St. Mark Church 2609 E 19th St. Brooklyn, NY 11235 Mass Schedule: Saturday: 5:00 PM Vigil Mass Sunday: 8:00, 9:30,11:00 AM, 12:30 PM Weekdays: 8:30 AM Holy Days: 7;30 PM Vigil Mass 8:00, 10:00 AM Phone: 718-891-3100 Fax: 718-891-9677 St. Margaret Mary Church Ocean Ave. & Oriental Blvd. Manhattan Beach NY Mass Schedule: Sunday: 11:00 AM Wednesday: 9:00 AM Email: stmarkrccbklyn@aol.com Website: www.stmarkbrooklyn.org ST. MARK ROMAN CATHOLIC PARISH Pastor: Rev. Robert V. Mucci Parochial Vicar: Rev. Ebenezer K. Abban In Residence: Rev. Joseph P. Quigley Devotions: Miraculous Medal Novena every Wednesday after the 8:30 AM Mass Litany of the Sacred Heart every First Friday 8:20 AM Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament every First Friday from Noon to 3PM Baptism: Fourth Sunday of each month at 2:00 PM. Required Baptism classes take place on the third Sunday of each month at 9:30 AM in the Rectory Conference Room. Call the Rectory during office hours to make an appointment with a priest two (2) months prior to the Baptism. Marriage: Please make arrangements by calling the Rectory at least 6 months in advance. Please log on to www.pre-cana.org for complete information about marriage preparation in the diocese, according to diocesan regulations. Anointing of the Sick: First Saturday of the month at the 8:30 AM Mass. Confessions: Saturdays, 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM. Appointment to see a Priest: If you desire an appointment to meet with a priest, please call the parish office. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM. In Residence: Rev. Sergiy Emanuel Pastor Emeritus: Rev. Msgr. Gerard J. Arella Parish Office: 718-891-3100 Ms. Angela Scannapieco Ms. Jacqueline Biagioni St. Mark School: 718-332-9304 Mrs. Carol Donnelly, Principal Mrs. Lori Ryan, Secretary St. Mark Religious Education: 718-769-6311 Ms. Jo Ann Pino Youth Ministry Coordinator: Mr. Michael Davis 347-574-1828 St. Mark Choir: 917-650-5704 Mr. Patrick Marvello, Director of Music St. Vincent De Paul Group: 718-891-0443 Mr. Tom Scalese, President Ms. Jean Hogan, Vice President Homebound Ministry: 718-332-2663 Ms. Maureen Genoversa, Coordinator Ministers of Hospitality: 718-891-3100 Mr. Tom Scalese Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist: 347-659-4350 Mr. Edgar Perez, Coordinator Lectors: 718-743-5338 Ms. Stephanie Rizzo, Coordinator Rosary Society: Ms. Kathy Fackovec, President 718-934-7964 Mrs. Maria Mansuroglu, Vice President 718-332-3843 Golden Age Society: Joan Belt, President 718-646-2176 Josephine Bonnano, Vice President 718-934-2650 With God all things are possible
St. Mark Church Saturday, February 21 8:30 AM In Thanksgiving 5:00 PM Charles Rusinak Sunday, February 22 8:00 AM For the People of the Parish 9:30 AM Bobby Chu 11:00 AM Mark Bolus 12:30 PM Members of the Purgatorial Society Monday, February 23 Tuesday, February 24 8:30 AM Nicholas Panno Wednesday, February 25 Thursday, February 26 8:30 AM Victor Perrotta Friday February 27 Saturday, February 28 8:30 AM Natalie Cervantes 5:00 PM Patricia Kruzykowski St. Margaret Mary Church Sunday, February 22 11:00 AM Living & Deceased Members of the Chille & Cione Families. Wednesday, February 25 9:00 AM Gilda Mattera Sunday, March 1 11:00 AM Gerard Gagliardi Miraculous Medal Novena Wednesday after the 9:00 AM Mass Homebound in Manhattan Beach: If you or someone you know would like to have a Eucharistic Minister visit and administer Holy Communion; please call Gilda at 718-769-1312. Also, please advise Gilda of any sick parishioner who wishes to be included in the Prayer of the Faithful at Sunday Mass. February 22, 2015 First Sunday of Lent Invitation, Not Condemnation From the days of Noah to the time of Jesus through our own times, God continues to issue an invitation to return to the faithfulness of the covenant. Today s Readings: Genesis 9:8-15 Psalm: 25:10 1 Peter 3:18-20 Mark 1:12-15 Please pray for the sick: Diane Camacho who is in need of a kidney donor. Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. In addition, all Catholics 14 years old and older must abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent. Purgatorial Society: Richard Matejov At St. Mark every Friday during Lent at 9:00; immediately following the 8:30 Mass. At St. Margaret Mary every Wednesday during Lent following the 9:00 Mass There are open dates for Mass intentions as early as next week for St. Mark & St. Margaret Mary. Gifts to honor a loved one; living or deceased, are available (candles, flowers or bread & wine). The bread and wine for this week are offered in memory of Elizabeth Catalano requested by her daughter
Pastor s Column February 21-22, 2015 Lent, Our Time to Get Into Spiritual Shape This past Wednesday we began the penitential season of Lent, a period of forty days which corresponds to the forty days when, right after being baptized, Jesus was driven by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by Satan. Isn t it interesting how the very Spirit who descended upon Jesus at his baptism when the voice from the heavens proclaimed, You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased, immediately afterward led Jesus into the wilderness to be tested. At the conclusion of the prayer that Jesus taught us, the Our Father, we say, Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Yet in this life it is impossible to escape the assault of temptation. Every time we turn on the television, watch a movie, pick up a magazine, surf the internet, or even walk outside our door we are bombarded by sights and sounds that can tempt us and lead us to sin. The name Satan comes from a Hebrew word meaning adversary or accuser. In a passage from his first letter used in the Night Prayer of the Church St. Peter tells us, Stay sober and alert. Your opponent the devil is prowling like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, solid in your faith (1 Peter 5:8-9a). God allows us at times to be tested by Satan not to make us fail and fall, but rather to build us up and strengthen us when we are able to overcome temptation and pass the test. Temptation is not meant for our ruin, but for our good. Like a great athlete who needs to be pushed and challenged to improve, temptation enables us to prove ourselves and emerge stronger for the fight. No pain, no gain, they say. Lent is like our Spring Training. It is a time for us to get into shape spiritually by putting into practice those three fundamental tools the Church gives us which will help us get stronger, resist temptation and grow in our faith. The first tool is prayer. Lent is a time to increase our prayer, both in terms of quantity and quality. In keeping with my Spring Training analogy, God is like our coach. We need to spend time listening to him and learning from him. Lent is a great time to read Scripture and/or pray the rosary daily. The next tool is penance, especially fasting and self-denial. These are like our drills, running wind sprints, hitters practicing their bunting, pitchers covering first base, etc., those things we do over and over to discipline ourselves and develop good habits. So during Lent, why not give up a favorite food or an addiction like the internet to make a sacrifice and to gain control over our appetites and passions. The final tool the Church recommends to us in Lent is almsgiving and other acts of charity. Just as baseball is a team sport, we live our faith in community with one another. Lent is a special time to go the aid of a teammate in need of help, whatever that might be. As Jesus says in our gospel, This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel. In Lent as in Spring Training, hope springs eternal. Even if your spiritual life has not been everything you want it to be or it should be, now is the time to put those fundamental tools of prayer, penance and almsgiving into practice to get into spiritual shape so that we contributing members of Jesus team and more worthily celebrate His victory at Easter. Fr. Bob
Sunday Collection: February 8, 2015 St. Mark 1st Collection: $4,205.00 2nd Collection:$1,387.00 Attendance: 670 Envelopes Returned: 182 Envelopes Mailed Out: 352 St Margaret Mary Church 1st Collection: $311.00 2nd Collection: $104.00 Attendance: 43 Envelopes Returned: 10-2014 Annual Catholic Appeal St. Mark St. Margaret Mary Goal: $40,125 Goal: $2,354 Amt. Pledged: $75,927 Amt. Pledged: $7,410 Amt. Paid: $71,406 Amt. Paid: $7,410 # of Donors: 284 # of Donors: 22 % Participation: 94.05% % Participation: 100.0% Join Mary Queen of Heaven Parishioners & Friends In a discussion with Fr. James Martin, SJ, best selling author of a number of books including My Life with the Saints Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015 at 7:30 PM Msgr. Jamie Parish Hall 1326 E 57th Street between Avenues M &N (enter through parking lot on 56th St.) 10th Annual Divine Mercy Conference March 21, 2015 9am 5:30 pm Cardinal Spellman HS, Bronx Registration $60.00 www.thedivinemercy.org/bronx Or call 1-800-462-7426 St. Columba Ladies Guild Spring Fest Raffle: Friday, March 20th 6:30 pm Tickets $20 Call Rose at 718-627-4247 FREE TAX PREPARATION SERVICE: Brooklyn State Senator Marty Golden is announcing that he will again host the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, offering free tax preparation services to residents making less than $30,000 annually. Appointments will be available at his office located at 7408 5th Ave on Sundays & Mondays, from Feb. 15th through April 13th. Sunday appointments will be scheduled from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, & Monday appointments will be scheduled from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Services are by appointment only please call 718-238-6044. Upcoming Events ++++++++++++++++++++++ Annual Lenten Day of Reflection: Sponsored by the St. Mark Rosary and Golden Age Societies Guest Speaker: Deacon Richard Gilligan Saturday Feb. 28. 9:00 am Cost:$20.00 The day will begin at 9 and include a light breakfast & lunch; the day will conclude with Reconciliation & Mass. Please make check payable to St. Mark Golden Age Society. To reserve your space call: Vicki Mollo: 718-645-0424, Joan Belt: 718-646-2176, or Kathy Fackovec: 718-934-7964. ++++++++++++++++++++++ St. Mark St. Margaret Mary Countdown to Spring Concert to benefit St Mark School & Youth Ministry Program featuring The Rhapsody Players Saturday, March 14th 6:30 pm St. Mark School $30 per person includes a light dinner & dessert. Wine, beer & water available for purchase. 50/50 chances & raffles SAVE THE DATE: APRIL 25, 2015 ST MARK & ST MARGARET MARY FAMILY PICNIC Please plan on joining us on the feast of St. Mark for a day to celebrate families, at Nansen Park in Staten Island Transportation will be provided to and from the park. A great day is planned for all. More details to follow! If you would like to volunteer to work on the planning committee, please call the rectory office. Camp Veritas 2015: Camp Veritas is a one week play-and-pray camp for teens going in to 7th to 12th grades. It will be held at three locations this summer: July 19-25 at Mt. St. Mary College in Newburgh, NY, July 26-Aug 1 at Summit Lake Camp in Emmitsburg, MD, and Aug 16-22 at Camp Lakota in Wurtsboro, NY. Enrollment is now open, & the price is $400 per camper. Early bird rates (if paid in full by 4/15/15) are $370. More details can be found at www.campveritas.com.
It s cold outside! What a great week to have some time off to renew and invigorate! We will be back in school and ready to go as we wind down the Second Trimester. This must mean that Spring is just around the corner and we have completed almost two thirds of the school year. CONGRATULATIONS!! Arsenije Matovic, (11th grader) from St. Margaret Mary and Cindy Navarro (10th grader) from St. Mark Both students have achieved Principal List for the first quarter at Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School. God Bless You! We are very proud of you! Office of Faith Formation Office Hours: Sunday 9AM - 2PM Monday 1PM - 5PM Wed. & Thurs. 9AM-2PM 718-769-6311 RCIA NEWS: The Rite of Acceptance into the order of catechumens is a public rite celebrated in the RCIA. Our adults publicly declared their intention to continue their journey toward full initiation in the Catholic Church on Saturday, February 21st. The Rite of Sending was held on February 22. This Rite sends the catechumens and candidates to be received by the Bishop and the community, and is was held this year at Bishop Ford High School. This Rite is a testimony of their faithfulness to this process. They walk forward into a new life with Christ and are now ready to come into full communion with the Catholic community. Each signed the book of elect and this sealed their covenant with God. The Bishop also signed the book receiving them into the family of Christ. They are now called the elect elected to receive the sacraments of initiation at the Easter Vigil. The Scrutinies are rites for self-searching and repentance and have a spiritual purpose. They are celebrated on Sundays and reinforced by the rite of exorcism in which the elect are free from the effects of sin and the influence of the devil. The Scrutinies are meant to uncover, then heal all that is weak, defective or sinful in the hearts of the elect, and to strengthen all that is upright, strong, and good. These rites complete the conversion of the elect. They inspire in the elect a desire for purification and redemption by Christ. The following is the schedule: Sunday, March 8-9:30 am Mass Sunday, March 15-12:30 pm Mass Sunday, March 22-11:00 am Mass Youth Easter Art Contest Students in grades 1-12, living or studying in Brooklyn or Queens are invited to prepare for Easter this year by participating in the annual Christ is Risen Art Contest organized by The Tablet Newspaper & sponsored by the Archbishop John Hughes Knights of Columbus. For details: thetablet.org/christ-is-risen-2015 or call Antonia Zielinska at 718-517-3132. SAVE THE DATE! MARCH 21, 2015 ST. MARK SCHOOL 21ST ANNUAL CARD PARTY CASINO ROYALE For tickets: Carol Donnelly: 718-332-9304 or Michael Davis: 347-574-1828 $25.00 per person-lunch included Doors open at 11:00 am. Next Meeting: Feb. 27th