Hello and Happy Friday!
Here’s what is going on at St. Mark as we prepare to celebrate the Twenty-ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
THERE ARE TWO COLLECTIONS THIS WEEKEND: Stewardship, and Mission Sunday.
THE PARISH NURSES will be checking blood pressures after all Masses this weekend. Stop by and get your reading! You may also bring unused/expired medications, and they will properly dispose of them.
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 TOMORROW, 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.
OUR KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS Daily Rosary and Litany Devotion to our Blessed Mother 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!
NEMERGUT FENCE PROJECT: Thank you—You Did It!
Thanks to your generosity, we have reached 100% of our goal! You did it! Thank you for helping to make our campus a safer and more secure place!
CONGRATULATIONS to the forty-four young men and women from St. Mark church who will receive the Sacrament of Confirmation tonight. May God bless you abundantly as you continue to walk with Him!
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 29th.
EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS NEEDED! Deacon Paul needs additional Eucharistic Ministers to bring Holy Communion to Catholics at Lord Chamberlain on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Saturdays of the month, from 10:15 to 11:30. Volunteers choose the dates they can serve even if it's only once a month. The more ministers, the fewer dates needed. This is an important and highly rewarding ministry, for both the residents and the ministers.
Please consider this request prayerfully and contact Deacon Paul at 203-378-8025 (or e mail pkurmay@stmarkstfd.org). Thank you so much. " I was sick, and you visited me."
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR COLUMBIETTES! Last Monday, twenty-six ladies were inducted into the new St. Mark Auxiliary of the Columbiettes. The Columbiettes focus on spiritual growth, social engagement and charitable work. Their activities will include fundraising, social events, and spiritual programs, all guided by the principals of Faith, Hope, and Charity. Congratulations and blessings on your Auxiliary and your work!
HEY KIDS, COME TRICK-OR-TREAT AT THE RECTORY after the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Halloween, Saturday, October 31st. Fr. Reggie and Fr. Jacob will have special treats for all!
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
OUR HANDS TO HEARTS GROUP is asking for donations of yarn, any type or color, as their supply has dwindled. There is a collection box for donated yarn in the Upper Room. The Hands to Hearts group knits and crochets baby blankets for all children who are baptized at St. Mark, they make prayer shawls for the sick, and warm winter hats and mittens for the needy. New members are always welcome. Their meeting schedule is in the bulletin. Thank you!
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 THIS 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.
LAUNCH OF THE ST. LOUIS & ZELIE MARTIN GUILD FOR BUSINESS OWNERS GUILD IN COLLABORATION WITH HIS WAY AT WORK: Business owners in the congregation today, have you ever considered your company a mission field, an opportunity to bring the love of Christ into daily work? Our Diocese has partnered with His Way At Work to invite you to consecrate yourself and your business to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This act of consecration helps you steward your company according to God's will, shaping a workplace rooted in faith, care, and eternal purpose. Visit bridgeportdiocese.org/events before October 22 to take part.
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.
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!
TEAM SOCIAL INVITES YOU TO COME BE PART OF THE FUN! Team Social meets every first Tuesday of every month at 6:00 p.m. in the Upper Room. Newcomers are always welcome. Please email Lucille Marottolo for more information about Team Social: Lucille.Marottolo@quinnipiac.edu
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.
Episodes are 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 16 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.
FALL PROGRAMS AT ST. MARK
State of the Church Address – 10/26/26 at 6:30 PM
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.
Divorced, Separated & Widowed Support Group
Are you navigating the challenges of divorce, separation, or the loss of a spouse? You are invited to join our confidential Divorced, Separated & Widowed Support Group, a safe, faith-filled space to share experiences, explore emotions, find support, and begin or continue the journey toward healing.
We will discuss the emotions that accompany loss, including grief, anger, loneliness, guilt, and forgiveness, as well as the Catholic annulment process.
When: Thursdays at 6:00 PM Where: Rectory Living Room Privacy: All sessions are private and confidential.
Meeting Dates:
- October: 22, 29
- November: 12, 19
- December: 3, 10, 17
- January: 7, 14, 21
- February: 4, 11, 18
You do not have to attend every session. Come when you can. Whether your loss is recent or from years ago, you are welcome. Together, we will support one another as we seek healing, renewed hope, and strength through faith and community. Please email Fr. Reggie to RSVP
Cooking with Fr. Reggie: Food, Family & Faith
Join Fr. Reggie for Cooking with Fr. Reggie, an opportunity to learn the basics of air fryer and Instant Pot cooking while renewing the meaningful traditions of cooking, eating, and praying together as a family.
These sessions are about more than preparing a meal. They are an opportunity to spend quality time together, share the joy of cooking, strengthen family bonds, and rediscover the importance of gathering around the table in prayer and fellowship.
All members of the family are invited!
Dates: November 2, 16, and 30 Space is limited to 25 people per session. Additional dates will be added if needed.
Reservations are required. Please reserve your spot by emailing rnorman@stmarkstfd.org.
Come ready to cook, learn, pray, and enjoy good food and fellowship with Fr. Reggie!
Seniors’ Ministry Planning Meeting
Building Community, Sharing Ideas, Shaping the Future
St. Mark Parish invites our senior parishioners to a special planning meeting to share ideas and discuss how we can better serve the needs, interests, and well-being of our senior community.
We recognize that many of our seniors face challenges with transportation, especially driving at night or traveling long distances. We want to hear directly from you about the programs, activities, services, and opportunities for fellowship that would make St. Mark more accessible, welcoming, and supportive.
This is an opportunity to share your experiences, voice your concerns, offer suggestions, and help shape the future of our parish’s senior ministry. Your voice matters, and your ideas can make a difference!
Date: Tuesday, November 10, 2026 Time: [Time to be announced] Location: The Upper Room, St. Mark Parish
A light lunch will be provided.
Please RSVP to rnorman@stmarkstfd.org so we can plan accordingly.
We look forward to coming together, listening, sharing, and finding new ways to ensure that our seniors remain an active, valued, and connected part of the St. Mark parish family.
Advent Day of Reflection
Prepare the Way of the Lord
Join Fr. Reggie and Fr. Jacob for a special Advent Day of Reflection as we take time away from the busyness of daily life to prepare our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ.
Through prayer, Scripture, and spiritual reflection, we will deepen our relationship with God and rediscover the hope, peace, joy, and love that Advent brings. Each day will feature a different reflection presented by one of our priests, offering a unique perspective to help us grow spiritually during this holy season.
Dates and Times:
- Saturday, November 28, 2026, at 6:30 PM
- Sunday, November 29, 2026, at 1:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Church
All parishioners are invited to join us for this opportunity to slow down, renew our faith, and prepare for the celebration of Christmas.
Come and make room in your heart for Christ this Advent!
GROWING IN FAITH: ONE BOOK AT A TIME: Please contact Fr. Reggie if you are interested in either of the “Must Read” books below!
An Hour with Christ: Seven Meditations by Blessed Fulton Sheen
One hour with Jesus can change every other hour.
“Could you not watch one hour with me?”
Christ asked this question in the Garden of Gethsemane. For Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, it became a lifelong invitation. As a young priest, Sheen began spending one hour each day in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, a practice he continued for more than sixty years and called “the hour that makes my day.”
In this book, Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen invites you to make that same hour with Christ a source of peace, transformation, and deeper friendship with God. Through his meditations, Sheen teaches you how to pray, listen to God, meditate on the mysteries of the faith, and bring your own life before Jesus.
First published as The Holy Hour: Could You Not Watch One Hour with Me?, this classic collection of Fulton Sheen’s meditations for Eucharistic Adoration returns in a new Ascension edition, with practical guidance and beautiful additions to help you make the most of your time with Jesus.
Inside this book, you’ll discover:
- How a Holy Hour can bring greater peace, clarity, and closeness to God
- How to begin a Holy Hour and learn to truly meditate with God
- How to speak honestly with God, quiet your thoughts, and listen for His voice
- Reflections on the Eucharist, the Blessed Mother, Scripture, and your call to holiness
- Practical guidance for making the most of your time before the Blessed Sacrament and letting prayer transform your daily life
This Ascension edition also includes a practical guide for using the book in prayer, a foreword by Fr. Mike Schmitz, a biographical introduction to Fulton Sheen’s life and legacy, and photographs from his life and ministry. Learn to pray with greater intention, listen with greater attentiveness, and allow time in God’s presence to transform the rest of your life.
$15 each for bulk order and shipping - if interested send email to rnorman@stmarkstfd.org
How to be His: a 33-Day Dedication to Our Eucharistic Jesus by Dan Burke, Fr. Ignatious J. Schweitzer, O.P.., Fr. Jesse Maingot
This thirty-three-day dedication is a powerhouse of grace to help you grow in loving union with Jesus in the Holy Eucharist to experience and foster an ongoing Eucharistic revival.
Taste the richness of the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence.
As you grow in Eucharistic wisdom and amazement, you will savor the writings of saints who were great lovers of the Blessed Sacrament-including John Paul II, Charles de Foucauld, Peter Julian Eymard, John of the Cross, Pier Giorgio Frassati, Teresa of Calcutta, Manuel Garcia Gonzalez, and Catherine of Siena-and absorb fresh insights through penetrating reflections about them.
Additionally, you will meditate on the mystery of God’s Word and thereby drink at the source of divine revelation to ignite your interior life.
As you let the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus transform you, you will learn:
- How to fall in love with our Eucharistic Lord and “waste time” with Him
- The secret to releasing God’s healing power and grace in your life and in the world
- How Holy Communion and Eucharistic Adoration will help you grow from virtue to virtue
- Ways obedience to God’s Word opens your heart to a flood of Eucharistic graces
- The connection between Eucharistic devotion, love of the poor, and charitable works
This must-read book includes short reflection questions at the end of each chapter, a sample dedication prayer, and potent Eucharistic prayers and is ideal for parish, small-group, and personal enrichment. The profound meditations in its pages will inspire you to give Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament the time, reverence, love, and adoration that He deserves from you. They will urge you to more fruitful preparation for Mass and thanksgiving after Mass and, above all, will guide you in deepening your personal relationship with Jesus and stirring you to become intentional about promoting Eucharistic Adoration.
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.
ARTS & MINDS AT FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY will welcome Robert Cardinal McElroy, Archbishop of Washington, to the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts for “Catholic Teaching on War and Peace: A Breakthrough Moment.”
Presented by Fairfield University’s Office of Mission and Ministry, this timely program will consider important developments in Catholic teaching on war and peace and invite thoughtful reflection on questions of urgent relevance in our world today. Registration is requested, please see the attached poster.
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, and again on Sunday, October 25th at St. Ann Church. Please see the attached posters for all details.
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
