From the Pastor - Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 19, 2020

From the Pastor - Fourth Sunday of Advent - December 20, 2020


“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” With those words our Blessed Mother Mary places her total trust in God. We are called to do the same, and this final Sunday of Lent is the time for us to do that, if we have not previously. Mary’s response to God is the same response we need to offer the Lord. It is most appropriate that we hear this message at this time and on this day.


This took much more trust in the Lord than we might imagine. Mary agreed to receive a pregnancy that would be seen as suspect in a culture which had a potential death penalty for adultery. Spiritually speaking, there are similarities between the Lord’s work in Mary and His work in all of us. Jesus lives within each of us spiritually. He lived in Mary not only spiritually but also physically.


Jesus was made visible to the world through Mary physically, but He should be made visible to the world through us as well. Who we are and how we relate to and treat others is a sign to the world of Who Jesus is and what a Christian is and should be. Are we showing the world what it means to be His disciple? Is there a better time than this to do so?


The entertainer and comedian Bob Hope once said, “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2017.


Pastoral Pondering — As we look forward to the celebration of Christmas this coming Friday, it is a good opportunity for us to reflect on the beauty of this blessed time of year. Despite some of the hardship and difficulty of these past months, Christmas will still come. At least for a brief moment, there will be Peace on Earth and Joy in the World, even if those sentiments can only be found in our hearts, homes and churches. The spirit of Christmas which reminds us of the Father’s generous love for us needs to be embraced and lived out in our daily lives, and in the past several weeks, I’ve seen your response to that generous love in numerous ways.


Christmas is also an opportunity to put aside our own frustrations, struggles, and difficulties and remember the example of the Holy Family. As Mary and Joseph journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem, they faced a multitude of hardships. In those days of course, there was no express way, and the terrain between the two areas is rough and unforgiving. Nonetheless, what we see in the Holy Couple is a simple but constant faith that God provides; God is still in charge.


During this past year we have seen so much division, violence and unrest. Because of COVID especially and the way it is often portrayed in the media, we have also seen a tremendous increase in fear and anxiety. As I have said before, these spirits are not from God. We have to be strong enough to understand that whatever the struggle, we are not alone; we need not be afraid. Because God became man in the womb of the Virgin, we now are promised eternal life if we choose to accept and respond to that great gift. Our first priority for ourselves and our family has to be eternal salvation, and that must govern all of our other actions. We are called to act prudently and responsibly on this earthly plain, to be sure; but we must always live with the understanding that this life is not our hope. Our hope is the world to come. We, therefore, can truly rejoice as we celebrate His birth because we know that He became one of us so that we can live forever in the Father’s House.


Please know that as we come to the end of Advent and prepare to celebrate Christmas, each and every one of you is remembered in our thoughts and prayers. And we pray that this Christmas you will receive all the gifts that the Lord wants to pour out on you and yours. God bless you!


From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Baptism of the Lord

By John Putnam • January 9, 2026
Today marks the close of the Christmas season, but before we return to Ordinary Time, we have one more great feast to celebrate — The Baptism of the Lord. Today’s feast is a perfect opportunity to consider the privileges and responsibilities we all share as Christian stewards by virtue of our own Baptism. At the moment of our Baptism, we became adopted sons and daughters of God, members of his holy, Catholic Church. Though we may not have realized it, the moment of our Baptism is also the moment we become Christian stewards, disciples of Jesus Christ, tasked with the work of following in His footsteps day by day and sharing the Gospel message with all those around us. In our second reading from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Peter gives us a glimpse of the person of Jesus we should imitate. “He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” We must live our lives like Jesus, seeking to do good to everyone we encounter; not just those in our inner circle of family and friends, but everyone in our community since the Father loves us all and Jesus sought out everyone with His saving message. In the Gospel passage from Matthew, we see yet another aspect of Jesus in action, this time as he humbly stands before John to be baptized by him. What humility and what willingness to unite Himself to us our Lord demonstrates by this act. We can do no less as we live out our daily lives as his disciples. And when we do strive with all our might to live out our Baptismal call to Christian stewardship, we will experience the deep honor of knowing that we, too, are God’s “beloved” sons and daughters “with whom He is well-pleased.” © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering As many of you know, on December 17 Bishop Martin issued a pastoral letter concerning the reception of Holy Communion. In that letter, he directed that non-fixed altar rails and kneelers be removed no later than January 16. I want to acknowledge, very simply and honestly, that this has been difficult for many in our parish. I feel that weight as well. I love St. Mark, and I am grateful for the reverence and devotion so many of you show toward the Holy Eucharist. I do not take lightly the concerns, questions, or disappointment this has raised. I am also aware that some of the faithful have made use of the appropriate channels within the Church to petition for clarification or reconsideration, and those processes may continue. At the same time, as your pastor, I am entrusted with leading this parish in fidelity to the Church and her discipline in those matters that do not contradict Catholic law. While there are sincere and thoughtful discussions about posture for receiving Holy Communion, the current liturgical discipline in the United States indicates that Communion is ordinarily received standing, whether on the tongue or in the hand. It is important to state clearly that the right of an individual communicant to kneel remains fully intact, and no one may ever be denied Holy Communion for choosing to do so. Therefore, unless a suspensive decision is issued by the Bishop or by the Dicastery for Divine Worship, we will comply with the directive and remove the kneelers from around the sanctuary. To assist with the reverent and timely distribution of Holy Communion, we will also increase the number of Communion stations. I know this change will be challenging for some. It is not something I approach lightly. My hope is that we can carry this moment together, offering whatever frustration or sorrow we may feel as a personal sacrifice, united to Christ present in the Eucharist. Crosses come in many forms, and how we bear them matters greatly. Let us remain united in prayer and charity, so that anger, bitterness, or division never take root at St. Mark. The weight of the Bishop’s office is a heavy one. I pray for Bishop Martin daily, and I ask that you do the same. Bishop’s office is a heavy one. I pray for him everyday, and I hope that you will as well.  On a happier note, as we come to the end of the Christmas season, I want to thank everyone who dropped off Christmas greetings and goodies. Your kindness is very much appreciated.

From the Pastor - Epiphany

By John Putnam • January 2, 2026
Today we celebrate the Epiphany — the manifestation of Christ to the world. The stewardship way of life is nothing other than a grateful response to God’s countless manifestations in our lives, and a commitment to make His love manifest to others through the sharing of our gifts. St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians that the grace given to him was “for your benefit.” Every gift we have received is meant to benefit others and give glory to God. The Magi show us how to live this out: Worship is their highest priority.They travel far, ask openly, and refuse to let anything stop them from honoring the newborn King. Is Sunday Mass the non-negotiable center of our week? 2. They are watchful. “We saw his star at its rising.” Good stewards stay alert to God’s presence and gifts in daily life. 3. They persevere through difficulty. Herod deceives, dangers threaten, yet God guides and protects them. Our stewardship journey will have twists, but God is faithful. 4. They are overjoyed True stewards radiate the deep, lasting joy that only comes from encountering Christ. 5. They prostrate and open their treasures. Overwhelmed with awe, they give totally of themselves and their gifts — the perfect act of worship. This year, let us rejoice in every manifestation of God in our lives, stay watchful for His star, and open our own treasures — our time, talent, and treasure — in generous gratitude to our King.  Come, let us adore Him — and then go and make Him known.