Hello and Happy Friday!
Here’s what is going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time.
THERE ARE TWO COLLECTIONS THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship, and the Diocese of Bridgeport Seminarian Fund.
BOTTLES AND CANS! St. Mark School will be collecting returnable bottles and cans tomorrow, Saturday, October 3rd between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon in front of the Parish Center. Thank you for supporting St. Mark School!
BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS: Bring all the furry friends to the church lawn TOMORROW, Saturday, October 3 at 1:00 p.m. for a special blessing! Donations of pet food and treats will be gladly accepted and donated to the Stratford Animal Shelter.
THIS WEEKEND IS OUR SEMINARIAN AND VOCATIONS DRIVE. Bishop Caggiano has launched this special drive to cover the enormous expense of educating over 40 seminarians this academic year – the most our diocese has had in over 30 years. This effort also funds the outreach of the Vocation Office to assist young men as they discern their call. Please be as generous as possible to ensure happy, healthy, holy priests for the future of our diocese. Envelopes were mailed out in your packets and will be in the pews at all Masses this weekend. You can also give online at www.bridgeportpriest.org. Thank you for your generosity.
OUR NEXT CHILDREN’S MASS will take place THIS Sunday, October 4th at 9:30 a.m. and it will celebrate the many children baptized at St. Mark in recent years. After Mass, plan to enjoy light refreshments in the church basement. All are welcome, especially those who have celebrated a baptism with us in the past few years. We can’t wait to see you and share this joyful morning together!
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR ANNIVERSARY JUBILEE COUPLES! This weekend, we joyfully congratulate the couples celebrating milestone wedding anniversaries this year. The couples will be recognized at Masses at St. Augustine on Saturday, and St. Mark on Sunday at 11:30. May God continue to bless their marriages with love, faith, and many more years of happiness together. We are grateful for their beautiful witness to the Sacrament of Marriage and the gift of faithful love.
Bob and Ann Logan 70 Years
Joe and Deanne Donia 69 Years
Margaret and Rudolph Niedermeier 66 Years
Bob and Debbie Grosso 60 Years
Eugene and Edna Arthurs 55 Years
Paul and Nancy DeVitto 50 Years
Dr. Nicholas and Mary Ellen Bertini 50 Years
Gabriel and Kathleen Falzarano 50 Years
Edward and Maura Bitsco 45 Years
Len and Jan O'Neil 45 Years
Steve and Maria Politica 30 Years
Michael and Christine Darcy 25 Years
Nicholas and Maryellen Kleszczewski 25 Years
Frank and Lucille Marottolo 25 Years
Caitlin Ross and Daniel Benoit 15 Years
Paul and Liliana Jacobs 15 Years
OUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Daily Rosary and Litany Devotion to our Blessed Mother began this Thursday, October 1st and continues through the month of October. Join the Knights daily for the Rosary weeknights at 7:00 p.m., Saturdays after the 5:00 Mass, and Sundays after the 11:30 Mass in the church. The devotion takes about 30 minutes, and everyone is welcome!
ST. MARK SCHOOL INVITES YOU TO PRAY THE LIVING ROSARY, this Thursday, October 8th at 1:00 p.m. in the church. Please join our schoolchildren for this beautiful and moving candlelight Rosary.
GOD HAS ALWAYS DESIRED TO EAT WITH HIS PEOPLE
Dear Parish Family,
We are excited to share a new parish video series dedicated to one of the greatest mysteries and gifts of our Catholic faith: the Eucharist.
Through this series, we will explore the story of the Eucharist from Scripture and salvation history, and discover how God's desire to dwell with and feed His people reaches its fulfillment in Jesus Christ.
We have begun to release one episode at a time, giving us the opportunity to watch, reflect, and grow in our understanding together. Episodes will be posted on the St. Mark Parish website: The Eucharist: Heaven on Earth – St. Mark R.C. Church or on YouTube: The Eucharist: Heaven on Earth - YouTube. We currently have four episodes posted on our website!
Our hope is that this series will do more than simply teach us about the Eucharist. We pray that it will deepen our love for Jesus in the Eucharist, help us to be more intentional and reverent when we receive Holy Communion, and challenge us to live differently because we have received Christ.
The Eucharist is not simply a symbol.
It is Jesus.
And the more deeply we understand that gift, the more deeply it should transform the way we worship, the way we pray, and the way we live.
We invite everyone in our parish family to join us on this journey.
God has always desired to eat with His people. Let us rediscover what it means to come to His table. Please see the attached poster.
SAVE THE DATE: State of the Church Address – October 26, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
Please join Fr. Reggie for the State of the Church Address on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6:30 PM in the Church Basement.
Fr. Reggie will share an update on the life of our parish, reflect on where we are today and discuss our hopes, challenges and vision for the future of St. Mark. This is an opportunity for us to come together as a parish family, celebrate our blessings and look ahead to how we can continue to grow in faith and community.
All parishioners are encouraged to attend.
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS FOOD DRIVE FOR THE MISSIONARIES OF CHARITY: Our Knights of Columbus will be collecting (only) bagged rice, bagged dry beans, cooking oil, and sugar for the Missionaries of Charity to be distributed to needy families in Bridgeport. They will be in the main church parking lot on Saturday, October 17th from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon to take your donations. Thank you for helping the Knights supply basic foods for those who have so little.
WINTER COAT DRIVE: Deacon Paul is collecting gently used or new winter coats and gloves (please, no spring jackets) for those at the Lord's Kitchen and Merton House. Please leave your donated items in the Upper Room. The Winter Coat Drive will end on October 22nd.
COME SING WITH US! Choir Members Wanted! Father Reggie says we all have something we love to do that we could offer to the Saint Mark community! Perhaps you love to sing! Our choir sings for the Sunday 9:30am Mass. Rehearsals are Wednesdays from 7-8pm. Basic music reading skills are a help. God is asking you to share your love of singing with the choir....
hopefully your response will be: " HERE I AM LORD!!"
Please email Don Brelsford for information: dbrelsford@stmarkstfd.org
THE BOOK OF REMEMBRANCE: A Book of Remembrance is a Catholic tradition where the names of deceased loved ones are printed in a booklet and remembered in prayer, especially during November and special liturgical celebrations.
St. Mark Church invites parishioners to enroll their deceased loved ones in our Catholic Book of Remembrance, a lasting tribute of prayer and remembrance. Each entry is $100.00 (one-time fee) and may include a single name (John Smith), Mr. and Mrs. John Smith, or The Smith Family.
Our book also includes a Living Memorial section, following the same entry and fee structure. Should a loved one pass away, their name will be moved to the deceased section at no additional cost.
The Book of Remembrance will be printed for and distributed on Monday, November 2, All Souls Day. The deadline for submissions is Monday, October 19th. Please consider honoring your loved ones through this special ministry of prayer and remembrance.
Please contact the church office if you would like to add a name to the Book of Remembrance, or if you have questions.
PEACE IN THE STORM: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Reflect. Renew. Respond.
Are you interested in supporting fellow parishioners through faith, hope, and conversation?
Peace in the Storm is a parish ministry for those facing chronic pain, caregiving, bereavement, loneliness, or other life challenges.
We are looking for kind, welcoming, and prayerful volunteers to help facilitate monthly faith-filled conversations.
No special training is needed. Materials and support will be provided.
THANK YOU FROM THE DIVINE MERCY CENACLE: Three boxes of donated Religious Articles for our Missions have been mailed to Texas for distribution in time for Christmas. In January, we will seek any other items you may wish to donate. These will go out to the Missions in time for Easter.
Many thanks again to all of our St.Mark Parishioners who so generously share in our Divine Mercy Cenacle projects at Christmas and Easter. And to those who have donated funds to help pay for the shipping.
There will be a display of photos of Mission priests/families, along with their words of appreciation in the Upper Room by Oct. 11th for all of us to enjoy. Again, our Cenacle's "Thanks and Blessings" to one and all.
MEN’S PROGRAM AT ST. JAMES: THAT MAN IS YOU! That Man is You! honestly addresses the pressures and temptations that men face in our modern culture, especially those relating to their roles as husbands and fathers. The program harmonizes current social and medical science with the teachings of the Church and the wisdom of the saints to develop the vision of man fully alive! The program meets Tuesdays at 6:30 pm at St. James Parish office conference room. Please see the attached poster for all details.
NEMERGUT FENCE PROJECT: HELP US REACH THE FINISH LINE!
Thanks to your generosity, we have reached 90.2% 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.
BIBLE STUDY is held on Wednesdays at 6:00 pm in the Upper Room. Newcomers are always welcome. Please email Laura (Lrobertson@stmarkstfd.org) to register. If we have your email address, we can send you the readings in advance and notify you of any last-minute meeting changes. Thank you!
HOLY FAMILY CHURCH IN FAIRFIELD PRESENTS: Ignite CT 2026
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth" John16:13
A two-day encounter to experience the power of an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. Powerful teachings rooted in the Word of God, Holy Eucharist (Sunday) and Adoration (Saturday), Praise & Worship, Testimonies, and Fellowship.
Bring your whole heart, your Bible, pen and a book. Bring your family and friends for an anointed and life-transforming weekend. Please see the attached poster for all details.
FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CATHOLIC STUDIES LECTURE SERIES: Fairfield University is offering a series of three free lectures this fall focusing on the theme “HUMANITAS”, embracing Pope Leo’s first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas: on safeguarding the human person in a time of artificial intelligence”. Please see the attached poster for all details or visit www.Fairfield.edu/cs for registration and the live-stream link.
UPCOMING EVENTS AT STRATFORD CATHOLIC CHURCHES:
Chili Dinner, Saturday, October 17th at Holy Name of Jesus, please see the attached poster.
Ivan Diaz Concert, Friday, October 23rd at Our Lady of Peace, please see the attached poster.
CONNECTICUT CATHOLIC MEN’S CONFERENCE – OCTOBER 10, 2026
Men of the parish are invited to attend the 2026 Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference on Saturday, October 10 at Holy Cross Catholic High School in Waterbury. Doors open at 7:30 a.m. and the program begins at 8:30 a.m.
This inspiring day of faith and fellowship features nationally known Catholic speakers:
Dr. Karlo Broussard, Fr. Dan Reehil, Jeanne Mancini, and Fr. Declan Gibson, along with opportunities for Confession, Eucharistic fellowship, Catholic exhibits and ministries, and concludes with Vigil Mass celebrated by Archbishop Christopher J. Coyne.
Lunch is included. Tickets are $45 for adults and $30 for students. Deacons and seminarians attend free.
Whether you have attended before or are considering coming for the first time, this is an outstanding opportunity to deepen your Catholic faith, strengthen your relationship with Christ, and share a memorable day with men from throughout Connecticut. Register today at: www.CTCatholicMen.org.
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/.
Enjoy the Weekend!
Laura and Dana
