Another gorgeous day!
Here are the updates for this coming week/weekend:
ONE COLLECTION: There is one collection this weekend: Stewardship.
ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL: We are getting there! At present, we are at $93,600, 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 this Sunday, 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.
CHILDREN’S MASS: We welcome our children for our children’s mass at 9:00 a.m., this Sunday, June 4. Children of all ages are invited!
BOTTLES/CANS COLLECTION: Our next bottle and can collection is this Saturday, June 3, in front of the Parish center from 10:00 a.m. till 2:00 p.m.
EUCHARISTIC PROCESSION AT ST. JAMES CHURCH: The five (5) Catholic Churches of Stratford are having a combined outdoor Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi on June 11th. There will be a celebration of the Holy Mass at 3:00 p.m. at St. James presided by Bishop Frank Caggiano, followed by a procession. This is a public demonstration of our faith in the Eucharistic Lord. I encourage many parishioners from St. Mark to participate in this event. In a special way, Father Birendra is encouraging parents of our First Communion children to bring their children in their beautiful white dresses and handsome suits. Parking is available at St. James church/school and at Baldwin Center.
IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR LECTORS, EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, AND CATHECISTS: Mr. Patrick Donovan, with the assistance of Deacon John DiTaranto, will be hosting a LEAD training session for all five churches for the Town of Stratford on Thursday, June 15, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. The training session will probably run around two (2) hours. This one-night training session will bring everyone “current” with their LEAD training for a three-year period! Doors and registration will open at 6:00 p.m. This is an excellent way to bring your training current. (If you are already “current” with your training in the LEAD system, you do not have to attend.)
FOOD NEEDED: Fr. Skip from Blessed Sacrament Church, Bridgeport, is desperately in need of non-perishable food items. He distributes over 400 large grocery bags full each week! And that amount will increase substantially over the summer as children are out for the summer recess and will not be getting their breakfast and lunch at school. To help, we will be holding a food collection “drive-through” in the school parking lot on Saturday, June 24th, from 9: a.m. till noon in front of the Parish Center. Please stock up and bring as many items as you can. Fr. Skip and the poor from Blessed Sacrament thank you so much!
THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL STATEMENTS: Third quarter St. Mark financial statements are printed and available at all the entrances of the church. Please take home a copy for review.
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.
ST. MARK LADIES GUILD: It’s Pizza time for the Ladies Guild --- Tuesday, June 13 at 12:30 p.m. in the Upper Room! Menu: Pizza, Salad, and Dessert with Coffee, Tea, or Cold Beverage. Cost: $10. All women of the parish and their guests are invited. RSVP: Gerri Szabo 203 (378) 2552, by June 9.
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.
Looking all around the desk. Seems like I captured everything. That’s it for now.
Best,
Paula (and Joan too)
P.S. My “number two” son Matthew flew in from Texas last night and we are THRILLED to have him home for the weekend! After giving me a huge hug and kiss, what do you think the first thing he says to me? “Mom, do you see that I’ve lost weight and have been working out?” Just like a man. Of course, he does look fantastic, but hey, I’m prejudiced. He is my son! So naturally I feed his ego and tell him that yes, he looks great and could be on the cover of GQ magazine. His girlfriend is adorable and lovely to speak with. Should be a fantastic weekend with the big BBQ on Sunday with family and friends.
My poor husband Michael. I felt so bad for him the past two nights. As you know, we have two cats. And two nights in a row now, they have caught a teensy, tiny little mouse which they bring upstairs to “play” with. They swat the poor thing around, but never kill it! Little Man (the Siamese cat) is the “catcher” of the mice and he loves to keep it in his mouth (alive) and then run from room to room with it, while Shiloh (our Birman cat) chases along. I won’t go near the mouse, so I call Michael to come and catch the mouse and get rid of it. Of course, he’s usually in bed by this time and I must wake him up. So, he’s NOT in a good mood at 11:00 p.m. chasing down mice to toss outside. We haven’t seen any mice in almost nine months. We’ve got to figure out where they are coming in from in the basement. Just one more thing to do around the house! It never ends, does it?
Hope you all have a fantastic weekend too!