ADMINISTRATION CENTER 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15133 Email: stmarkparish1101@comcast.net www.saintmarkdiopitt.org Telephone: 412-678-MARK (6275) Fax: 412-673-1393 Father Rowan Hall: 412-678-3443 Parish Nurse: 412-678-6275 x102 Religious Education & Youth Ministry: 412-678-6275 x105 Mon Yough Catholic School: 412-672-2360 Victim Assistance Hotline: 1-888-808-1235 7 April 2013 SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER PASTOR Reverend Daniel T. Straughn, S.T.L. The sacrifices of our parents and grandparents allowed us to become Saint Mark Parish we now are asked to sacrifice for the future of our Saint Mark Parish. LIBERTY SITE (LB) 3210 Liberty Way McKeesport, PA 15133 MASS SCHEDULE Mon., Wed. & Fri....8:30am Sat. Vigil... 6:00pm PORT VUE SITE (PV) 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, PA 15133 MASS SCHEDULE Tues., Thurs. & Sat....8:30am Sunday...8:00am Sunday...11:00am SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION 5:15pm Saturdays at our Liberty site and anytime upon request. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Classes are held at our Port Vue site for Grades K-8 on Sundays from 9:30am 10:45am, September thru May. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Engaged couples are to participate in a Marriage Preparation Class. Please call our Administration Center 6 months prior to the anticipated wedding date. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM Baptisms are the 1st Sunday and 3rd Sunday of the month after the 11:00am Mass. Pre-Baptism Class is required. Please contact our Administration Center three months prior to the anticipated birth. OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday 9:00am to 12:30pm 1:00pm to 4:00pm BULLETIN DEADLINE: Friday 12:00 Noon
SAINT MARK PARISH Rosary prior to daily morning Mass MONDAY, April 8, 2013 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Cecelia Wozniak..... LB (Joan Johnson) TUESDAY, April 9, 2013 8:30am Fencik Family... PV (Dolores Johnston) WEDNESDAY, April 10, 2013 8:30am Tom Veltro..........LB (Bernie Sabol) THURSDAY, April 11, 2013 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Mayme Eichler.......PV (Joan Johnson) FRIDAY, April 12, 2013 8:30am Johanna Pranaitis... LB (Helen Shalako) SATURDAY, April 13, 2013 8:30am Edward Pupich... PV (Norma and Edward Dzubak) 6:00pm Ann and Edward Gombes... LB (Chuck and Bev Kotulsky and family) SUNDAY, April 14, 2013 8:00am The People of Saint Mark Parish... PV 11:00am SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER 7 April 2013 Walter Wygonik... PV (Mildred Osika) Baptism Instruction Class The next Baptism classes for parents are: Monday, 6 May at Saint Robert Bellarmine. Monday, 1 July at Saint Patrick. THE LORD HAS RISEN, ALLELUIA!! Readings for the Week of April 7, 2013 Sunday: Acts 5:12-16/Rv 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19/Jn 20:19-31 Monday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37/Jn 3:7b-15 Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26/Jn 3:16-21 Thursday: Acts 5:27-33/Jn 3:31-36 Friday: Acts 5:34-42/Jn 6:1-15 Saturday: Acts 6:1-7/Jn 6:16-21 Next Sunday: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41/Rv 5:11-14/Jn 21:1-19 or 21:1-14 MCKEESPORT, PA The sacrifices of our parents and grandparents allowed us to become Saint Mark Parish we now are asked to sacrifice for the future of our Saint Mark Parish. Stewardship 24 March 2013 Offertory Collection...... $6,546.00 Holy Thursday... $1,141.00 Good Friday: Holy Land Collection... $1,170.00 31 March 2013 Offertory Collection... $6,473.85 Easter Offering... $7,163.25 Second Collection: Today Maintenance/Buildings & Grounds In our offertory packet is an envelope specifically marked Maintenance/Buildings & Grounds. This green envelope is used for a second collection on the first Sunday of each month. Any money collected is earmarked for continued maintenance/improvement to our parish properties. As permitted by the Diocese of Pittsburgh, this collection is non-assessed income. Your generosity ensures our parish property is adequately maintained. Thank You! Sanctuary Lamp/Altar Bread & Wine This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Liberty site burns for Brian Manning. This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Port Vue site burns for Helen Pavlock. Activity Schedule Monday, April 8, 2013 6:30-7:30pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, LB 7:15pm, Rosary, LB 7:00pm, Capital Campaign Phone -A -Thon, PV Tuesday, April 9, 2013 7:00pm, Stewardship Group meeting, LB 7:30pm, Contemporary Rehearsal, LB Wednesday, April 10, 2013 9:00am, Miraculous Medal Novena, LB 6:30-9:00pm, Youth Group meeting, PV Thursday, April 11, 2013 7:00pm, Organizational meeting (Kauffman concert), PV Sunday, April 14, 2013 11:00am, First Holy Communion Mass, PV Divine Mercy Sunday: Pray for souls, entrusting them to God s incomprehensible Mercy. Tell the world about God s generous mercy. Start a new movement in the Church focusing on God s Mercy.
SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER APRIL 7, 2013 $1,300 April Lottery Raffle Ticket April s monthly ticket plays the 7:00pm PA Lottery on Monday, April 1, 2013. Tickets for the April Lottery Raffle are sold after Mass. Saint Mark Parish 50/50 In your offertory packet, there is a tan colored envelope marked 50/50 Drawing--Donation $5.00. On Monday, April 29, 2013, all envelopes are placed in a drum and one lucky winner is drawn to win half of the take. Congratulations to our March winner: Mr. and Mrs. James Portner. Our Saint Mark Parish FESTIVAL is August 1, 2, 3, 2013 Benefits our entire parish family! Festival Craft Baskets Donations of new (never been used) items for our specialty baskets can be placed at the back of each worship site. Thank you for your generosity! Basket themes: Easter - Any Easter item Spring Cleaning - Cleaners, bucket, sponge Socks - Any size or style sock; adult or child Cleaning - Sponges, cleanser, mop, dusting item Puzzle Books - Crossword, sodoku or puzzle books Hot Wheels Cars - Any type of car or hot wheel. Planting - Any seeds, gardening tool or planting tool. Festival Flea Market We are in need of gently used, but loved items that you may be discarding in your Spring cleaning for our parish festival flea market. All donated items must be in working condition. The following items will not be accepted: clothing, draperies, tires, computers or broken electronics or dirty/unclean items. Drop-off for donations is in July; dates to be announced. Thank you for your generosity! Van Drivers Needed Volunteers are invited to assist in driving our parish van in helping our homebound parishioners get to Mass. If interested, please call 412-678-6275. Thanks! CCM & Ladies Guild Meeting: Monday, 8 April 2013 Rosary 7:15 pm Liberty Site Meeting 7:30 pm Father Rowan Hall Program speaker is Karen Novak, McGinnis Sisters Stores, "What Would Jesus Eat?" Why the diet Jesus followed is ideal for twenty-first century living as well. CCM & Ladies Guild Fashion Show: Sunday, 21 April 2013, 1 4 pm Tickets purchased from Dorothy Swartz or Shirley Zirkle. A $500 grant from Kohls benefits Mon Yough Catholic School. Everyone welcome! The $14,000 Big Money Ticket Back by popular demand - Tickets go on sale soon! The drawing is Saturday, 3 August and the winner is chosen from the first 7:00pm PA Daily Number drawn. Requests for specific numbers will be taken beginning Monday, 1 April through Monday, 15 April by contacting our Parish Administration Center: 412-678-6275 or stmarkparish1101@comcast.net. *Numbers given on a first come, first serve basis* Stewardship Group Meeting Our next Saint Mark Parish Stewardship Meeting is Tuesday, 9 April, at 7:00pm at Father Rowan Hall, Liberty site. ALL are invited and welcome! Through our Baptism, we are made ONE in CHRIST JESUS. Please help us to help our parish with facilitating or volunteering with our various and MUCH NEEDED fundraising activities. WE NEED YOUR HELP! Please help! Thank you! Men s Retreat Come and experience a spiritual adventure at Saint Paul of the Cross April 19 21. Brochures are at each worship site for reservation information, or call Tom Ponchak: 412-673-0004 or Bernie Zytka: 412-951-5798. David Kauffman Concert Please join us for an Organizational & Event Planning meeting on Thursday, 11 April at 7:00pm in the Common Grounds Coffee House, to plan our Evening of Music & Prayer with David Kauffman. We will discuss aspects of hosting this event and work together to ensure success. Any help is appreciated and EVERYONE is welcome! For more information contact Tess Dujmic: 412-678-6275 X104. Thank you for your enthusiasm and support! 2013 Saint Mark Parish Pictorial Directory LAST CALL: If you have not been photographed and still want your photo taken, photographers will be available to take pictures at the back of each worship site before and after all Masses the weekends of April 13, 14, 20 and 21. Since this will be done locally and pictures will be submitted to Lifetouch, a $10.00 service fee (CASH ONLY) is required and due when your photo is taken. Thank you to all who have been photographed and a special THANK YOU to those who patiently waited extra long on days our sessions were completely full. -Photo Directory Team
SECOND SUNDAY JUNE OF EASTER 2, 2002 APRIL 7, 2013 Resurrection Flower May your life be planted firmly in the Heart of the Risen Christ. May you be watered by His Grace. May His Love flow freely through all your veins. May you grow sturdy roots which deeply penetrate His Heart s desire. May the Light of God shine on you, lift you up from earth, and bring you to full bloom in this Garden of Life. May you, in turn, cause many lives to be planted in the Fertile Soil of His Most Sacred Heart. - CS First Holy Communion Mass First Holy Communion Mass is 11:00am, Sunday, 14 April at our Port Vue site. All of our parish family and friends are invited and welcome to celebrate this very special sacrament with our children. Please come and be a part of building faith in our young people. Please note, celebration of Mass will take longer due to the amount of children receiving First Holy Communion. Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation for Saint Mark Parish and Queen of the Rosary is 7:00pm on Thursday, 25 April at Queen of the Rosary in Glassport. Please keep these young adults in your prayers. Cub Scout Pack 53 Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser Sunday, 7 April, Lincoln Borough Fire Hall, 3pm - 6pm. $7 for Adults and $3.50 for kids. Raffle baskets, 50/50 raffle and bake sale. All proceeds go toward camp and other outings. Tickets on sale 20 th Anniversary Celebration of our Saint Mark Parish 28 September 2013 Tickets are on sale the first weekend of April for our Anniversary Celebration scheduled for 28 September 2013 at Youghiogheny Country Club. Cost of the ticket is $50 per person. Cocktails and hors d oeuvres are from 6-7pm, dinner is at 7pm, followed by dancing. Cash bar. Dinner music provided. Please plan to join our parish family in celebration of our memories and our bright future. Tickets are limited. Love, Forgiveness, Healing, New Life, Freedom, Reconciled Relationships, Peace, Unity, Strength, Joy and so much more is offered to us through the RESURRECTION of JESUS! Praise GOD! HE LOVES US so much! Special Thanks to all of our Saint Mark Parish family for all you do in helping us realize and build-up the Body of Christ as one family as The Church Alive! We all so devoutly and courageously engaged our Lenten journey from darkness to light to help us realize that God s love provides light and life! Allow God s love to permeate and heal our hurts, sadness, wounded pride, failed expectations and frustrations, and to give us the necessary strength and humility to let go, to forgive and be forgiven, so we can be truly free in the lightness of being God so desires for us all. Special Thanks to Doctor Maureen Crossen for offering us her wisdom and spirituality that helps us all in our common journey as one family in our Church of Pittsburgh. Special Thanks to our Fish Fry Facilitators and Team and all our volunteers who sacrificed their time, energy and resources in working so diligently many days each week in coordinating, preparing and serving the delightful dinners and offering us all an opportunity for service, fun and fellowship. Special Thanks to our Pierogie-makers and volunteers for giving of yourselves so lovingly for the sake of our entire parish family. Special Thanks to our Capital Campaign Facilitators and Volunteers who are coordinating our efforts to help us all thrive for many years to come as the Church of Pittsburgh and Saint Mark Parish. The sacrifices of our parents and grandparents helped us become Saint Mark Parish -- we all are now called to sacrifice for the future of Saint Mark Parish and Church of Pittsburgh. Special Thanks to our 20 th Anniversary Edition Photo Directory Facilitator and Team for working so hard to help our family be well-represented in our new photo directory. Our new directory is to be a wonderful memento of our 20 th anniversary as well as a fantastic resource for our parish. Special Thanks to our Ladies of Charity for visiting the homebound and nursing home parishioners, and offering them and all those in need such care and kind gifts on our behalf. Special Thanks to our Christian Mothers for being examples of holy motherhood, hospitality, kindness and prayer. When we have good mothers, we have good families and healthy parishes. Special Thanks to our Stewardship Group Facilitator and volunteers for your tireless efforts in helping us all be good stewards of God s many gifts and meet our operational expenses by facilitating our many and much needed fundraisers. Special Thanks to our Social Planning Group for coordinating all of our many festive gatherings of fellowship and fun. Special Thanks to the volunteers who assist with our coffee grounds on Sunday mornings in providing us with a relaxed atmosphere, sweet treats and socializing. Special Thanks to our office volunteers, money counters and cleaners for helping us maintain our facilities, keep a good accounting of the generosity of others and do all that we do. Special Thanks to our Liturgy Team, ministers, sacristans and servers for planning, coordinating and assisting with our Holy Week and Easter celebrations. Again, a Special Thanks to you all for everything you do for our parish and Church of Pittsburgh! When we give of ourselves in holy sacrifice for the sake of others, and for the sake of all those after us, we truly realize our call and our Catholic identity as the Body of Christ the Church. Praise God for you all! Keep praying for our Church Alive! And please pray for me! HAPPY EASTER! Alleluia! In God s mighty and tender love, Father Daniel
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). Saint Mark Parish FIRST COMMUNION Celebration Sunday, 14 April 2013, at 11:00 am The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Christ and the source and summit of Christian life. Eucharist unites us to God, to the community of believers and to the Church in heaven. Its richness is expressed in the many names it is given: Eucharist (thanksgiving), the Lord s Supper, the breaking of the bread, the Eucharistic Assembly, the memorial of the Lord s Passion and Resurrection, the Holy Sacrifice, the Divine Liturgy, Holy Communion, Holy Mass (mission, sending forth ) and many others. (Catechism 1322-1332) As initiation into the Eucharistic communion of the whole Church, the celebration of First Holy Communion most fittingly happens at the parish Sunday Mass. There, in the event which fully expresses the life, worship and love of the Body of Christ, the local community welcomes its newest communicants. (It should not appear that, after celebrating the First Communion Mass, it is necessary to later welcome the children into the Eucharistic life of the rest of the Church). (Sacraments of Initiation Policies, Diocese of Pittsburgh, Liturgical Rites 142.1) The Eucharist is the presence of Christ. While Christ is present to the Church in many real ways, his presence in the Eucharist is unique. The substance of bread and wine becomes the substance of the body and blood of Christ in a change called transubstantiation. Only the appearance of bread and wine remain; the whole Christ is truly present where before there had been bread and wine. The Mass is both a sacrificial memorial and sacred banquet, and the altar is both an altar of sacrifice and table of the Lord. Christ invites us to come to the table to receive him in Holy Communion. Communion strengthens our union with Christ. (John 6:57) What food does for our physical body, Communion achieves for our spirit, gives us strength and enables us to grow in the life of grace received at Baptism. (Catechism 1373-1381, 1391-1401) It is the wish of the Church that all communicants should come to the Holy Table as to a royal banquet. - Saint Peter Julian Eymard