Another Friday! Here’s what’s going on in and around the parish.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING: On behalf of Father Birendra, Father Russ, and Deacons Andy, Emmet, and Paul, and the entire St. Mark Parish Staff, we wish you and your family a day of health and happiness this Thanksgiving Day.
OFFICE CLOSURE: The rectory office will be closed half-day on Wednesday, November 23 (closing at 12:00 noon), Thursday, November 24, and Friday, November 25, for the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Office hours will resume on Monday, November 28 at 9:00 a.m.
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS: LPI (our bulletin printer) needs me to go to press on Monday, November 21, in order to have our bulletins printed for Thanksgiving/Advent weekend (we normally go to press at 12:00 noon on Wednesdays). If anyone needs information posted to the bulletin, please send it over the weekend to pmollica@stmarkstfd.org.
SECOND COLLECTION: Our second collection this weekend is for the Health and Welfare for Retired Priests.
ST. JOSEPH MISSALETTES: Father Birendra asked me to order 50 of the pocket-size St. Joseph Missalettes for 2023. They are supposed to arrive today (fingers crossed). So come by on Monday to pick up a copy. Cost is $5.00.
VOLUNTEER DINNER: Nagging from last week paid off! I have heard from many parishioners now with a yes/no response. Many more still need to respond. Please check your spam/junk folder to make sure the invitation isn’t sitting there. A volunteer is welcome to bring his/her spouse and/or significant other. Please eMail your response to: pmollica@stmarkstfd.org or leave a message at the office. I am attaching the pdf invitation file to this Flocknote as a third reminder.
ST. MARK LADIES GUILD CHRSTMAS LUNCHEON: St. Mark Ladies Guild invites all women of the parish and their guests to join them on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 12:30 p.m. for the Guild Christmas Luncheon at the new Lodge Restaurant at the Oronoque Golf Club (former Oronoque Country Club). The Plated Custom Lunch will be served which includes: Cheese and Crackers, House Salad, Roasted Potatoes, Vegetable Medley and choice of Chicken Piccata, Sliced Flank Steak, or Baked Cod (w/bread crumbs) and Brownie a la mode and Coffee or Tea. Cost: $35. RSVP Nancy Lou Maco, (203) 522-6359 or Gerri Szabo at (203) 378-2552 by Dec. 6. Please see the attached pdf file!
CRAYON INITIATIVE: If you have unwanted crayons at home, even if they are broken, the St. Mark School kindergarten class is collecting crayons all year long to recycle and to be recreated for use at pediatric hospital units nationwide. Thank you for supporting our school and the children’s efforts to help the community. The “crayon collection box” is in the vestibule of the church.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA AND ST. MARK SCHOOL BAKE SALE:
Hip, Hip, Hooray! It’s that time of year again and on Sunday, December 4 (snow date December 11), Santa will be having breakfast with the children from 9:00 a.m. till 12:30 p.m. in the Parish center. Please join us for this wonderful event and support our school. All are welcome to breakfast with Santa, and to stop by to purchase some delicious treats (this writer tells you every year that these are the BEST baked goods ever)! Cost is $8 pp ages three (3) and up. We look forward to seeing you and the children with Santa!!! (Please note there is a price change for the cost of the breakfast since last week.)
ST. MARK SCHOOL COFFEE FUNDRAISER: The school is excited to be selling Giving Bean Coffee and Artisan Teas again this year. The Coffee Fundraiser begins November 14th and runs through November 28th. The school will receive 40% of the proceeds. The order form with details on pricing is attached and we will print copies to place at the entrances of the church for next week as well. Thank you for your support! Any questions, please contact Mike Aloi mikejaloi@gmail.com.
SANTA’S WORKSHOP: Come join the fun! There’s something for “kids” of all ages. Santa, Mrs. Clause, and the elves will be setting up their workshop in the Parish Center on Saturday, December 3, from 1:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. “Kids” can make their own wood craft projects, crafting and sewing with the elves, gingerbread house decorating, story time, and much more. (Free admission; donations are always welcome.)
ST. MARK GIVING TREE PROGRAM: We are continuing our Giving Tree program. Please consider taking home a tag or two and make someone else’s Christmas special! The trees will be in the front foyer of the church beginning November 19/20, November 26/27, December 3/4, and December 10/11. All presents MUST be returned by Monday, December 12.
ADORATION CHAPEL: The Adoration Chapel is going to remain open for the Thanksgiving Day weekend.
MASS OF THANKSGIVING: A reminder that our Mass of Thanksgiving (Thanksgiving Day) is Thursday, November 24, at 9:00 a.m.
ADVENT 2022 – THE MAGNIFICAT ADVENT COMPANION BOOKLET: The booklets will be placed at the entrances of the church the weekend of November 19/20 so you have it home for the first day of Advent, which is Sunday, November 27 (weekend after Thanksgiving). Please take home a copy.
PRE-BAPTISMAL CLASSES: The time for the pre-baptismal class has changed from 7:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Upper Room. These classes run on the second Tuesday for the months of January, March, May, July, September, November.
PROJECT FROM THE HEART: For those who donate monies to help support our servicemen and women via check, please be advised that your check should now be made payable to: Holy Family Church (write Project From The Heart in the memo line).
OK, looking all over the desk and don't see that I missed anything. So I'm going to hit the "send" button.
Best,
Paula (and Joan too)
P.S. My wonderful brother-in-law Bill has returned to Arizona. We miss him so much already! He had the nerve to send back pics arriving in Arizona to sunny, 78 degree weather. And we’re already freezing our behinds off! Not nice, just not nice.
Spent the entire day yesterday doing a “deep” cleaning for the holidays. Truly, where does dust come from? And why does it land on the furniture and all the mouldings in the house? But it sure was nice to have a sparkling clean house at the end of the day.
Thanksgiving…..now there’s a holiday I haven’t even thought about in terms of cooking. I need to get on the stick. At present, the only ingredients I have in the house are to make this fabulous new recipe I saw on “The Kitchen” show the other day. A brownie pecan pie! It’s the “no calorie” version. Really, I would never lie to you! There are no calories. Actually, it looks quite decadent. But it’s only once a year, right?
The decluttering of the Mollica household continues. Girls, I've got a full box of "autumn/Halloween" items ready to go to Goodwill and if we get to the Christmas boxes and weed through those items we will be totally organized and cleaned out .
God bless everyone on Thanksgiving and heading into the wonderful season of Advent and Christmas.
Now where should we go for dinner tonight.................?
