From the Pastor - Palm Sunday

April 8, 2022

Two very different responses to our Lord’s passion are highlighted during the Gospel reading from Luke today: the response of Simon of Cyrene and the response of Jesus’ acquaintances. Of Simon we are told, “They took hold of a certain Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country; and after laying the cross on him, they made him carry it behind Jesus.” Whether Simon entered willingly and compassionately into this service or whether he took up the Cross of Christ with a grudge, we don’t know. What we do know is this: Simon did his part faithfully. He stayed near to Christ, carrying the Cross until our Lord reached Golgotha, the site of His crucifixion. We also know that Simon’s family was among the first early Christians. Staying near to Christ, embracing the Cross (quite literally), transformed his life and the life of his family.

 

In contrast, near the end of this Gospel account, we are told of another reaction to Jesus’ passion and death, namely that “all His acquaintances stood at a distance.” They knew Jesus! They had heard him preaching and teaching, witnessed His signs and miracles, maybe even benefitted personally from them. Perhaps they did not participate in mocking Him or calling for His crucifixion. But they chose to stay a safe distance from Him when the going got tough. Unlike Simon, they refused to go too near to Christ.

 

Where will you place yourself this week? Keeping your distance from all the pain and suffering Christ endured? Or close by, staying near to Him as Simon did? It is when we go near to Christ that we can be transformed by Him. It is by embracing the crosses in our lives, stewarding them well rather than trying to run from them, that we become His true disciples. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2022.

 

Pastoral Pondering – As we begin Holy Week, it is an excellent time to look back over the Lenten season and evaluate how our Lenten journey panned out. For many of us, it is probably a mixed bag. As with New Year’s resolutions, we often make Lenten plans with great enthusiasm and realize rather quickly that the path might be more complicated than expected. If this is a reflection of your own Lenten journey, let not your hearts be troubled. Thankfully, God’s willingness to work in our lives is not dependent on our own capacity to carry out plans once made. While being able to “stick to the plan” does indeed aid an individual in growing in virtue, the lack of the ability neither denies us God’s love nor impede us from reaching out to Him.

 

Whatever the case may be, Holy Week provides a final opportunity to live Lent well. We are called to immerse ourselves in the saving actions of Jesus Christ and allow the grace flowing from the Cross to truly prepare our hearts for the Easter mysteries. I pray that you give yourself over to the liturgies of this week. Take some time to simply be with the Lord. Allow the Lord to tend the soil of your soul and prepare it to receive the New Life that the Father offers to us through His Son. All of the pertinent information regarding the liturgical schedule for Holy Week, may be found elsewhere in this bulletin.

 

Stained Glass Windows – We are most appreciative of all of those who have supported our efforts to adorn the church with stained glass, both the rosary windows and the most recent additions, the saint windows. At this point, all of the stained-glass windows have been spoken for, but there are still windows that do not have complete funding. Nonetheless, we are well on our way to bringing this project to completion.

 

The organ – When the electronic organ was purchased prior to the dedication of the church in 2009, there was hope that it would last for many years to come. However, what we have discovered is that this particular organ has a tendency to fail at various levels. Both Laura and Michael and now Jacob have tried to do “work arounds” to continue using it, but the stops and some of the other elements are falling apart more quickly, and those who service these instruments do not have a great deal of hope in terms of having the repairs actually last for any length of time.

 

With that in mind, I asked Jacob to produce some suggestions and possibilities. The organ, according to the liturgical documents of the Church, has a unique place in the life of Church worship. With the significant number of churches closing up north, we have found some possibilities that would provide us with a worthy instrument for St. Mark. Most of these instruments are not expensive due to the sellers desire to be rid of them. The principal cost rests with the rebuilding and installation along with any reconfigurations of space that might be required. While at present we do not have a complete plan at present, we know that this will be a project that will be required sooner than later. I’ve asked the Finance Department to set up an online selection for the organ project for those who might like to assist with this project. As soon as I have a more concrete plan, it will be shared with the parish.

 

Other items – Our parish celebrates twenty-five years this year just as the Diocese celebrates fifty. The Kerin center has served us well, but the building is showing her age. Thanks to the efforts of the Pastoral Council working in cooperation with Scott Bruno and other staff members, we will be making various improvements over the coming months. The chairs in the main center need to be replaced and the area cleaned and improved. Bathrooms need upfitting and facelifting, and there are always areas that could use a good coat of paint. Just be aware that some of these things will be progressing over the weeks and months ahead.

 

Finally, please know how appreciative I am of the many ways that our parishioners manifest the hands and feet of Christ here in our parish and in the greater community. I pray that God will bless those who have been so generous and supportive. And as we approach the celebration of the Easter mysteries, may God bless and keep you all.

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • October 23, 2026
Today's readings are all about love - God's faithful love for His people and the love we are called to return to Him and to one another. The stewardship way of life is simply the daily practice of these two greatest commandments. In today's Gospel, Jesus is asked which commandment is the greatest. His answer is both familiar and endlessly challenging. He says, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind ... The second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself." Why are these two commandments inseparable? Because both are rooted in love. When we love God above all else, we begin to see others as He sees them. And when we genuinely love our neighbor, we reflect the love we have first received from Him. This is the heart of Christian stewardship. It is simple enough for a child to understand, yet rich enough to spend a lifetime putting into practice.© Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026 Pastoral Pondering - Remembering the Saints and the Souls As October ends, the Church gives us two feasts back-to-back that show who we are as one family in Christ, living and departed. On November 1, the Solemnity of All Saints, we honor all the holy men and women now in heaven. That includes the famous names on our calendar, and it also includes the countless quiet saints no one ever canonized: grandparents, neighbors, and friends who loved God and others faithfully. Their lives remind us that holiness isn't only for a few. It's the calling of every baptized person. All Saints is a Holy Day of Obligation and since it falls on Sunday this year, it is easy to remember the times for Mass. On November 2, the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls' Day), we pray for everyone who has died, especially our own loved ones. We trust in God's mercy and ask Him to bring them fully into the joy of His presence. Praying for the dead is one of the oldest Christian practices and a real act of love. The Church teaches that "all who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1030). Purgatory isn't a second chance, and it isn't a smaller version of hell. It's God's mercy finishing what He began in us. Most of us leave this life still carrying some attachment to sin, and God lovingly purifies us so we can see Him face to face. Everyone in purgatory is already saved and on the way to heaven. The souls in purgatory can't help themselves, but we can help them. Since the earliest days, Christians have prayed for the dead (see 2 Maccabees 12:46). Our prayers, sacrifices, works of charity, and above all the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass can speed their way to God. This is the Communion of Saints at work: the Church in heaven, the Church on earth, and the Church being purified, all united in Christ and helping one another. Ways to take part Complete an All Souls envelope with the name of your deceased loved ones so it can be placed on the altar throughout November. Have a Mass offered for someone who has died. Visit a cemetery and pray for the faithful departed. A plenary indulgence for the souls in purgatory is available, under the usual conditions, to those who visit a cemetery and pray for the dead from November 1 to 8, or who visit a church and pray the Our Father and the Creed on All Souls' Day. Ask a favorite saint to pray for you and your family. These days remind us that death doesn't break the bonds of love. We pray for the souls, we ask the saints to pray for us, and we look forward to the day we'll all be together in God's kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, 0 Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.

From the Pastor - 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • October 16, 2026
Today's readings remind us to be mindful not only of who we are, but also Whose we are. In today's Gospel, the Pharisees attempt to trap Jesus by asking whether it is lawful to pay the tax to Caesar. Their question is meant to force Him into choosing sides. But Jesus refuses to be drawn into their narrow way of thinking. Instead, He asks whose image appears on the coin. When they answer, "Caesar," Jesus responds, "Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God." Those words remind us that while we have responsibilities in this world, our first allegiance belongs to God. Everything we have comes from Him, and through Baptism we have become His sons and daughters. Our time, our talents, our treasure, and our very lives are gifts entrusted to us by the Lord. May we use them each day in grateful response to His goodness, remembering that we belong to Him above all else. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2026 Pastoral Pondering With the mid-term elections coming up and early voting beginning this past week, I thought it would be a good idea to remind everyone the importance of Catholics voting and engaging in civil life. On November 3 we will elect members of Congress, state officials, and many local officeholders. Midterm elections draw fewer voters than a presidential year, yet they shape the laws under which we live: the protection of human life, the freedom of the Church to teach and serve, the strength of the family, the care of the poor, and the education of the young. To stay home is not neutrality. It leaves those decisions to others. The Church has long taught that citizenship is part of charity. The Catechism says that co-responsibility for the common good makes it “morally obligatory… to exercise the right to vote” (CCC 2240). Pope Francis put it plainly: a good Catholic does not stand apart from politics, but offers the best of himself so that those who govern may serve the good of all. Voting is one ordinary way we do that. It is also a moral act, not a team sport. Our identity in Christ comes before any party label. The U.S. bishops, in *Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship* (scan code), remind us that we form our consciences by the Gospel and the Church’s teaching, then vote in light of that formation. A well-formed conscience does not support a program that contradicts the fundamental contents of faith and morals. Some acts are always gravely wrong: the direct taking of innocent human life, including abortion and euthanasia; attacks on the nature of marriage; religious persecution; and the deliberate degradation of the poor. Other issues—immigration, wages, housing, care of creation, criminal justice—also belong to the common good and require prudent judgment about what will help people. Not every issue carries the same moral weight, and rarely does one candidate embody the whole of Catholic social teaching. We weigh, we pray, and we choose the path that best protects human dignity and advances the common good. A few practical steps help. Read the bishops’ guidance and, where available, nonpartisan comparisons of candidates’ records and stated positions. Pray before you vote, perhaps with the family. Discuss the issues with charity, remembering that the person across the aisle is also made in the image of God. Then vote. If you cannot get to the polls, use whatever law the state provides. Participation does not end at the ballot box: write your representatives, serve the poor, and keep the Church’s voice in the public square after Election Day. Here at St. Mark we will not tell you whom to support. That judgment belongs to your conscience, formed by the faith. We will urge you not to surrender that conscience to habit, fear, or party. The Lord who will judge nations also judges how we used the freedom we were given. May we use it well.