St. Mark's News & Events for October 14, 2007

Greetings to all of you!

As you read this over a 100 parishioners and myself will
be traveling to Italy to visit Rome and other cities that will
be highlighted on this Mediterranean cruise. I can’t believe
the day is finally here and at this writing I haven’t even gotten the suitcase out of the closet yet! However, I’m sure we all will have a memorable time and I just wish that everyone here would have been able to go. It seems like a once in a lifetime event but I know that it doesn’t even compare with what we will experience in Heaven someday! I hope to tell you all of my vacation stories when we come back and I’m sure you won’t want to miss hearing all of the escapades.

Last week, Architect Alberto Portela laid out the results of the “Needs and Wants List” of all the different subcommittees that have been meeting these past few months. We also offered the rest of our community the chance to comment on areas that the committee has not considered. We did get many responses and we will tabulate all the responses and hopefully come up with a final draft in the next few weeks. Thank you to all of the subcommittees and parish family members for your input in this most important process.

Last Saturday we celebrated “Oktoberfest” which turned out to be a huge hit! The Knights of Columbus somehow continue to amaze us with all their hard work and creative ideas. A fun time was had by all and I would like to thank Grand Knight Robb Walton and his men for another outstanding get together. The Knights are an amazing group of people and we owe them so much.

Well, that is all for now. I bid you all Arrivadercci and I look forward to seeing you again in a couple of weeks. Take care of Fr. Isaac for me and please don’t change the name of the parish while I’m gone!

Peace, Fr. David

St. Mark's News & Events for October 7, 2007

Greetings as we begin another week!

This past week a group of 10 of us attended the National Stewardship Conference held in Miami and although it rained the three days we were there, the presentations were wonderful. Some members of the newly created St. Mark Stewardship Commission along with members of the Pastoral Council and staff received excellent information that we will eventually pass onto the parish in the coming months. We were all excited about how well we were doing already and how we could enhance our parish outreach and ministries. But more importantly it reminded us once again how Stewardship is really a way of life and not a program. More on that later.

As of this writing the results of the Feasibility Study that many of you took part in regarding the building of our new Church is in its final stages and will be presented to the parish very soon. This weekend Alberto Portella will be presenting the Dream study by the various committees to the parish for your own input. I hope you will be able to add any comments and concerns regarding our new church after all the Masses.
It should be an interesting time for us all to feel a part
of the process.

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

Peace, Fr. David

St. Mark's News & Events for September 30, 2007

Greetings to all of you!

As the weather begins to cool off somewhat, I’ve noticed hundreds of joggers, bicyclist, and walkers starting to get their exercises in while I am driving into work. Every time I see one, it only makes me feel even guiltier about my own exercise program. Young, middle aged and old somehow have the time and energy to brave the elements and get their work out in for the day while I chew on a doughnut with my morning coffee. I hate them! However, since the weather is starting to get better, I’m hoping that my golf clubs will want to play more often if only I can find them.

As I’m writing this, a group of people from St. Mark will be heading Miami to attend the Annual Stewardship Convention. I always enjoy these get-togethers and see how the rest of the country practices Stewardship in their own parishes. I’ll give you some of the details in my next column.

Last Saturday I had the chance to say Mass for the New Orleans Saints Football team while they were here to play the Bucs. Since the Saints lost, the Bucs want me to say Mass for all the visiting teams from now on. I demanded $10 million for our new Church and they decided to pass. Oh well, I can’t be held responsible for what happens in future games I told them.

Last but not least, our Steering Committee along with the Subcommittees have put together their dream list for our new Church and we will be presenting the first draft to the parish for your input at all the Masses on October 6th and 7th. This is going to be a very important presentation and I hope all of you will be there to hear it and participate in the process. Things are beginning to happen very quickly! Please be part of this exciting process.

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

Peace, Fr. David

What is Stewardship?

AN ACT OF FAITH
We profess that we belong to GOD and all that we possess is His.

AN ACT OF TRUST
We place our life in GOD’s loving hands and make Him
our treasure.

AN ACT OF WORSHIP
We adore Him as the giver of all good gifts.

AN ACT OF BELONGING
We unite our offering with the rest of our Parish Family
so that together we might care for the needs of another, especially the poor.

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“As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another as good stewards of GOD’s varied grace.” [Peter 4:10]

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Stewardship is realizing that the LORD has given us the gifts, graces, talents, abilities and resources—all of which are
to be shared responsibility and wisely with others. Faithful stewardship is more than occasional acts of charity
and kindness. It is a way of life that demands involvement and care. It can be equated with holiness; CHRIST calls
us all to holiness.