Greetings to all of you!
Last week we had the awesome opportunity to go to the Cathedral and receive the St. Jude Award Medal on behalf of Rob Rabil, who passed away last April. His wife, Fern, and his family accepted the award from Bishop Robert Lynch at a service that was memorable for its beauty and simplicity. Seventy-six other people from the various parishes in the Diocese also received the award for their invaluable service to the Church. The Cathedral was filled to capacity with family, friends, and award winners. I was so proud to be there and participate at this annual event; it gave me the chance to say, “Thank You”, to Rob and all those who give of themselves so unselfishly. We do have many “saints” among us building up the kingdom of God, and for that we should always be grateful.
I also got the chance to attend the Annual Corpus Christi School Fall Gala and met many of our parish family who have children attending that school. The great food was catered by Circles and they put on a tremendous display of items for auction to raise money for the school. This year they had a “dessert table” filled with wonderful cakes, cookies, and pies that really caught my attention. Right in the middle of it all was this HUGE chocolate cake that was the most beautiful I had ever seen so I had to bid on it, of course. However, there was a woman who guarded her bid with an eagle eye and wouldn’t let anybody near the bid sheet. I looked at her and yelled, “Young lady, put that pencil down and step away from the table!” I guess having my collar on and my authoritarian voice did the trick because she did move away horrified and never went near the table again. It looks like no one else did either because I eventually won the cake! We had it for Thanksgiving and it was absolutely delicious although one piece was enough for a week’s worth of calories. Oh well, I hope the school at least made some money.
That is all for now. Let us continue to enjoy the gift of each other during this Advent Season!
Peace,
Fr. David
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Stewardship/H1N1
I wish to take this time to thank all of you who have submitted their intent forms for our Stewardship renewal held here last week. This is truly a first step to creating an atmosphere of gratitude here at St. Mark and I know for a fact this will change the way you look at the world and what it has to offer. Take a step in faith…..embrace the joy that we were all meant to have in this life of Christian belief. If you haven’t sent in your intent form, we have a box in the Narthex, or you can drop it in the collection basket. May God bless your desire to deepen your relationship with Him who wishes us every good thing.
I have been getting some calls and emails regarding the H1N1 flu virus and our response to it here at St. Mark. I realize that many people are concerned about the chance of transmitting the virus to each other through shaking, holding hands, or drinking from the cup. I have decided here at St. Mark that we will continue our practices as part of our normal liturgical life. However, as adults, we all have the option of NOT doing the above mentioned practices so please don’t be offended if someone does not wish to shake, hold your hand, or drink from the common cup. A simple nod, etc. is sufficient and will not offend. When it comes to Holy Communion, our Eucharistic Ministers have been instructed to use the antiseptic spray provided in the sanctuary before giving out communion. I hope that this decision is acceptable to everyone as we try to get through this flu season.
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.
Peace,
Fr. David
I have been getting some calls and emails regarding the H1N1 flu virus and our response to it here at St. Mark. I realize that many people are concerned about the chance of transmitting the virus to each other through shaking, holding hands, or drinking from the cup. I have decided here at St. Mark that we will continue our practices as part of our normal liturgical life. However, as adults, we all have the option of NOT doing the above mentioned practices so please don’t be offended if someone does not wish to shake, hold your hand, or drink from the common cup. A simple nod, etc. is sufficient and will not offend. When it comes to Holy Communion, our Eucharistic Ministers have been instructed to use the antiseptic spray provided in the sanctuary before giving out communion. I hope that this decision is acceptable to everyone as we try to get through this flu season.
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.
Peace,
Fr. David
Monday, November 9, 2009
Golf Trounament
Greetings to all of you!
The annual St. Mark Golf Tournament is now history and I was so thrilled with the turnout and the great weather God supplied us on that great day. It was nice to reacquaint myself with old faces and I think everyone had a wonderful time! This year I hit the ball the best I ever had during the, “Beat the Priest”, contest. It seemed whatever way I swung the club, the ball magically landed on the green in most cases. Could it have been angels?? Maybe so, except for a few times during the contest when they may have been asleep or attending to other needs. There was one occasion when my golf instructor came to the hole and after a few lessons last year, I felt the need to show him what a great job he did on me. As I took the club in my hand ready to show off my golfing prowess, I made a mighty swing, (this is the part where the angels must have been busy), in which I took enough turf to cover the entire lake beside the green! The ball went a few yards and with that my ego deflated to an all time low. Red-faced, I fell to the ground feigning injury and it seemed to have worked because they wanted me to take another swing. I told them I had to rest and recover and my instructor let me know that he may have to give me some free lessons later on this month while he’s here so I could avoid injury in the future. Wow, free lessons! Maybe it was beneficial that the angels were sleeping after all! Anyway, I wish to thank Chuck Lewindowski for all his work chairing the event and his committee for another outstanding job! I’d like to thank Hunter’s Green and the guys in the Pro Shop for being so gracious and helpful to us, and for all the Sponsors and golfers who sacrificed, especially in this awful economy, to help us move forward in building this new Church. Please thank them and support their businesses when you can. Also, I’d like to thank former Lightening Captain, David Andreychuk, for allowing us to honor him for all his efforts for Tampa Bay and St. Mark Church. Now I need to rest my weary bones and prepare again for next year.
Again this week I had the opportunity of blessing another business that was just taken over by parishioner Francis Sadiq and his family. Diamond Nail Salon next to Circles Bistro, (another of our parishioners), opened under new management this past week in the Pebble Creek Collection Shopping Center. Let us support our very own and tell them Fr. David sent you!
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given in each other.
Peace,
Fr. David
The annual St. Mark Golf Tournament is now history and I was so thrilled with the turnout and the great weather God supplied us on that great day. It was nice to reacquaint myself with old faces and I think everyone had a wonderful time! This year I hit the ball the best I ever had during the, “Beat the Priest”, contest. It seemed whatever way I swung the club, the ball magically landed on the green in most cases. Could it have been angels?? Maybe so, except for a few times during the contest when they may have been asleep or attending to other needs. There was one occasion when my golf instructor came to the hole and after a few lessons last year, I felt the need to show him what a great job he did on me. As I took the club in my hand ready to show off my golfing prowess, I made a mighty swing, (this is the part where the angels must have been busy), in which I took enough turf to cover the entire lake beside the green! The ball went a few yards and with that my ego deflated to an all time low. Red-faced, I fell to the ground feigning injury and it seemed to have worked because they wanted me to take another swing. I told them I had to rest and recover and my instructor let me know that he may have to give me some free lessons later on this month while he’s here so I could avoid injury in the future. Wow, free lessons! Maybe it was beneficial that the angels were sleeping after all! Anyway, I wish to thank Chuck Lewindowski for all his work chairing the event and his committee for another outstanding job! I’d like to thank Hunter’s Green and the guys in the Pro Shop for being so gracious and helpful to us, and for all the Sponsors and golfers who sacrificed, especially in this awful economy, to help us move forward in building this new Church. Please thank them and support their businesses when you can. Also, I’d like to thank former Lightening Captain, David Andreychuk, for allowing us to honor him for all his efforts for Tampa Bay and St. Mark Church. Now I need to rest my weary bones and prepare again for next year.
Again this week I had the opportunity of blessing another business that was just taken over by parishioner Francis Sadiq and his family. Diamond Nail Salon next to Circles Bistro, (another of our parishioners), opened under new management this past week in the Pebble Creek Collection Shopping Center. Let us support our very own and tell them Fr. David sent you!
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given in each other.
Peace,
Fr. David
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Golf Tourny/Octoberfest/Stewardship
Greetings to all of you!
As the weather begins to cool, my golf clubs are screaming for me to get out and hit them! Now I don’t have an excuse except the fact that my game isn’t what it used to be. However, I do need to get out there real soon and practice up for the Annual St. Mark Golf Tournament at Hunter’s Green on November 1st. This year I will be on the 7th hole for the “Beat the Priest” competition in which I try to get the ball closer to the pin than all my opponents. Unfortunately, it seems all that one has to do to win is hit the ball on the green since I’m never there anyway. However, I do remind the golfers of that LARGE lake of water to the right and those finicky “out of bounds” stakes on the left. After all, I think they need to be warned of the impending danger! So if you haven’t gotten your foursome yet, or you just want to play, we can hook you up with some great guys and gals. Come out and say you “beat” Father David and have bragging rights for the year!
Last Saturday night we enjoyed great weather as we celebrated Oktoberfest again this year! The food was great and the entertainment had us dancing and singing. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for putting on this fun fest every year, and for the great job they did! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.
In the next few weeks you will be hearing more about St. Mark’s commitment to a Stewardship way of life. In November, we will finally help you to embrace this attitude of gratefulness to God by showing you the many ways to accomplish it. Again, Stewardship is a journey of faith and trust; I don’t think there is any better way of “falling in love with God” than this one. I pray that you will embrace it as I did many years ago! This weekend is the Stewardship Extravaganza which will highlight all the great things the parish does to further the message of Christ. I hope that you will take a few minutes to walk through it and meet some great people!
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given in each other!
Peace,
Fr. David
As the weather begins to cool, my golf clubs are screaming for me to get out and hit them! Now I don’t have an excuse except the fact that my game isn’t what it used to be. However, I do need to get out there real soon and practice up for the Annual St. Mark Golf Tournament at Hunter’s Green on November 1st. This year I will be on the 7th hole for the “Beat the Priest” competition in which I try to get the ball closer to the pin than all my opponents. Unfortunately, it seems all that one has to do to win is hit the ball on the green since I’m never there anyway. However, I do remind the golfers of that LARGE lake of water to the right and those finicky “out of bounds” stakes on the left. After all, I think they need to be warned of the impending danger! So if you haven’t gotten your foursome yet, or you just want to play, we can hook you up with some great guys and gals. Come out and say you “beat” Father David and have bragging rights for the year!
Last Saturday night we enjoyed great weather as we celebrated Oktoberfest again this year! The food was great and the entertainment had us dancing and singing. Thanks to the Knights of Columbus for putting on this fun fest every year, and for the great job they did! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did.
In the next few weeks you will be hearing more about St. Mark’s commitment to a Stewardship way of life. In November, we will finally help you to embrace this attitude of gratefulness to God by showing you the many ways to accomplish it. Again, Stewardship is a journey of faith and trust; I don’t think there is any better way of “falling in love with God” than this one. I pray that you will embrace it as I did many years ago! This weekend is the Stewardship Extravaganza which will highlight all the great things the parish does to further the message of Christ. I hope that you will take a few minutes to walk through it and meet some great people!
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given in each other!
Peace,
Fr. David
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Deacons/Why Go To Church
Greetings to all of you!
What a special time we experienced here last week when we welcomed Jose Moranta and Scott Paine as our new Deacons to St. Mark Parish! It is the first time in our short history that men from our parish were ordained to the Diaconate, and I can't think of two more qualified and holy men who are more deserving of this honor. They will be assisting me in a variety of liturgical and ministerial endeavors such as Marriages, Baptisms, Communion Services, educational opportunities to the parish, along with visitations to the sick, etc. I am definitely thrilled to have these men share in the ministry of our parish, and I know they will add a great deal to our parish life. Make sure you offer congratulations and prayers for them as they begin the wonderful world of ministry!
Last week the Priests of the Diocese came together for our annual convocation and we heard lectures from FatherTimothy Radcliffe, O.P., who will also be here in February of next year to close the three year Eucharistic Conference instituted back in 2007. His latest book, WHY GO TO CHURCH, is an excellent book which I would highly recommend for those of you who would like to learn some wonderful insights on the Mass. Make sure you use our web site and go through Amazon.com to find it.
I played in a charity event entitled, "Tee it up for the Troops", at McDill AFB last Friday. Despite the hot weather, we managed to finish along with a large group of other golfers participating in the event. Despite my best efforts, our team finished in the middle of the bunch due to my other team members. Razor Richie who hit razor like 80 yard drives which didn't help much with distance; while Touchy Terry had the finesse of an elephant in a glass factory; and Ma Na Ja Marty, who yelled this Italian term after all his shots. The meaning of which depends upon the stress one puts on the word, but mostly negative. As you can see I had a tough and grueling day playing under these conditions, but I made us respectable nonetheless. It also provided funds for "Fisher House", which is a place where families of injured soldiers can stay as their loved ones recover. All in all, it was a great opportunity to support our military.
Lastly, on occasion I am asked to bless a business for a particular parishioner and this week I blessed the new Careme’s Market located on Florida Avenue in Lutz. It is a delightful delicatessen/market with fine dining quality foods at a great price. It reminds me of the old Italian shopping markets up north where one can purchase all kinds of meats, cheeses, and sandwiches. There website is caremesmarket.com and phone number is 813-443-5753. Let them know Fr. David sent you.
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.
Peace,
Fr. David
What a special time we experienced here last week when we welcomed Jose Moranta and Scott Paine as our new Deacons to St. Mark Parish! It is the first time in our short history that men from our parish were ordained to the Diaconate, and I can't think of two more qualified and holy men who are more deserving of this honor. They will be assisting me in a variety of liturgical and ministerial endeavors such as Marriages, Baptisms, Communion Services, educational opportunities to the parish, along with visitations to the sick, etc. I am definitely thrilled to have these men share in the ministry of our parish, and I know they will add a great deal to our parish life. Make sure you offer congratulations and prayers for them as they begin the wonderful world of ministry!
Last week the Priests of the Diocese came together for our annual convocation and we heard lectures from FatherTimothy Radcliffe, O.P., who will also be here in February of next year to close the three year Eucharistic Conference instituted back in 2007. His latest book, WHY GO TO CHURCH, is an excellent book which I would highly recommend for those of you who would like to learn some wonderful insights on the Mass. Make sure you use our web site and go through Amazon.com to find it.
I played in a charity event entitled, "Tee it up for the Troops", at McDill AFB last Friday. Despite the hot weather, we managed to finish along with a large group of other golfers participating in the event. Despite my best efforts, our team finished in the middle of the bunch due to my other team members. Razor Richie who hit razor like 80 yard drives which didn't help much with distance; while Touchy Terry had the finesse of an elephant in a glass factory; and Ma Na Ja Marty, who yelled this Italian term after all his shots. The meaning of which depends upon the stress one puts on the word, but mostly negative. As you can see I had a tough and grueling day playing under these conditions, but I made us respectable nonetheless. It also provided funds for "Fisher House", which is a place where families of injured soldiers can stay as their loved ones recover. All in all, it was a great opportunity to support our military.
Lastly, on occasion I am asked to bless a business for a particular parishioner and this week I blessed the new Careme’s Market located on Florida Avenue in Lutz. It is a delightful delicatessen/market with fine dining quality foods at a great price. It reminds me of the old Italian shopping markets up north where one can purchase all kinds of meats, cheeses, and sandwiches. There website is caremesmarket.com and phone number is 813-443-5753. Let them know Fr. David sent you.
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other.
Peace,
Fr. David
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Corporal Mike/Stewardship
Greetings to all of you!
Last week was a difficult one for our parish and the community that surrounds us. As many of you know, Corporal Michael Roberts was the police officer who was killed in the line of duty and he was a member of St. Mark Parish. Some of you may remember him directing traffic at our Sunday Masses a few years ago. He was a kind, considerate, and helpful person who always had a smile and would “sneak” into Mass after his shift was over. Last Tuesday, we celebrated his funeral. Although it was a sad occasion, the support of his fellow officers and the outpouring of love for his wife Cindy were simply amazing. There were rows and rows of police officers as far as the eyes can see and I felt so privileged to celebrate his funeral. I hope that the beautiful Catholic funeral liturgy gave them a sense of peace knowing that he still lives and they will see him again! Please pray for his wife and son Adam in this difficult time.
Sometime this week or next, each parish family will be receiving our very first Stewardship Newsletter entitled, “The Good Steward”. I must say what an outstanding job the people of the Stewardship Commission did to make this edition such a success! In it you will see articles of real life individuals in our parish who practice the giving of their Time, Talent, and Treasure to God. We will also have a section reporting how we spend the money that you so generously give to our parish so we can practice good Stewardship of our resources. So take the time to read this simple edition and let me know what you think of it. You will be hearing more news in the near future.
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other!
Peace,
Fr. David
Last week was a difficult one for our parish and the community that surrounds us. As many of you know, Corporal Michael Roberts was the police officer who was killed in the line of duty and he was a member of St. Mark Parish. Some of you may remember him directing traffic at our Sunday Masses a few years ago. He was a kind, considerate, and helpful person who always had a smile and would “sneak” into Mass after his shift was over. Last Tuesday, we celebrated his funeral. Although it was a sad occasion, the support of his fellow officers and the outpouring of love for his wife Cindy were simply amazing. There were rows and rows of police officers as far as the eyes can see and I felt so privileged to celebrate his funeral. I hope that the beautiful Catholic funeral liturgy gave them a sense of peace knowing that he still lives and they will see him again! Please pray for his wife and son Adam in this difficult time.
Sometime this week or next, each parish family will be receiving our very first Stewardship Newsletter entitled, “The Good Steward”. I must say what an outstanding job the people of the Stewardship Commission did to make this edition such a success! In it you will see articles of real life individuals in our parish who practice the giving of their Time, Talent, and Treasure to God. We will also have a section reporting how we spend the money that you so generously give to our parish so we can practice good Stewardship of our resources. So take the time to read this simple edition and let me know what you think of it. You will be hearing more news in the near future.
Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other!
Peace,
Fr. David
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Vacation Bible School/School Supplies
Greetings to all of you!
This past week some of the children of our parish ventured to 1st Century Rome to experience what life was like during that time period, and get to meet some historical figures in the process! My favorite was Caesar Augustus, who, according to family legend, may have been a distant relative of mine, and was the Emperor of Rome at that time. Since then our family history seems to have taken quite a beating. Instead of Emperors and Popes, we now have insurance salesmen, barkeepers, carpenters, pizza makers, and priests. We must have lost the dowry along the way somewhere. Anyway, I had a wonderful time with the children and I hope they learned something about our first century ancestors. So, if in your travels you see one of the kids still wearing a toga, just remember where they got the idea. We may have started a new fashion trend!
I have been humbled lately by the wonderful generosity of our parish community, as some of our members have come forward to donate some money to families in our parish who are in need. One family came forward and donated $1000 for those St. Mark families who will need school supplies for their children as they go back to school in a few weeks. So if any of you need any help with school supplies, please don’t hesitate to contact Joe Phillips at the parish office.
Well, that is all for now. As you read this I will have just come back from vacation bright eyed and busy tailed! Well at least I hope!
Peace,
Fr. David
This past week some of the children of our parish ventured to 1st Century Rome to experience what life was like during that time period, and get to meet some historical figures in the process! My favorite was Caesar Augustus, who, according to family legend, may have been a distant relative of mine, and was the Emperor of Rome at that time. Since then our family history seems to have taken quite a beating. Instead of Emperors and Popes, we now have insurance salesmen, barkeepers, carpenters, pizza makers, and priests. We must have lost the dowry along the way somewhere. Anyway, I had a wonderful time with the children and I hope they learned something about our first century ancestors. So, if in your travels you see one of the kids still wearing a toga, just remember where they got the idea. We may have started a new fashion trend!
I have been humbled lately by the wonderful generosity of our parish community, as some of our members have come forward to donate some money to families in our parish who are in need. One family came forward and donated $1000 for those St. Mark families who will need school supplies for their children as they go back to school in a few weeks. So if any of you need any help with school supplies, please don’t hesitate to contact Joe Phillips at the parish office.
Well, that is all for now. As you read this I will have just come back from vacation bright eyed and busy tailed! Well at least I hope!
Peace,
Fr. David
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