Hello and Happy Friday!
Here’s what’s going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the Baptism of the Lord.
THERE ARE TWO COLLECTIONS THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship, and Extraordinary Expenses.
STRATFORD CLERGY ASSOCIATION DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. CELEBRATION: All are warmly invited to join the Stratford Clergy Association for a community celebration honoring the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at 3:00 PM, at St. Mark Church, 500 Wigwam Lane, Stratford.
The keynote speaker will be Fr. Reginald Norman, Pastor of St. Mark Church and Episcopal Vicar for Black Catholics for the Diocese of Bridgeport. Together, we will gather in prayer, reflection, and unity as we celebrate Dr. King’s enduring call to justice, peace, and love.
All are welcome.
MASS STIPENDS: Effective January 1, 2026, throughout the Diocese of Bridgeport, the Mass Stipend fee increased from $10.00 per Mass to $15.00 per Mass. The stipend is the same for a Mass celebrated on a Sunday or on a weekday. All stipends that have already been collected for Masses to be celebrated in 2026 will be honored. The donation for the week-long sanctuary candle remains at $10.00.
THE CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS will be removed from the altar on Monday, January 12 and placed in the Upper Room. Parishioners are welcome to take a plant home any time after 2:00 p.m. on Monday. Any plants left behind will be discarded on Friday, January 16.
ONLINE GIVING: It’s easy to sign up for online giving! Simply scan the code on the attached poster with your smartphone, or visit St Mark Catholic Church, Stratford, CT - STRATFORD, CT | Online Giving. You may connect your giving to a credit card or bank account. You are in full control of your donations and may add or remove a donation at any time.
Benefits for you:
- Convenient anytime, anywhere access through the internet.
- Secure and Confidential: Adheres to banking security standards.
- Flexible: Start, stop, and change your contributions at any time.
Benefits for St. Mark Church: Participation saves time and expenses:
- Our volunteer money counters will spend less time processing collections.
- Office staff does not need to manually enter online contributions.
- The need for mailed donation envelopes is eliminated, saving St. Mark this expense.
Please see the attached poster and call us in the office if you need help getting started!
PEACE IN THE STORM: Daily pain and illness can cause us to question so many things in our lives. St, Mark Parish is forming a group to meet in conversation and reflection about ongoing suffering and our relationship with God and our Church.
We will use the book Peace in the Storm by Maureen Pratt as the guide for our sessions. If this speaks to your heart or you would like to know more, our first session will be Tuesday, January 20th from 6:30-7:30 pm in the upper church. Send questions or to get information about a Zoom option, email dference@stmarkstfd.org
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.
COLUMBIETTES: Are you a Catholic woman looking for a way to get involved in parish events? Do you enjoy social activities? Do you want to enrich your Catholic faith? We are looking to see if there is interest at St. Mark for a chapter of the Columbiettes.
There will be an informational meeting on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Mark in the Upper Room. Donna Rahtelli from Our Lady of Peace will give an overview of the Columbiettes organization and answer any questions. All women of the parish are invited!
ST. MARK SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE:
EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE!
St. Mark School Open House
Sunday, January 25, 2026
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
If you’re looking for an elementary school where your child will love to learn, schedule a tour of St. Mark School. Visit our classrooms and meet our faculty and school community. Limited school tours for prospective families are available by reservation only. Click below to reserve your 15-minute Open House tour today!
Limited openings available.
Registrations for next year will be accepted.
Reserve your tour today!
Registrations for next year will be accepted.
Reserve your tour today!
St. Mark is proud to be a 2009 Nationally Recognized Blue Ribbon School of Excellence and a New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) accredited school.
For more information, call (203) 375-4291, visit www.stmarkschool.org or email contactus@stmarkschool.org. Please see the attached poster.
HELP US BUILD A SAFER FUTURE FOR OUR CHILDREN
Nemergut Road Fence Project – We’re at 45% to Our Goal!
Thank you to everyone who has already supported the Nemergut Road Fence Project. We are currently at 45% 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
STEUBENVILLE EAST! Join youth from all over the Northeast for a weekend of Fun, Faith and Fellowship! Experience your Catholic faith in a profound, life-changing way. The Steubenville Youth Conference takes place the weekend of July 24-26, 2026, at the MassMutual Center, Springfield MA. Please contact Jared Forcier at 203 984 6037 or jared@stmarkyouthgroup.org for more information. Please see the attached poster.
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!
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.
BISHOP’S LECTURE SERIES:
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.
JESUS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE DEAD SEA SCROLLS: A CATHOLIC PERSPECTIVE ON CHRISTIAN ORIGINS: a talk featuring Dr. John Bergsma, on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 7:00 pm a the McClinch Family Center (at St. Catherine) 190 Shelton Rd., Trumbull CT
Click to Download the flyer
Click to register, visit: https://www.bridgeportdiocese.org/our-bishop/bishops-lecture-series/
INCARNATE BEAUTY AT ST. THERESA IN TRUMBULL: Join us Friday, January 16th for the next “Incarnate Beauty” Holy Hour with the Guild of the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Guild of the Most Sacred Heart. Encounter Christ in Eucharistic Adoration, fellowship and the Catholic arts. The evening includes a beautiful Holy Hour followed by a time of fellowship, music with our featured Catholic performing artists, Matt & Ranae Sperrazza, and art by our featured visual artist, Deacon Tom Masaryk. Spread the word and invite a friend and come encounter Christ in beauty! Please see the attached poster.
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!
Laura , Joan, and Dana
