After the 5 pm Mass on Saturday, June 18, please join us as we honor Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. This is an indoor/outdoor event suitable for all ages. Here’s how you and your family can be a part of it:

• Fresh flower donations can be brought to the parish hall from 4-4:45 pm.
• Recent First Communicants: Please wear your First Communion attire! We have a special place in the procession for you. Come to the social hall at 4:40 for instructions.
• Older kids, we need your help distributing candles, papers, etc. Come to the social hall at 4:40 for instructions.
• All parishioners are invited to gather in the church at the end of the 5 pm Mass.
• At 6:15, the event will begin in the church with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Participants will follow the Lord in procession and stop at four stations on the St. Mark property to receive a blessing, ending in the church. Chairs will be available at each station.

June 18 is the vigil of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. (in Latin, Corpus Christi) It is a day designated for us to remember and thank our Lord for the gift of Jesus Himself – body, blood, soul and divinity – in the Blessed Sacrament. Join us as we worship Him as the source and summit of our faith!

Registration is Open!

You can find it under the religious education tab, or click here:

June 20 – 24, 2022

9:45 am to 12:30 pm

Children aged 4 through rising 5th graders

Middle School, High School and Adult Volunteers are needed!

We’re looking forward to faith lessons, games, snacks, crafts, skits, music and more!

Join us for a Friday Lenten Dinner and Stations of the Cross

A choice of two homestyle soups, fresh baked bread, green salad and ice cream

or macaroni & cheese, apple sauce and ice cream!

March 25 & April 8

Serving 5:30pm – 6:30pm (Social Hall)

Stations of the Cross at 7pm (Church)

$5 adults

$4 kids (ages 12 and below)

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We are going to need some help serving and cleaning up. Please contact the parish office at 597-2705 if you can help on either day.

Saturday, January 29: Double Feature!

6:15 – 7:30 pm Joseph, King of Dreams

7:45 – 9:15 pm Clare & Francis, Part 1

Saturday, February 26:

6:15- 8 pm Clare & Francis, Part 1

8:15 – 10 pm Clare & Francis, Part 2

Which movies are age-appropriate for your kids? Reviews of Joseph are available online.

You can preview Clare and Francis by logging into our parish subscription at Formed.org.

Joseph, King of Dreams

This animated film by the makers of Prince of Egypt tells of Joseph and his brothers: a story of heroic forgiveness and redemption from the book of Genesis. Angered by Joseph’s arrogance and their father’s favoritism, his jealous brothers sell Joseph into slavery in Egypt. But God protects Joseph and in a surprising turn of events allows the brothers’ contrition and Joseph’s forgiveness to save the family and set the stage for the formation of the twelve tribes of Israel and the future arrival of the Messiah.

Clare & Francis

This epic film on the lives of St. Clare and St. Francis of Assisi was shot on location in Italy. It tells the story of the daughter of a patrician family and the son of a rich merchant who leave everything to follow Christ. Francis renounces his inheritance of wealth to live the Gospel and serve the poor and outcasts. Clare decides to follow him, leaving her home and family to give herself as a bride of Christ. Both found major religious orders, and together they inspire many to follow their radical call to live the Gospel. Their impact has reached across the centuries to change the world.

We are sorry to announce that the parish breakfast planned for January 9 has been postponed. The new date is to be determined. Thank you to Donna Flick, Marty Boscolo and all who have contributed their efforts!

We will celebrate the Baptism of the Lord on Sunday, January 9th with a parish breakfast at St. Mark, following the 9:00 AM Mass. There will not be a cost, but to assist with the head count, tickets will be available after Masses the weekend of January 1 & 2. Tickets will also be available at the parish office during office hours.

Join us for the grand finale of the Christmas season!

St. Andrew, St. Mary and St. Rita (combined)

Saturday, December 11 at 11 AM at St. Rita’s in Blue Ridge Summit.

Our Lady of the Visitation, Shippensburg

Wednesday, December 15 at 7 PM

Corpus Christi, Chambersburg

• Sunday, December 19 at 3:00 PM
• Monday, December 20 at 7:00 PM

December 1, 9 am-10 am

Catholics across the country will be turning to prayer on Wednesday, December 1 by participating in Eucharistic Adoration in an effort to end abortion. On this date, the U.S. Supreme Court will be listening to oral arguments in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health. Pro-life advocates are hoping the Court rules to keep Mississippi’s ban on abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Such a ruling could also affect efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade, the federal law that legalized abortion in this country.

At St. Mark’s, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed on the altar for Eucharistic Adoration from 9 am to 10 am. Parishioners are urged to pray that the sacredness of every human life be protected and upheld, both in the law and in the culture. United in prayer, we will also pray a Pro-life rosary together.

Here is a prayer that will be available at the back of the church for all those who will be praying on December 1:

Our Lady of Guadalupe, protectress of unborn children, we ask that you intercede for us, so that the sacredness of every human life is protected and upheld, both in the law and in the culture. Let our prayers be united to your perpetual motherly intercession on behalf of those whose lives are threatened, particularly those in the wombs of their mothers. May our prayers also be coupled with peaceful action, which witnesses to the goodness and dignity of all human life. Amen.

Thursday, October 28 through Tuesday, November 2, St. Mark’s will host the Vatican International Exhibition: Eucharistic Miracles of the World. This photographic exhibit features a wide array of Eucharistic miracles.

One of the best known is the miracle that took place in Lanciano Italy in 750 A.D. During Mass, and to the shock of the priest and all present, the bread and wine turned physically into visible flesh and blood. This miracle has been studied numerous times over the centuries. In 1973, the World Health Organization spent 15 months and administered over 500 tests and found the flesh to be human heart tissue. The blood samples were type AB (the same as that found on the Shroud of Turin) and both the blood and the flesh reacted as fresh tissue. The miraculous Flesh and Blood can still be viewed today at St. Francis Church in Lanciano, Italy.

Plan on spending an hour or two and be amazed how, over the centuries, Jesus has continued to make His presence known to man through these Eucharistic miracles.

Everyone is invited to come and read the stories of the Eucharistic miracles. Please let your family and friends know about this beautiful exhibit. Admission is free.

These protocols pertain only to religious education/youth ministry activities, not to parish liturgies (such as the Mass) or other parish activities.

Dear St. Mark and St. Luke Families,

You gave your children a wonderful gift when you brought them to the Church to be baptized: life in Christ Jesus. Now our parish is here to help you nourish that life.

Taking part in the Mass is the most valuable thing you can do for yourselves and your children. The Eucharist is the heart and summit of our lives because in it Jesus Christ allows us to join Him in His life, death and resurrection: We live His life and He lives ours, with us.

If your family is not comfortable attending Mass, please contact the CRE, Lucy Schemel at LSchemel@hbgdiocese.org so we can help you out.

Religious education is important for our children so that they can grow to understand and embrace the gift of divine life they have been given. We are happy to be back in-person this year, offering support for parents and classroom time for children and teens. In accordance with Diocese of Harrisburg protocols, we will mitigate exposure to Covid-19 by the following means:

• Masks will be worn indoors, except while actively eating or drinking, when a presenter (distanced from the group) needs to remove his or her mask to be heard or when wearing a mask would cause a medical condition or exacerbate an existing one, including respiratory issues, mental health conditions, or a disability.
• Mask breaks may be given at the catechist’s discretion.
• When feasible, programs will be held outdoors. (Masks will then be optional.)
• Social distancing of desks/seating by three feet will be maintained.
• Classroom supplies will not be shared between students.
• Cleaning will take place following each religious education day.
• Parents are asked to keep children exhibiting Covid-19 symptoms at home.

This plan follows the Diocese of Harrisburg’s protocols, which can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15apT9sBtsgutBTJ5v22YWA9dY1-vByRE/view?usp=sharing

Parents are required to submit the Diocese of Harrisburg acknowledgement form which can be found here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lDCh1xKs79AeTBiSjq5jkSdzqm45zYna/view?usp=sharing

Questions may be directed to Lucy Schemel, CRE at LSchemel@hbgdiocese.org or 717-597-2705. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation!