Happy Memorial Day Weekend !!!!! The beginning of summer….yippee!
And here’s the BEST news of the day. Father Birendra came to me late yesterday afternoon, almost at closing, and says, “I think we should close the office this Friday as well for the holiday weekend. What do you think?” Really, like I was going to say no to that! Therefore, the office is closed on Friday and Monday for the Memorial Day weekend. The answering service can pick up any emergency calls.
Here are the updates for this coming week/weekend:
ONE COLLECTION: There is one collection this weekend: Stewardship.
OFFICE CLOSED: The rectory office will be closed on Friday, May 26, and Monday, May 29, for Memorial Day. The office will reopen Tuesday, May 30, at 9:00 a.m.
PENTECOST SUNDAY: Please remember to wear RED this weekend in honor of Pentecost Sunday. The following Masses are assigned to our “foreign” readers, and we thank them for their service:
5:00 p.m. Mass, Saturday May 27: Italian (Patricia Nettleton)
7:30 a.m. Mass, Sunday, May 28: Italian/Angie McKelvey
9:00 a.m. Mass, Sunday, May 28: Portuguese (Monica Quisgard)
10:30 a.m. Mass, Sunday, May 28: German (Margaret Niedermeier)
12:00 noon Mass, Sunday, May 28: Spanish (Ana Jusino)
NOTE: We will be following the readings for Pentecost Sunday on page 161 of the Breaking Bread hymnal, "Pentecost Sunday at the Mass During the Day."
ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL: We are getting there! At present, we are at $92,400, but we need to reach $110,000. If you have not made a pledge, please consider giving one. REMEMBER: For every dollar we pledge by June 30, 2023, that is OVER the $110,000, we receive back at the parish at 100%.
MONSIGNOR DONALD GUGLIELMI: As most of you know, Msgr. Donald Guglielmi, our former pastor, was formally installed as a Monsignor with two others at a Mass held at St. Aloysius Church, New Canaan, on April 16th, 2023. He is coming to St. Mark church on June 4th and will offer the Noon Mass. A light reception in the parish center will follow the Mass at 1:00 p.m. All are welcome.
BOTTLES/CANS COLLECTION: Our next bottle and can collection will be Saturday, June 3, in front of the Parish center from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.
BULLETIN PRINTING: Due to the early printing of the bulletin for Memorial Day weekend, our weekend collection numbers for weekend May 21 will be printed in the bulletin for June 4.
HEALTH BRIDGES INTERNATIONAL: Save the date - Friday, June 23, 2023, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., 141 Shield Street, West Hartford, CT, for hors d’oeuvres, Pisco Sour cocktails, wine and beer, select Peruvian chocolates, and silent auction. All to support a home for formerly abandoned children in Peru. Cost is $100 per person, gratuity included. For more information or to register please visit ourfundraiser.events/ABridgetoChangeEastcoast.com.
ST. MARK VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL: We are proud to announce that Vacation Bible School is back at St. Mark! Bible School runs from July 10 thru July 14, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. till 12:00 noon in the Parish Center. For children in rising grades K-4. Cost is $75 per child. Information and registration forms can be found at www.stmarkstfd.org.
TEAM SOCIAL BROADWAY EXTRAVAGANZA!Deadline for reservation and payment is June 1, 2023. Come join your fellow parishioners for a bus ride to see CAMELOT at the Vivian Beaumont Theater on Wednesday, August 16. This exceptional play featuring the music of Lerner & Lowe is a classic! Dinner following at Carmine’s. Price per person is $199. Price includes bus ride, show, and dinner. Checks made payable to St. Mark may be sent to the Rectory Office. For more information phone Ruth Masso at 203-378-1878.
BREAKING BREAD TOGETHER/COOKBOOK: To embrace the Team Social mission of outreach, the group is introducing Shared Supper: Breaking Bread Together, Faith, Food, & Fellowship. A collection of recipes and photos from St. Mark gatherings, along with bios of the people involved, will allow us to get to know one another AND enjoy our favorite foods better. The St. Mark Family Cookbook will be published before the holidays. The team is working on a form to provide so you may submit pictures and recipes.
MSGR. LAWRENCE J. McMAHON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP: LAST CALL -Applications for the 2023 Msgr. Lawrence J. McMahon Memorial Scholarship Award are available in the St. Mark school office. The Scholarship is open to any 8th grade student at St. Mark School or St. Mark Parish who will be attending a Catholic High School in the Fall. The application deadline is May 28th and can be submitted to the school office or emailed to derleth4@aol.com. If you have any questions, please contact Karen Derleth at (203)521-9546 or derleth4@aol.com.
CONGRATULATIONS: Please join us in congratulating Kayla Szczerba, a St. Mark School 8th Grade Student, who was chosen by The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the office of the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) as a recipient of this year’s National Junior Society Outstanding Achievement Award! Way to go Kayla!
ST. MARK SCHOOL IS LOOKING FOR PreK TEACHING ASSISTANTS/AIDS:
St. Mark Little Lions Preschool program is searching for dedicated teaching assistants/aides to come grow with us! The ideal candidates will support students' learning center environment under the supervision and direction of the classroom teacher/program director. Aides assist with appropriate daily activities for children, establish and maintain a safe and healthy nurturing environment for children, and supervise children for safety.
This is a 10 Month Position, M-F with part-time hours and Summers Off!
Qualifications/Skills:
· Patient, kind, flexible, positive, dependable, cooperative and a love for children
· High school diploma, GED, or equivalent required
Fingerprinting, background check, and Save Environment Training required
At St. Mark School, we are committed to providing an outstanding early childhood program that encourages the social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual growth of every child. Jesus is at the heart of all that we do. The teachers, staff, parents, and students in our faith community are called to be the face of Christ, the hands of Christ, and most importantly, the heart of Christ to others through our words and actions. Consider joining our school community and advancing the mission of Catholic education! For more information, call 203.375.4291 or email contactus@stmarkschool.org and to apply, email Principal Melissa Warner at mwarner@stmarkschool.org.
That’s all the news for now.
Best,
Paula (and Joan too)
P.S. Last weekend was wonderful….and do you know why? Michael took out our power washer and I was able to power wash the deck, which Michael spent all week staining. It looks wonderful. Michael did a fabulous job! He’s a keeper!!
This weekend we will put out the deck furniture and the Mollica’s are ready for summer! Which is a good thing, because we have tons of family coming over on Sunday, June 4, for a BBQ. Our son Matthew is coming home for his birthday weekend from Austin, Texas. How did he get to be 27 already? Cannot wait to see him. It will be almost one year since we last saw him. Bringing his lovely girlfriend home as well! Fun, fun, fun.
Here's hoping you are all enjoying the great weather and having fun with your family and friends too!