St. Mark the Evangelist, Greencastle, and our Mission St. Luke the Evangelist, Mercersburg, endeavoring to live the gospel of Jesus Christ as individuals and as a community of participation of all our members in worship, believing, learning and in service. As a Catholic community of faith, hope, and love, we invite others to join us in our goal of renewal—and welcome them into our fellowship.
Good Friday and Easter Liturgies with Bishop Gainer to be on ABC 27 – Using technology to stay connected to the faithful during the unprecedented coronavirus pandemic, Bishop Ronald Gainer invites the faithful to join him remotely for our first ever digital Holy Week and Easter. Good Friday and Easter liturgies will be broadcast on ABC 27. All Holy Week and Easter liturgies will also be live streamed to the Diocesan YouTube channel. Please see the schedule below.
Holy Week Livestream/Broadcast Liturgies with Bishop Gainer; All liturgies are live streamed to the Diocesan YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/user/hbgdiocese):
More information, resources, and links to live streams from parishes in the diocese are available on the Diocesan website at:
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/digital-holy-week/
Masses for Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter Sunday will continue to be celebrated privately by Fr. Walter. Please know of his prayers for you and your loved ones. He is keeping everyone in his personal intentions as he celebrates the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/bishop-gainer-suspends-holy-week-easter-masses/
The Lenten dinners on March 20 and April 3 are cancelled.
Bishop Gainer has asked that all churches be temporarily closed until further notice out of great concern for the health of the faithful and our communities. More guidance and recommendations from the diocese is available at:
https://www.hbgdiocese.org/coronavirus/
HARRISBURG, Pa. – Today and effective immediately until further notice, Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, out of great concern for the health of the faithful and in union with the Bishops of Pennsylvania, has temporarily suspended all daily and weekend Masses in the Diocese of Harrisburg. Additionally, Bishop Gainer has suspended all public liturgies and devotions, and has asked that all churches and chapels be closed, including all perpetual adoration chapels.
Bishop Gainer made this decision after careful consideration of the recommendations from public health officials, and out of great concern for the health and well-being of the faithful, our clergy and parish staffs, given the current coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
“For Catholics, the Eucharist is the source and summit of our life in Christ, strengthening us to remain firm in our faith as we journey through this life. Making this difficult decision to temporarily suspend Masses and close our churches was not made lightly,” said Bishop Gainer. “Rather, this decision has been made after careful discussions and considerable reflection on the advice being provided from healthcare professionals. I deeply care for all those members of my flock. As chief shepherd, it is my duty to see to their spiritual health, and now in these challenging times, also to their physical welfare. I continue to pray for all those impacted by this virus, for our medical professionals caring for the ill and for all people facing these uncertain times. I also pray for the intercession of our Blessed Mother, Mary, health of the sick.”
A listing of live broadcasting and/or recordings of Masses from parishes throughout the Diocese is available on the Health Alerts page of the Diocesan website, www.hbgdiocese.org. Daily and Sunday Masses are also available from EWTN on Comcast channel 291 in the Harrisburg area, or online at https://video.ewtn.com/daily-mass.
Additional resources for parishes and the faithful will be available, also on the Diocesan website, in the coming days. These resources will include ways the faithful can continue to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
Please visit the Health Alerts page of the Diocesan website, www.hbgdiocese.org, for the most up-to-date information regarding the Diocese’s response to COVID-19, including a listing of Diocesan event cancellations and postponements, as well as additional COVID-19 prevention measures and recommendations.
St. Mark’s will not be holding CCD activities at this time. We hope to resume on Palm Sunday, but will keep you posted. Here are the cancelled activities:
All masses have been temporarily cancelled. If you’re homebound, you may want more creative ways to keep Sunday holy, so click here for an article on how to make a spiritual communion. The links below provide more ideas.
Let us prayerfully welcome Father Walter Guzman as our newly assigned pastor!
Continue to pray for our priests and parishes of the diocese during these transitions.
