top of page

SAINT MARK'S
PARISH NEWS
Search


Emmaus Parish Holy Hour (Second Thursdays)
7:00 - 8:00 PM | Church *note there are parish holy hours every Thursday unless noted otherwise Live for the day of the Lord in 2025-2026! Like how a silver setting magnifies the brilliance of golden apples, so too can a "silver setting" for adoration make us more receptive vessels to grace! Every second Thursday (or at least the schedule below), come to Emmaus: candlelit adoration, musical accompaniment, and Confession! Sep 11 Oct 09 Nov 13 Dec 11 Jan 08 Feb 12 Mar 12 Ap
Church of St. Mark
Jan 51 min read


From the Heart of the Shepherd
From the bulletin for The Feast of The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (2025 December 28) Dec 28 - Holy Family The Feast of the Holy Family is a special one for me and my vocational story. It was on this day in 2011 that I had a fateful session of spiritual direction at the St. Mark’s rectory. I came armed with what I thought were very good arguments to defeat any suggestion of the priesthood for me (which I intuited the then-pastor was going to make… it was our second
Church of St. Mark
Dec 31, 20254 min read


Mary Mother of God (Jan 01)
Mass at 6:00 PM on Dec. 31 (with choir) and/or 10:00 AM Jan. 01 January 1st is the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God! And the last octave day of Christmas (Christmas continues afterwards though, so keep it going). And it's a Holy Day of Obligation! (Also, parish office is closed Jan. 01!)
Church of St. Mark
Dec 31, 20251 min read


Women's Winter Social (Jan 24)
7:00 - 9:00 PM | Carolyn Hall Featuring an inspiring talk by Kristen Grant. And if you don't want to be inspired, come for the fellowship, fun, food, and drink. And bring an app' or a 'ssert! RSVP at stmark.xyz/wws
Church of St. Mark
Dec 30, 20251 min read


Parish Soiree (Jan 17)
School Gym | 7:00 - 10:00 PM Save the date for the 2026 St. Mark's Soirée! Join your parish family at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 17, for an elegant, social evening of music, hors d’oeuvres, and beverages. All parishioners ages 21+ are invited by the pastor to attend. Formal invitation to follow. RSVP HERE
Church of St. Mark
Dec 30, 20251 min read


PES Founder's Mass (Jan 18)
11:00 AM | Church The Church of St. Mark is staffed by the religious order Pro Ecclesia Sancta (they're great!) and on Jan 20 (1992) their founder, Fr. Pablo Menor, SJ passed to his eternal reward. This year, their annual Mass in remembrance of Fr. Menor's "heavenly birthday" will be at the 11:00 AM Sunday Mass of January 18. Reception in Carolyn Hall to follow. RSVP if attending the reception!
Church of St. Mark
Dec 29, 20251 min read


Marriage Enrichment Retreats (Feb 14)
9 AM - 12 PM | Carolyn Hall ”The Marriage Enrichment Retreats are a great way to keep Christ at the center of our marriage while we connect with other parish couples of all ages.” -Pat & Karen Shrake, married 36 years Our retreat will begin at 9am and conclude by noon. Breakfast will be provided, there is no cost, and no need to RSVP. Questions? Contact Alison Kaardal at akaardal@onestrongfamily.org . And mark your calendars for the next marriage enrichment retreat: Apr.
Church of St. Mark
Dec 29, 20251 min read


A Valentine's Night of Swing (Feb 14)
7:00 - 10:00 PM | School Gym Admission is $10 general, $8 for students. Lessons start at 7 PM and the dance runs from 7:30 - 10:00 PM! Tables and seating are available, too, if you just wish to enjoy the sounds and the spectacle.
Church of St. Mark
Dec 29, 20251 min read


Saint Mark Men's Night (Feb 21)
5:00 - 9:00 PM | Cafeteria The next quarterly men’s night will be January 24th from 5pm-9pm. Same as last time, all men of the parish are invited for dinner and community. Free will donations are appreciated but not required for the dinner. Men should rsvp using this link.
Church of St. Mark
Dec 28, 20251 min read


Christmastide (starts Dec 24)
Updated 2025 Dec 17: Note that, from what follows, 7:00 AM Mass will be suspended following the Christmas Eve Day 7:00 AM Mass. Adoration will be suspended from Christmas Eve Day with the 10:00 AM Mass and resume the following Monday after the 10:00 AM Mass. Dec 24 - Ordinary schedule in AM (7:00 & 10:00 AM) then Christmas schedule in PM 4:30 PM Vigil Mass with Cantor; 4:10 PM Carols Midnight Mass with Cantor Dec 25 - 10:00 AM only (with choir) Dec 26 - 10:00 AM only Dec
Church of St. Mark
Dec 21, 20251 min read


Nativity Tableau (Dec 24*)
December 24th @ 4:30 PM Christmas Vigil Mass* | Church Come take part in telling the Christmas story! Children ages 4-12 are invited to participate in a nativity tableau at the beginning of the 4:30PM Christmas Eve Mass. Rehearsal will take place on TUESDAY December 23rd at 11AM in the church. (Children who are 4 years old should plan to have a parent at rehearsal to assist them). Costumes will be provided. Sign up by Tuesday, 12/16. Please send questions to Katie Shra
Church of St. Mark
Dec 11, 20251 min read


Christmas Flower Offerings (by Dec 19)
St. Monica said to her saintly son before her death, "Remember me at the altar of the Lord." This Advent, you have the opportunity to place the memory of your deceased loved one close to the altar of God by means of a Christmas flower offering. Offerings will go to furnish the altar with the annual poinsettia arrangements. Please submit the donation and the name of your deceased loved one to the parish office by December 19th. Suggested offerings: 4.75” - $6 6.5” - $10 8” -
Church of St. Mark
Dec 11, 20251 min read


Community Gathering (Dec 28)
Updated 2025 Dec 12 Church of St. Mark (Carolyn Hall, corner of Moore and Dayton) | 4:00 - 6:00 PM | RSVP here Join us for an evening of prayer, fellowship, and discussion on marriage and family life according to Saint John Paul II’s Rule for Married Couples. Bring a potluck dish to share! We are a family of families; all stages of life are welcome. Childcare is provided during the talk and adult discussion! Presenting this month are Peter and Theresa Martin, authors of
Church of St. Mark
Dec 10, 20251 min read


From the Heart of the Shepherd
From the First Sunday in Advent (2025 November 30) Nov 30 - Advent 1 In today’s First Reading Isaiah envisions “all the nations” streaming towards God’s temple on Zion: “In days to come … many peoples shall come and say: ‘Come, let us climb the LORD's mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths" (Is 2:2-3). In the past weeks, we have had occasion to recall now that “those days” have come, the Lord’s mountain is
Church of St. Mark
Dec 2, 20253 min read


Loaves and Fishes (ongoing)
St. Mark’s Extremely Flexible Monthly Service Opportunity - Loaves and Fishes! St. Mark’s draws on a large pool of volunteers to field a rotating team of 10 to 20 people who prepare and/or serve dinner at two Catholic Charities locations each month. Folks can volunteer every month or once a year. Even if you never take a shift, as a St. Mark’s parishioner, you are still contributing because the food provided on these days is funded in part by St. Mark’s “Sunday Giving”. Ever
Church of St. Mark
Nov 29, 20251 min read


Living for the Day of the Lord
from the Pastor for this year (emphasis is the editor's) "Living for the Day of the Lord" is an invitation to a conversion of life, through which God becomes truly the center of everything and the priority to which everything is ordered. Like Israel during the Exodus, we hope to undergo this conversion as a family and in stages in the course of the coming year. Recognizing the primacy of grace and God's will that we live for Him as members of a Body, in September we will fo
Church of St. Mark
Nov 29, 20251 min read


From the Heart of the Shepherd
From the bulletin for The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (2025 November 23) Nov 23 - Christ the King Some speak of “separation of church and state.” The Bible, in contrast, speaks of an intermingling of “wheat and tares” both within the Church (see 1 Jn 2:19) and in the world (see Acts 18:10). There, the relevant separation is between those who gather with Christ and those who scatter (Mt 12:30); those who are “of the truth” (Jn 18:37) and those who
Church of St. Mark
Nov 24, 20253 min read


Advent Giving Tree (Nov 30 - Dec 17)
Start Advent off with the spirit of giving! And everyone in the family can get involved! Beginning November 30th, look for the Giving Tree in the St. Mark’s vestibule right as you enter the church for Mass! Take a moment before or after Mass to grab an ornament tag and help a local family in need. Then purchase the listed item and turn it in with the ornament tag attached on or before December 17th in “Santa’s Gift box” next to the Giving Tree! Make the most of your Advent
Church of St. Mark
Nov 23, 20251 min read


Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception
Dec 8 | Masses at 10 AM, and 6 PM | A HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
Church of St. Mark
Nov 23, 20251 min read


A French Baroque Christmas (Dec 06)
7:10 PM | The Church (2001 Dayton Ave) Have yourself A French Baroque Christmas with La Grande Bande! Tickets required! 7:10 - Organ Prelude 7:30 PM - Concert Performance $35 (Sec A), $25 (Sec B), $15 (Sec C/Students) Use discount StMarks1225 to save 15% Tickets can be obtained at lagrandebande.org/tickets or by phone at 507-237-6539 About La Grande Bande: La Grande Bande was founded by Dr. Michael Thomas Asmus in 2011, with the goal of bringing high-quality arts programmi
Church of St. Mark
Nov 22, 20252 min read
bottom of page