Happy Friday!
Here’s what’s going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity.
HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! We wish all Fathers, Grandfathers, Godfathers, Father-figures, and Fathers not by blood but by love, a very happy Father’s Day!
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for the gift of our fathers.
We honor their love, sacrifice, and guidance.
May they always feel appreciated and blessed in their role as spiritual leaders of our families.
Amen
THERE IS ONE COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship.
CONCERT ON THE GREAT LAWN: Get ready for some rock and roll! Team Social invites you to their first concert of the summer THIS Wednesday, June 18th featuring the Tony Ferrigno Trio. The suggested donation is just $5.00 per person. Bring your own lawn chair, drinks and snacks and get ready for a good time! Please see the attached poster for all the information.
THE APOSTOLATE OF BLACK CATHOLICS will be hosting a Juneteenth celebration on Wednesday, June 19th at 6:00 PM here at St. Mark Church. The evening will include music, reflections, and opportunities to learn more about the significance of Juneteenth and the work of the Apostolate. All are invited, please see the attached flyer.
**Please note, the Church Office will be closed on Thursday for the Juneteenth holiday.
FR. REGGIE’S INSTALLATION MASS will be held on Sunday, June 29, at 11:30 a.m. A reception with light refreshments and live music will follow in the Parish Center. All are welcome!
FROM THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS:
ROSARY: Our next Rosary and Litany devotion will be held as part of the Knights 5th Sunday program on the weekend of June 28 -29. As not to interfere with Fr. Reggie’s installation Mass and celebration we will meet on Saturday June 28 at 6:00 pm (after the 5:00 pm Mass) rather than on Sunday June 29. Thank you for your continued support of our Rosary devotion.
BIBLE STUDY with Fr. Reggie meets on Wednesdays from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the Upper Room. Newcomers are welcome, please email Laura (lrobertson@stmarkstfd.org) to register.
FROM FR. REGGIE:
NEW PROCEDURE FOR BRINGING THE EUCHARIST TO THE HOMEBOUND.
For people who are homebound, meaning they cannot go to church because they are sick or elderly, the Church makes sure they can still receive the Eucharist. We use Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist to bring the Eucharist to them. This is a separate ministry that functions outside of Mass. It is not proper to bring a pyx up during the distribution of Eucharist as individuals should be focused on reverently receiving for themselves.
To assist us and to make sure that the Eucharist is handled properly and the office knows who needs to receive the Eucharist: we ask that prior to Mass, individuals bring their pyx to the sacristy and sign their name and the name of the person or persons they are bringing the Eucharist to and how many they need in their pyx. The pyx will then be left on the sheet and prior to Mass the Deacon will place the pyx on a special table at the foot of the Sanctuary. At the end of Mass (Before the prayer to St. Michael), the celebrant will invite the ministers up to retrieve their pyx and bless them. The Eucharist should be taken to the person immediately after Mass.
Ministers to the homebound need to be Virtus compliant and have completed training through Lead resulting in a Diocesan Mandate to fulfill this duty. If you have questions on Virtus or Eucharistic Minister training, please call the office.
THE PRACTICE OF INTINCTION, which is when the Eucharist (the Body of Christ) is dipped into the wine (the Blood of Christ) before being given to someone or receiving it yourself is not allowed in the Diocese. Ministers have been asked to just gently place their hand over the precious blood.
MASS BOOK 2026: The 2026 Mass Book opened on Monday, June 2, 2025. Masses may be arranged in writing or email (email requests will not be fulfilled until payment is received.) Masses are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.
NO PHONE CALLS OR IN-PERSON REQUESTS WILL BE ACCEPTED
Stipends are required at the time of scheduling. Masses and Collective Intention Masses are $10.00 each. Each family may schedule three (3) Masses: two (2) weekend Masses and one (1) weekday Mass. Also, the Perpetual Candle which runs Sunday through Saturday may be scheduled at $10.00 per week.
Please print legibly. Please provide the date(s) you would like. Please provide alternate date(s) in case someone has already selected your date. Please provide the time for your Mass and alternate times in case someone has already selected your time. Please print legibly how you wish the intention to be remembered e.g., Smith Family,etc. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER WITH YOUR REQUEST. The office will send you a receipt for your payment as well as a sheet listing your Mass intentions. Please save the sheet. I am working my way through all the requests. Thank you for your patience!
THE DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT is hosting several Guild events including a lecture featuring Catholic Medical & Moral Ethicist Dr. Charles Camosy, a one-day retreat for Music Ministers, and one day pilgrimage to the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. Please see the attached flyers for all details.
OUR BULLETIN ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVE, Robin Ungaro, will be at St. Mark on Monday, July 7, and Tuesday, July 8, to discuss advertising opportunities in our bulletin. Please call Robin at 203 747 5671 to set up an appointment to speak with her! Please see the attached flyer for additional information.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2025: Mark your calendars: August 18-22, 2025, the Catholic Community of Stratford will be offering Vacation Bible School at Our Lady of Peace Parish. The theme will be Live It Out. Each day will run from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Please reach out to Lorena at lmelgar@setoncollaborative.org for registration. Please see the attached poster and registration forms for campers and volunteers.
SAVE THE DATE FOR A CONCERT FEATURING FR. ROB GALEA, A young, dynamic speaker, recording artist, song writer and priest from Australia, on Friday, October 17th, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Mark! He will perform with members of our Adult Choir (including the Adult Choir of St. Ann Church in Devon under the direction of Peter DeMarco) and St. Mark School Children's Choir. Fr. Rob travels the world, ministering to more than 200,000 young people annually, and has been at World Youth Day with Pope Francis! Watch for more information and check out Fr. Rob’s story and music at www.frrobgalea.com. Poster is attached!
DO YOU HAVE A QUESTION FOR FR. REGGIE ABOUT OUR FAITH? Write it down and drop it in the “Ask your Pastor a Question” box, there’s one by each entrance of the church. Fr. Reggie will answer your questions in the weekly Flocknote.
The Question Boxes were quiet this week, check back next week for more Q&A!
DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT VIRTUS SAFE ENVIRONMENT: The Diocese of Bridgeport is committed to the safety and welfare of our children! As all volunteers are aware, an updated background check and five-year renewal training session is imperative to keeping our children and community safe. For your information, you may visit the St. Mark website, click on “links,” click on “Diocese of Bridgeport” tab, click on “Safe Environment,” and read and review the most current data regarding safety for our children, and elderly, in the community. For those who are volunteers, please make sure you are updated in VIRTUS by visiting your existing account at www.VIRTUSonline.org. Or you may phone the Office of Safe Environment: 203-416-1407.
Additional resources are available and free to all parents at our parish. These resources include articles on human trafficking, youth protection, and care for vulnerable adults. Please visit the Virtus website Resources page for information:
The Diocese of Bridgeport also offers all parents the opportunity to attend Safe Environment training to supplement the Safe Environment training your child receives in public school. Please visit the Diocese of Bridgeport website to learn more and to sign up for this free and valuable training: https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/safe-environments/home/.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Laura and Joan
