From the Pastor - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 28, 2023

The stewardship way of life could be described as a daily pursuit of the kingdom of heaven. In our Gospel passage from Matthew today, Jesus employs three parables to describe this kingdom.


In the first of today’s parables, our Lord reminds us that living for Him and for His kingdom will be costly. But the deep joy that comes in following Him makes the “price” entailed worth it. 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.” Next, He says the kingdom of heaven is “like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all he has and buys it.”


In each of these stories, the kingdom of heaven is somewhat “hidden.” We must intentionally search for it amidst the noise of the world that bombards us. Yet, our Lord reminds us that His Kingdom is meant for everyone and He wants us to find it! He says, “It is like a net thrown into the sea which collects fish of every kind.”


But Jesus concludes His teaching with a rather ominous image, reminding us that every “fish” will also be judged as good or bad. “The angels will go out and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace.” This is a description that is difficult to forget. Clearly Jesus wants to get our attention.


Let us pray for the wisdom to recognize the kingdom of heaven in our midst and intensify our efforts to pursue it starting right now. There is no time to lose, and we will obtain the immeasurable joy that only comes when we live as disciples of Jesus. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2023

 

Pastoral Pondering

The summer break is quickly coming to an end. The beginning of school is just around the corner. We usually associate the weeks of summer as a time when things slow down. However, I am discovering that things never really slow down around St. Mark.



Many folks don’t realize the many and varied activities that go on during the summer, so I thought I would offer you a run down:

  • Diocesan Activities – Diaconate and Priesthood Ordinations
  • Youth Activities – Vacation Bible School, Totus Tuus, Fraternus Ranch (off-campus), Fidelis Inspire (Off campus), Covecrest Lifeteen Camp (Off campus), Steubenville Atlanta (Off campus), Altar Server trip to Carowinds, Middle School Youth to Whitewater Center, Quo Vadis, Duc in Altum
  • Parish Events – Newcomer welcome reception, Going Away reception for Father Yumo, Memorial Mass for Sue McCarron and Reception
  • Maintenance – Replace cabinets in pre-K, Deep clean Kerin Center rooms, mulching and landscaping et al.


The above doesn’t include the weddings, the baptisms and the funerals along with the regular Masses, confessions, sick calls, home visits, etc.


Thankfully, there has been some time for clergy and staff to take some time off while at the same time keeping the ship moving. But it is easy to see that the parish never slows down that much J.


From the Pastor

From the Pastor - Third Sunday of Easter

By John Putnam • May 2, 2025
In today’s Gospel, we find the Apostles dejected and discouraged following the death of our Lord. Poor Peter decides to throw in the towel on the whole disciple thing and go back to his old way of life, declaring, “I’m going fishing.” Upon hearing this, the other disciples follow him. How easy it is for all of us to backslide on changes we have made in our lives, especially when it comes to our spiritual lives. But look how Jesus treats the disciples during their “backslide.” He is right there with them in the midst of it, already waiting for them on the shore when they come back from their unsuccessful return to the fishing business (after abandoning their mission as disciples). Our Lord greets them tenderly, gives them some fishing pointers, and then prepares their breakfast. How gracious He is to them! He is just as gracious today. When we find ourselves “out at sea” — discouraged by our failures or for squandering the gifts God has given us, or simply by a lack of progress in our faith life, Jesus is with us! He is calling to us from the shore to come back to Him without shame or embarrassment, but with hope-filled trust in His steadfast love. He never tires of offering “do-overs” if we just keep returning to Him. This constant process of turning back to the Lord, of reevaluating our goals and priorities as we aim for Heaven, is the essence of a stewardship way of life. Let us take heart as we continue our journey today, secure in the knowledge that Jesus is beside us every step of the way. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The process of electing a new Pope is one that has marked and impacted history for centuries. It is still a process, despite movies and books concerning the process, that is surrounded by some mystery. Once the Camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church declares that the Pope is dead, a whole set of processes are set in motion. While the daily work of the Holy See continues, there can be no innovations. The task of preparing for the funeral of the deceased pope and preparing for the coming conclave is entrusted to the Cardinal Camerlengo (Kevin Cardinal Farrell) under the guidance of the body of cardinals. All cardinals, regardless of age, can participate in the various consultations that occur prior to the conclave. Only those cardinals who are less than 80 years of age can actually participate in the conclave and choose the next pope. The voting cardinals are sworn to secrecy and are locked into the Sistine chapel where four votes can occur each day. A two-thirds majority of the cardinal-electors is required for a new pope to be chosen. If a ballot is indecisive, the ballots are burned, and black smoke is released from the chapel. When a pope is elected, the ballots are burned, and white smoke is released. When a new pope is chosen, he has to accept his election and, if he accepts, choose his pontifical name. He then changes into papal garb and is presented from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.  As we await the Papal election, please continue to pray for the Church and the cardinal-electors. Their task is a heavy responsibility. Our union with them in prayer will assist them to be attentive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit and carry out their task with fidelity and determination.

From the Pastor - Divine Mercy Sunday

By John Putnam • April 25, 2025
Today, the Second Sunday of Easter, is Divine Mercy Sunday. Our Gospel reading from St. John is often called the story of “Doubting Thomas” but the passage involves so much more than the encounter with the skeptical apostle. It is rich with lessons of Christ’s mercy to all, including an encouraging word from our Lord especially for us, His modern-day disciples. While Thomas traditionally takes all the bad rap for his doubts, we see that none of the Apostles were at their best when Christ first appeared to them after His resurrection. They were actually in hiding, cowering behind a locked door, paralyzed by fear and doubt. But Jesus appeared right in their midst in spite of the lock on the door. Was it to rebuke them for their lack of faith? Quite the contrary. He comes on a mission of mercy. He comes to offer them peace and the restoration of their relationship with Him. And even more, He commissions them to become ministers of His mercy, by giving them authority to forgive sins. At that moment Christ gives to all of us the supreme gift of mercy — the sacrament of Reconciliation. What a precious and powerful gift! This Sunday is a perfect time to reflect on how well we make use of this gift. Do we really appreciate its healing power? Could we become better stewards of this gift by going to Confession more often? We must also reflect on how well we extend mercy to others as Jesus did to Thomas that day. Let’s commit ourselves to becoming faithful disciples and stewards of Christ’s mercy. We will be those very ones to whom Jesus gave a “shout out” during His encounter with Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed” — in His merciful love. © Catholic Stewardship Consultants, 2025 Pastoral Pondering The mercy of God is at the very heart of the Catholic faith. It's not just one of God's many attributes — it is His very essence revealed in love . As Pope Francis often reminds us, “The name of God is mercy.” In Scripture, we see God's mercy from the very beginning. After the fall of Adam and Eve, though justice demanded consequence, God clothed them and promised a Savior. Time and again, throughout the Old Testament, we see Israel turning away from God — and yet, He never stops reaching out with compassion, calling His people back to Himself. That mercy takes on flesh in the New Testament — in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the face of the Father’s mercy. He dines with sinners, touches the untouchable, forgives the unforgivable. Think of the woman caught in adultery: “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and sin no more.” Or the prodigal son - who finds not punishment upon return, but a father running to embrace him.  In the Catholic Church, mercy is not just a concept — it is sacramental. We encounter the mercy of God tangibly in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. There, in the confessional, we do not meet a harsh judge, but Christ the Good Shepherd, lifting us up and carrying us back home. No sin is too great. No past too far gone. St. Faustina, the apostle of Divine Mercy, reminds us that God’s mercy is an “ocean” — and we are just little drops. But mercy isn’t meant to stop with us. It flows through us. As we receive God's mercy, we're called to be merciful: to forgive, to withhold judgment, to show compassion to the poor, the suffering, the lonely. The Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy are concrete ways Catholics live this out. So, when we speak of mercy, we speak of the very Gospel. God, rich in mercy, reaches into our brokenness, and instead of turning away, He embraces it, transforms it, and redeems it. With the death of Pope Francis, the Church enters a period of transition. The Pope’s legacy is one of concern for the poor and those on the margins. His writing and teaching often focused on the immense mercy of God and his love of the Gospel. Our task is to follow his example and strive each day to allow Gospel joy to guide us and lead us to bring Christ to the world. Let us also pray for the Universal Church, the cardinal-electors who have the immense responsibility of selecting a new successor to St. Peter, and for all of us that we may come together as a Church family and ask God to bless us with a new shepherd.
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