From the Pastor - Pentecost

May 26, 2023

Throughout our readings today, we see the amazing truth that the Holy Spirit gives us gifts and guidance in a very personal way. We are meant to use these gifts to build up the Body of Christ in a way that is unique to each one of us.


Our first reading, from the Acts of the Apostles, recalls the dramatic moment when the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the apostles. “Suddenly there came from the sky a noise like a strong driving wind, and it filled the entire house in which they were. Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire, which parted and came to rest on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different tongues, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.”


Notice how personal and individual is this outpouring of the Spirit. This personalized way of “gifting” the apostles allowed them each to reach different people, sharing with them the “mighty acts of God.” Embracing the stewardship way of life means that we allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in the best use of the unique gifts He has given to each of us, to accomplish the particular mission entrusted to us.


Jesus gives us this mission in our Gospel passage from John. “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” But we must not let this responsibility overwhelm us. Jesus Himself, tells us so — “Peace be with you.”


As this Easter season ends, let us be at peace. And let us resolve to lean on the Holy Spirit more and more as our guide through the stewardship way of life. © Catholic Stewardship Conference, 2023


Pastoral Pondering

At this point, a lot of folks are looking forward to and planning for the upcoming summer. School is rapidly coming to an end, and with that, a time hopefully for rest and refreshment. For us at the parish, it also means ordinations and summer seminarians.

This summer we will have three seminarians with us. Matthew Dimmock, a parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas, who will be ordained deacon on June 3, Andrew Templeton, a parishioner of St. Michael in Gastonia, who just completed his second year of theology, and Peter Townsend, a parishioner of St. Ann who just completed his first year of theology. Please make them welcome when you see them around this summer. I want them to get a good feel for parish life, so if you are open to it, invite one or more over for dinner.


Next Saturday, one of the seminarians from the parish, Christian Goduti, will be ordained to the diaconate along with six of his classmates. The Mass of Ordination will take place at 10:00 am here at St. Mark and is open to the public. The Diocese will also be livestreaming it through the Catholic News Herald website. Deacon Goduti will be preaching at the 9:00 am parish Mass the next day (June 4) and a reception will follow the Mass in the parish hall. On June 17 the three Diocesan Transitional deacons, Christopher Brock, Chinonso Nnebe Agumadu and Peter Rusciolelli, will be ordained priests. Again, the Mass of Ordination will begin at 10:00 am here at St. Mark and is open to the general public. Please keep all of these young men in your prayers.


From the Pastor

From the Pastor - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 31, 2026
Today’s readings should inspire the Christian steward with deepened gratitude for our God, who loves us with both fierce and tender love. We must make an intentional response each day, returning love for Love. In our Second Reading from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that nothing and no one can separate us from the love of Christ. No anguish, distress, persecution, famine — and we might add illness, financial hardship, family struggles, or uncertainty about the future — nothing can keep our God from loving us. God holds us securely in the palm of His hand. And yet, this reassurance is only the beginning of God’s gifts to us. Our Gospel from Matthew recounts the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. This miracle foreshadows the gift of the Eucharist, where Christ feeds us not simply with bread, but with His own Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Notice how the Gospel begins. "His heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick." What generous and compassionate love our Lord shows. But even that is not enough for Him. He remains with the people, teaching and ministering to them until evening. When the disciples suggest sending the crowds away to find food, Jesus instead invites them to become part of His plan. He tells them to feed the people, then miraculously multiplies the few loaves and fish they offer. What a privilege it was for the disciples to participate in Christ's work. That same privilege is ours as Christian stewards. Let us respond with grateful hearts to such amazing love. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants,

From the Pastor - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

By John Putnam • July 31, 2026
The stewardship way of life could be described as a daily pursuit of the Kingdom of Heaven. In today’s Gospel from Matthew, Jesus uses a series of parables to help us understand the incomparable value of that Kingdom. First, He reminds us that living for Him and for His Kingdom will require sacrifice. Yet the joy that comes from following Christ makes any sacrifice worthwhile. Jesus says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” He then compares the Kingdom to “a merchant searching for fine pearls." When the merchant finds a pearl of great price, he gladly sells everything he has to obtain it. In both parables, the Kingdom is something precious that must be sought and recognized. We must intentionally look for it amid the distractions and noise of the world. Yet Jesus also reminds us that the Kingdom is meant for everyone. He compares it to a net cast into the sea that gathers fish of every kind. At the same time, He reminds us that each of us will one day be judged. The angels “will separate the wicked from the righteous.” It is a powerful reminder that our choices matter. Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst and to pursue it above all else. There is no greater treasure, and no greater source of joy, than a life lived as a faithful disciple of Jesus. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2026. Pastoral Pondering I enjoy books generally. I like to hold them, look at them and, of course, read them. I also enjoy audiobooks because they are a good way to pass the time with all the driving that I do. I like a wide variety of books, but I generally try to avoid things that are strictly political. Hence, I was a little hesitant when the book Communion by J.D. Vance was recommended to me. However, what I discovered is that it is an excellent read and has nothing to do with politics. Rather, it is the story of the Vice President’s return to the Christian faith that eventually resulted in his becoming Catholic. I suppose “conversion” stories attract me because of my own background. And while I did not grow up in Ohio coal country as he did, there are many similarities to his family, described in Hillbilly Elegy, and my dad’s family from the mountains of North Carolina. This particular book, in some ways, is a sequel to Hillbilly . It discusses his chaotic childhood and exposure to Baptist and Pentecostal churches, his drift into atheism as a young adult, following the death of his grandmother, and his gradual return to faith which culminated in his conversion to Catholicism in 2019. The title refers to the Eucharist, and the author explores what it means to be Christian across life stages – as a child, young man, husband, father and public figure – while reflecting on the role of religion in public life and American society.  This memoir mixes spiritual autobiography with broader commentary on faith, politics, family values, and societal problems. While some have criticized it as more of a cultural manifesto, I appreciated the honest assessment of one man’s journey from his childhood faith to an adult faith which led to full communion with the Catholic Church. Granted, it may not be to everyone’s liking, but it shouldn’t be dismissed simply because the author is the current Vice President. I enjoyed it, and if you want something to pass a lazy summer afternoon, I’d recommend it.