Hello and Happy Friday!
Here’s what is going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter:
THERE IS ONE COLLECTION THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship.
ST. MARK SCHOOL will hold their monthly Bottles & Cans collection THIS Saturday, May 2nd, from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon. Please drop off your returnables in front of the Parish Center. Thank you for supporting St. Mark School!
PARISH HALL UPDATE: We have received the Certificate of Occupancy for the Parish Hall, renovations are complete! We thank all who worked tirelessly to coordinate this project and make it happen. Fr. Reggie blessed the Parish Hall on Wednesday in the presence of the first lunch wave of St. Mark School students who are happy to be using the space again as their cafeteria (see the attached photos). In the coming weeks parish groups will begin to use the Hall for their meetings and events.
DIAPER DRIVE: The Respect Life team will again be collecting Diapers for the Bridgeport Rescue Mission and Malta House for needy Moms and their babies. Containers will be at the entrances of the Church from May 2nd through May 10th, for the Diaper Collection. Please donate the larger sizes of diapers (size 2 and larger). Diapers are so appreciated. Thank you for your generosity.
THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS invite you to join the Daily Rosary and Litany Devotion to our Blessed Mother during the month of May. Beginning TONIGHT, May 1, the Knights will lead the Rosary on weeknights at 7:00 pm, Saturdays at 6:00 pm, and Sundays at 12:30 pm. The devotion takes about 30 minutes and is held either in the church or the Upper Room. If you don’t know how to pray the Rosary, they will teach you! All are invited!
YOUTH GROUP CAMPFIRE NIGHT! Join the St. Mark Youth group for a night of hot dogs and s’mores around the campfire THIS Sunday, May 3rd, 6:00-7:30 pm. Area youth in grades 7 and up are invited, you don’t need to be a Youth Group member to come and join the fun! Please contact jared@stmarkyouthgroup.org to RSVP so they can be sure to have enough Hershey bars and marshmallows!
THE ST. MARK GUILD OF OUR LADY will pray the Marian Mysteries of the Rosary and Crown the Blessed Mother on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. in the church. All are welcome and refreshments will be served in the Upper Room following the May Crowning.
THE ASCENSION: Christ Opens Heaven for Us
The Feast of the Ascension is one of the Church’s most beautiful celebrations of hope. It commemorates the moment when the risen Jesus, 40 days after Easter, ascended into heaven before His disciples. In 2026, the Ascension is celebrated on Thursday, May 14, 2026, in our diocese, and it is a holy day of obligation. Christ’s Ascension marks His definitive entrance into heaven, and He intercedes for us before the Father.
Holy Day Masses will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 13 at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, May 14, at 8:00 a.m., 12:00 noon, and 6:00 p.m.
THE 2027 MASS BOOK will open on Monday, May 4, 2026. 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 $15.00 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.
THE DIOCESE OF BRIDGEPORT PRESENTS A MULTICULTURAL FESTIVAL on Saturday, May 16th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. right here at St. Mark! The festival will feature music, dance, food, Mass with Bishop Frank, and Adoration. Please see the attached poster for all details.
THE ST. MARK KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS BLOOD DRIVE will be held on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Parish Center. Please make your appointment by visiting www.redcross.org and click on the Give Blood link.
NEMERGUT FENCE PROJECT: HELP US REACH THE FINISH LINE!
Thanks to your generosity, we have reached 79.38% of our goal. We are very grateful.
If you have already contributed, thank you. If you have not yet had the opportunity, please consider making a gift to help us close the final gap and bring this important project to completion. Please send your contribution in the mail or by the Sunday collection and note: "Fence" in the memo field.
Together, we can finish this effort and continue providing a safe and welcoming place for our children and families.
Thank you for your continued generosity and support.
Fr. Reggie
CATECHISTS NEEDED for St. Mark 2026-27 Religious Education Classes
Our parish is seeking dedicated and faith-filled volunteers for the 2026-27 Religious Education classes. This is a wonderful opportunity to share your love of our faith with our children and support their spiritual growth. By volunteering, you will play an important role in helping our young parishioners grow in their knowledge of God, the teachings of the Church, and their relationship with Jesus.
If you are interested, please contact Dana Donia, Director of Faith Formation via email ddonia@stmarkstfd.org or call: 203-377-0444.
NOTE: Virtus training is required, if you are not sure if you have this already, please contact Dana for confirmation. Training will be provided for those who need it.
WHEEL IT FORWARD is a " medical lending library" which takes medical equipment such as wheelchairs, shower seats, crutches, walkers, knee scooters, canes, commodes, hoyer lifts, hospital beds and more. You can drop off and pick up as needed-ALL AT NO COST! Borrow medical equipment when you need it and return it when you no longer need it. No Cost To You!!! Address: Wheel It Forward at 55 Lupes Drive, Stratford. More information at www.wheelitforwardusa.org
PLEASE Do Not Leave used Medical Equipment in the halls of church.
PEACE IN THE STORM: So many of us wake up to a new morning and begin our day with wonder…..wondering how much pain we might have that day. Those with chronic pain and illness understand how much uncertainty they face. Our ministry, Peace in the Storm Project, at St. Mark parish allows us to meet in prayer, fellowship and discussion with others in a small group setting. Our discussions are based on the book by Maureen Pratt, Peace in the Storm. Our last meeting before the summer break will be on Tuesday, May 19th from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm. For more information, please email dference@stmarkstfd.org.
BIBLE STUDY is held on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in the church. Newcomers are always welcome. Please email Laura (Lrobertson@stmarkstfd.org) if you would like to have the readings emailed to you ahead of time.
THE LONG HILL GARDEN CLUB is holding their annual Plant Sale next Saturday, May 9th, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. on the lawn of the Trumbull Town Hall.
SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABLE TO HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS:
The Stratford Junior Woman’s Club awards a $1,000.00 scholarship annually to a high school senior pursuing higher education. The applicant must be a resident of Stratford, however, can attend a high school outside of Stratford. Application deadline is TODAY May 1st. For additional information and a scholarship application, please email stratfordjuniorwomansclub@gmail.com. Please see the attached poster.
PARISH “SAFE FOOD HANDLING” TRAINING COMING IN AUGUST: Two sessions will be offered: Thursday, August 27th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Saturday, August 29th from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
In advance of our parish cookout in September, Team Social is hosting safe food handling training, led by Maureen K. Whalen, REHS, Environmental Health Supervisor, with the Town of Stratford Health Department. Learn the essentials of food safety to keep yourself and others safe. The training will include personal hygiene (handwashing), time/temperature controls, cross-contamination prevention, proper storage and more. This is especially helpful for those in ministries that serve food and/or sell food for fundraisers, but all interested parishioners are welcome.
Please watch the bulletin/Flocknote for more information and sign-up instructions.
SAVE THE DATE FOR RAINFOREST FALLS! Monday, August 10 – Friday, August 14, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Kids and volunteers: come join the fun at St. Mark as we explore the awesome nature of God! Program information and registration forms are available on our website: 2026 VBS! – St. Mark R.C. Church
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.
ST. MARK SCHOOL GOLF CLASSIC registration is now open! The tournament will begin with an 8:30 shotgun start on Monday, June 22, 2026, at Orange Hills Country Club. See the attached poster and reserve your foursome today!
OUR BULLETIN AD REPRESENTATIVE, Robin Ungaro, will be visiting St. Mark Church at the end of May and would love to meet with anyone who might be interested in placing an ad in our bulletin. Please contact Robin at 203 747 5671 or rungaro@4lpi.com for more information or to set up an appointment to meet with her
HOLY NAME OF JESUS KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS PORKETTA DINNER Saturday, May 16, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Dine in or take out, all are welcome. The dinner features porketta, mashed potatoes, green beans, and more! Please see the attached poster for details and reservations.
PILGRIMAGE TO OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE
Accompany Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano and Chris McMahon on a 4-day pilgrimage to Mexico City.
This life-changing pilgrimage will take place from Friday, October 9- Monday, October 12, 2026. Experience the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe- the most visited Marian shrine in the world. See the miraculous tilma of St. Juan Diego (an image created by God) and attend a pilgrim Holy Mass with the Bishop at the Basilica. Go to Tepeyac Hill where the Blessed Mother appeared to St. Juan Diego and see so much more. Next, travel to the Sisters of Mary at the World Villages for Children (WVC) Girlstown in Chalco, Mexico, to witness how the Sisters are transforming the lives of impoverished children in the most desperate circumstances through education, faith formation and vocational training.
Act Fast! Limited Space Is Available.
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 and Dana
