From the Heart of the Shepherd

From the bulletin for Trinity Sunday (2026 May 31)

May 31 - Trinity Sunday

In the past two weeks, the following ministries and/or activities have concluded for the programming year: 

• OCIA

• Family Faith Formation

• Bible Study

• Preschool

• Capital Campaign

Others surely could be added (Boy Scouts?). In the next couple of weeks, Ignite will extinguish and the choir will wrap up a phenomenal 2025-26 season, as the liturgical cycle essentially breaks until the Assumption with the Solemnities of Christ the King and Sacred Heart. And I know that many small groups that meet at the parish will suspend their gatherings for the summer. Only the Garden Ministry is just getting revved up. 

True, the sacramental life, parish administration, the coffee & donuts, as well (hopefully) our works of evangelization never really pause. But even post-school closure, St. Mark’s very much operates according to the academic calendar. 

The fact that the pledging phase of the CC is just about concluded is only thanks to the generosity of all of you. Originally we were prepared to be at this all through June. Greatly exceeding expectations, we are almost at $1.2M pledged, which will net for our parish just over $800K. 🎉 🙌👷🧱🔔⛪ That’s coming from 115 households pledging, representing 38% of our active parishioners. If that sounds like a small percentage, most parishes struggle to get to 20% participation.  Another confirmation of what we have known all along: St. Mark’s parishioners are exceptionally committed and engaged with their parish’s mission. How grateful I am to be the witness of that dedication. And for the collaboration of the 18 (!) parishioners on the Capital Campaign volunteer team. These brave souls responded to the call of HELP! from their pastor and God blessed their gumption with the crown of success. (Our leading volunteer couple raised $84,000 by themselves through visits to nine different households). 

And so on that happy note, after gloriously processing around the parish with our Eucharistic Lord next Sunday, we transition into summer mode. It’s not exactly time to “go astray like sheep, each following his own way” (Is 53:6). But after nine months of the non-stop, everything at once and all of the time pace of the ministry year, it's a welcome chance to catch one’s breath. For your PES men, it also means time for retreats, (mission) trips, and priestly studies. 

But it’s also time for evaluations and gearing up for “the same thing we do every year,” trying to take over the world for Christ. 

This past year, in line with the Archbishop’s charge to reclaim Sunday as a day for the Lord, we have been striving to live for the Day of the Lord in all the richness that the phrase entails. (You all will have to tell me what progress has been made!) Next year, continuing the roll-out of Synod objectives, the focus will turn to supporting parents as primary educators in the Faith. 

A principal way we will do this with all the Archdiocese is by reading the Pastoral Letter the Archbishop has penned, Only One Thing Necessary. I will be asking participants in Family Faith Formation, Small Groups, and Parish Leadership to read it together. But this is just meant to be a springboard to conversation and action aimed at helping parents “become what they are” in terms of this aspect of their vocation. 

At a parish brimming with parents, potential parents, and babies, this focus is highly relevant. Naturally, however, it will interest and affect some individuals and ministries more than others. But it offers a crucial opportunity for evolution and alignment for some of our core ministries. That is to say, that our marriage ministries (both preparation and the MERCY retreats) and the adult and youth formation ministries (but principally Family Faith Formation) have a chance here to collaborate to provide a regular space in our parish calendar for parents to support one another, share wisdom, and educate their children and themselves together. We will see what the “contemplative” summer yields in terms of ideas, and what fruit the coming year produces in that field, with the grace of God.

From the Heart of the Shepherd: Pentecost