Embark on the Week of Christmas

Greetings to all of you!

As you read this, we are about to embark on the week of Christmas with all the holiday festivities in full swing!  Thousands of people will visit St. Mark, some for the first time, and I'm praying that their experience here will be a special one which will touch their souls so that they continue to come back on a regular basis.  It's amazing how so many St. Mark stewards will be involved in the planning and setting up for all the Masses and with out them, we would not be able to accomplish it all.  I thank them with all my heart!

Last Saturday we celebrated Breakfast with Santa and it turned out to be a huge success!  Over 135 children came with their parents and visited Santa, Mrs. Claus, and all the elves working their Christmas magic.  They were treated with a nice breakfast cooked by the Knights of Columbus and every one seemed to be happy with all the goings on.  I kind of hung around with Mrs. Claus most of the time and she told me some funny jokes about Santa.  I'll never tell!  I would like to thank MaryAnn Weigel and many of the adults who put on this event, especially many in the youth group who got up early on a Saturday morning to bring joy to the children who came.

As many of you have heard, Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreats for men and women will be coming up in January.  What a wonderful way to start a New Year and I'm told there is no football those weekends so there will be no excuses!  I've seen so many blessed by these retreats and I know you, too, will experience something that will also change your life.  Go ahead and sign up and tell them Fr. David sent you!

In closing, on behalf of the Clergy and Staff of St. Mark, I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and make sure you remember the Reason for it all.

Peace.

Fr. David

St. Mark Christmas Party

Greetings to all of you!

This past Friday I attended our annual St. Mark Christmas party held at Hunters Green and it was an awesome time.  We were visited by the "Village People" who put on an awesome display of singing and dancing which really got the party rocking.  Over 115 people attended and the food was so good especially the desserts which are always a soft spot of mine!  My thanks go to Cyndi Letzeisen, Chuck Savko, and the entire committee for all their efforts in making this such a fun event.  Can't wait to see what they have planned for next year!

Well as the Calendar year comes to a close, I've decided to get back into bicycling to stay in shape and get a jump start on all the other people with the same idea for the new year.  I dusted off the handle bars the other day and brought it to Oliver's Bike Shop for a much needed tune-up!  Of course, the bike has been ready to be picked up for over two days now and I'm a little slow in getting around to it.  This might be one of those Freudian moments unfortunately.

I'm so thrilled that the way has been made easier for our northern parishioners driving on Bruce B Downs as they maneuver the left turn onto Cross Creek Blvd which consists of TWO lanes now.  I know it has been a real sacrifice for you getting to Church and I'm sure God will promptly reward you!  Now if the rest of BBD could finally finish, we might just enjoy for once traveling to and fro on it.  Here's hoping that early in the new year brings that wonderful present upon us.

Well, that is all for now.  May your Advent be full of peace and joy!

Peace,

Fr. David

Hustle and Bustle of Christmas

Greeting to all of you!

 

I'm sure many of you by now are into the hustle and bustle of Christmas yet keeping your stress levels at an all time low, at least I hope!  For Advent I have made a commitment to increase my meditation time every day and do some things I don't get a chance to do that often like visiting jails and prisons when I'm allowed to enter one.  It all kind of takes my mind off of all the commercialism of Christmas and really try to deepen what this time represents.  I've even dusted off my bike and took it for a ride last week listening to the new CD made by our choir!  I felt like I was in heaven as I rode around the trail at Flatwoods and saw the depth of God's wonderful creation.  Now if I could only dust off the golf clubs and maybe hit a ball once in awhile.  

 

As you read this we continue to move forward on the building of our new Church.  We hope to meet with the Diocesan Finance Council sometime before the spring and see if they will allow us to build sooner rather than later.  I realize we are in a tough economy and maybe you are not in a position to give toward the new Church, or maybe you're even tired of hearing me speak about it or feel we really don't need one, but after much prayer and collaboration, the time to build really is NOW!  Now only are interest rates down and costs are at an all time low, but I know it's the right thing to do.  Many times we wish to delay important plans and let future generations will have to face the issue, but if our ancestors thought that, then we would not have the beautiful Churches that we grew up in.  I just don't think that we should have our children and grandchildren pay for something we can do now, especially the uncertainty of what they face in the future.  After all, our parents and grandparents sacrificed for us and so why can't we do this for our own children in return.  As some of you may know, we are very limited to what we can do here at St. Mark because of space.  We are holding back the works of the Kingdom, so to speak, and I'm praying that many of you will find it in your heart to give generously to this important project. The Church we intend to build in New Tampa will be a center of spirituality and outreach and just think of the many who will benefit by our sacrifices.  So as the Calendar year ends, why not make a pledge or a gift to the campaign and make this happen!  I really need your help!

 

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

 

Peace,

Fr. David