Just a Lathe in the Hands of Christ

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time July 12, 2015 Join Us for Mass: Mon-Fri 10 am Sat 8 am & 5 pm website: www.saintmark-mn.org 2001 Dayton Ave - Saint Paul, MN 55104 Sunday 9 am & 11 am email: parishcenter@saintmark-mn.org 651-645-5717 One Strong Family United in Christ Just a Lathe in the Hands of Christ Our readings today focus on the call of God. He calls each of us to follow Him and to bring His light into the world. He wants each of us to see ourselves in the experiences of Amos and the Apostles and to learn from them. To be called by God isn t always what we imagine it to be. Fr. Humberto Palomino, P.E.S. Pastor of the Church of St. Mark In our Old Testament reading, Amos is a poor shepherd uneducated and unprepared to teach others, at least in the eyes of the world. But God calls him to be His prophet. As Amos describes it, God took him snatched him up from the security of the life he knew. All he could do was follow. Such was his love for the Lord. A Strong Family Story Serving Our Neighbors We are moving into our home soon, just want a safe, healthy move, pray for my home and me becoming stable. Also for the skills as I become a better mother. Also for my growth in faith and hope as I walk and live a closer life with Jesus. Also for healing of a broken heart, mind, body and spirit. That I just open my heart to Jesus and trust him to continue to lead the way. And in our Gospel account, the Apostles are rough around the edges as well. They are ordinary fishermen, not trained teachers of the Law or well respected men of their time. But God chooses them and sends them out to preach truth and repentance from sin. All they could do was follow. These heartfelt sentiments came from one of our Project Home The Work is Not Ours guests last summer. We hope you It is important to remember that we have not chosen God. It is He who has chosen will join us in serving this year. us. [Cf Jn 15: 16] It is His work we do in the world in ordinary, everyday ways, and sometimes in more extraordinary ways as well. Our readings today are not filled Working with Project Home is with miracles and wild success. Being chosen by God does not mean that all we important to me because I can give touch will turn to gold. Amos is ejected from the city of Bethel by the priest there, back some of the love that I who doesn t want to hear what he has to say. But Amos doesn t waste a minute with received while growing up. My feelings of failure or rejection. He knows that the Lord has plucked him out of father died when I was eight, nothingness and sent him to be His hands and feet. It is all God s work. The fruit leaving my mother alone to raise belongs to Him and the failures are for Him as well. The closed ears and closed five children. Many, many people helped my family throughout my hearts are nothing new to Him, and yet He offers His mercy to all men. childhood and college years. I will Continued on Page 2 always be grateful to our Lord for sending these people into my life. Upcoming Events Summer Marker Monday, Playground, 6:00-10:00pm Wonderland! Children s Play, Gymnasium, 7:00-9:00pm Men s Group, Xavier Room, 7:00-9:30pm July 13 July 17-18 July 18 Please take a moment to register for a shift today - see the website and bulletin for the link. Thank you! ~ Katherine Korkowski All God s children are welcome to this sacred place and liturgy. The Catholic understanding of Holy Communion as the very Body and Blood of Jesus Christ limits the reception of the Holy Eucharist to those who share our faith and are united in discipleship within the life of the Church. Our brothers and sisters of other faiths are invited to come forward to receive a blessing at this time. Please indicate the desire to do so by crossing arms over the chest.

Page 2 July 12, 2015 Spiritually Speaking - continued from page 1 The Apostles too are chosen and sent by God. He reminds them not to rely on themselves. He instructs them not to take food or money or extra clothing when they go nothing that would allow them to place their security in themselves or their possessions. They have success, by God s power casting out evil spirits and curing the sick. But they also have failures. Jesus instructs them to shake the dust off their feet not to take those failures as their own, any more than they can believe that it is by their power that the sick are cured. Instruments of God They are but instruments of God as are we. It is interesting that this passage comes on the heels of the account we heard last week of Jesus rejection by the people in His home town of Nazareth - His own failure. The people say incredulously, Is he not the carpenter? [Mk 6: 3] We might imagine ourselves as a lathe in the hands of Jesus, the carpenter. Only in His hands can we create something beautiful for God, because on our own, we are just the instrument. On our own, we can do nothing of real significance, no matter how hard we try. Every bit of our dignity and purpose comes from being in His hands allowing ourselves to be taken to do His will. It is an undeserved gift unearned and unexpected. When we allow ourselves to be taken, God will use us to do His work in the world finding success or apparent failure, conversion or closed hearts. It is all His work. I Have Bought Your Soul for God Do we realize that our call is more than an invitation that we truly belong to God? As St Paul says in our second reading for today, in Christ we have heard the word of truth, and through Him we find our redemption as God s possession. In the famous novel Les Misérables, there is a memorable scene where Jean Valjean is so desperate that he steals from the Bishop who has given him everything. After being graciously fed and given a bed for the night, Valjean takes most of the Bishop s silver and escapes into the night, only to be apprehended by the police and dragged back to the Bishop to face justice. But the Bishop tells the police that the silver was a gift from him, and chastises Valjean for not taking the candlesticks as well. After the police leave, the Bishop tells Valjean to use the silver to become an honest man. He says, I have bought your soul for God. We too have been purchased for God by the blood of Christ. In His hands, we can accomplish all He asks not success or failure, but faithfulness. Mass Readings Today s Readings: (LC #478) Am 7: 12-15; Eph 1: 3-14; Mk 6: 7-13 Psalm: Ps 85: 9-14: Lord, let us see your kindness and grant us your salvation. Next Sunday: Jer 23: 1-6; Ps 23: 1-6; Eph 2: 13-18; Mk 6: 30-34 Mass Intentions for the Week of July 13 Mon 10:00am + Susan Eikenberry Tues 10:00am + Kathryn Gleason Wed 10:00am + Fr Gerald Keefe Thur 10:00am Br Joe Barron, PES Fri 10:00am James Bezeckny Sat 8:00am + Sally Hiepast Please Support the Food Shelf During these summer months, don t forget to bring nonperishable food for the food shelf! There is a basket at the back of the Church and donations can be dropped off any time. Monetary donations appreciated as well. Thank you! Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration How good it is to stand before a crucifix, or on our knees before the Blessed Sacrament, and simply to be in his presence! How much good it does us when he once more touches our lives and impels us to share his new life! What then happens is that 'we speak of what we have seen and heard' (1 Jn 1:3)." Pope Francis Our goal is to have at least two adorers every hour the chapel is open. Monday at 11am Saturday at 8am. Please consider committing to one hour a week. Write your information on the slips found by the chapel or visit the St Mark s web page. Under Liturgy & Sacraments you will find a tab for Eucharistic Adoration. You can also call the following coordinators for more information. 12am-5am Dunia Ruff 651-698-6334 duniaruff@gmail.com 6am-11am Eileen Moore 612-721-1198 wemoore@usfamilynet 12pm-5pm Sue O Brien 651-353-5310 the4bears@gmail.com 6pm-11pm Pat Hartshorn 651-231-0965 phartshorn@saintmark-mn.org The following hours have no scheduled adorers: Wed at 1am & 4pm and Thur at 1am Even if Adoration is not your ministry you are called to please pray for our adorers and adoration at the Church of Saint Mark.

Page 3 Zach Zeckser School News - Principally Speaking At St Mark's Catholic School, our staff is always working hard, having fun and striving to build community. Toward that end, we are hosting a summer Marker Monday - sort of... we'll have a food truck on campus! This Monday, July 13 beginning at 6:00pm, come and enjoy Twin Cities Phillies and Fritters. We will have music, kickball and fun. Bring a lawn chair and stick around for an outdoor showing of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, starting at 8:00pm. Some of our teachers have expressed an interest in sharing a bit about how St Mark's will look and feel as we begin full implementation of the Catholic IDEALS model here as well. It should be a great time! I hope to see you there! Guess what s coming to Saint Mark s? Stay tuned.. Save Your Labels for St Mark s School! Looking for an easy way to help our school? Please consider saving your labels this summer: Country Hearth Bread Bags Campbell s Soup Labels Box Tops for Education (Watch out! These expire!) Drop off your collection at the Parish Center, Monday through Friday, from 8:00am to 4:30pm, or slip them through the mail slot in the door. Imagine! What would be waste can make a difference in a student s life! One bread bag buys a 1st grader a pencil! Two Box Tops buys grid paper for a 7th grader s lesson on vectors! We also need a volunteer or two to help process the donations - something easy that can be done from home. Contact the school office beginning in August for more information (schooloffice@markerspride.com or 651-644- 3380). Thank you! Start any time and keep collecting all summer. You d be surprised how quickly those nickels add up! Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time NeighborFest at UST July 30 Join the University of St Thomas on Thursday, July 30 for NeighborFest, an annual celebration of the neighbors and community surrounding UST s St Paul campus. The family-friendly event runs from 5:00 to 7:00pm at the John P Monahan Plaza (just south of the football field), and features free snacks and beverages, dinner baskets for purchase, therapy dogs and rabbits for play and petting, the Dolce Wind Quintet and free parking at the Anderson Parking Ramp (Cretin and Grand). Questions? Contact neighborhood liaison Amy Gage: 651-962- 6123 or agage@stthomas.edu. Family Camp Weekend August 7-9 Camp Lebanon, located on Cedar Lake near Upsala, Minnesota, is the ideal get away for you and your family. With a warm and welcoming staff, as well as extensive accommodations and a relaxed schedule with meals included. (No cooking, Mom!) Three different types of accommodations makes this vacation get-away affordable for all. All amenities are included (no extra charges!): swim area w/lifeguards, canoes, paddle boats, pontoons, street hockey, tennis, volleyball, evening campfire and rosary. Please see website for more details, a flyer with pricing and on-line registration and payment: http://www.hfcmn.org/ camp-lebanon This weekend is sponsored by Holy Family Parish in St Louis Park, who is personally inviting St Mark's families to join them. Contact Dean or Laura Cummings to learn more: 612-516- 3326 or deanpcummings@gmail.com. Project Home Sign Up Now Available! St Mark s will once again host Project Home this summer, from July 31 to August 31. We look forward to the opportunity to provide hospitality to families in a difficult transition in their lives. It s Time to Sign Up for Project Home! Please consider signing up for a shift or two - invite a friend or bring along a family member. Sign up is made easy! Simply go to http://tinyurl.com/pprdwy3 and choose your time. Questions? Contact Katherine at 612-819- 9312 or kkorkowski46@msn.com. Thank you!

Page 4 July 12, 2015 Parish Staff: Father Humberto Palomino, PES [frhumberto@saintmark-mn.org] Father Alvaro Perez, PES [fralvaro@saintmark-mn.org] Deacon Adam Tokashiki, PES [dcnadam@saintmark-mn.org] Brother Yamato Icochea, PES Judy Miske Patricia Hartshorn Cindy Holupchinski Cara Stuchlik Sr Kathya Salas, PES Bob Collett Zach Zeckser Pastor Associate Pastor Deacon Master of Ceremonies Pastoral Care Coordinator Liturgy Coordinator Director of Music Director of Religious Ed Youth Minister Parish Administrator School Principal Parish Center 651-645-5717 Fax No. 651-644-0011 [parishcenter@saintmark-mn.org] Alison Kaardal Parish Life Coordinator Kathy Omann Finance & Database Coordinator Parish Center Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm Parish Trustees: Robert Blackstone 651-917-0421 Jeannine Kessler 651-248-1806 Parish Pastoral Council: Dee Gengler, Chair 712-261-6279 Brian Bergson 651-260-0002 Kevin Brennan 651-647-9309 Faith Carlson 651-324-1883 Kathryn-Ann Geis 612-240-1040 Dale Mischke 651-659-9527 Andrew Nowak 262-617-2361 Paul Ruff 651-698-6334 Jean Thommes 651-699-4803 St. Mark s School 651-644-3380 Brigid Kostka Office Coordinator [schooloffice@markerspride.com] Preschool & Extended Day Care 651-644-5030 Sharon Johnson, Director Ignite Your Life Summertime! Tuesday, July 21 - COR (Middle School) Join us from 4:30 to 6:00pm in the Xavier Room and Parish Center Backyard for a summer get-together! Thursday, July 23 - MISSIO (High School) It s time to pay it forward! Join us from 9:30 to 11:30am for a service day. More details coming soon! Thursday, August 6 - COR (Middle School) You won t want to miss this day of FUN at Valleyfair! We ll join the altar servers & choir, leaving by bus at 9:00am. Friday, August 7 - MISSIO (High School) Mark your calendars for a campfire and Eucharistic adoration, from 6:00 to 8:00pm. Details coming soon!

Page 5 Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Schedule of Celebrations Saturday Evening Mass: Sunday Masses: Weekday Masses Monday - Friday Saturday 5 pm 9 am & 11 am 10 am 8 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: 10:45 am Mon to 8:00 am Sat in St Mary s Adoration Chapel Confession: For Baptisms: Baptism Enrichment: Prayer Requests: Saturdays 3:30-4:30 pm Sundays 8:30-9:00 am & 10:30-11:00 am Call the Parish Center to arrange. Please call Alison at the Parish Center. Call the Parish Center. For Weddings: Wedding arrangements must be made at least six months in advance with Fr. Palomino. Rosary: 6:30 pm Mondays (except Holidays) and daily after 10:00 am Mass (except when School or Funeral Masses) Totus Tuus Vocation Day August 15 Young Catholic men and women, ages 12 to 17, are invited to a day to deepen their faith and better discern God s call in their lives. Plan ahead to join us on Saturday, August 15, from 9:00am to 2:30pm. Young men will meet at the St John Vianney College Seminary, and the young women s Daughter of God Retreat will take place at the St Paul Seminary. Cost is just $10 per participant, with a $20 family maximum. Lunch is included. See the St Mark s website for more information. Questions can be directed to Patty McQuillan at 651-962-6890 or patty.mcquillan@stthomas.edu. Wonderland! July 17 & 18 St Mark s Children s Theatre announces its 24th annual summer musical - Wonderland! Fifty-two children from our parish and school will sing and dance their way into your hearts in this classic tale of Alice and her adventures. Performances will be Friday, July 17 and Saturday, July 18, at 7:00pm in the school gymnasium. Tickets are just $5 for adults and $3 for children, with free admission for children ages five and under. Refreshments will be available. Tickets available at the door.

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