St. Mark's News & Events for July 13, 2008

Greetings to all of you!
Well, it’s great being back from vacation in Chicago and now I’m ready (I think) to face the important plans we have coming in the next few months. My first plan is to go on a diet after all the food I ate in Chicago! I have to say that they MADE me eat everything in sight because it would be rather disrespectful to refuse any food that’s offered in Chicago. Thank goodness I walked pretty much everywhere or I would have had to buy new clothes on the “Magnificent Mile”.

When I got back we had interviews for the construction company that will be hired to build our new Church. We narrowed it down to four. After much deliberation, we decided to go with Peter Brown Construction out of Clearwater, Florida. All four companies did outstanding presentations, but the committee felt that Peter Brown did the best job to meet our needs and we look forward to working with them. They have had experience in building and renovating Catholic and Protestant Churches, as well as some governmental buildings. They are a very professional organization and look like they will be a wonderful asset in the building of our Church. If you wish more information on them contact their website at www.peterbrownconstruction.com.

Also, I am proud to announce that two individuals who are studying for the Diaconate from our parish have received the important step of Ministry of Acolyte. They are Jose Moranta and Scott Paine, who were installed last month. With this step “the acolyte is appointed to aid the Deacon and minister to the priest. It is his duty, therefore, to attend to the service of the altar and to assist the deacon and the priest in liturgical celebrations….In the same extraordinary circumstances an acolyte may be entrusted with publicly exposing the Blessed Sacrament for adoration by the faithful and afterward replacing it, but not with the blessing the people.” (From: Ministeria Quaedam, Pope Paul VI, August 15, 1972.) It is an important step for these two men, and we congratulate them on their accomplishment. Keep them in your prayers as they progress to their Ordination as Deacon in the next two years.

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

Peace, Fr. David