Another sunny and warm day in Arizona!  Nothing like sitting in the lounge chair outside letting the sun warm my 65-year-old bones!  Feels glorious!  

Not too much to report today, actually just a rehash of what I wrote last week.  But still, another nudge keeps us on our toes:

1. LISTENING SESSION:  Pope Francis wants to know what’s on your mind! As part of the global Catholic church, YOU are invited to a listening session to gather input for the 2021-2023 Synod on Synodality.  A team from St. Mark will be compiling comments from our community into a report to be submitted to the Diocese. If you know of Catholics who are no longer practicing, please spread the word and let them know they are invited to the listening session as well.  Our listening session will take place on Sunday, January 23, 2022, at 1:00 pm in the Church.  We hope to see you there!  

2. The Brothers of Saint John Paul II Council # 8 of the Knights of Columbus will be conducting a Pro-Life Novena along with the Rosary and Litany of the Blessed Mother.  The Knights will be conducting the Novena from Wednesday, January 19, (today) through and including Thursday, January 27, 2022.  The exact times and locations are printed in the bulletin.  All are welcome.  

3. St. Mark School open house is on Sunday, January 30, from 10:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon.  Please see the bulletin to make an appointment!  Our Blue Ribbon School is waiting for you!  Limited school tours are available by reservation only. Visit www.stmarkschool.org to reserve your tour today!  

4. Please make sure you read Father Birendra's Annual Pastor's Letter in this weekend's bulletin.  A beautiful letter from Father on the status of our parish.  We really are a great parish!  

I think that's it for now.  Checking around my laptop to see if I missed anything and I think I'm good to go.  

Best to you all!  

Paula (and Joan too)  

P.S.  On a personal note, I cannot thank all of you enough for your well-wishes and condolences on the passing of my beloved baby sister, Barbara.  We were only two years apart and thick as thieves.  As much as I'm heartbroken she has passed, it was also a blessing.  She had a rare form of stage-four bone cancer.  She was brave until the very end.  During her 18-20 month ordeal, she never once complained about her illness, or even ask the question "why me."  Her life was an inspiration to others.  Her funeral mass is tomorrow.    

A million thanks are not enough to Father Birendra and Father Russ, and Joan, Patty, Jennifer, and Jennifer who took over the office so I could come out to Arizona to help my brother-in-law with Barbara's at-home hospice care and end-of-life needs. 

Thank you again, St. Mark Parish, for all your well wishes.  See you at mass this weekend.  It will be good to be home with all of you again.