US Open, CHRP

Greetings to all of you!

Last week I was glued to the TV set watching the U.S. Open in Long Island, N.Y. And, thankfully, between the postponements due to rain and darkness, I was able to get some work done. I think every golfer grows up dreaming about playing in the Open. I remember in my younger and free-swinging days, I was no exception. Now, I enjoy watching the young unknowns creeping up the leader board and maybe, for just a few brief moments, the world sees his name with the likes of Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson! What a tremendous thrill that would be and they would be heroes in their small cities. Unfortunately, they begin to fade away like one of my errant drives, never to be heard from again. And yet, that is the thrill of the U.S. Open, where anybody can win as long as they have the stamina and nerves like steel. I think I would have folded after the first drive on the first hole so I give them lots of credit. As of this writing, I don’t know who the winner is, but I’m sure the thrill he feels right now cannot be put into words.

In just a couple of weeks Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) will be offering to the men of the parish an opportunity to experience a great weekend of spiritual renewal. These weekends are always wonderful times to strengthen our faith and showing how God actually works in our daily experience. If you haven’t signed up, I would highly recommend that you do! The women of our parish are also on fire and they will be meeting up later on in the month so I would check the bulletin and website for details. Help yourself to a profound experience!

Summers are a time for lots of planning for the future and we certainly have had our share of meetings lately. I am truly excited at what we have prepared in the coming year and beyond. More details will be forthcoming as the time gets closer.

Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.

Peace,

Dad's Day

Greetings to all of you!
Last week many of our parishioners and I attended the 120th Anniversary of the Benedictine presence at St Leo Abby. We were able to see the wonderful renovations done by the community for this special event. The Abby church was brightened up and polished. It looks fantastic! Abbot Isaac spoke of the great history of the Benedictine order in this community and singled out various people, (some from St. Mark), who contributed to make this event happen. It was great seeing Abbot Isaac in his role as Abbot of the monastery and his special relationship with our own St. Mark community. Congratulations Abbot Isaac!

By now you may have noticed the elegant curbing surrounding our gardens! This was made possible by the donation of Alberto and Ainoa Solorzano, who have also done the plantings of trees and flowers just outside the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. What a wonderful expression of Stewardship this great couple has expressed here at St. Mark and we are all the better for it! May God continue to bless their goodness! This weekend, we celebrate Fathers’ Day and we remember all fathers living and deceased for their presence in our lives. We will be praying for them throughout the month of June and I hope you all make “dad’s day” a special one!

Last week Sweet Bay Supermarkets were here to present a check to our St. Vincent de Paul Society for $3,400 which matched the amount of pounds of food collected from our generous parishioners a few weekends ago. I’m thrilled that we were able to partner with this great company to feed the hungry of our community. They are also responsible for supplying all the turkeys during our annual Thanksgiving Day drive, spending hours with us in the distribution of the turkeys, making sure they are ready to be sent. Please support this great store on Bruce B. Downs and thank them for their support of our efforts. I would like to especially thank Christi Rogers, the new Sweet Bay Manager, for continuing this great relationship with us. Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.

Peace,

Weddings, Baptisms and Plans for the new Church

Greetings to all of you!

It seems that the beginning of summer is also the time for weddings! In the last week, I celebrated the Sacrament of Matrimony to three couples who have been preparing for the past six months. It’s always a joyous time and I feel so thrilled and privileged to be a small part of this intimate moment in their lives. Congratulations to all of you and may God continue to bless your union!

This past Saturday I celebrated 13 baptisms of children in their beautiful baptismal garments with their smiling faces. Little children are always so receptive to this grace, and some actually try to help me put the water on their head. One little, boy who was around a year old, wasn’t real happy with me pouring water on his head. He screamed his lungs out, and for the rest of the ceremony he wanted no part of me! He would turn away and scream every time I got near him. I wonder if that little boy will stress out every time he sees me in church and think I’m a mean ogre or something. I’ll have to watch for him the next time he’s here!

As many of you know, we had originally planned to have a Capital Campaign for a new church last year but due to the economic crisis, that was postponed until further notice. This additional time also has given us an opportunity to continue the design phase of our new church, and work through the many details that come with building construction. We hope to have the actual detailed design of the Church finished when we present it at the Capital Campaign functions in the near future. It already looks magnificent and I think all of you will be happy with what the committees have come up with while working with the architect. Keep praying that the economy will improve even more, and that many will be able to get back to work!

Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.

Peace,

Graduations, First Communions, Confirmations, etc.

Greetings to all of you!

Well, it’s beginning to look like the summer season has arrived with all the graduations, First Communions, Confirmations, etc., and although I’m not a fan of the hot weather, I have to say we certainly need the break that summer brings from the hustle and bustle of ordinary life. It’s a time to recharge and get to know our family and friends better by spending more time with them with weekend barbeques, vacation plans, and sporting events. However, I think summer is also a great time to get to know God in a deeper way by continuing our Mass attendance. It seems we take a vacation from Church, too, during these times and I know it really is important to maintain our weekly ritual so as not to miss out on the graces we receive. So let’s make a special effort not to forget about God during these summer months and take the time to increase our faith and love!

I invited my twin brother, Frank, to come and play golf with me last week in the Hunters Green Member-Guest tournament and I must say we hung in there despite my poor play. It seems everything I learn on the practice range suddenly abandons me when I get on the actual course. However, I did play some good holes to help the cause and it was interesting that he didn’t yell at me at all for my wayward shots. When we grew up together, I was always the brunt of his ire when I miscued on any sporting event and now there is silence. I wonder if age has caught up with him and now he’s become a “gentler” person is his old age. After all, he IS fifteen minutes older and needs to make a good example for me.

On another note, the time gets nearer for our two men in the Diaconate program to finally be ordained this October. Scott Paine and Jose Moranta are two gifted men who have answered the call by God and will serve the Church as Deacons in a few more months. Continue to keep them in your prayers and we look forward to their gift of Ministry. Watch the bulletin for more details as this great day arrives.

Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.

Peace,