Special Letter of Thanks... - February 25

Dear St. Mark parishioners,

We would like to express our gratitude to all of you who in one way or another helped us settle into this country when we arrived from Cuba. It is through your generosity and kindness that we have found new fathers, mothers, friends and relatives as we came to experience life here in the great U.S.A.

With the material goods that you have given us, we have found a solution to our daily life needs and problems. But most importantly, we have found in the spiritual realm a blessing with no measure. You have touched our hearts and souls. We have discovered a family fraternity of Christian believers that is incredible. As you may know, in our native country, many families are divided by the system that governs Cuba. However, at St. Mark we found blessings for us all.

Omar, Sandra, Yerandy and Yovany have no words to express our gratitude but with our heartfelt sincerity we tell you we are eternally grateful for what you have done for us!

St. Mark's News & Events for February 18, 2007

Greetings as we begin another week!

Last week you heard an accounting of our financial position as a parish and how generous the parishioners of St. Mark have been this past year. As you know, we continue to grow by leaps and bounds and we are so grateful to the many of you who have given of their time, talents, and treasure in managing this outstanding growth. As you also heard, our assessment for the Annual Pastoral Appeal (APA) for this year has grown to over $226,686 and we will need your help in meeting this goal again this year. Remember, APA helps to fund the many ministries that the Diocese provides and helps parishes to expand their efforts in promoting the Gospel of Christ. You have always been very generous when it comes to tragedies that befall the unfortunate from time to time and APA helps us to do this on a daily basis along with providing for the education of priests, etc. If we fail to make our assessment, then St. Mark has to cut a check from our offertory to make up for the difference. If EVERYBODY gave something, we would more than surpass our goal and be quickly on our way to a new Church. Hope you will be part of this Annual Appeal. If you would like to see the presentation of our financial condition, check our website and while you're at it, record your e-mail address so we can keep you updated on parish life.

Next weekend we will have with us Fr. Dennis Corrado who will be giving us our Lenten Parish Retreat. Fr. Dennis is an Oratorian from New York and has a wonderful sense of humor and a powerful message on forgiveness. Give yourself a treat during Lent and come to listen to this outstanding preacher. We are honored to have him here at St. Mark! Check the bulletin and our website for more information.

This week I have been on vacation so you will not be seeing me this weekend at Mass. I'm hoping to get some golf in and visit with my family in Ocala. See you next week as the great Season of Lent begins!

Peace, Fr. David

St. Mark's News & Events for February 11, 2007

Greetings as we begin another week!

Well by now the Super Bowl is already a week over and now the world can start to move forward again to more important issues that affect us. Not that I'm opposed to football, but the hype and all the money spent on it is just overwhelming and I just can't see the overall importance of it all. However, I did bet the house on the winner so at least it meant something to me in that I will be able to drink smoothies free everyday for a month!

I also was able to play in a charity event for the Noon Rotary last Friday. I'm not sure who showed up on the front nine since I couldn't get the ball off the ground or in the right direction losing over 6 golf balls. But on the back nine, Tiger Woods must have taken over my golf swing and I was in utter amazement at what the ball was doing. My companions were cheering me on the whole way and calling me Wonder man at the great golf skills they witnessed! Of course, I alone had to save them out of many tough positions and after it was all over, they bowed to me in wonder and adoration. I can see how Tiger Woods has to put up with it now; I don't know how he does it.

This week we begin again the Annual Pastoral Appeal which benefits many people in our parish and diocese. Last year St. Mark the Evangelist had a record response to this appeal and this weekend we will be speaking at all the Masses about our Financial Position and how your generosity has helped us to achieve some of our goals. I hope this year we have greater participation and break last year's record of $107,000. Only you can make the difference!

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

Peace,
Fr. David

A New Giving Opportunity

The Pension Protection Act of 2006, signed into law this past August, included a provision allowing a Charitable Rollover Gift to non-profit organizations. You might be able to make such a gift - here is how:

• The giving opportunity is in effect until December 31, 2007.
• Donors must be 70 ½ or older on the date of distribution in order to participate.
• The distribution must be made to a qualified 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization and your parish, the Catholic Foundation and the Annual Pastoral Appeal meet that qualification.
• Donors may count the amount of the distribution made through the IRA Charitable Rollover towards the Retired Maximum Distribution for tax-deferred retirement accounts in that year and exclude that amount from their gross income, allowing for tax savings through income reduction.
• A Roth IRA distribution may also be made, but since there is no income tax on the distribution, there is no tax saving. • The Internal Revenue Service does not consider this a charitable contribution.• The transfer must be made from your IRA directly to the charity, otherwise it will be declared as income - consult your IRA administrator to ensure correct transfer procedures.
• The distribution is limited to a maximum of $100,000 per year per person. A spouse can also make a gift from their IRA subject to the same provisions and limitations.
• Your distribution may be made to the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of St. Petersburg for ease of transfer, and be directed as you wish to your parish, a particular ministry or the 2007 Annual Pastoral Appeal. As with this and other tax matters, please call upon your tax advisor for appropriate counsel before making a gift decision.

An IRA Charitable Gift Rollover may have tax advantages for you and provide critical support for your parish, and/or other critical ministries.

For more information or assistance please call:
Joe Odda
Planned Giving Manager, Catholic Foundation
(727)-374-0204