From the Pastor - Baptism of the Lord

January 10, 2025

As we celebrate this feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we can study His actions at the Jordan River as a powerful example of servant leadership. We see in Jesus a type of leadership that is characterized by humility and leading by example.


Certainly, the sinless Savior did not need a baptism of repentance! But Jesus humbly made Himself one with his people to draw us to Him and create a relationship with us so that we would be open to His teachings and influence.


As a servant leader, we also see that Jesus leads by example. He doesn’t just tell the people they need to be baptized. He shows them how and does it Himself to teach them. To lead like Jesus, we, too, must “walk the walk” and not just “talk the talk.” If we want those who we lead to be generous and hard-working, then we must show them how to do this by demonstrating generosity and hard work ourselves.


Immediately after His baptism, we learn of the powerful affirmation of the Father who opens the heavens, sends the Holy Spirit upon Jesus in bodily form, and says audibly, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well-pleased.” Let us be filled with gratitude for our amazing God and be reminded that when we are grateful followers of Jesus and servant-leaders in imitation of Him, the Father will be well-pleased with us, too.


Let us be filled with gratitude for our amazing God and be reminded that when we are grateful followers of Jesus and servant-leaders in imitation of Him, the Father will be well-pleased with us, too.

© Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2024


Pastoral Pondering

As we move into the new calendar year, many people make resolutions. This is not a bad thing and can actually be helpful in our spiritual lives if we take the time to make some commitments in this regard.


Recently, I have been reading The Mystery of Incomprehensible Love: The Eucharistic Message of Mother Mecthilde of the Blessed Sacrament. Mother Mecthilde, a seventh century Benedictine religious sister in Paris, was a passionate supporter of frequent Communion and deep devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. Her love for the Eucharist and her faith in the grace and blessings that we find there are beautifully inspiring.

The Church reminds us that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith; yet we still often become indifferent to our reception of Holy Communion or assistance at Holy Mass. We are blessed at St. Mark with Perpetual Adoration. Nonetheless, it is still difficult at times to cover all of the hours; thus, ensuring Our Lord is never left without an adorer.



My desire will always be that St. Mark is a parish centered on dedication to the Eucharist and the worthy celebration of Holy Mass. That has to be our primary mission and goal and the impetus that inspires everything else that we do. Let our resolution be to recommit ourselves wholeheartedly to this august Mystery and glorify our Eucharistic Lord in all that we seek to do.

 

 

From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 3rd Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • March 6, 2026
Today’s readings for this Third Sunday of Lent center on the theme of thirst, reminding us that a stewardship way of life both satisfies our own longing for Christ and helps us respond to Christ’s thirst for souls. In our first reading from Exodus, the Israelites complain in their thirst for water, despite all God has done to free them from slavery. Yet when Moses cries out for help, God provides abundantly, bringing water from the rock to satisfy His people. The Lord’s generosity did not end there. He continues to provide for us today, patiently meeting our needs again and again. In today’s Gospel, we hear the powerful encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well, beginning with His simple request: “Give me a drink.” He then tells her that He can offer living water — water that truly satisfies. These words speak directly to us as well. Christ asks us to “give Him a drink” by sharing the gifts we have received with Him and with others for His sake. Yet it is Christ Himself who fills us, offering the living water of His grace. God invites each of us to play a part in bringing others to Him through a stewardship way of life. This Lent, may we respond to that invitation with renewed commitment, offering our time, talent, and treasure so that many may come to know Christ. In doing so, we help to quench His thirst for souls. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026 Pastoral Pondering  Continuing with last week’s theme about stewardship and in harmony with our Stewardship Renewal, here are some Key Reasons Why Stewardship Matters to Catholic s: 1 . It Reflects Gratitude for God's Love God has first loved us unconditionally (shown most perfectly in Jesus Christ). Stewardship is our loving response—recognizing all good things as gifts from Him and returning love through generous use of those gifts. As the bishops note, "Stewardship is the Response of the Disciple to God’s unconditional love for us." 2. It Imitates Jesus, the Model Steward Jesus lived as the perfect steward, using His life, time, and gifts entirely for the Father's will and the good of humanity. Catholics are called to imitate Him, making God's love visible in the world. 3. It Involves Accountability Before God We will be held accountable for how we use what God has entrusted to us (e.g., biblical parables like the talents in Matthew 25:14–30 emphasize this). Stewardship reminds us that we are managers, not ultimate owners. 4 . It Encompasses Time, Talent, and Treasure Catholics are called to share these proportionally and sacrificially to support the Church, help the poor, and promote justice. This builds up the Body of Christ and addresses needs in society. 5. It Includes Care for Creation As part of Catholic social teaching, stewardship extends to environmental responsibility. We respect the Creator by caring for the earth (e.g., as in Genesis 1–2, where humanity is given dominion as caretakers, not exploiters). This is a "requirement of our faith," not just an optional concern. 6. It Leads to Spiritual Growth and Holiness Living as a steward fosters conversion, deeper prayer, and a Christ-centered life over self-centeredness. It transforms ordinary actions into acts of worship and service. In essence, stewardship is integral to authentic Catholic life because it turns faith into action, gratitude into generosity, and discipleship into a tangible witness of God's Kingdom. It's not primarily about fundraising or programs—it's about a heartfelt relationship with God that naturally overflows into love for neighbor and creation.

From the Pastor - 2nd Sunday in Lent

By John Putnam • February 27, 2026
Our readings for this second Sunday of Lent offer us, as Christian stewards, the motivation to continue our 40-day journey toward deeper holiness. The first reading from the book of Genesis describes God’s call to Abram (who would later be called Abraham). God instructs Abram to leave his home and set out to a land that God had chosen for him. Abram’s response is an ancient example of good stewardship. Instead of clinging to his comfortable home and way of life, he recognizes that all he has is a gift from God, puts his trust in God, and obeys. And God rewards him, saying, “I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing.” To “be a blessing” is the true aim of a stewardship way of life. It is also an excellent way to live out the season of Lent. The sacrifices we take on, the spiritual disciplines we practice, and the extra acts of service we perform during this season — all give glory to God and transform our lives into a blessing for others. Lest we grow weary on this path, our Gospel passage today, from Matthew, offers us a powerful image of the great God we serve. It is the story of the Transfiguration of Jesus, when our Lord reveals Himself in His true glory and the Father says, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” The apostles who witnessed this were awestruck. But our loving Savior reassured them saying, “Rise, and do not be afraid.” As we continue our Lenten journey, let us take these two verses, “Listen to him,” “Rise, and do not be afraid” to heart. Let us rely on God’s strength to aid us in our spiritual disciplines as we move through Lent. We will arrive at Easter with deeper holiness, as a blessing to God and others — and as better stewards of all God’s gifts to us. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026) Pastoral Pondering Stewardship holds profound importance in Catholic teaching because it is fundamentally an expression of discipleship and a grateful response to God's immense love and generosity. Catholics believe that everything —our lives, time, talents, treasure (material resources), the earth itself, and all creation—belongs to God as the Creator and Owner. We are not owners but stewards , entrusted with these gifts to manage responsibly, not for selfish purposes but to honor God, serve others, and build His Kingdom. This concept is rooted in Scripture and has been articulated clearly by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in their 1992 pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple's Response. The bishops describe a Christian steward as one who: - Receives God's gifts gratefully - Cultivates them responsibly - Shares them lovingly in justice with others - Returns them with increase to the Lord  Stewardship is not optional for Catholics; it flows naturally from becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. As the USCCB explains, "once one chooses to become a disciple of Jesus Christ, stewardship is not an option." It is a way of life that shapes how Catholics understand and live out their faith daily.