Happy Friday!  Aren't the weeks just flying by.  Pumpkins and mums are out.  I love pumpkins.  Aren't pumpkins just "happy."  They always make me smile.  But you will also notice, and I hate to say this, the Christmas items are out as well.  They've been selling the balsam trees on TV for weeks now.  Too early for Christmas!  Ugh  

Here are some updates:  

1. PARISH PICNIC:  Members of the Social Committee will have tables set up at the entrance of the church this weekend, for ALL the masses, so you can sign-up and pay in person to attend the parish picnic.  $12 per person; $25 per family.  Checks payable to St. Mark Picnic or cash.  The team has been working hard and they have lots of fun things planned - car corral, food, games, crafts, and plenty of other activities.  This is an outdoor event being held on Sunday, September 26, after the 12:00 noon mass.  Rain date Sunday, October 3, same timeframe.  Please make every effort to attend.  A great venue to reconnect with fellow parishioners after covid-19 lockdown!  Remember to bring your blankets, chairs, sunscreen, and bug spray!  I cannot wait for a grilled hot dog.  

2. CAR CORRAL AT THE PARISH PICNIC:  Calling all car enthusiasts.  Bring your "classic" to park on the Great Lawn and share "car talk" with fellow enthusiasts.  This was a very popular event at the last parish picnic.  

3. HELP WANTED:  St. Mark is looking for a part-time maintenance employee.  The working hours are Monday through Friday, three hours per day; however, flexibility is a must.  The position involves a variety of work in the maintenance, and repair, of church buildings and grounds, setting up for liturgical and other social events, as well as coordinating with contractors and vendors.  If interested please phone the rectory office at 203-377-0444.  

4. JUNIOR YOUTH GROUP:  The Junior Youth Group for youth in grades 6-8, and Senior Youth Group for youth in grades 9-12, are hosting a kickoff event this weekend.  All youth are invited to attend and bring a friend!  Featuring a pizza lunch and a Color Run activity, this free event is a great way to see what youth group is all about and a chance to get involved in the church community.  The event starts at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 19.   Youth should wear a white T-shirt, which will be decorated with color powder as the event progresses.  Parents are invited to meet the youth ministry team and learn about plans for the school year.  Contact Youth Minister, Jared Forcier, for more details. Email: jared@stmarkyouthgroup.org. Web: www.StMarkYouthGroup.org. 

5. BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS:  Our tradition continues!  Please join Father Russ on the great lawn for Saturday, October 2, at 12:00 noon for the annual Blessing of the Animals.  

6. SPECIAL COLLECTION FOR HAITI:  Our collection envelopes to help the victims of the earthquake in Haiti are on the tables at the entrances of the church. Checks can be made payable to St. Mark.  The collection will be taken up weekend September 25 and 26.  

7. WELCOME TO A NEW BULLETIN VENDOR:  We welcome a new advertiser to our Sunday bulletin:  Michael W. Antonini, Medicare Insurance Broker.  Welcome!  

8. ST. MARK BASKETBALL TRYOUTS:  Basketball tryouts will be held in the Parish Center on Saturday, September 25.  In order to try out for a team, students must either attend St. Mark School or be current, active, St. Mark parishioners. The basketball program is competitive and designed to prepare athletes for the next level of play in high school.  Spaces are limited for each team.  Please contact michael.sciallo@stmarkschool.org with any questions.  See the printed bulletin for tryout times by grades/gender or checkout the on-line bulletin at the St. Mark website.  

9. CUB SCOUTS:  Come join Cub Scout Pack 177 on Wednesday evening, September 22, at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall (room under the church) for a LEGO Derby.  Perspective Cub Scouts from grades K-4 are invited to attend!  The event is FREE and no registration is required. 

10.  CONGRATULATIONS!  Congratulations to the 55+ young men and women who are making their Sacrament of Confirmation this evening, with the Most Reverend Bishop Frank J. Caggiano acting as celebrant, with Father Birendra and Father Russ assisting.  Congratulations are also in order to Bishop Caggiano as today is the 8th anniversary for his installment as Fifth Bishop for the Diocese of Bridgeport.  

11. A DAY WITH MARY RETREAT:  A reminder of our FREE Marian Eucharistic Day Retreat with the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate, being held at St. Mark, in the church, on Saturday, October 9, from 9:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.  All our welcome. No registration is required.  

12. THANK YOU!  The St. Mark clergy and staff cannot say thank you enough to all our contractors, vendors, and parishioners for the extra help they have given us with the passing of our beloved colleague and friend, Lenny Mercurio.  Everyone has stepped in and picked up the slack left by Lenny's passing.  We miss him so much.  

13. M&M FENCE:  Thank you, M&M Fence, for coming to fix the fence that was damaged by a hit-and-run driver several weeks ago.  Looking good! 

14. SHANNON LANDSCAPING:  We now have an inground sprinkler system to water the main entrance of the church.  Thank you, Shannon Landscaping, for a job well done.  It will be great not dragging the hoses around the front platform anymore. 

15: SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST:  As I was typing #8 above, Father Birendra stuck his head in the office and said to me "we should start to close up early on Fridays every week, not just for the summer.  Please let everyone know that we will close at 2:00 p.m. on Fridays starting today."  Well AOK to that.  (Sure, he tells me now, and I have plenty to keep me busy until 4:00 p.m. today!)  As always, the phones will be on the answering service and you can reach me by eMail, as I can pick up emergency eMail messages at home:  pmollica@stmarkstfd.org.  

I think I've covered everything.  I keep looking at all my notes to make sure I didn't miss anything.  See you at mass this weekend.  

Best regards, 

Paula (and Joan too)  

Kitchen oven fire update:  The whole house is CLEAN!  Cabinets were not damaged in the fire and the soot washed off beautifully.  New oven is ordered but not delivered and installed yet.  The men are at the house as I type this message installing the new countertops and dishwasher.  Not sure if they will have time to do the backsplash tiles today.  But it's progress!  There is light at the end of the tunnel.  

Michael and I are "grand-dog sitting" for the next ten days while our eldest son is off to a destination wedding in Cancun.  As most of you know, the dog is nuts (although he has shown signs of improvement).  He absolutely has to be in someone's presence or he howls terribly.  And guess who he sleeps with at night....yours truly. An Australian shepherd with long, long hair, which I keep "swiffering" up each day. Michael is not amused by any stretch of the imagination!