ADMINISTRATION CENTER 1125 Romine Avenue McKeesport, Pennsylvania 15133 Email: saintmarkparishdiopitt@gmail.com www.saintmarkdiopitt.org https://www.facebook.com/saintmarkdiopitt Telephone: 412-678-MARK (6275) Fax: 412-673-1393 Religious Education: 412-678-6275 x102 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 6 MAY 2018 SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER Accept GOD s love, and live! Share GOD s love, and thrive! Reverend Daniel T. Straughn, S.T.L., Pastor 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 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. 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 Baptisms are the 1 st Sunday and 3 rd 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 saintmarkparishdiopitt@gmail.com
SAINT MARK PARISH SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 6 MAY 2018 Rosary prior to daily morning Mass MONDAY, 7 April 2018 COMMUNION SERVICE (Intention Fulfilled Privately) 8:30am Private Intention... LB TUESDAY, 8 May 2018 8:30am Wasil and Portner Families... PV (Jim and Mary Jane Portner) WEDNESDAY, 9 May 2018 8:30am Margaret Dranko... LB (Henry and Cathy Brethold) THURSDAY, 10 May 2018 ASCENSION OF THE LORD, Holy Day 10:00am German and Maria Plan... PV (Melvyn and Elena Plan) 7:00pm Dan Pellechia... LB (Tom and Cindy Hartnett) FRIDAY, 11 May 2018 8:30am Josephine Krajack... LB (The Loya Family) SATURDAY, 12 May 2018 8:30am Harold "Buzz" Phillips... PV (Sister Marie Juanita Fedor) 4:00pm 6:00pm Private Intention... LB People of Saint Mark Parish... LB SUNDAY, 13 May 2018 8:00am Michael Wilks... PV (Mary Wilks) 11:00am Mildred Dolly Ferry... PV (Cheryl Pistorius) Low Gluten Hosts available - please see Priest before Mass Pre-Baptism Classes 2 July 2018, 7pm, Saint Patrick Parish Read the Bible. Pray over Sacred Scripture. You can keep whatever you find... Readings for the Week of 6 May 2018 Sunday: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48/Ps 98:1, 2-3, 3-4 [cf. 2b]/ 1 Jn 4:7-10 or 1 Jn 4:11-16/Jn 15:9-17 or Jn 17:11b-19 Monday: Acts 16:11-15/Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b [cf. 4a]/Jn 15:26--16:4a Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 [7c]/Jn 16:5-11 Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22--18:1/Ps 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14/Jn 16:12-15 Thursday: Acts 18:1-8/Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 [cf. 2b]/Jn 16:16-20 Friday: Acts 18:9-18/Ps 47:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [8a]/Jn 16:20-23 Saturday: Acts 18:23-28/Ps 47:2-3, 8-9, 10 [8a]/Jn 16:23b-28 Next Sunday: Ascension: Acts 1:1-11/Ps 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 [6]/Eph 1:17-23 or Eph 4:1-13 or 4:1-7, 11-13/Mk 16:15-20 Activity Schedule Monday, 7 May 2018 6:30pm, Eucharistic Adoration, LB Tuesday, 8 May 2018 9:30-11:30am, Crochet Club, PV Wednesday, 9 May 2018 9am, Miraculous Medal Novena, LB Thursday, 10 May 2018 ASCENSION OF THE LORD 10am, HOLY DAY MASS, PV 7pm, HOLY DAY MASS, LB MCKEESPORT, PA Sanctuary Lamp/ Altar Bread and Wine This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Liberty site Saint Eugene church burns in memory of Gene Anitori from the Anitori Family. This week the Sanctuary Lamp at our Port Vue site Saint Joseph church burns for The Church of Pittsburgh. This week the Altar Bread and Wine is offered for the People of Saint Mark, Saint Michael and Queen of the Rosary Parishes. Friday, 11 May 2018 1:30pm, Mary of Nazareth Catholic School Mass, Saint Angela Merici On Mission for The Church Alive! Be Positive! Pray! Be Patient! Participate! And Prophesy when necessary speaking the truth in love! Keep doing what you do best: loving GOD, loving others, giving of yourself for the sake of others, glorifying GOD, participating in your own salvation, and manifesting the Kingdom here and now! And GOD will bless us all! The Lord has revealed to the nations His saving power. (Psalm 98) Common Grounds COFFEE HOUSE The final Coffee House for this year is Sunday, 6 May. See you next Fall!
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 6 MAY 2018 Pennsylvania Polka Festival with Father Daniel! Sunday, 20 May 2018 Don't miss the 4th Annual Pennsylvania Polka Festival on 19 & 20 May 2018 at the Monroeville Convention Center, noon to 8:00PM on Saturday and 10:00AM to 6:00PM on Sunday. Father Daniel will preside a Polka Mass at 11:00AM on Sunday, 20 May, with music by Jack Tady & the Tady Bears and our own Brandy Irish-Gerjuoy and choir. The Festival features continuous music and dancing, ethnic foods and baked goods, beer, wine and cocktails, polka trivia, polka bingo, door prizes and more! Tickets at the door $10 per day Adults. Children under 12 free. Welcome into the Faith With great joy, our Saint Mark Parish Family welcomes Rowan Grant Johnson into the Faith. We pray his family and friends will be his best examples of Faith and Discipleship. GAUDETE ET EXSULTATE Rejoice and Be Glad by Pope Francis We are all called to be holy by living our lives with love and by bearing witness in everything we do, wherever we find ourselves. Are you called to the consecrated life? Be holy by living out your commitment with joy. Are you married? Be holy by loving and caring for your husband or wife, as Christ does for the Church. Do you work for a living? Be holy by labouring with integrity and skill in the service of your brothers and sisters. Are you a parent or grandparent? Be holy by patiently teaching the little ones how to follow Jesus. Are you in a position of authority? Be holy by working for the common good and renouncing personal gain. Be generous with GOD s many gifts to you! Use Prudence in Taking the Precious Blood at Mass Now that the peak flu season is over, we will again be offering the Precious Blood at Mass. In order to prevent the possible spread of any illness, we ask parishioners who have symptoms of any contagious diseases (non-allergic coughs, fever, colds, etc.) to use prudence in taking the Precious Blood and shaking hands until you are fully recovered. Thank you for contributing to the health of our church family! We are Easter people! We are Resurrection people! Alleluia is our song! How do YOU live as an Easter person? How do YOU live as a Resurrection person? How is Alleluia YOUR song? Jesus, I trust in You Wheelbarrows of Cheer for our Festival One Wheelbarrow of Cheer will be given each night of our Festival. Donations are greatly appreciated. Sports, beach and summer theme items, coolers, beach chairs, alcohol-of all kinds, wine, wine coolers, beer, soda, mixers, snacks & party food items are all needed. Donation drop off information: Cathy Esack Hair Styling Center, 2713 Liberty Way (during business hours), Monday & Wednesday, 9am-9pm; Friday, 9am- 4pm; Saturday, 9am-1pm. Please do not leave items if the shop is not open. Donations also accepted by Deb Urda, 412-853-5086. Thank you for your continued and generous support!! Come, HOLY SPIRIT! Remember to wear red on Sunday, 20 May 2018, in celebration of Pentecost Sunday.
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER 6 MAY 2018 Parish Share 2018 To enable us to continue to thrive, we need the support of every parishioner. Please be generous! Total Assessment: $61,731.00 Total Paid: $26,107.00 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! 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. 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 donations must be in WORKING CONDITION. The following items will not be accepted: clothing, draperies, tires, computers or broken electronics and dirty/unclean items. Please do not leave items to be donated for the festival flea market on church property. Drop-off dates will announced in the coming weeks. We appreciate your cooperation! Thank you for your generosity!! Festival Specialty Basket Only 3 months until our Saint Mark Festival and our basket team is hard at work. Please keep those new items coming in. You can place them in the labeled baskets at each worship site. Some ideas to share: 1. Patriotic items are a big hit. With Memorial Day right around the corner, patriotic items are usually on sale. 2. Mother's Day and Father's Day are almost here. Baskets geared to pamper Mom or Dad are well liked. 3. Children's themed items are needed... Hello Kitty, Hot Wheels, Disney items, Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, etc... And as always, THANK YOU for your generosity! Offertory 29 April 2018 Weekly Offertory... $3,821.00 Thank you! "Let not your hand be open to receive and clenched when it is time to give." (Sirach 4:31) THIS Weekend: Second Collection Maintenance / Buildings & Grounds This collection is NOT assessed! In our offertory packet is an envelope specifically marked Maintenance/Buildings & Grounds. This envelope is used for a second collection on the first Sunday of each month. 100% of the donations remain in the parish for continued maintenance/ improvement to our parish properties. Our generosity ensures our parish property is adequately maintained. Thank You! ATTENTION ALL CRAFTERS It s festival time and WE NEED YOU!! WE NEED YOUR TALENTS!!!! We are in need of flower arrangements, wreaths, afghans, pillows, fleece blankets, wood working, sports blankets/pillows and any other craft items that you can share for the craft baskets. Please contact Cathy Esack for drop off information at 412-980-2918. Festival Ticket Stuffing We will be stuffing Festival Tickets on Thursday, 17 May at 9:30 AM in the Coffee House at our Port Vue site. Please join us for a morning of coffee, donuts, fellowship and fun! All are welcome!!!! Saint Mark Parish Ladies of Charity Investiture Please join us in congratulating Rose Kaiser, Helen Picone, Debbie Radu, and Mary Raynak, who became Ladies of Charity at the Investiture Mass at Saint Paul Cathedral on Sunday, 29 April. In addition, Gerry Gosney was recognized for serving in the Ladies of Charity for 25 years. Mary Jean Harrison was in attendance to welcome the new members. God bless you all!
SAINT MARK PARISH MCKEESPORT, PA Learn Jesus! Love Jesus! Live Jesus!...and let Jesus love you and live in you! Love One Another: The Call to Build Relationships As the On Mission for The Church Alive! announcements continue to sink in, we hear Jesus call in today s Gospel to love one another. It s a simple command, without condition or rationalization. To love one another is the call of the Christian life and is at the heart of the On Mission! initiative. In the coming months the parishes in our grouping will begin to work together to build relationships rooted in faith, hope and love. These relationships should not be forced or fake but should recognize that we are one in our Catholic faith and that nothing should divide us. Then, with our common faith and love for one another as our foundation, we will be able to form parishes that are truly alive as resources, efforts and energies are shared. It can be easy to love what is familiar to us. As we journey On Mission for The Church Alive! let us seek new ways to heed Jesus call to love one another. Visit OnMissionChurchAlive.org to learn more. STAY ACTIVE AND STAY INFORMED! Dear Members of our Saint Mark Parish, Thank you for your joy-filled and self-giving service to our parish and community. You all are blessings indeed! As you all know, we have been planning, preparing and praying for the On Mission for the Church Alive! decision from Bishop David Zubik for over three years. And I believe we are ready to implement Bishop Zubik s decision with 1) positivity about the prospects of being nurtured and supported to fully live our Baptism, 2) patience with one another and with the new leadership team, 3) prayer for the process and for all involved, 4) full participation in the collaboration that is essential to the success of this initiative, and 5) even a prophetic witness speaking the truth in love whenever necessary. Please take the time to spiritually, emotionally and intellectually process the decision, and to pray for and support one another and all of our parishioners, as well as all involved in our parish grouping and diocesan leadership. And please pray for me. Please continue doing what you do best. And please expect to work with one another and with the new clergy team in the coming months to continue planning and preparing for a successful transition in October 2018 and ongoing implementation of our On Mission for The Church Alive! for the sake of all of our people and the Church of Pittsburgh. In GOD s relentless mercy and His mighty and tender love, Reverend Daniel T. Straughn, S.T.L. Pastor, Saint Mark Parish