Happy Thursday! Sending out our weekly Friday update message early this week.
Some fun stuff first! The sun is shining! The birds are singing. Joan and I are big "bird" people. We already have our hummingbird feeders cleaned and ready for the migrating birds. They should be here last week April/first week of May. A pair of mourning doves has made a nest right outside the window of our family room in one of the evergreen bushes. Watching them fly back and forth and in and out of the bush has been wonderful. Cannot wait for the "squabs" to hatch.
OK, down to business.
1. The rectory office will be closing early tomorrow, Friday, April 9, at 1:45. The answering service will receive any emergency messages. The office will be open Monday at 9:00 a.m. to resume normal business hours.
2. A reminder to our parishioners and guests that when going to receive Communion, you are to exit your pew going to the side aisle, and returning to your pew down the center aisle. This helps to maintain social distancing. Please follow this protocol and be considerate of fellow parishioners.
3. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is being held at St. Mark every Thursday evening in the Upper Room from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. All are welcome.
4. First Holy Communion is going to be held on the following three Saturday mornings and therefore there will be no 8:00 a.m. Masses: April 24, May 1, and May 8. Please mark your calendars accordingly.
5. A Day With Mary: A FREE Marian Eucharistic Day Retreat is being held with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate at The Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist, 279 Atlantic Street, Stamford, CT, on Saturday, April 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Details are in the bulletin this weekend. This is just a "heads up" for your planning purposes.
6. So yesterday, at the last minute, we received notification from the Bishop's office that FEMA has a Reimbursement Program for Covid-Related Funeral Costs. We wrote up the notice in the bulletin and sent it to print; however, I completely forgot to include the link that would give you more information and instructions on how to apply for the benefits. The link is here and I will make sure it appears in next weekend's bulletin:
https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/cemeteries/fema_funeral_assistance.
7. Divine Mercy Sunday April 11: Please join us at 3:00 p.m. in the church for Divine Mercy Sunday Holy Hour.
8. And we saved the best for last!
Welcome Patricia Jean-Baptiste! Patricia was St. Mark's RCIA (Right of Christian Initiation for Adults) candidate. She received the sacraments of First Eucharist and Confirmation on the night of the Easter Vigil and was welcomed into full communion with the Catholic church. We wish her God's blessings as she enters into this new period of her spiritual life.
We hope everyone enjoys this gorgeous day!
Paula and Joan
P.S. Still haven't cleaned out the last closet.....................any day now, any day!