ADMINISTRATION CENTER 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15133 Email: stmarkparish1101@comcast.net www.saintmarkdiopitt.org https://www.facebook.com/saintmarkdiopitt Telephone: 412-678-MARK (6275) Fax: 412-673-1393 Religious Education: 412-678-6275 x100 Youth Ministry: 412-678-6275 x105 Father Rowan Hall: 412-678-3443 Parish Nurse: 412-754-0317 Mary of Nazareth Catholic School: 412-672-2360 Victim Assistance Hotline: 1-888-808-1235 11 DECEMBER 2016 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT Accept God s Love, and Live! Share God s Love, and Thrive! LIBERTY SITE (LB) - Saint Eugene Church 3210 Liberty Way McKeesport, PA 15133 MASS SCHEDULE Mon., Wed. & Fri.... 8:30am Sat. Vigil... 6:00pm PORT VUE SITE (PV) - Saint Joseph Church 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. SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE Engaged couples are to participate in a Marriage Preparation Class. Please contact our Administration Center six months prior to the anticipated wedding date. SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM SAINT MARK PARISH MISSION STATEMENT (Promulgated January 2014 by the People of Saint Mark Parish) We are Saint Mark Parish, a family of brothers and sisters alive in Christ. Protected by Saint Mark the Evangelist, we continue to thrive with Strength, Vibrancy, Humility and Sacrifice. The Grace of the Holy Spirit guides us; the Eucharist nurtures us; and we embrace our mission to spread the Gospel message to all. MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND SHUT-INS Our Parish Nurse and Ladies of Charity are available for home visits and distribution of Holy Communion. Please call if you want a visit or need assistance. 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. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Classes are held at our Port Vue site for Grades K-8 on Sundays from 9:30am 12 Noon, October thru May. NEW PARISHIONERS We welcome new members at Saint Mark Parish. Those wishing to join are invited to introduce themselves to Father Daniel and contact our Administration Center. OFFICE HOURS: 9:00am to 1:00pm Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday BULLETIN DEADLINE: Thursday 12:00 Noon Submit written requests to stmarkparish1101@comcast.net
SAINT MARK PARISH THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 11 December 2016 Rosary prior to daily morning Mass MONDAY, 12 December 2016 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Private Intention... LB TUESDAY, 13 December 2016 8:30am Evelyn and Raymond Verba, Eva and Michael Betters, Charles Betters... PV (William Betters) WEDNESDAY, 14 December 2016 8:30am Bernard Nickolay... LB (Genevieve Pavlic and Mary Zsak) THURSDAY, 15 December 2016 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Private Intention... PV FRIDAY, 16 December 2016 8:30am Frank Pavlic... LB (Genevieve Pavlic and Mary Zsak) SATURDAY, 17 December 2016 8:30am Charles Wirfel... PV (Dotty Feldmann, niece) 4:00pm 6:00pm Evelyn Dewey... LB (The Straughn Family) George Kollar... LB (MaryAnn and Steve Slafka) SUNDAY, 18 December 2016 8:00am Gertie Fox, Mary Osiecki, and Justine Antkiewicz... PV (Liz Fox) 11:00am People of Saint Mark Parish... PV Gluten Hosts available - please see Priest before Mass Pre-Baptism Classes 9 January 2017, 7pm at Saint Mark Parish 6 March 2017, 7pm at Corpus Christi Parish Deepen your relationship with Christ by reading the Scriptures. You can keep whatever you find... Readings for the Week of 11 December 2016 Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10/Ps 146/Jas 5:7-10/Mt 11:2-11 Monday: Zec 2:14-17 or Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab/Jdt 13/Lk 1:26-38 or Lk 1:39-47 Tuesday: Zep 3:1-2, 9-13/Ps 34/Mt 21:28-32 Wednesday: Is 45:6b-8, 18, 21b-25/Ps 85/Lk 7:18b-23 Thursday: Is 54:1-10/Ps 30/Lk 7:24-30 Friday: Is 56:1-3a, 6-8/Ps 67/Jn 5:33-36 Saturday: Gn 49:2, 8-10/Ps 72/Mt 1:1-17 Next Sunday: Is 7:10-14/Ps 24/Rom 1:1-7/Mt 1:18-24 MCKEESPORT, PA Sanctuary Lamp/ Altar Bread and Wine This week the Altar Bread and Wine is offered for Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Port Vue site Saint Joseph church burns in memory of Patricia Rushe from Friends. This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Liberty site Saint Eugene church burns in appreciation for our Parish Staff and Volunteers who help our parish to operate successfully. Praise GOD for you all!!! Activity Schedule Monday, 12 December 2016 6:30pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, LB Tuesday, 13 December 2016 9:30am-11am, Crochet Club, PV Wednesday, 14 December 2016 9am, Miraculous Medal Novena, LB 6-8pm, The Light Is On Reconciliation, LB 6:30-9pm, Youth Group Meeting, PV 7-7:50pm, Traditional Choir Practice, PV 8-8:50pm, Contemporary Choir Practice, PV Sunday, 18 December 2016 9:15-10:15am, Hand Bell Choir Rehearsal, PV 9:30am-12pm, REP, PV 12-1pm, Children s Choir Rehearsal, PV Advent Reconciliation Services 19 December at 7pm at Saint Robert Bellarmine Confessions are always available at 5:15pm Saturdays at our Liberty site and anytime upon request. Snow Cancellations For everyone s safety, a delay or cancellation at South Allegheny is our notice of the cancellation of morning Mass or Communion Service. Please listen to the radio or watch TV for delays or cancellations. Safety first! Be careful! For Saturday & Sunday MASSES, if we experience severe weather, PLEASE stay home. Your Sunday obligation is dispensed. Again, safety first! Be careful! Common Grounds COFFEE HOUSE Saint Mark "Common Grounds" is open after 8AM Mass. Please join us.
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 11 DECEMBER 2016 The Light is On for You! The Light is On for You! is an initiative of the Diocese of Pittsburgh to encourage Catholics to avail themselves of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Confession is an opportunity to set aside our sinful ways and to draw closer to our Lord. Confession is available on Wednesday, 14 December, 6PM-8PM at our Liberty site Saint Eugene church. Vigil Lights If you have taken Vigil Light candles home and they have burned, please return them to church so that we may recycle them. Thank you! Mandated Reporter Training Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish is hosting a diocesan sponsored Mandated Reporter Training (MRT) session on Saturday, 21 January 2016, 9am-Noon. Sign up through diopitt.org or email Colleen Murin at: cmurin@diopitt.org. Saint Mark Parish Youth Group Is Hosting Our First NET Retreat Sunday, 29 January 2017 10AM - 4PM Port Vue Site Saint Joseph church 1125 Romine Avenue WHAT IS A NET RETREAT? NET Ministries (National Evangelization Teams) is an international youth ministry that challenges young Catholics to Love Christ and embrace the life of the Church. A team of 12 young adults conduct the retreats for youth in grades 6-12 with MEGA enthusiasm by using large group presentations, small group discussion, music, drama, personal faith sharing, one-on-one prayer, and Holy Eucharist. Registration begins at 9:30AM. Retreat includes drinks, snacks and lunch. We will conclude the retreat with an exciting High Energy Mass at 3PM to fulfill your Sunday Mass obligation. If you are interested in attending our NET retreat please contact: Lori DiMarco 412-678-6275 ext 105. All Saint Mark Parishioners in grades 6-12 and Youth Group members attend for FREE!! Decorating our churches for Christmas Christmas decorating of both worship sites is 15 & 16 December. Your help is needed and appreciated! Our Liberty site will be decorated on Thursday, 15 December at 5pm. Our Port Vue site will be decorated on Friday, 16 December at 10am. Food, drinks, and many blessings will be provided! Please help!!! Thank you! You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:8 Oplatki (Christmas Wafers) Oplatki on sale after all Masses and at the Parish Office. Four wafers for $2.50. Enjoy! Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind Always. 2017 Liturgical Calendars Liturgical Calendars are available; donations are accepted and appreciated. Our thanks to Willig Funeral Home for providing the calendars. Christmas MASS Schedule Christmas Eve Saturday, 24 December 4:00pm MASS at Liberty site 6:00pm MASS at Liberty site Christmas Day Sunday, 25 December 12:00midnight MASS at Port Vue site 8:00am MASS at Port Vue site 11:00am MASS at Port Vue site
THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 11 DECEMBER 2016 Parish Share 2016 To enable us to continue and thrive, we need the support of every parishioner. Please be generous! Total Assessment: $61,736 Total Paid: $48,763.00 Donations to Parish Share are not assessed as income for the parish. Also, once we meet our assessment, anything above that amount is ours to keep (again, non-assessed income). Please be generous! As good stewards of God s many gifts, let us rejoice and share our gifts with others. If we do not meet our assessment through our donations to Parish Share, the balance must be paid through our Operating Funds. Please help us satisfy our obligation. Thank you! Our Lady of Guadalupe: 12 December 2016 On 9 December 1531, Our Lady appeared to a simple Aztec Indian who had converted to the Catholic faith, Juan Diego. Three days later, at Juan Diego's request, Mary provided a sign so the local bishop would believe that she actually had appeared. Roses grew out of the cold winter soil, and when Juan Diego opened his cloak to show the bishop what he had found, an image of Our Lady appeared on the fabric. These occurrences led to the conversion of most of Mexico. May the miracle of Our Lady of Guadalupe be a sign of warmth for you in the cold of winter and of Advent hope for a Christ Child that has redeemed the world. ADVENT has a two-fold character, for it is a time of preparation for the Solemnities of Christmas, in which the First Coming of the Son of GOD to humanity is remembered, and likewise a time when, by remembrance of this, minds and hearts are led to look forward to Christ s Second Coming at the end of time. For these two reasons, ADVENT is a period of devout and expectant delight. (Universal Norms for the Liturgical Year and the Calendar, 39) Christmas Flower and Altar Offering Please use the envelope in your packet for your donation for Christmas Flowers and Altar supplies to decorate both of our worship sites. If you make a donation in memory of a loved one, please print his/her name clearly on the back of the envelope. Thank you for your generosity and love. Offertory 4 December 2016 Weekly Offertory.... $4,045.50 Maintenance/Buildings & Grounds... $4,305.00 Thank you! "Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give." (Sirach 4:31) Donations Food Bank: In memory of Thomas Kearns: Anonymous.....$50.00 Ladies of Charity: In memory of Valerie Kearns: Anonymous... $50.00 Prepare your life for JESUS! $20.00 Ticket for a New Year s Eve Drawing Chance to Win $1000.00 Only 100 tickets sold. $20.00 donation. Winning number is determined by the last 2 digits of the first 7pm Daily Pick Three drawing on Saturday, 31 December 2016. Tickets are available before and after all Masses. Saint Mark Parish 50/50 In your offertory packet, there is a special envelope marked 50/50 Drawing--Donation $5.00. At the end of each month, one lucky winner is drawn to win half of the proceeds. Congratulations to Julia Perkoski, our November winner! Blessing of the ADVENT Wreath Lord GOD, your Church joyfully awaits the coming of its Savior, who enlightens our hearts and dispels the darkness of ignorance and sin. Pour forth your blessings upon us as we light the candles of this wreath; may their light reflect the splendor of Christ Jesus, who is Lord, for ever and ever. AMEN. Kindly remember Saint Mark Parish in your Will and/or ask for Donations to our parish in lieu of flowers at your funeral. Thank you! God bless you!
SAINT MARK PARISH MCKEESPORT, PA To live our Faith, we need to know our Faith! Learn Jesus! Love Jesus! Live Jesus! On Mission for The Church Alive! Learn more at OnMissionChurchAlive.org. Give your feedback/ideas/concerns: Most Reverend David A. Zubik Bishop of Pittsburgh ON MISSION FOR THE CHURCH ALIVE 111 Boulevard of the Allies Pittsburgh PA 15222 As ADVENT dawns, we are directed to awake from our comfortable routines and prepare to greet the LORD at His coming. Let us always live our lives in such a way that we may not dread this coming but await it in joy. AMEN? MEDJUGORJE PILGRIMAGE RAFFLE Help sick and disadvantaged children through Mother s Hope Foundation and get a chance to win a Pilgrimage to Medjugorje: 24 April 3 May, 2017. Package Includes: Round-trip airfare from Pittsburgh, private motor coach to/from airports. Accommodations for 8 nights with private bath, breakfast and dinner daily in Medjugorje. English speaking Guide in Medjugorje; last day in Dubrovnik including sightseeing tour and breakfast. All services charges and taxes Value: $2,995 1 Ticket for $50.00 and 3 Tickets for $100.00 For tickets call: 412-278-4673 Medjugorje Pilgrimage Raffle Drawing: Friday, January 20, 2017 Please make checks payable to: Mother s Hope Foundation For more information visit: www.mothershope.org