Hello and Happy Thanksgiving Weekend!
Here’s what’s going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the First Sunday of Advent.
THANKSGIVING DAY MASS IS AT 9:00 A.M., not 8:00 a.m. as stated in the bulletin. My apologies for the mistake.
THERE IS ONE COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship.
THE CHURCH OFFICE WILL BE CLOSED Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday for Thanksgiving weekend. Warm wishes for a Happy Thanksgiving from Fr. Reggie, Fr. Joe, our deacons, and all of the St. Mark staff.
ST MARK SCHOOL WILL NOT be collecting bottles and cans on Saturday, December 6. Please save your returnables until January.
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BLOOD DRIVE will be held on Saturday, November 29, 2025 from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. Donation is quick and easy and makes such a difference! Please visit www.redcross.org and click on the Give Blood link to register and book your appointment.
MONDAY, DECEMBER 8 IS THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY and is a Holy Day of Obligation. Because the Holy Day falls on a Monday, there is no Vigil Mass on Sunday, December 7. Holy Day Masses are at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 7:00 p.m.
GIVING TREE: Thank you for making our Giving Trees bare! Please purchase the gift noted on your tag, wrap it and attach the tag, and return the gift to the church vestibule by Sunday, December 14. Your generosity will help make Christmas brighter for someone who might otherwise go without. Together, we can be the hands and heart of Christ in our community. Thank you!
2025 MAGNIFICAT ADVENT COMPANION is available at all church entrances. Please take a copy home for your family.
ST. MARK COMMUNITY CHRISTMAST TREE LIGHTING! St. Mark Church and School will join on Sunday, December 7, at 4:30 p.m. to light the Christmas Tree on the Great Lawn. Join us for a festive celebration of the Advent Season as we gather together to light the Christmas tree. Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies, and keep an eye out for a special guest!
ST. MARK SCHOOL CELEBRATES CHRISTMAS!
CHRISTMAS TREE RAFFLE: St. Mark School is raffling beautifully decorated Christmas Trees, each with a different theme straight from Santa’s workshop! Stop in the school hallway after Mass on December 6/7 and December 13/14 to purchase a chance to win a tree.
BREAKFAST WITH SANTA: Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 1 pm in the Parish Center (snow date December 14th) Enjoy a hot breakfast provided by Chip’s Family Restaurant, hot cocoa bar, coffee & tea with Santa and your friends. Get your picture taken with Santa too! Crafts, raffle baskets, bake sale goodies, and other fun awaits.
Limited tickets available day of the breakfast: Family Pack - max 6 people - $60, Children 3-10 years old - $10, Adults and Children 11 and Up - $15, Children 2 and under - Free
If paying by check, please make payable to St. Mark School.
All questions can be sent to homeschoolassociation@stmarkschool.org
CHRISTMAS COOKIE BAKE SALE: Along with Breakfast with Santa, St. Mark School will hold its annual Christmas Cookie Bake Sale in the Parish Center hallway on Sunday, December 7th from 10 am to 1 pm. Stop by and pick up some home baked deliciousness! A small selection of cookies will also be available in the hallway by the sacristy.
OUR PARISH NOW HAS A FULL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE HALLOW APP—the #1 Catholic prayer and meditation app. Hallow will help you grow closer to God every day with over 2000 years of prayer, meditation, and contemplative tradition. Enjoy features such as Daily Rosary, Sacred music and Christmas playlists, audiobooks, games, trivia, and novenas. Please see the attached poster for information on how to sign up.
THE LADIES GUILD CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 at 12:30 p.m. at LaFortuna Restaurant, 7365 Main St., Stratford. The luncheon will include Sangria or Mimosa, Appetizer, Entrée, Coffee/Tea, and Dessert. Choose from a large selection of appetizers and entrees right off the luncheon menu. The cost is $26.00 per person, and all ladies of the parish are invited. Please call Gerri Szabo at 203 378 2552 for reservations. Donations to “Under the Bridge” gratefully accepted –warm outer and “under” clothing, blankets, gloves, mittens, hats, and socks are needed.
ANNUAL BISHOP’S APPEAL: FINAL PUSH BEFORE THE END OF 2025
We are so grateful for the generosity of our parish family. Thanks to 253 donors, Saint Mark, Stratford has raised $100,966, placing us 91.79% of the way toward our $110,000 parish goal. Of that, $99,541 has already been collected in cash, representing 90.49% of the goal.
We are so grateful for the generosity of our parish family. Thanks to 253 donors, Saint Mark, Stratford has raised $100,966, placing us 91.79% of the way toward our $110,000 parish goal. Of that, $99,541 has already been collected in cash, representing 90.49% of the goal.
As we enter the last days of the year, we invite those who have not yet participated — and those who may be able to consider an additional gift — to help us reach and hopefully exceed our goal. Your donation directly supports seminarian education, Catholic charities, parish ministries, faith formation, and outreach throughout our diocese. All donations are tax-deductible and can be made before December 31 to count for this tax year.
Let us finish strong together for the good of the Church and the mission of Christ. Thank you for being a generous and faithful parish family.
Fr. Reginald D. Norman
THE ST. MARK BOY SCOUT TROOPS will be selling wreaths and Christmas greenery after the 9:30 and 11:30 Sunday Masses this weekend.
HELP US BUILD A SAFER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN
Nemergut Road Fence Project – We’re at 25% to Our Goal!
Thank you to everyone who has already supported the Nemergut Road Fence Project. We are currently at 25% of our $45,000 goal!
This important project will install a 6-foot white PVC fence, set 25 feet off the road, along with automated security gates. Your generosity directly helps us keep our school, children, and parish community safe.
Every donation makes a difference.
If donating by check, please write “Fence” in the memo field.
If donating by check, please write “Fence” in the memo field.
Thank you for helping us provide a safe and welcoming environment for all!
Fr. Reginald D. Norman
ADVENT NIGHT OF REFLECTION: The words of the hymn "O Come O come Emmanuel" have a lot to teach us about how we can prepare to celebrate the coming of Christ this Advent Season. Deacon Tony Conti will reflect upon the words of this hymn at St. Mark Parish in Stratford on Monday 12/1/25 at 6:00 PM, to explain how they can serve to teach us to live fuller more meaningful lives in this turbulent world in which we find ourselves. All are welcome.
EVERYDAY HOLINESS BY DEACON ANTHONY CONTI: Many have left the church due to a variety of reasons yet remain hungry for the Good News that the Gospel has to offer. We can sometimes give up on ourselves and on the Church if we haven’t been able to internalize a basic tenet of our faith: that Christianity has always been a “Come as you are” faith. Everyday Holiness by Deacon Tony Conti was written for all of us who have looked at our faith and asked ourselves that poignant question: “Where’s the good news?” It’s often our “image of God” that holds us back in the spiritual life. This image can become distorted through various influences from our past and can literally turn our faith into a “worthiness contest,” rather than the good news of a loving and compassionate God Who loves without condition. True holiness is found and lived in the ordinariness of our daily lives – Every life lived with dignity and purpose is holy in God’s eyes. Christianity is intended to be a celebration of the good news that we are all beloved sons and daughters of a most benevolent, merciful, and loving Creator Who asks only that we learn to be Who God made us to be. This book invites us to “re-learn” how to celebrate this good news in our daily lives and begin to see ourselves and our faith from a whole new perspective. Everyday Holiness by Deacon Anthony Conti is available on Amazon.
HOMEBOUND MINISTRY: We are looking for additional Eucharistic Ministers to bring Communion to the Homebound. The ministry involves bringing communion to those who are shut-in; perhaps once a week to 1-2 people.
If you are a Eucharistic Minister and would like more information, please email Deacon Andy, adzujna@stmarkstfd.org, with your name, email address, and phone number. Thank you!
THE MORNINGSTAR GUILD presents a Zoom event on Thursday, December 4 at 6:30: Immaculate Conception: Join us as we delve into the dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception. The guest presenter is Suan Sonna, Director of Apologetics for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Please see the attached poster for all details.
CATHEDRALS: AN ADVENT NIGHT OF WORSHIP with Matt Maher and Sarah Kroger will be held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 at St. Augustine Cathedral Parish. Please see information here: Tickets | Cathedrals Tour in Bridgeport,, CT | iTickets
NATIVITY FESTIVAL: Christ Episcopal Church, at 2000 Main St. in Stratford, presents a Nativity Festival on Saturday, December 6, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The festival features old and new Nativity displays in their historic church. There will also be handmade Christmas crafts, Christmas cookies, and children’s activities. They are seeking old, new, or unique nativities to display. Please see the attached posters for all details.
PEACE IN THE STORM: Do you have questions about faith as you journey with chronic illness or pain? Do you ask how you can find joy and peace while in pain? St. Mark Parish is excited to announce its participation in the Diocesan wide project, Peace in the Storm, and the formation of a faith sharing group for persons living with chronic illness, pain or other health challenges. Through regular meetings participants will have the opportunity to reflect on scripture, the sacraments, prayer and fellowship using the devotional Peace in the Storm by Maureen Pratt. Discussion guides and other resources will be provided through the project. At this point we are seeking those interested in learning more so we can effectively structure and schedule future meetings. If you, or someone you know, carries the quiet cross from health challenges please contact dference@stmarkstfd.org for more information.
DONATIONS FOR THE MISSIONS: Many thanks to all our parishioners who donated the overwhelming amount of religious items for the Missions around the world. Due to the large quantity, there will have to be two shipments going out--one this week and one next. However, we are asking for some help in covering the cost of so many donations. If you are able, please put a donation in an envelope marked: "Missions Donation", and place it in the Collection Basket on Sunday. Again our Divine Mercy Cenacle Ladies want to thank each of you who donated the many items much needed around the world. Blessings to you and your families.
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.
RENEWED AND TRANSFORMED: HOW CHRIST READS AND FULFILLS THE SCRIPTURES Save the date for Scripture Study from Scott Hahn, Jon Bergsma, & Jeffrey Morrow on January 23-24, 2026 at St. Catherine of Siena in Trumbull. Please see the attached poster for all details.
THE INSTITUTE FOR CATHOLIC FORMATION ADVENT RESOURCES: To help you and your families celebrate Advent well this year, The Institute for Catholic Formation has put together the best resources available. Please visit Advent Resources 2025 - Formation Reimagined
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 great weekend and a Happy Thanksgiving!
Laura, Joan, and Dana
