Vacation

Greetings to all of you!

Last week I took a short vacation to Jacksonville to meet up with some friends and just hang out seeing the sights. I also figured that since I was so close to the famous place where they play the Players Championship at Sawgrass every year, I would get there ahead of the players and get a view of this famous golf course. As I parked my car and tried to act like a pro player as I walked the grounds to gain access to the clubhouse, the golf course police caught me wearing my golf knickers and realized that Payne Stewart was no longer alive and I must be an impostor! How dare them! Needless-to-say, I

was put in the golf jail and that was the only part of the course I was able to see. The only way I was released was when an angel appeared in my jail cell and opened up the bars to let me out. I'm so glad there are golf angels to save us all from despair. Now if only they could work on my follow through!

On Saturday after I returned from vacation, I was invited to speak at St. Jerome parish in Largo regarding our efforts at St. Mark when it comes to our practice of Stewardship. They are trying to revive the Stewardship way of life at their parish and they invited a few speakers to come in and speak about their own experience. It seems that St. Mark is getting a reputation among the diocese on what a good Stewardship parish looks like, and although we still have a long way to go, people are noticing. Anyway, the people who attended the seminar were amazed at what we do here already and they bombarded me with so many questions that I had to run for my life! However, it was a fun time to share what we have been doing with other parishes and it's also great to see the people's faces light up as they begin

to understand the true spirit of what Stewardship is all about. I appreciate all the efforts our own Stewardship Commission puts into our own parish to bring God alive in our daily lives. If you're still unsure what the Stewardship way of life is all about, I invite you to call the parish office and speak to Cyndi who will give you an earful. I guarantee that if you embrace the Stewardship way of life, your life will change dramatically. Take a step and see what happens!

In another few weeks (June 16 and 17) we will begin the Season of Ordinary Time and it will be during that time that we will be making a small change at Mass. From then on, there will be no more announcements before Mass since in a spiritual sense, we are trying to prepare people to get into the "mood" of celebrating the Sacred Mysteries, and in a practical sense that very few people really listens to them anyway. The Liturgical Commission has talked about making this move for awhile now and I think

it's a very good idea. If there are any important announcements to be made, the Priest will speak to them toward the end of Mass. I hope this doesn't add more stress to your Mass experience since change is always hard at first. I'm still trying to get used to the New Mass so I know what stress is like. Well, that is all for now. Let us continue to love each other as Christ has taught us!

Peace,

Father David

St. Mark Teenagers

Greetings to all of you!

Last Saturday I had the privilege of spending some time with a group of our St. Mark teenagers on their Confirmation retreat. It was a great time to talk with them and spend some time eating dinner and afterwards celebrating Mass with young men that I normally wouldn't be able to spend quality time with. Needless-to-say I was impressed by their openness and ability to express themselves in a mature way which made me forget for the time being that they were still teenagers. We have a remarkable group of young people in our parish and I give lots of credit to their parents for passing on their faith, wisdom, and love to these young men and women in these difficult times. I know it's not easy raising teenagers with all the distractions that this world brings and you're doing a wonderful job!

After reading in the paper about Tampa, specifically Ybor City, being the home of the Cuban sandwich, I just had to make a trip down there and take a stroll along 7th Ave and visit some of the restaurants and wine and cigar bars that proliferate the city. I did get invited to eat at the Columbia Restaurant on

Sunday night, although it has been many years since I ate there, and found the food to be wonderful. I also had a half glass of their wonderful Sangria, ok, a full glass since it was so good (remember the glasses are small).

Anyway, I had the salad which was a meal in itself and later the Grouper "El Greco" which was absolutely delicious! Ybor continues to be quite a place with it's rich history and its "enigmatic sights." Maybe next time I will go and have one of their great cigars that everybody talks about and watch all the

interesting people go by! As I write this, we are having a nice cool wave sweeping over our area and I

can't wait to get my bike out there on the trails once again! You might call me a "fair weather biker" since I don't like doing anything outside when it's hot when I just feel like I'm melting. As a matter of fact, I think I lost a few inches of height in the last few years and I'm starting to look like Danny DeVito! I'm

just saying......!

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

Peace,

Fr. David

Easter Season

Greetings to all of you!

As we celebrate the Easter Season, I would just simply like to thank so many stewards who have given so much time and talent to make the Easter Services so special. It takes literally dozens of individuals to make these events happen and without these great stewards, it would not be the first class experience that we all have come to know here at St. Mark. I was overwhelmed by the crowds that attended this year and it just goes to show the potential that exists in New Tampa of Catholics who don't attend on a regular basis. It also shows that we all have so much work to do to evangelize and bring people back to Christ.

Why not ask a friend or a neighbor who is Catholic and has not been to Mass in awhile to come and attend some weekend. And if you're real brave, invite someone who isn't Catholic to come and experience the joy of the Mass and the wonderful sights and sounds of the Catholic faith. The fields are aplenty my brothers and sisters! Let us go out and spread the good news! After Easter Sunday was over, I took a huge nap in the afternoon and upon awakening, I ate an entire chocolate rabbit that was given to me by a sweet little girl. As I looked at that rabbit, I reminded myself that this sweet little girl

would be disappointed if I didn't eat the thing and I also didn't want to lie to her and tell her that I did. So I took a deep breath, ripped out the bunny from the box and devoured the entire thing starting with the ears. I know.....I know.....it was quite a sacrifice on my part but at least one little girl will be happy to read

this! Isn't that what Easter is about?

As you know the Rotary Pig Roast is coming upon us and this year it looks like it's going to be quite a celebration! They have asked us to sell tickets here at St.Mark and for every one that is sold here, St. Mark gets $5! So how about buying a ticket and not only help St. Mark but many of the charities in our area. It's always lots of fun for the entire family, so come on down! Well, that is all for now. Continue to enjoy the gift that God has given us in each other!

Peace,

Fr. David

Happy Easter

Greetings to all of you!

Happy Easter! I've been wanting to say that for over 5 weeks and now I am able to not only say it, but shout it from the rooftops! I'm sure that for many of you Lent was not easy (especially if it's done right). However, I think that the discipline of Lent makes us more aware of the profound freedom that the Resurrection experience gives! It reminds us once again that life really is eternal and that those

things we worry about in this life tend to be not that important in relation to eternity. May this Easter experience bring you joy not only today, but for the rest of the year until we celebrate it again!

Speaking of joy, the last fish fry held here at St. Mark this lent was truly a miracle in that over 670 dinners were sold which is a new record! When they started running out of fish during the latter part of the evening, they came over and begged me to perform a miracle of multiplication. I threw off my cloak and went over to the few remaining fish set out on the table. Looking up to heaven and saying a prayer to the Father, miraculously fish began dropping from the sky! There was so much fish that they began to break the wooden baskets used to catch them all. After cooking these miraculous fish, people commented that this fish was the best they have ever tasted! They wondered why we kept the best tasting fish until now? I simply went back to my tent praising God until they came back once again and said that they had run out of wine. Well, I'm sure you know the rest of the story! Anyway, what a great time these past weeks have been for our parish community and I thank the Knights of Columbus and the Columbiettes for all their hard work and great tasting fish and desserts! Incidentally, in a few short weeks the New Tampa Rotary will once again put on the annual Pig Roast which benefits charities throughout the Tampa area.

One of those charities is the St. Vincent de Paul Society which helps those in dire need in our New Tampa area. St. Mark is also a beneficiary of ticket sales since we are providing the space for this great event. For every ticket sold here from St. Mark, we will receive $5 from the Rotary which will go into

our Capital Campaign fund for a new Church. So make sure you buy your ticket here at St. Mark and help us build our Church! Well, that is all for now. May God continue to bless you in this glorious Easter Season!

Peace,
Fr. David

The Bells

Greetings to all of you!

Since I came here almost 9 years ago, I noticed (and I'm sure many of you did also) that during the elevation of the Holy Eucharist, there were no bells ringing to signify this important event in the Mass. I simply assumed that this was the custom of this parish before I came here so I didn't much think about changing this practice. After all, bells were rung prior to Vatican II to remind and "wake up" the faithful to this important moment especially those who may have been saying their own private prayers such as the Rosary among other religious practices. Bells were needed because most of the Mass was in Latin and the Priests" back was to the congregation, hence it was difficult for the faithful to know when this important event was happening. Since Vatican II when the Mass was changed to the vernacular of the people and the altars were turned around, this practice began to fall by the wayside since people could now see and understand the point at which the elevation occurred. However, people would constantly come to me and express their disappointment that bells weren't rung here at St. Mark and they missed their significance. I often would kid around with them and tell them if they wanted bells, they would have to buy them! Well, one parish family took me up on the offer so after 15 years of St. Mark history, we have restored the bells for Mass beginning today on Palm Sunday! I would like to thank Joe and Ellen Cangi

for their most generous contribution to make this happen for our parish family. I have to admit, they do add some color to the Mass now and I appreciate the Cangi's persistence. Hope you like the "new" sound! Last Saturday I had the privilege to attend an event held by the Columbiettes entitled, "Art in the Afternoon Tea". Over two hundred mostly ladies, attended this star studded gala which included stars from Disney, the Beatles, and of course, the one and only Nat King Cole singing his famous song "Mona Lisa". Of course the ladies just mobbed Nat after his performance and they all wondered if he was singing to each one of them. I can just tell you that OF COURSE he was singing to each individual there and considered them ALL Mona Lisa's! Anyway, what a grand event we had and the ladies worked hard

donating much of the proceeds to our Capital Campaign for a new Church. I would like to thank Darlene Fritz, Nancy Larson, and the whole crew for doing such an outstanding job! I wonder what stars they have in store next year? This week as many of you are aware is Holy Week, the most Sacred time of

the Church year! Please review the website and bulletin for Mass times for the Tridduum and of course that great event on Saturday night, the Easter Vigil which is the highlight of our entire Church year. If you have never attended a vigil, you are in for a real treat! Just be warned, it lasts around two

and a half hours but will seem like two and a half minutes! Come and celebrate with us!

Well, that is all for now. May God continue to bless you in this Most Holy

Time of Year!

Peace,

Fr. David

Lent and Adoration

Greetings to all of you!

I hope this Lenten season is going well for all of you!  It always gives me confidence when I am able to discipline myself and overcome things in my life that keep me from being the best version of myself.  Giving up golf for lent has truly made my stress level decrease immeasurably!  Maybe some of you out there ought to try it.  

The Lenten fish fries have been a wonderful success thus far and the weather has been brilliant!  It's always great to see singles and families come together and enjoy the food and fellowship at our Church and I thank the Knights of Columbus for making this such a successful and fun event. I've had the backbreaking job of being the official taste tester and although it can be unbearable at times, I do wish to make sure our product is suitable to the discriminating tastes of our St. Mark family.  So if you haven't gotten the chance to attend this fun event, I invite you to do so before lent ends.  You will truly enjoy it all!  

Lastly, I have been noticing how many people have either signed up or simply attend the times for adoration and prayer these last few months.  In January we decided to invite individuals to sit before the Blessed Sacrament in our Chapel and pray for the success of Stewardship in our parish.  As you know, Stewardship impacts our faith life to a huge extent and from that practice, many great things begin to happen in our lives and in the lives of our parish family.  So take some time out of your busy week and come to adoration whether it be for a few minutes or an hour.  One can only imagine what the power of prayer can do especially when praying right in front of the true presence of Christ!  

Well, that is all for now.  May God continue to bless your goodness in this most holy season of Lent.

Peace,

Fr. David   

Golf Tournament

Greetings to all of you!

I realize this is a little late in writing about the golf tournament but I just have to say what an incredible day we all had. Despite some quick rainfall, we managed to make this day a joyful event for everyone as more than 136 golfers participated! Not only was there golf, but we also had my favorite food, sausage and peppers, on the "Beat the Priest" hole among hole-in-one contests for everybody who came through. Although I was not eligible for the contest, I did manage to hit the pin on one shot and knocked another shot almost two feet away from the pin. Needless-to-say, the groups certainly didn't "Beat the Priest" after those shots! However, there were some that did though, more than I can bare!

However, we made some money for our new Church, and everybody had great fun. It doesn't get any better than that! Hopefully we will have the total monies raised after some expenses are paid. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Mike Eggeling, Rich Larson, Cyndi Letzeisen, and Tom Bosso for

providing and cooking all the sausages and peppers along with the pretty ladies to serve them! Thank you also to all of those wonderful people who provided baskets and items for our silent auction and raffle. I can't wait for next year!

That delicious odor you smell on Fridays is the annual Lenten fish fry done by the Knights of Columbus. Over 480 dinners were served on the first night and I'm sure they will crack the 500 barrier with ease as Lent goes forward. They have also great homemade desserts done by the Columbiettes in which I have

been nominated as the taste tester! So if you haven't made it to the fish fry yet, come on out and bring your family and see what a fun event it truly is! Well, that is all for now. May Lent continue to be an experience that inspires all of us to greatness!

Peace,

Fr. David