News

While Alison Archer is on maternity leave, Chris Johnson will once again be creating the bulletin for St. Mark’s. To help ease this transition, please from now on use the email address bulletin@stmarkindy.org for all bulletin submissions! This will help both Alison and Chris! The deadline to submit information for Chris Johnson is Friday at noon, as she will graciously work on the bulletin throughout her weekend. Thank you Chris! The Parish Center will be covered by Donna Kern, and all requests and emails should be directed to her, dkern@stmarkindy.org. Thank you, Donna!

CURSILLO WEEKENDS are coming soon! Its name comes from the Spanish word “Cursillo”, which means “small course.” The original, full name is “Cursillos de Cristiandad”, meaning “short course in Christianity.” However, it is neither a theoretical course nor a traditional retreat; it is best described as an experience. It is an experience which leads to discovering a better life and what is fundamental in Christianity. Consider joining us! For more information, please contact James Haeberle,463.201.3514, for the MEN'S: Weekend February 28 to March 3rd. WOMEN’S: March 28th to 31st, please contact Wilma Cross 317.783.1512

The St. Mark Spirit Wear has begun! All orders are due by Friday, February 15th. Orders will be delivered to school Monday, March 18th. If you are a parishioner with no children in SMCS, the items will be in the parish center. http://www.eliteprintingindy.com/stmarkspiritwear

Archbishop Thompson extends an invitation to any baptized Catholic adult who wishes to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation to the Annual Adult Confirmation Mass taking place on Sunday, June 9th. For more information and to register, please contact Fr. Bill at frbill@stmarkindy.org or Angi Swiezy at aswiezy@stmarkindy.org by May 1st, 2019.

If you have an interest in working with children ages 4-10 years, then please consider volunteering for our VBS program this year VBS 2019 on Sunday, June 2nd through Thursday, the 6th from 6- 8pm. For more information, please contact Angi Swiezy at aswiezy@stmarkindy.org or 317-787-8246 x104.

Bakers, we need your help for our annual St. Mark Cookie Drop for the seminarians at Bishop Simon Brute Seminary. Please bring a dozen cookies (or more) to the parish office by Friday, February 8. They will be packaged and delivered to the seminarians the following week in time for Valentine's Day. Contact Julie Albertson (jalbertson@stmarkindy.org) with any questions.

Married Couples – It’s New Year’s Resolution Time! – Resolve to start a new love affair with your spouse that’s beyond your wildest dreams. It can happen on a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend? Future Weekends will be at Our Lady of Fatima Retreat House, Indianapolis, from 26-28 April and from 1-3 November 2019, and at Mount Saint Francis Centre for Spirituality, New Albany, from 1–3 February and from 16- 18 August 2019. Visit www.wwme.org for further information.

Look back at the first 25 years of St. Mark.

There is an opening for an additional facilitator for the weekly English Practice Class on Tuesdays from 8:00 am to 9:30 am. This class is one of three classes held at St. Mark Parish for any non-English speaking persons. Classes begin January 8. Please contact Ginny O’Brien with any questions and to volunteer for this rewarding ministry. danginnyo@sbcglobal.net or text 317-306-5263.

Thea Scott, Evelyn Karozos, Ann Unversaw, Marcie and Steve Swayze, Fred Engelking, Lisa Engelking, Dick Bowling, Mickey Lentz, Mike Murphy, Puring De La Alas, Jo Ellen Forestal, Chris A. Williams, Elaine Alexander, Mike Schwartz, Mary Fortress, Sherry Brett, Carolyn Walters, Karen Firkins, Sherrie Blomberg, Linda and Jerry Gaydos, Pat Henn, Joe Pierle, Shirley Martin, Hunter Moore, Betty Mouser, Joanne Burkert, Debbie O’Neal, Rosemary Delph, Bill Mahlman, and Pat Taylor. To add or update a name to our Prayer List, or the St. Mark Prayer Chain, please contact Donna Kern, dkern@stmarkindy.org

The St. Mark tradition of collecting winter hats, gloves and scarves for the less fortunate continues again this year. Begun MANY years ago by our parishioner, Elsie Hoovler, this long-standing endeavor has warmed the heads, hands, and hearts of many, many grateful people over the years. Again this year we will be collecting new winter hats, gloves and scarves of all kinds. These will be distributed to the homeless through the St. Mark HOOP ministry and will also be distributed through the Catholic Charities Christmas Store in Indianapolis that serves over 3000 needy children of all ages each Christmas season. Your donations can be placed in the baskets in the narthex and are greatly appreciated by those who receive them. Please consider purchasing men's gloves, as they are our greatest need. Thank you!

St. Mark Catholic Apparel online sale is going to on NOW! Click on the link to order your St. Mark Catholic Spiritwear and apparel: http://www.eliteprintingindy.com/stmarkspiritwear

The Spiritual Life Committee is offering Augustine Institute’s six video series, Prayer: Finding Intimacy with God which captures the secret to opening our hearts and minds to Scripture as the means to hear from God and then respond in conversation. We meet on Monday’s, October 8th thru November 12th, from 6:30-8:00 PM in the School Media Center. If you missed the previous sessions of the Prayer series, you may join the experience online through FORMED at stmarkindy.formed.org. Any questions about how to register for the series, please contact Angi Swiezy at aswiezy@stmarkindy.org or 787-8246.

The word is out. The competition has increased. More people are donating to the Indiana State Tax Credit Scholarship Program and taking advantage of this unique tax opportunity. Your gift to St. Mark Catholic School, through the Institute of Quality Education (IQE), will help our students afford a high quality, Catholic education. Click for more information!

We are seeking volunteers to collate, photocopy, stuff envelopes, etc. on an as needed basis. It is our intention to establish a call list of those volunteers to be contacted when needed. Your time commitment would be established by you. If you anticipate some free time or are a high school student seeking community service hours, please contact Alison Archer at 317.787.8246 to be added to our list. Thank you for offering to share your time and talent for this Parish Center endeavor.

This year our annual Blanket Sunday collection is getting a new date and focus. The weekend of September 29th and 30th, we will be collecting blankets, towels and bed linens after all Masses. Thursday, September 27th, is both the birthday and feast day of St. Vincent DePaul, so the closest weekend provides an excellent opportunity to thank each of you for supporting our ongoing activities. You'll hear more about this in the coming weeks. Last week we visited the SVDP Distribution Center and learned that the most urgently needed items are new and gently used towels and washcloths...twin/twin XL and full/queen blankets and bed linens. The client referral desk manager told us that the need for all of these items continues to outpace available stock. The other thing we are interested in is sleeping bags that are still in pretty good shape. I bet there are plenty lurking in hall closets and garage shelves.

Catholic Charities of Indianapolis sponsors a monthly caregiver support group for family members/friends who care for older adults. Meetings are open to the community and are a way for adult caregivers to share and learn from each other. Please confirm attendance. For additional information, contact Monica Woodsworth at 317-261-3378 or mwoodsworth@archindy.org. Next meeting is Monday, August 20th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm at St. Mark Catholic School.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is the process established for the universal Church for individuals to become Catholic and receive the sacraments of initiation - Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist. This initiation process involves the entire parish community as we welcome new members into the Church. The Rite speaks of conversion as a “spiritual journey.” Centered on fostering a deep relationship with Jesus and the Church he founded, this journey takes place in distinct stages beginning in early fall and building toward Holy Week and the Easter Season. It encompasses the teachings of the faith, prayer, liturgical rites and celebrations. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about the RCIA, or if you would like to be involved as a volunteer for this important ministry, please contact the Parish Center at 317-787-8246 or Deacon Paul at deaconpaul@stmarkindy.org or Angi Swiezy at aswiezy@stmarkindy.org.

Our parish will be helping with drivers and helpers at the St. Vincent de Paul warehouse on 11/17. For more info and to sign up, go to www.svdpindy.org. Click on “I want to help,” then click on “donate time,” scroll down to Distribution Center Volunteer and click on “Sign up online for a SPECIFIC SATURDAY to volunteer as a Distribution Center driver or helper.” The rest is self-explanatory. Thank you.