with a bequest? 50/50 CLUB WINNERS * Weekend of Mar. 19th & Mar. 20th, 2016 * 1st Prize $7.75 2nd Prize $4.65 3rd Prize $3.10 Eucharistic Adoration Friday, April 1, is First Friday. We will have Eucharistic Adoration at 1:00 pm with closing Benediction at 4:00 pm. Take some time out of your busy day and relax in the Lord s Presence. Nancy DeLorenzo, Mary Anne Lepart, Joseph Olivo, Maryann Sottilo, Joan Gleason, Edward Heinssen, Kellyanne Corvello, Dolores Herrmann, Mary Bauer, Mary Rose Bauer, Patricia Slawinski, Kevin Santana, Andrew Cozzolino, Joan Winter, Ruth Glennon, John Connelly, Mario Borghi, Frank Maschi, Gerilynn Staeys, Marilyn Wyanek, Santa Inguanta, Peter Mierisch, Diane Sigismondi, Donald Wagner, Judy Veltri, Millie Mannara, Joni Boyance, Mario Aponte, Baby Jackson Silva, Donna Puglissi, Michael LaRose, Jr., Elisabeth F. Jessen, Mike McIntyre, Blaze Montorari, Matthew Marek, Mary Haberkorn, Barbara Minerva, Kellyann Crovello, Sophie Di Santo, Patricia Connelly, Kathleen Hynes, Florence Keegan, Meaghen Vassallo, Matthew Vassallo, Jordon Brown, Travis Thorton Henley, Ceceila Eighmey, Pat Jordan, Peg Jordan, Carol Ringwald, Grace Relkin, Eugene Sackett, Victoria Quintos, Matthew Wiedre, Cynthia Rector, Ellianna Barters, Ralph Lopez, Brayden Biscuttie, David Noe, Nanette Buttigieg, Joan Walsh, Josephine Mancini, Frank Henn, Samantha King, Melissa Black, Zachery & Karen Molano, Michelle Koehler, Susan Quinn, Kirsten Rinn, Marie Puorro, Jim & Joan Whelehan, Denis Logan, Irene McMorris, Sr. Joan Quinlan, OP., Luz Cadena, Donna Cleary, Josephine Loursen, Aurora Quintos, Jerome A. Delli Bovi, Lisa McMahon, Lawrence Beierle, Pasquale Lamentino, Isabel Campoamor, Joan Whelehan, Tim Anderson, Catherine Tabinsky, Barbara Wolf, Vivian Liberti, Lawrence Ekert, Sr. If you know of any of the above names that should be removed from the list due to a return to good health, please inform the rectory office at Names will be removed on the first of each month, unless we are notified. Kindly call the rectory with any updates. Thank you. Altar Servers We welcome any children in the third grade or older who've received their First Holy Communion to join St. Mark's Altar Servers. It's a special way to serve God, be part of our parish community, and fulfill church volunteer requirements for Confirmation. For more information, contact Carla Silva or Marianne Minarik. altarservers@stmarksrcc-shoreham.org

6 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 3 Thought for the Week Very early, when the sun had risen, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb. Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb? When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large. On entering the tomb they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a white robe, and they were utterly amazed. He said to them, Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. (Mark 16: 2-6) Respect Life The command, Love your neighbor includes everybody. We ask God to help free us from any prejudices, and open our eyes to see every human person as our neighbor. (Pro-life Reflections for Every Day) The Eucharist What a gift we ve been given in the Eucharist! Jesus has given us Himself food for our journey in this life. This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me. And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. (Lord, please help us not take this gift of the Eucharist lightly. Help us to believe more deeply in your Real Presence every time we receive Communion.) Words from Pope Francis Baby Bottles Our local Birthright office, located in Rocky Point, will be making little pink and blue baby bottles available for us next weekend. Please take a bottle and return it by the weekend of April 23 & 24. Your donations will make it possible for this wonderful organization to continue to help expectant mothers and mothers of young children. Thank You!

7 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 5 A Scripture to Ponder Ask, and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Jesus of Nazareth (Luke 11:9) It matters not if the world has Just a Thought heard, or approves, or understands. The only applause we re meant to seek is that of nail-scarred Hands. DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY April 3, :00 PM 6:00 PM Assumption of the BVM Church, 20 Chestnut St., Centereach, NY Day of Grace Program Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, CFR / Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal, CFR Divine Mercy Devotion -Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament -Sacrament of Reconciliation -Divine Mercy Chaplet -Holy Rosary -Benediction -Veneration of the relic of St. Faustina Immediately following: Join together in the Parish Hall at 6:00 pm. Fellowship and Pizza Party with the Friars and Sisters Coffee, Cake and Refreshments included. Bring a non-perishable food item for the Friar s Pantry

8 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 6 It s Time for Our Annual Baby Bottle Campaign! Please support our Respect Life Committee as it requests your donations of pocket change to assist our local Birthright chapter, located on Prince Road in Rocky Point. This wonderful organization, staffed by volunteers who have a passion for the sanctity of life, assists expectant mothers before and after the births of their babies. Please take a pink or blue bottle, fill it with your change, and bring it to the church foyer when you come to Mass. You will make such a difference in the lives of those who have chosen life for their little ones in the womb. Thank You, and God bless you for caring so much! Bottle pick-up: April 2 & 3 Bottle Return: April 23 & 24

9 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 7 Easter 2016 Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Risen Christ, This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad, Alleluia! Alleluia! Saint Paul tells us that In Christ Jesus you are a new creation! Today we know with the mind of faith and feel in our hearts filled with joy how true that is and whence comes this wondrous and unique gift. It is God s gift that shows the boundless love He has for us when in the fullness of time He sent His Son, born of a woman. Without the obedient love of the Son who became one like us in all things but sin, we could never have been saved in the extraordinary way that in fact we are saved. We have been saved by one like us. That means that all we are and all that we experience on this earth has been embraced by Jesus, the God-Man. He alone could save us as Son of God. He alone, as fully human as we all are, could transform us, with whom He shares our humanity, by offering us the way to share in His divinity. Nailed to the cross, He overcame that ancient curse of universal death. For His death became the passage way that destroys death and opens the path to eternal life for us and for all humankind. Now He breaks the bonds of death by breaking forth from the tomb in His glorified state. Now the angels can say to the first apostles, Why look among the dead for one who is living? He is not here among the dead! He has risen as He said! Nicodemus once asked Jesus How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother s womb and be born again, can he? No, Nicodemus, that is true. But Jesus has made the Holy Sepulchre His tomb to be the womb from which He comes forth to the glorified state that He shares with us. We who have entered into the font of Baptism and emerged from the waters of Baptism are His new creation sharing the life of the One Who today we truly proclaim God s Son, the Victor over sin and death, the Savior of all humankind. As His new creation, Paul rightly calls us Ambassadors of Christ. In this Jubilee Year of Mercy, on this Easter Day as we rejoice, I would like to call us all to re-commit ourselves to being Ministers of Reconciliation in our families and our communities but especially in our Church and in our nation. Too many members of our Church engage in polemic and seek to divide us as if bishops are persecutors of the laity or consecrated women and men are at odds with priests and pastors. These attitudes and these divisions deny the new creation the Risen Christ has given us. Our nation has sunk into a new low in public discourse when political leaders and pressure groups ridicule and label one another or accuse those who disagree with the prevailing forces as being haters and phobic. May all of us on Easter Sunday, in the presence of the Risen Christ, at Mass, in our homes and in our hearts, put aside those attitudes and commit ourselves to the ministry of reconciliation, eschewing the tawdry and the degrading, and re-affirming the respect and dignity of all, for HE came to be the Savior of all Humankind and today in our hearts and in our world, we proclaim JESUS CHRIST IS RISEN AND HE IS LORD FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN! Bishop of Rockville Centre PO Box 9023, Rockville Centre, New York telephone fax

10 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 8 USCCB President Urges Support for Petition to Stop Christian Genocide March 15, 2016 WASHINGTON The president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, Kentucky, issued an urgent call, March 15, to support a petition to stop genocide in the Middle East and convince the U.S. Department of State to include Christians in any formal declaration of genocide. The call to action was issued days before the U.S. Department of State is expected to make a decision on the issue, and as a congressional resolution gains support in Congress. For months, the Catholic Church has been a voice for Christians and other religious minorities facing the evil deadly persecution, Archbishop Kurtz said. Please, make sure your name is added to the witness. The very future of the ancient Christian presence in the Middle East is at stake. The petition is available at: Archbishop Kurtz full statement follows: Join Me in the Pledge to Stop Christian Genocide A Statement from Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Today, the people of God must speak up for our brothers and sisters facing genocide in the Middle East. I urge every Catholic to sign the petition at As a people of faith, we must convince the United States Department of State to include Christians in any formal declaration of genocide. For months, the Catholic Church has been a voice for Christians and other religious minorities facing the evil of deadly persecution. Now, the State Department is expected to make a decision within days. A resolution, H. Con. Res. 75, is also gaining bipartisan support in Congress. Please make sure your name is added to the witness. The very future of the ancient Christian presence in the Middle East is at stake. I am grateful to my brother bishops, the Knights of Columbus and all the faithful who have struggled to keep a focus on suffering Christians in the national debate. Rest assured of my continued prayers and support. With each passing day, the roll of modern martyrs grows. While we rejoice in their ultimate victory over death through the power of Jesus love, we must also help our fellow Christians carry the Cross of persecution and, as much as possible, help relieve their suffering. By doing so, the Middle East and the world will be made safer for people of every faith to live in peace.

11 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 9 Statement on Political Responsibility by Cardinal Dolan and the Catholic Bishops of New York State The good of a democratic republic like ours depends on the participation of its citizens. This may seem obvious but it needs to be insisted upon in today s American society. The most fundamental action of a good citizen is to vote. All other activities in the political sphere depend on the exercise of this most fundamental right which is equally a solemn responsibility. Regrettably, in our country today an alarming percentage of citizens do not exercise this right. In New York State, on average over the past four years, only 40% of eligible voters carried out their civic duty. As the Catholic Bishops of New York State, we urge every eligible adult Catholic, without exception, to be sure that he or she is registered to vote and that all EXERCISE THEIR SOLEMN REPONSIBILITY OF VOTING in this year s elections. If you are not registered to vote, or not sure you are registered, please go to the website or call FOR-VOTE. You may also go to our own New York State Catholic Conference website at and select Register to Vote. We thank you for doing that. Now we want to invite you to prepare to vote by becoming familiar with both the candidates and the issues. Just voting for a name you recognize or a party you belong to does not fulfill your responsibility to build up a good society where human dignity, personal freedom, care for one another especially the vulnerable and the common good prevail as values which should be cherished in our democracy. Sadly, determining who to vote for is not always easy. Pressure groups, especially the loudest ones, seek to shout down anyone who disagrees with them. Calm and thoughtful responses to issues are often drowned out. That makes the challenge to choose good candidates and support good programs even more difficult than in the past. But it makes these decisions even more important. We do have resources to help you. One trustworthy resource is the booklet published this year by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship. To locate this resource, go to click on issues and actions and select faithful citizenship. Based on four of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching human dignity, subsidiarity, solidarity and the common good this document will help you evaluate the candidates and the programs they support on the basis of our shared Catholic vision of the good society. Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship can also help you in supporting candidates who are Pro-Life, pro-family and supportive of those policies that promote the common good of our society. If we want to have a good, healthy and virtuous society, we ourselves need to be good citizens, dedicated to the truth and promoters of the common good. We can contribute significantly to a positive political process and reverse the negative spiral of today s politics. But that means we must all be one in promoting human life and dignity; families that care for the vulnerable of any age or condition; and freedom and security for all our fellow citizens, as well as for all men and women every nation throughout the world.

12 March 27, 2016 The Roman Catholic Church of Saint Mark Page 10 Reaching Out Thoughts from Your Outreach Ministry March, 2016 Here it is Easter Sunday! What a wonderful day for all Christians! What a contrast from Good Friday when our hearts were so empty. But now, the tomb is empty, and we rejoice because He lives! He lives in each of our hearts and wants to help us in each and every detail of our lives. What hope we have for the future because of everything Jesus has done for us. In my Father s house there are many rooms.i go to prepare a place for you. Someday we ll be with Him in our own special place. How amazing is that?! Our Savior tells us that our work on this earth is to love love Him, and love our neighbor. It sounds easy, but it is not. I think it was Lucy in the Peanuts comic who said, I love humanity, it s people I can t stand. This is our every day struggle. We will constantly encounter people who make our skin crawl. That is a given, but to make a decision to love (or like) when we really don t want to is that moment that Jesus puts before us to challenge us to live the gospel. It s not easy, and we will falter and fail, but as long as we try to move forward, Jesus will smile, nod, wink, and love us for our efforts. Matthew Kelly tells us in his book, Rediscover Jesus, that: Jesus took people whom you and I would mindlessly pass on the street, people we would never choose to be in the same room with, people from the very margins of society, and he placed them at the center of the narrative of the Gospel. They came to Him in a hundred guises the sick, the poor, the despised, women, children, and sinners of every type but in each of them Jesus saw a child of God. I don t know about you, but I ve got a lot of work to do! Loving and not judging are two big areas in which we need help, but with prayer we can receive the help we need! In His Love, Jane & Volunteers P.S. The types of people we avoid and ignore are the types of people Jesus was most interested in. (Matthew Kelly) At the end of our lives here on earth we hope to hear these words when we meet Jesus: Well done, good and faithful servant Come and share your Master s happiness. (Matthew 25:21)