ADMINISTRATION CENTER 1101 Romine Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15133

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1 ADMINISTRATION CENTER 1101 Romine Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania Telephone: MARK (6275) Fax: Father Rowan Hall: Parish Nurse Office: x13 Youth House: C.C.D. Office: Mon Yough Catholic School: Victim Assistance Hotline: DECEMBER 2012 SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT PASTOR Reverend Daniel T. Straughn, S.T.L. All Ministry is to support and effect unity, strength and vitality. LIBERTY SITE (LB) 3210 Liberty Way McKeesport, PA MASS SCHEDULE Mon., Wed. & Fri...8:30 a.m. Sat. Vigil... 6:00 p.m. PORT VUE SITE (PV) 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, PA MASS SCHEDULE Tues., Thurs. & Sat....8:30 a.m. Sunday...8:00 a.m. Sunday...11:00 a.m. SAINT MARK PARISH MISSION STATEMENT (Ratified January 11, 2009 by the People of Saint Mark Parish) We, the people of Saint Mark Parish, are a welcoming community, cherishing the traditions of our Catholic faith. Unified by our rich heritage in the Mon Yough Valley, we are committed to the call of our Baptism by listening to and putting God s Word into action. Nurtured by the Eucharist and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we walk with Christ celebrating and spreading the good news of the gospel through prayer and humble service to all. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION 5:15 p.m. Saturdays at the Liberty site and upon request. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Classes are held at the Port Vue site for Grades K-8 on Sundays from 9:30 a.m. 10:45 a.m., September thru April. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Engaged couples are to participate in a Marriage Preparation Class. Please call the Administration Center 6 months prior to the anticipated wedding date. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Baptisms are the 1 st Sunday and 3 rd Sunday of the month after the 11:00 a.m. Mass. Pre-Baptism Class is required. Please contact the Administration Center three months prior to the anticipated birth. OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m 4:00 p.m.

2 SAINT MARK PARISH Rosary prior to daily morning mass MONDAY, December 10, 2012 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Clelia Mollica..... LB (Christine Peterson) TUESDAY, December 11, :30am Theresa Davelli... PV (Dennis & Rita Gdovic) WEDNESDAY, December 12, :30am Milford T. Quinn LB (Wife, Margaret, Son, Tom and Family) THURSDAY, December 13, 2012 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am George Pavlic PV (Irene Pavlic) FRIDAY, December 14, :30am Stella Norelli... LB (Morning Mass Group) SATURDAY, December 15, :30am 6:00pm Sienna Marie Howard, Infant Angel... PV (Great Grandparents, Mr/Mrs. Clarence Henderson) Walter Tokar... LB (Lynne, Samantha and Erin) SUNDAY, December 16, 2012 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 8:00am Theresa Anderson... PV (Kathy Short) 11:00am SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 9 December 2012 Patricia Ruzich McCarthy... PV (Mother, Josephine Ruzich) Baptism Instruction Class The next Baptism Class for parents is Monday, January 7, 7:00pm at Saint Mark Parish, Port Vue Library. Please call to register. This class is required prior to Baptism. Readings for the Week of December 9, 2012 Sunday: Bar 5:1-9/Phil 1:4-6, 8-11/Lk 3:1-6 Monday: Is 35:1-10/Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11/Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab/Lk 1:26-38 or 1:39-47 Thursday: Is 41:13-20/Mt 11:11-15 Friday: Is 48:17-19/Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11/Mt 17:9a, Next Sunday: Zep 3:14-18a/Phil 4:4-7/Lk 3:10-18 Stewardship MCKEESPORT, PA 2 December 2012 Offertory Collection...$7, Maintenance/Buildings & Grounds...$1, Average Weekly Expenditure... $8,166.41* Weekly Surplus / (Deficit)... ($631.73) * (based on 2011/12 Fiscal Year) Praise GOD! And Thank You! Donations Saint Mark In Memory of George Pavlic: $ Wife, Irene Pavlic $ Genevieve Pavlic $ Mary Zsak Sanctuary Lamp/Altar Bread & Wine This week the Sanctuary Lamp at the Liberty site burns for the welfare of Albert & Audrey Serena from the Ladies of Charity. This week the Sanctuary Lamp at the Port Vue site burns in the memory of Rose Grygo from Betty Runtich. Activity Schedule Monday, December 10, :30-7:30pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, LB 7:15pm, Rosary, LB Tuesday, December 11, :00am, Ladies of Charity making soup, LB Wednesday, December 12, :00am, Miraculous Medal Novena, LB 6:30-9:00pm, Youth Group Jr. & Sr. meeting 7:00-9:00pm, Adult Choir practice, PV Friday, December 14, :00-12noon, Food Bank Saturday, December 15, :00am Christmas decorating, PV Sunday, December 16, :00am, Christmas decorating, LB 11:00am, Children s Liturgy Mass, PV After 11:00am Mass, Celebrate the Feast of Saint Nicholas, PV 3:00pm, Handbell Christmas Concert, PV 5:00-9:00pm, Kennywood light up night Saint Mark Common Grounds The Coffee House at the Port Vue worship site is open today following the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Join us for coffee and fellowship!

3 Second Sunday of Advent DECEMBER 9, 2012 $1,300 January Lottery Raffle Ticket January s monthly ticket plays the 7:00pm PA Lottery on Monday, January 7, Tickets for the January Lottery Raffle are sold after Mass. Congratulations to our December winner: Mary Louise Fuga. Saint Mark Parish 50/50 In your offertory packet, there is a tan colored envelope marked 50/50 Drawing--Donation $5.00. On Monday, December 31, 2012, all envelopes are placed in a drum and one lucky winner is drawn to win half of the take. Congratulations to our November winner: Mr. & Mrs. Lawrence Wilson. $14,000 BIG MONEY Ticket The BIG MONEY Ticket is back by popular demand! This ticket is to go off on the 7 p.m. 1 st number drawn PA Daily Number on Monday, December 31, A Special Bonus of $1,000 goes to the seller of the winning ticket. Advent RECONCILIATION Services Date: Sunday, 16 December 2012 Time: 3:00 PM Location: Saint Jude Parish Date: Monday, 17 December 2012 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Corpus Christi Parish Date: Tuesday, 18 December 2012 Time: 4:00 PM Location: Saint Patrick Parish Date: Wednesday, 19 December 2012 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish Reconciliation offered each Saturday at 5:15 PM at our Liberty site, and anytime upon request. Christmas Flower Offering Please use the envelope in your packet for your donation for Christmas Flowers and supplies to decorate both of our worship sites. If you make a donation in memory of a loved one, please print his/her name on the back of the envelope and please print clearly. Thank you for your generosity and love. Mon Yough Catholic Santa Breakfast Mon Yough Catholic School PTG is having Breakfast with Santa on Sunday, December 16, 2012 from 9:30 am to 12:00pm in Father Drap Hall at Saint Angela Merici Church. Santa Claus will be available from 9:30-11:30 and pictures will be taken with your child or children if you choose (no charge). Cost: Adults $6.00 and child $4.00 (children 3 and under are free). Come see Santa and help support our school! Merry Christmas!!! Eternal Rest For the repose of the soul of Willard Yarborough, brother of Jack and Sherry Yarborough, and Deanna Murray, sister of Bernie Ivory. We extend our deepest sympathy and prayers to their family and friends. Christmas HANDBELL CHOIR Concert Please join us for a wonderful performance of our Saint Mark Parish HANDBELL CHOIR on Sunday, 16 December 2012, at 3:00 PM at our Port Vue site. Enjoy traditional sacred, secular and holiday music, as well as an audience sing-a-long. A light reception follows. All are welcome!!! Appeal for Toys Saint Mark Food Bank is collecting NEW toys only for children from infants to 10 years old for Christmas. Please deposit new toys in Food Bank boxes at either worship site. Any questions please call Lori DiMarco at or at loriadimarco@gmail.com KENNYWOOD CHRISTMAS LIGHTS When: Sunday, 16 December 2012 Time: 4:30pm-Please arrive on time to receive discount rate Where:In front of the entrance gates at Kennywood Price: $12.00 (group discount rate) Come for a fun-filled evening at Kennywood. Enjoy the Christmas lights, music, rides and food with our Saint Mark Parish Family. All are invited! Bring family and friends. See you at Kennywood! Questions call Cheryl Hopkins at Christmas GIFT GIVING our Parish With the countdown until Christmas and most people finishing up their holiday shopping and worrying about giving just the right gift to friends and loved ones, please add one more special gift to your list Saint Mark Parish. Please be generous when considering your gift to the parish this Christmas. Help us to help others! Invitation to our Parish Christmas Party! Our next Saint Mark Parish festivity is our Christmas Party scheduled for Saturday, 12 January The celebration begins at 5:00pm with a Christmas Concert performed by our Saint Mark Music Ministry, followed by the celebration of the Eucharist at our 6:00pm Mass, and our party begins at 7:00pm in Father Rowan Hall. MERRY CHRISTMAS! All invited! Oakland Catholic Honor Roll We congratulate Lauren Tedrick of our Saint Mark Parish for achieving Honor Roll status at Oakland Catholic for the first quarter of the school year. Congratulations!!! Christ Light of the World Award The Christ Light of the World Award is being presented to Jacob Riggs and Daniel Evans of our Saint Mark Parish on 16 December at the 11:00am Mass. Congratulations!!!

4 Second Sunday of JUNE Advent 2, 2002 DECEMBER 9, 2012 THE LORD IS IN OUR MIDST! The Advent Series on 3 weekends in December will reflect on the theme: THE LORD IS IN OUR MIDST! Throughout the series Doctor Maureen Crossen from the Theology Department of Carlow University will reflect on the Readings of the liturgy that draw us more closely to the Lord in our midst through prayer and living lives of love, mercy, and justice. The series will take place on the First, Second and Fourth Sundays in Advent at all the Masses. The theme for the Second Sunday of Advent is God leads with his mercy and justice the Lord has done great things for us (Baruch 5:9, Ps 126:3) LITTLE BLUE BOOK THE LITTLE BLUE BOOK for the Advent and Christmas seasons are available at both Worship sites. The book contains readings for each of the 28 days of the Advent Season, and the 15 days of the Christmas Season. This book provides the framework for you to enjoy one of the oldest traditions of prayer called Lectio Divina sacred reading. You read a short passage in the book each day and simply let God speak to you through the words, guiding you to reflections that sometimes seem to come from nowhere. People are often surprised at how easy it is to pray this way, and how deep such prayer can be. It can change your day. It can change your life. Please take only one book per family to ensure that everyone gets a copy. God loves you! God bless you! WELCOME and Congratulations!!! Welcome and congratulations to Robin Greiner and Keith DiMarco who were just welcomed into our Catholic Faith family through the Rite of Acceptance/ Welcoming held last Sunday at 8AM Mass. Please keep praying! And please keep being so loving and welcoming to all who desire to know, love and serve God through joining our Saint Mark Parish family. Praise God!!! Decorating the Churches We Need You!!! Your help is needed to decorate our Worship sites for Christmas: Saturday, 15 December at 10:00AM, Port Vue site Sunday, 16 December at 10:00AM, Liberty site Join us and have some fun!!! The Celebration of the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas The Feast Day of Saint Nicholas is Thursday, 6 December. We will celebrate this special day on 16 December after the 11:00am Children s Liturgy Mass. Can you guess who our special guest will be? Rediscover Catholicism There are 250 books (125 at each site) that are free to anyone who wishes to rediscover our Faith as a Catholic. Please take one per family and please pass it on to another when finished. Rediscover Catholicism is an early Christmas gift from an anonymous donor from our parish who wants to share this awesome book. LEARN MORE and ENJOY! Merry Christmas! All Ministry is to support and effect unity, strength and vitality. When we work together, it is easier and better for everyone. Thanks for working together for the sake of our entire parish family. If we are living for ourselves, we are not really living, we are dying. Live and love for others, and we all will have life and life eternal. MINISTRY SCHEDULES Please pardon the late mailing of our liturgical and office ministry schedules. If you have any concerns about your assigned dates, please call Marcie Nagy Copies of the schedules are in the sacristy for your convenience. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!!!! SNOW CANCELATIONS For everyone s safety, a delay or cancelation at South Allegheny is our notice of cancelation of morning Mass (or Communion Service). Please listen to the radio or watch TV for delays or cancelations. Your safety is most important. Family Perspective Today s gospel shows John the Baptist and parents have similar vocations. Like the Baptist, parents are asked to make rough ways smooth and to prepare the way of the Lord for their families. This Advent ask: Does my life hinder or help my family to know Jesus? (Bud Ozar) PRAISE THE LORD! THANKS to YOU all who support our SAINT MARK PARISH in simple and sometimes anonymous ways. THANKS to all who helped and are continuing to help with the transition of our offices to our new location. THANKS to the CCM and Ladies Guild for your love and fine example of charity, joy and hospitality. THANKS to our Youth Group and volunteers for working together in supporting our parish. Praise GOD! And thank YOU! God loves you and so do I!!!

5 SAINT MARK PARISH MCKEESPORT, PA To live our Faith, we need to know our Faith! Year of Faith: 11 October 2012 to 24 November 2013 " 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). What is the Immaculate Conception? Few doctrines of the Catholic Church are as misunderstood as the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Many people, including many Catholics, think that it refers to the conception of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary. That event is the feast of the Annunciation of the Lord, celebrated on March 25, which occurs nine months before Christmas. The Immaculate Conception refers to the condition that the Blessed Virgin Mary was free from Original Sin from the very moment of her conception in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne. We celebrate the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8, nine months after the Feast of the Immaculate Conception on December 8. To become the mother of the Savior, Mary was enriched by God with gifts appropriate to such a role. The Angel Gabriel at the moment of the annunciation salutes her as full of grace. In fact, in order for Mary to be able to give the free assent of her faith to the announcement of her vocation, it was necessary that she be wholly borne by God s grace. Through the centuries the Church has become ever more aware that Mary, full of grace through God, was redeemed from the moment of her conception. That is what the dogma of the Immaculate Conception confesses, as Pope Pius IX proclaimed in 1854: The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin. The splendor of an entirely unique holiness by which Mary is enriched from the first instant of her conception comes wholly from Christ: she is redeemed, in a more exalted fashion, by reason of the merits of her Son. The Father blessed Mary more than any other created person on Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places and chose her in Christ before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless before him in love. The Fathers of the Eastern tradition call the Mother of God the All-Holy (Panagia) and celebrate her as free from any stain of sin, as though fashioned by the Holy Spirit ad formed as a new creature. By the grace of God, Mary remained free of every personal sin her whole life long. Catechism of the Catholic Church, (Articles ) With his own hands God the Father has impressed on Mary s heart a perfect semblance of the divine qualities of his love. (Saint John Eudes) Saint Mark Parish Membership Form NAME ADDRESS CHECK ONE: New Registration Change of Address Moving out of Parish Want Envelopes CITY TELEPHONE Please drop Membership Form into the offertory basket or mail to our Administration Center.