A Strong Family United in Christ

February 20, 2011 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time A Strong Family United in Christ Join Us for Mass: Mon-Fri 10 am Sat 8 am & 5 pm Sunday 9:00 & 11 am website: saintmark-mn.org email: stmarkstpaul@yahoo.com 651-645-5717 2001 Dayton Ave - Saint Paul, MN A Thriving Caring Catholic Community in the Heart of Merriam Park Fr Humberto Palomino, P.E.S. Pastor of the Parish of Saint Mark The Standards of the Gospel I would like to make a comment of Luke 14, 25-35; because it does not seem to be helping us much to attract more people to the Gospel and to the Catholic Church. Jesus knew that for most of the "Great Crowd" it would be difficult to understand the message of the Cross. Instead of approaching them as a smart politician, Our Lord used another strategy, "Whoever comes to me cannot be my disciple unless he loves me more than he loves his father and his mother, his wife and his children, his brothers and his sisters, and himself as well.." The logic or the market strategy is sell cheap in order to sell more, to make something very attractive for the majority, something that many will like, something that can be sold easily. Jesus in the Gospel wants many people to follow Him but without lowering the real price of His message. In today's Gospel He is not marketing according to our standards. I bet that most of the crowd thought "that is too much". Maybe like you and I might think today. It is possible to fall into the temptation of lowering what the Gospel asks us to do. Like we said on Sunday, it will be easy to just do things that will just maintain the status quo and not be able to prepare a plan for growing in love for Him and then make our Church and School grow and improve. We know what people will say to us often: "if Catholics lower the discipline of what they believe, more people are going to join your Church, if you stop talking about this and that sin, people are going to "feel better" and then come more often. They will keep saying to us: "be cool, be nice, don't talk about sin ". We know what happened when we lowered the standard of the teaching of the Church: weak Catholicism. Emotion is a tool.. not an end. It will carry you so far. It is not enough to satisfy the thirst of our souls for God. I found in a recent Wall Street Journal article what happens when we try to be nice and not follow Christ. 70% of young people (18 to 22 years old) simply are leaving the Protestant mega churches. The cause: they cannot find substance in those churches. We have and believe in the complete, substantial message of the gospel as Catholics. Jesus is a clear, radical option; I Am The Way to the Father, The Light, The Truth, The Alpha and the Omega. My brothers and sisters, extreme times require extreme answers, extreme decisions. I am more and more convinced that there is only one way to understand the Gospel: through the light of the Cross. Jesus is inviting us accept His radical option: love me to the extreme and serve your brothers to the extreme of giving your life for them. Being radical doesn't mean challenging others, it means to challenge ourselves so that we can find out how much more we can love. STRONG FAMILY UNITED IN CHRIST After being raised in St. Mark s Parish, my wife, Denise, and I bought the family home from my father and raised our own family of 6 in our parish. I take great pride in the fact that I have received all of my Sacraments at St. Mark s. Our family includes myself, wife of 28 years, Denise, sons Nick, Tony, Matt, Dominick, and Michael and daughter Ashley (currently off to school at Marquette.) What does A Strong Family United in Christ mean to you? That we are all disciples of Christ and we all need to work to find peaceful, common ground solutions in this sometimes chaotic and hectic place we live. Some of my real inspirations took me a while to realize. I have to give a hand to all of my old teachers at St. Mark s with a special nod to Sister Carolyn Wittman, and some of my old parish neighbors, some gone and some still with us. I guess my sense of parish history is pretty inspirational. What s the mission of Boy Scouts? To prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Oath and Law. As part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival (200 Kings Guard.) I realized its about fostering a sense of community pride, belonging and connectedness by celebrating St. Paul s unique history and emerging heritage through fun and educational experiences. I think what really motivates me as a Scoutmaster is the enjoyment I get when seeing a young man accomplish things or do things they may not usually do outside of Scouting. When you take the wide eyed wonder of youth, and the wonder of nature and combine them, wonderful things can t help but happen! It s my hope that decades from now these young men can reflect back on their Scouting experience and say remember when we did this Then you know it left a lasting impression. To me it s just my faith. Something you can t see or touch. It s a part of who I am. My favorite St. Mark s moment? There have been many...maybe too many to list. Playing on some of the best hockey and football teams the City Conference has ever seen. Meeting the great Notre Dame Football Coach, Ara Parseghian, who was in town visiting his friend and St. Mark s coach, Joe Meyer, but really, I have been blessed to enjoy my favorite St. Mark s moment 6 times. Every one of my children s first day of Kindergarten! Mark Marrone

Page 2 February 20, 2011 Today s Readings: #883 : Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48 Psalm # 103 The Lord is kind and merciful. Next Sunday:Is 49:14-15; Ps 62; 1 Cor 4:1-5; Mt 6:24-34 PARISH LIFE Welcome to EFT Offerings to the Church of St. Mark We are pleased to be able to offer you an easy way to make your contribution each month - through Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT.) With your permission, your church offering will be transferred conveniently each month by your financial institution directly to St. Mark s bank account. Call Sharon Suess at the Parish Center (651-645-5717) for a form to get you started or go to saintmark-mn.org. An Opportunity for the Asking.. The Grand Old St. Mark s Day Parish Festival is in need of a volunteer to chair donation requests. While there are possible approaches to this and support from our committee, how it is done can be creatively left up to you! The commitment is brief only for the next few months. Please contact Laurie at 651-647-9463 if you have questions or are interested. No experience required. QUESTION AND ANSWER Q. When Fr. Humberto was a Brother studying to become a priest, what special training did he have to prepare for taking care of a flock? A. 400 chickens. It was an assignment to learn how to manage a business and take good care of what in the future would be souls under my care as a priest. explained Fr. Humberto. PARISHIONER SPOTLIGHT Mark Marrone is a Marker through and through. After being raised in St. Mark s Parish, Mark and his wife of 23 years, Denise, bought the family home from Mark s father and raised their own family of 6 sons Nick, Tony, Matt, Dominick, and Michael and daughter, Ashley who is currently off to school at Marquette. I take great pride in the fact that I have received all of my Sacraments at St. Mark s. Mark is also Troop 1 s Scoutmaster along with St. Paul winter Carnival (2000 King s Guard.) I think what really motivates me as a Scoutmaster is the enjoyment I get when seeing a young man accomplish things or do things they may not usually do outside of Scouting. When you take the wide eyed wonder of youth, and the wonder of nature and combine them, wonderful things can t help but happen! It s my hope that decades from now, these young men can reflect back on their Scouting experience and say remember when we did this? Then you know you left a lasting impression. Mass Intentions for the Week 2/22 10:00 a.m. +Patricia Marzolf 2/23 10:00 a.m. +Mike & Douglas Kemp 2/25 10:00 a.m. Poor Souls +Elden Wilken 2/26 8:00 a.m. +Robert Sutliff St. Mark s Prayer Shawl Knitting Ministry Wrapped in Love We are meeting Wednesday at the Parish Center at 1 p.m. on March 16. For information, call Judy at the Parish Center at 645-5717. St. Mark s Child Care Center Teacher Position Opening Work 1 5 p.m. daily for the School Year And possibly full time for Summer Call Janis at 651-645-5717 for more information. RESPECT LIFE NEWS RESPECT LIFE NEWS St. Mark s Parish is again invited to fast and pray during the next 40 Days for Life campaign that will be held during the season of Lent from March 9 until April 17. We are also joining Nativity and Lumen Christi on April 13 for a 24 hour prayer vigil outside of Regions Hospital where abortions are being done. More details for signing up for an hour will come in March. 40 Days for Life is a national movement to peacefully and prayerfully stop abortions and reach out to persons involved. See more details at 40daysforlife.com. SAINT STORY OF THE WEEK Blessed Isabelle of France Feast Day, February 25 The daughter of King Louis VIII and Queen Blanche of Castile, Isabelle was born in 1225. St. Louis IX, her brother, and her mother, Blanche of Castile, pressed her to marry Conrad, the son of the emperor Frederic II because the union would be advantageous to France, but Isabelle adamantly refused. A letter from Pope Innocent IV settled the matter; he commended her resolution and advised her to persevere in her decision. Later, she dedicated herself principally to helping the sick and the poor. God sent her many trials: long and grave illnesses, the death of her mother, her brother s failure in the Crusades and his imprisonment by the Arabs. She founded the Convent of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin of which she became the Abbess. St. Isabelle suffered from constant illness. In one of her revelations, she was given to know the day and hour she would pass away. She died on February 25, 1270. In accordance with her will, she was buried wearing the habit of St. Clare in the convent she had founded. She was beatified by Pope Leo X.

Page 3 PARISH MINISTRIES FAITH FORMATION Soup Supper this Lent St. Mark s will be having 4 Soup Suppers this Lent: March 18, 25, April 1 and 8. We are looking for groups to sponsor/host the suppers. If your group is interested, please call or e-mail Keely Wojda. Mark Your Calendar Overnight Lenten Retreat for the Women of St. Mark s Living as a Beloved Daughter of God When: Friday, April 1, beginning at 7:30 p.m. until Saturday, April 2, ending at 7:00 p.m. Where: St. Mark s Convent Who: All women of the Parish are invited. Watch the bulletin for more information. Common Read and Discussion of The Return of the King Join our next discussion group on February 27 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the Parish Center Library located in the basement of the Parish Center. High School Mission Trip St. Mark s will be joining with other youth from the Archdiocese on a mission trip to the Red Lake Indian Reservation on July 17-22. Cost for the trip will be $313, not including transportation ($15 to $75 additional.) Contact Keely Wojda for more information. High School Youth Group Our next event for St. Mark s High School Youth Group will be a Small Group this next Wednesday, February 23rd from 7 8:30 p.m. at the Parish Center. All high school students are invited. Let s continue to pursue Christ and grow in the hope He gives us! There will not be any youth group on Wednesday, March 2nd. Bulletin Articles: Due every Monday morning by 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise noted. Please send to: stmarkstpaul@yahoo.com attn: Katie Mark Your Calendar For Upcoming Events Presidents Day (PC closed 2/20 & 2/21) February 21 Bible Study February 22 Sustainability Meeting February 24 Blue & Gold Dinner February 27 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Schedule of Celebrations Saturday Evening Mass: Upper Church, 5:00 p.m. (Sign Language Interpretation at this mass) Sunday Masses: Upper Church 9:00 a.m. Upper Church 11:00 a.m. Weekday Masses* Monday through Friday Side Chapel 10:00 a.m. Saturday Side Chapel 8:00 a.m. *(Side Chapel is located at N.E. Corner of church) Holy Hour, Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Confessions on Fridays, 7:30 8:30 p.m. in the Daily Mass Chapel Saturday Confessions: 3:30-4:30 p.m. For Baptisms: Call the Parish Center to arrange. For Weddings: The bride or groom, or their parents must be a registered Parishioner of St. Mark s. Wedding arrangements must be made at least 6 months in advance with Fr. Palomino. Rosary: 6:45 p.m. Monday, May through October except Holidays) and daily after 10:00 a.m. Mass (except School and Funeral Masses) Prayer Chain: For prayer requests, call the Parish Center at 645-5717 FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP Sunday Giving Last Fiscal Year Sunday to Date Stewardship Offering $21,100.00 $415,572.30 Budgeted Stewardship Offering $11,500.00 $426,000.00 Excess (Deficit) ($ 9,600.00) ($10,427.70) 2011 Archdiocesan Stewardship Conference Saturday, February 26, 8:00 a.m. 2:00 p.m. Join Marie and John Mayhew and other members of the St. Mark s Community at the Archdiocesan Stewardship Conference sponsored by the Archdiocesan Development and Stewardship Office. Disciples who practice stewardship recognize God as the origin of life, the giver of freedom, the source of all they have and are and will be. They know themselves to be recipients and caretakers of God s many gifts. They are grateful for what they have received and eager to cultivate their gifts out of love for God and one another. This quote from the US Conference of Catholic Bishops synthesizes the challenge of stewardship. To us, that challenge calls us to deeper relationship with God on many different levels. Join Marie and John Mayhew and other members of the St. Mark s community in attending the 2011 Archdiocesan Stewardship Conference. Attend workshops with thee nationally known speakers sharing their insights on how stewardship transforms the lives of individuals and their parish communities. For more information, contact John at 651-649- 1505 (johndmayhew@gmail.com.) Or contact the Parish Office.

Page 4 February 20, 2011 Parish Staff: Father Humberto Palomino, P.E.S. Pastor E-Mail: frhumberto@saintmark-mn.org Judy Miske Pastoral Care Coordinator Patricia Hartshorn Liturgy Coordinator Keely Wojda Director of Religious Education Cindy Holupchinski Director of Music Sharon Suess Parish Administrator Molly Whinnery School Principal Parish Center 651-645-5717 Fax No. 651-644-0011 Katie Pennig, Secretary LuAnn Hanrahan, Secretary Parish Center Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00a.m.-4:00 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday 8:00a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday CLOSED Sunday 8:45a.m.-12:30p.m. Parish Pastoral Council: Steve Magnuson 776-8195 JoAnn Mason 642-1520 John Mayhew 649-1505 Glenn Norstrem 647-0285 Manny Palomo 646-3564 Faith Pawl 952-681-0556 John Shrake 646-2247 Tom Swords 641-0290 Robert Tibesar 403-0240 St. Mark s School 651-644-3380 Barb Sonntag, Secretary Cherry Lundgren, Secretary Child Care Center 651-644-5030 Janis Ideson, Director (Notary Public) School Advisory Committee: Marybeth Casement, Chairperson 645-0297 CCW SPRING LUNCHEON, STYLE SHOW AND SILENT AUCTION A STROLL DOWN PRIMROSE LANE SATURDAY, MARCH 26 TOWN & COUNTRY CLUB The always popular spring luncheon will soon be here and you will not want to miss this one. This will be your chance to peruse the latest fashions from our local boutiques. Showing their clothes and wares will be Bombshell, Primp, Initially Yours and A Michelle. Watch the bulletin for other stores that will be joining us. In addition, you will have the opportunity to place a bid on a unique treasure at the silent auction. Already in and ready for your bid is a twelve-piece set of English village Blue Salem dinnerware, vintage linens from a farm in Wisconsin, kitschy 50 s kitchen towels, a cutglass rose bowl, etc. We would welcome your donations to the silent auction and they can be brought to the Parish Center or for pick-up, you can call Mary Vetscher at 651-998-1223. We particularly appreciate your vintage and antique linens, china, silver, jewelry, etc. Items can also be brought to the Town and Country Club before 10am on the day of the luncheon. The proceeds from the silent auction go to the Madonna Plan which helps to fund programs for low-income women in third world countries.

Page 5 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time St. Mark s 7th Grade Chore Group St. Mark s 7th Grade Chore Group workers are anxious for opportunities to start earning money for their trip to Washington, DC in the Fall of 2011. Get one of those 7th graders to do light housework/cleaning, shovel, babysit, walk the dog, etc. Please contact Monica Magnuson (parent coordinator) at 651-776-8195 or by email at monicarun68@gmail.com to get a student lined up for the work you need done. The minimum hourly wage is $7/hr. 2011 Men s Conference March 12-8:00 a.m. Noon Cathedral of St. Paul Featuring Archbishop John Nienstedt and our new Men s Apostolate Chaplain, Fr. Bill Baer. Come join the Archbishop as he challenges us with The Crucial Role of Men in our Archdiocese. 7-8 a.m. Registration at the Cathedral, St. Paul Eucharistic Adoration, Confessions, Rosary 8:00 a.m. Mass at Cathedral of St. Paul, Archbishop Nienstedt presiding 9:00 a.m. Breakfast sandwiches 9:30 a.m. Presenters including Fr. Bill Baer, Dave Rinaldi, Dr. John Buri and Archbishop Nienstedt 11:45 a.m. Closing Announcements and Final Blessing Special appearance by Wes Walz, former Minnesota Wild Cost: $15 - High School Students $10 - After March 1 $20 Checks should be made out to Archdiocese of St. Paul/Mpls., Men s Conference, 328 W. Kellogg Blvd., St. Paul, 55102 Questions: 651-291-4488. Our St Mark s Community Theatre Presents The Wild, Wild Wildest West Or. How the West was Dun Friday, March 4 &Saturday, March 5 7:30 p.m. Pre-sale Tickets Available February 20 th & February 27 th after the Sunday Masses Table Seating $9.00 - General Seating Adults $7.00 Child $5.00 For ticket information contact Ken Amdahl (651)646-4106 Chuck Wagon Concessions! Theatre Doors Open 7:00 PM Enter Marshall Avenue @ Prior Avenue Joseph Meyer Gymnasium Book by Christopher Gieschen Music & Book by Christopher Gieschen Music & Lyrics by Bill Francoeur Pioneer Drama Service, Inc.