Welcome fall! The nights are already getting chilly, the leaves are turning colors, Thanksgiving Day is fast approaching, and you know what that means.....Christmas is right around the corner!
Here are some tidbits:
1. TIME CHANGE: Fathers asked me to remind everyone about the upcoming time change. Make a note so you don't show up for Mass at the wrong time on Sunday, October 25:
On the last Sunday of October, which is October 25, 2020, at 2:00 a.m. in the morning, the clocks 'fall back': they go back by one hour. It means an extra hour in bed! Clocks on smart phones, some kitchen appliances, televisions with cable, and some car clocks, should update automatically, but older analogue clocks need changing manually. Make sure to check all your clocks so you have the correct time everywhere!
2. BLESSED SACRAMENT FOOD DRIVE: Our next food drive for Blessed Sacrament and Father Skip will be held Saturday, October 31, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. As in previous food drives during covid-19, please drive your car up to the Parish Center and a volunteer will off-load your food donation. Please note that your donation is very much needed. On Thursday mornings people are lined up waiting for the food bank to open at 9:00 a.m. Last week they had to close the food bank at 10:00 a.m. because they ran out of food. Your food donation does make an impact! A can of soup, a box of cereal, or a bag of pasta goes a long way to those in need. Thank you in advance for helping one of the poorer parishes in our diocese.
3. A NEW AMBRY FOR SAINT MARK CHURCH: We are very happy to announce that we have a new ambry for Saint Mark church. An ambry is a cabinet, or a space on the wall, which is used to store the Sacred Oils blessed at the Chrism Mass. Each year on Holy Thursday, priests of every diocese gather with their bishop, at their cathedral, to renew their priesthood. It is at this Mass that the Bishop blesses the Holy Oils which are used at various Sacraments during the year.
1. Oil of the Catechumens: This oil is used to anoint our children at the time of their baptism. This anointing is to strengthen them in their life-long spiritual journey. It will be used to anoint any adults who are hoping to be baptized on the night of the Easter Vigil, as they enter the order of the catechumens.
2. Oil of the Infirmed: This oil is used to celebrate the sacrament of the sick, which brings comfort and healing to those who are ill, and peace and comfort to the dying.
3. Sacred Chrism. This sweetly perfumed oil is used to anoint our children after baptism. This oil will also be used to anoint our young adults as they receive the Sacrament of Confirmation, and it is also used when anointing the hands of a new priest at the celebration of his ordination.
The St. Mark Parish family of faith wishes to thank Mr. Frank DeLorenzo, Director of Communications, for lovingly designing and building the new ambry which the parish will use to hold the holy oils. The cabinet is designed with inside lighting to illuminate the vessels containing the sacred oils. The ambry has been mounted on the wall to the left of the Divine Mercy painting. This was a labor of love for Frank, and we all join in thanking him for the time and effort he gave to create this wonderful gift.
Also, thank you to Lenny Mercurio and Chuck Carroll for skillfully mounting the ambry to the wall. It was a little tricky but they did it!
4. BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE: There are a few days left for you to send in your request to memorialize a loved one in the Book of Remembrance for 2020. Please forward the name of your loved one to the rectory office, along with your one-time fee of $100. Your loved one’s name is in the Book of Remembrance for perpetuity. You may provide the name of a loved one who has passed away, or you may provide the name of a loved one for placement in the “Memorials for the Living” section of the book. Whenever a loved one whose name is in the “Memorials for the Living” section passes away, their name is automatically transferred to the “Memorials for the Deceased” section. There is no extra fee.
5. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE: The Knights of Columbus are once again running their yearly School Supply Drive to benefit the children of St. Mark School. Boxes will be placed at the entrances of the church starting October 31 through November 15. The following items have been requested:
Tissues
Disinfecting wipes
Hand disinfecting wipes (like WetOnes)
Bottled water (mini size)
Pens, pencils, paper clips, staples, individual pencil sharpeners, Expo dry erase markers, crayons, erasers, etc.
2 pocket folders, loose leaf, notebooks
Rolls of paper towels
AA and AAA size batteries (these are being used for the thermometers to check the children’s temperature and bathroom tap lights)
6. DIAPER DRIVE: A great big thank you for all who supported Malta House and BirthRight with our recent diaper drive.
The above is plenty to absorb in one writing!
In a few weeks we will write about the upcoming holiday season, i.e., turkeys for Sister Tremblay, the Christmas Giving Tree Program, and our Christmas Mass Schedule.
Please enjoy the sunshine and we will keep you posted with updates from the office as they occur.
Paula Mollica for
Father Birendra and Father Russ