ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH

ST. MARK THE EVANGELIST CATHOLIC CHURCH Mass Schedule Saturday 5:30 p.m. Sunday An cipa on Sunday 7:30 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m. Tuesday - Thursday 9:00 a.m. Friday 8:15 a.m. Sacrament of Baptism Schedule with the Pastor a er par cipa on in Parish Prepara on Program. Sacrament of Penance Saturday 4:00-5:00p.m. Sacrament of Matrimony Arrange with Pastor at least six months in advance. Par cipa on in all parts of the Marriage prepara- on program is required. Sacrament of Healing If you are hospitalized or home bound and in need of sacraments, please call the parish office. St. Mark the Evangelist Parish community lives, teaches, proclaims, and celebrates the Good News of Jesus Christ 535 East Edgewood Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46227 Parish Center: 317-787-8246 Fax: 317-781-6466 www.stmarkindy.org

CONTACTS / INFO MESSAGE FROM FR. TODD St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church Parish Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 6:00PM Parish Center Phone: 317-787-8246 Parish Fax Number: 317-781-6466 Pastor Ext. 106 Deacon Ext. 104 Business Manager Ext. 102 Pastoral Associate Ext. 103 Music Director Ext. 105 Secretary Ext. 100 School Principal Ext. 201 School Secretary Ext. 200 Parish Staff Fr. Todd Riebe ft@stmarkindy.org Deacon Tom Horn thorn@roncalli.org (note the change) Kevin Sweeney sweeneyk@stmarkindy.org Mary Lynn Cavanaugh mlcav@stmarkindy.org Andy Eagan aeagan@stmarkindy.org Chris Guedel cdguedel@stmarkindy.org St. Mark Catholic School 541 E. Edgewood Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-786-4013 Rusty Albertson ralbertson@stmarkindy.org Peggy Mehalik pmehalik@stmarkindy.org If you would like to become a member of St. Mark Parish, please call the parish office or stop by to register. Visit the parish web site for information about parish events www.stmarkindy.org Dear friends, Last week our Parish Liturgy Committee met. The committee meets every month to discuss the liturgical life of the parish. Liturgy is a primary reason for which a parish exists. The Greek word from which we get the word liturgy literally translates the work of the people. Liturgy is the work of the people of God. The Second Vatican Council taught that liturgy has a three-fold purpose: the sanctification of people, the building up of the Body of Christ and the worship of God. Every time we gather at St. Mark to celebrate the Eucharist or any of the sacraments we are engaged in this work. The Liturgy Committee has been entrusted with the goal established by our Pastoral Council following last year s strategic planning sessions. The goal reads: To keep liturgy vibrant and grounded in Church teaching through celebration, education and proclamation. The committee is asked by the Pastoral Council to find concrete ways to implement this goal during the coming three years. At last week s meeting we spent some time discussing what vibrant liturgy looks like so that we can nourish and foster those good things which already exist at St. Mark. These were some of the signs of vibrant liturgy that were shared: Vibrant liturgy begins with a spirit of genuine hospitality there is joy in coming together and everyone senses that joy and feels welcome to be a part of the community whether they are from St. Mark, from neighboring parishes or visitors to the parish. Vibrant liturgy includes music that lifts hearts and minds to God in song and reinforces the message of the scriptures and the prayers of the day. Vibrant liturgy is experienced when preaching creates a link between liturgy and life. Vibrant liturgy requires lectors, ministers of hospitality, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and cantors who are comfortable in their roles and exercise them with confidence. Vibrant liturgy is experienced when each person in the assembly knows that he or she is part of this important work and actively engages in this work of the people of God. Parishioners who would like to share other ideas of what vibrant liturgy looks like to them and offer thoughts and suggestions to the Liturgy Committee are always welcome to do so. We are called to do this holy work together and together we will strive to meet the goal of celebrating vibrant liturgies at St. Mark that sanctify the People of God, build up the Body of Christ and offer fitting worship to God. See you at Mass!

Q. I am a convert to Catholicism and I love being Catholic. But, as a convert, I sometimes struggle with the Sacrament of Reconciliation especially when my family and friends ask me why we confess our sins to a priest instead of going directly to God. I m never sure what to say. A. Great question! Reconciliation is one of the sacraments of our Church. The sacraments are ways in which the Risen Lord continues to meet His people. God works through visible, tangible signs to communicate His love to us. Through the power of the Holy Spirit these visible signs become efficacious actually bringing about what they signify. Human beings are not pure spirits we are embodied or incarnated spirits. We experience the world around us in a very physical way. Roses and Valentine Day cards help us communicate love. A handshake or a pat on the back expresses friendship. God, who made us, knows that this is the way we experience reality. For this very reason Jesus, became man and made His home among us. The person of Jesus Christ communicates the healing, forgiving, merciful love of God to us in a way that we as human being can understand. Jesus is the sacrament of the Father. In turn, the Church is the sacrament of Jesus. Jesus mediates His love and forgiveness to us through the Church using visible signs that we can see, feel, touch and smell. Part of this mediation is using people to communicate the love that is offered to us in the sacraments. A person is needed to pour the water over our head and say the words, I baptize you in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. A priest stands in the place of Jesus and prays the words that Jesus spoke at the Last Supper over bread and wine at Mass and they become the Body and Blood of Christ. I don t think that many people baptize themselves. I don t know of anyone who sits at their kitchen table on Sunday morning and does the Eucharist alone. It is logical that God would also communicate his forgiveness in a way that we as human beings can understand through the words spoken by a person in a sacramental encounter in which Jesus continues to be present to us. It is God who is working in all of the sacraments, but working through the mediation of His Church. There are few more beautiful words than those we hear spoken to us by Jesus through the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation: Your sins are forgiven, go in peace! Why do we confess our sins to a priest? God knows that we as human beings need to hear those words. Just as he offers us new life in baptism and feeds us with his body and blood in the Eucharist through the mediation of his Church, so, too, he offers us the gift of forgiveness through this same mediation. FTR Question of the Week PARISH LIFE Burmese Community Outreach Ministry If you are interested in joining the outreach group contact Patty Schmalz @ 786-4167 or pattyscmalz@yahoo.com. Since the U.S. Government gives refugees only six months of aid, our Burmese parishioners are desperately in need of jobs. If you or someone you know may have entry level jobs available for our Burmese friends, please contact Mary Lynn in the parish office. Catechetical Sunday This year, Catechetical Sunday will be celebrated on September 16th and the focus will be Catechists and Teachers, Agents of the New Evangelization Those whom the community has designated to serve as catechists will be called forth to be commissioned for their ministry at the 9:30am Mass. Catechetical Sunday is a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the role each person plays, by virtue of Baptism in handing on the faith and being a witness to the Gospel and an opportunity for all to rededicate themselves to this mission as a community of faith. Caregivers Support Group will meet Mon., Sept 17 from 5:30-7pm in room 11 in the School. If you have questions or concerns about Caregiving, please call Monica, at 261-3378 or contact Mary Lynn. Baptismal Preparation sessions for parents will be Tues. Sept 25 at 7:30 pm in the parish center. Please call the parish office to register or if you need further information. Card Party will be held in the Narthex on Sept. 27 from 1-3pm. Mark your calendars and bring a friend along. Life Chain October 7 2:30-3:30 pm ONE HOUR, ONCE A YEAR Please join us for ONE HOUR of prayer and be counted as one of thousands across the nation to stand up for the unborn in prayer before our Lord. Join hundreds of other churches as they gather on Meridian Street for ONE HOUR of SILENT prayer. Each prayerful participant will hold a sign with one of the following messages: Abortion Kills Children (Do you believe this?) Abortion Hurts Women (Do you believe abortion exploits women?) Adoption - the Loving Option (Do you believe that God wants us all to be loved?) Jesus Forgives and Heals (Has your life been affected by abortion?) If you answered YES to any of these questions, join us Sun Oct 7 from 2:30-3:30pm T-shirts are available for $8-10 and sweatshirts $15. Signups THIS weekend of Sept 15-16 after all Masses. STEWARDSHIP Stewardship Monthly Collection as of August 30,2012 Ordinary Collection YTD Budget $ 140,997.00 Ordinary YTD Actual Income $ 141,469.00 Net Gain/Loss YTD vs. Budget $ 472.00 Thank you for your continued support.

SCHOOL NEWS Dine Out Night at PASQUALE S Thurs. Sept 20th located at Emerson & County Line. The school will receive 20% of your bill, they will then send St. Mark School the credit. Be sure to pick up a flier at the doors of the church. Also listed are the other Dine-Out nights. Amazon.com Start your Amazon search at our St. Mark Catholic School website and help earn money for our school. CYO St. Mark CYO is open to all parish youth, not just St. Mark school students. Registration forms are available in the church narthex, parish and school offices and on the parish website, CYO Athletics page. Registration is a two-step process and you must register for each sport using a St. Mark registration form PLUS complete a CYO registration once per school year. You can now register online at www.cyoarchindy.org, follow the Register Child and Coach Registration links and complete the information requested. Contact Patrick Collier at 881-0316. Alumni St. Mark Catholic School is collecting names and addresses of Alumni of St. Mark Catholic School from 1948 to present. Please email Mr. Albertson with your information at: ralbertson@stmarkindy.org 8th Grade Pumpkin, Mum and Bake Sale Fri Oct 12-3-6pm Sat Oct 13-9am - Noon Sale will be located in front of Schafer Hall SACRAMENT of RECONCILIATION Opportunity for the Sacrament of Reconciliation Fr. Todd will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation on Saturday, October 6, in the morning from 9:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. This is in addition to the regularly scheduled time from 4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon. There are a million and one reasons to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Beat the Christmas rush and come experience the power of God s grace at work in this beautiful sacrament of His Church. GIRLS BASKETBALL ORGANIZATION PRACTICES-SUNDAY SEPT. 16th Girls Basketball 5th & 6th graders 6:00pm-7:30pm Girls Basketball 7th & 8th Graders 7:30pm-9:00pm Eucharistic Rosary Rally for Religious Freedom A Eucharistic Rosary Rally for Religious Freedom will be held on Sunday, September 30th at 2:00 p.m. at the Marian University Athletic Field, 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis, IN 46222 The event will include a procession with the Blessed Sacrament, prayer of the rosary and Divine Mercy. You are encouraged to attend with your family and friends. Free parking with special assist for the handicapped will be provided. Join Fr. Robert Robeson, Fr. Jerry Byrd and your fellow Catholics for this important event; the Church and the Country need your prayers now. If you need more information please call: 317-888-0873. I offer my sincere encouragement to you in this endeavor and thank you for the work that you are doing to pray for and support religious freedom. Most Reverend Christopher J. Coyne, SLD, Apostolic Administrator. (in the event of in-climate weather the event will be held in the Marian theatre).

INCLUSION INSIGHT Trouble Storing Information Learning disabilities are disorders that cause the brain to handle information in a way that interferes with learning. Problems may occur in storing information. For example, a child may have trouble remembering the order of sounds or how sounds match with letters. St. Mark Inclusion Ministry EXCITING YOUTH MINISTRY HAPPENINGS! Youth Ministry Meeting Saturday, September 22, parishioners who would like to help with Youth Ministry at St. Mark are invited to a meeting in the Board Room at the Parish Center at 10:00 a.m. Parishioners of all ages are welcome as we discuss ways to fulfill our parish s strategic plan: To make St. Mark an engaging, dynamic and spirited place for young Catholics and their friends. Parishioners with a love for the faith and for youth will be needed to help fill positions on our parish Youth Commission that will be established in the coming weeks. Thank You from James Brockmeier Dear People of Saint Mark, Thank you for welcoming me home to the parish this summer! I am grateful for the invitation you gave me to speak to the seventh and eighth graders at St. Mark on discernment and to hear their wonderful questions. Thank you for the welcome I received at the Masses and the chance to serve the parish at the altar. I feel your support and am grateful for all the signs of that support. Thank you most of all for continuing to build up a community of faith which I am proud and blessed to call my home. Know of my continued prayers for you and know that I count on yours! Thank You! James Brockmeier James is a first year theology student at St. Meinrad School of Theology studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Indianapolis. St. Mark is his home parish. Please keep James and his fellow seminarians in your prayer. Parishioners who would like to send James letters and notes of encouragement can contact him at: St. Meinrad School of Theology, 200 Hill Drive, St. Meinrad, Indiana, 47577. ST VINCENT de PAUL The Distribution Center is in GREAT need for towels of all sizes, bath, hand, and wash clothes. Next weekend, Sept. 22 23 there will be tables set up in the Narthex for you leave your donations. Also, HOOP is collecting blankets to distribute to the homeless for the coming months as the temperatures are cooler. We continue to collect the egg cartons for the St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Please bring empty, clean egg cartons and used shopping bags. This is a chance for you to get rid of the bags and the pantry then can use the money they are saving by not having to purchase bags to use on purchasing other needed items. Remember to leave non-perishable food items in the receptacle provided in the South end of the Narthex. Your donation is used to assist the food pantry and HOOP. Father FAITH Vince, AND FINANCE Exorcist Life and Money with Phil Lenahan www.veritasfinancialministries.com Proverbs 21:5 says, The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but every one who is hasty comes only to want Having a well thought out budget is like having a financial GPS. You can be confident that the path you are taking will lead you to your desired destination, even when you encounter detours along the way. MEN S CLUB- Sept. 20 St. Mark s Men s Club Monthly Meeting, and open house, is this Thursday, September 20 th at 8:00pm. All men of the parish are invited. The men s club will be planning many service events for our parish including a painting project and cleaning around the Church grounds. This is a great opportunity to be involved in the parish and to meet some fellow parishioners. Please come help and be a part! We will begin with the meeting agenda and reports, and follow with a Black Jack Tournament. This tournament is a nonbuy in, no risk, and for new and experienced players. This is a great opportunity to learn not only the game, but how to deal. There will be prizes for the winner(s) and Jockamoe s Pizza! Great food, great fun! See you Thursday in the Men s Club Room at the west end of Shafer Hall basement (the West Wing).

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Sunday, September 16, 2012 MASSES - Church (7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, & 11:45 AM) Children s Liturgy of the Word - Schafer Hall during the 9:30 AM Mass. SMRE - School (10:40 AM - 11:40 AM) CRHP - Women - Media Center (4:30 PM - 7:00 PM) CYO Girls Basketball Tryouts - Schafer Hall (6:00-9:00 PM) Monday, September 17, 2012 COMMUNION SERVICE - Church 9:00 AM Care Givers - CR 11 (5:30 PM - 7:00 PM) Tuesday, September 18, 2012 MASS - Church 9:00 AM Citizenship Classes - CR 11 (5:30 PM - 8:30 PM) Cub Scouts - SH Basement (6:30 PM - 8:00 PM) Bible Study - CR 8 (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM) Wednesday, September 19, 2012 MASS - Church 9:00 AM Girl Scouts Medal - Parish Center Basement (3:30-4:30PM) RCIA- Parish BR (6:30 PM - 9:00 PM) SMAC - Parish BR (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM) Quilters - Quilting Room (7:00 PM - 10:00 PM) Thursday, September 20, 2012 MASS Church 9:00 AM Citizenship Group - CR 11 (5:30 PM - 8:30 PM) Daisy 192 - CR 22 (6:30-8:00 PM) RCIA - Parish BR (7:00 PM - 8:30 PM) A.A. - CR 8 (7:00 PM - 8:00 PM) Adult Choir - Church (7:30 PM - 9:00 PM) Men s Club - Men s Club Room (8:00 PM - 11:00 PM) Friday, September 21, 2012 MASS - Church 8:15 AM PLEASE PRAY FOR... Amy Frederick, Lorraine Braasch, Betty Swift, Helen Eckhart, Don Bundy, John Perkins, Linda Lilly, Viola Robbins, Don Bowling, Betty Mouser, Ron Shockey, Barbara Beaton, Betty Newman, Tom Maier, Joan Matthews, Marj Gottemoeller, Jim Reed, Sandra Wheeler, Lucinda Krupa, Noah Duffer, Jeanette Serrato, Kathleen Rapp, Barb Taylor, Lisa Engelking, Maddy Justice, Roland Daeger, Libby Thomas, Michael Risch, and Mike Hendrickson. MASS INTENTIONS: 09/16/12 09/23/12 Sunday, September 16 TWENTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 7:30 a.m. St. Mark Parishioners 9:30 a.m. Tom Schoettle 11:45 a.m. Patricia DesJean Monday, September 17 - Weekday - St. Robert Bellarmine 9:00 a.m. Communion Service Tuesday, September 18 - Weekday 9:00 a.m. Bill Dick Wednesday, September 19 - Weekday - St. Januarius 9:00 a.m. Mary Berget Thursday, September 20 - Ss Andrew Kim Tae-gon, Paul Chong Ha-sang, and companions 9:00 a.m. Neal Bauer Friday, September 21 - St. Matthew 8:15 a.m. Don Allen Saturday, September 22 - Weekday 5:30 p.m. Anna Tex Sunday, September 23 - Twenty - fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time 7:30 a.m. St. Mark Parishioners 9:30 a.m. George Spaeth 11:45 a.m. Robert Taylor Saturday, September 22, 2012 MASS - Church (5:30 PM) Sunday, September 23, 2012 MASSES - Church (7:30 AM, 9:30 AM, & 11:45) Children s Liturgy of the Word - Schafer Hall during the 9:30 AM Mass. SMRE - School (10:40 AM - 11:40 AM) CRHP - Women - Media Center (4:30 PM - 7:00 PM) READINGS FOR THE WEEK Sunday: Is 50:5-9a; Jas 2:14-18; Mk 8:27-35 Monday: 1 Cor 11:17-26, 33; Lk 7:1-10 Tuesday: 1 Cor 12:12-14, 27-31a; Lk 7:11-17 Wednesday: 1 Cor 12:31-12:13; Lk 7:31-35 Thursday: 1 Cor 15:1-11; Lk 7:36-50 Friday Eph 4:1-7, 11-13; Mt 9:9-13 Saturday: 1 Cor 15:35-37, 42-29; Lk 8:4-15 Sunday: Wis 2:12, 17-20; Jas 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37

Spotlight on Stewardship: "Advancing the Mission" Do You Like What You Do? It was a hectic day at work and I admit that I began the night a bit frazzled, but how quickly God turned it all around! First, a homeless man came up to me and asked me if I liked what I do. Before I could answer, another asked me if he could help me hand out food. He must have seen that I was frazzled and needed help. We worked well together as he poured soup and called each person by name as they received their food. He was kind and generous and thoughtful as he reminded his friends that they needed soup for their health and that they needed to stay in line and not press over us. Somehow this put me at ease and I was able to notice things I hadn t noticed before. People living on the street look much older than they really are. It s hard to know their true ages. I am drawn to the old and the young and tonight I had both cling to my side. An older man stayed close to me as we passed out the food. He couldn t get enough to eat and he stayed by me in the hope that I would give him more food. His fingernails were longer than those of any woman I know and I wanted to sit with him and cut his nails and comb his hair. He was very old and worn, but he smiled all the time. I think he could sense how difficult it was for me to see him in that condition and he tried to make it easier for me. I loved his kind spirit. A young man clung to my other side. He stayed close hoping to get some more lemonade or punch. The homeless get water, but sweet water is a treat. His smile was equally captivating and I could not resist. I also had two women that I was able to clothe from head to toe. These clothes make it possible for them to begin looking for jobs. They were so happy to get pretty things and I thank the ladies of St Mark who donated the clothes and made a miracle come true for them. Tonight we were busier than usual and ran out of food. But there was love and laughter and kindness. The night began with an unexpected question from a homeless man, Do you like what you do? I stopped for a minute and knew the answer to the man s question. I love what I do! I love that a simple sandwich, cup of soup and sweet glass of lemonade can make an old man and a young man smile and praise the Lord. I love that a homeless man was kind enough to want to help me and to serve his fellow man, looking out for his brothers and sisters and their needs. I love the blessings I get from the hungry and lonely and just worn out children of God looking for a kind hand. I love the kind and loving hands of our St. Mark parishioners that reach out to our homeless brothers and sisters. Do I like what I do? I LOVE what I do! A St. Mark HOOP volunteer