Category: News

Please review Fr. Walter’s message regarding the return of Masses at Saint Mark to the Church. There are no changes to requirements for masking, social distancing, and sanitation (details are in the linked message).

This is a link to Fr. Walter’s June 1 2020 letter that was mailed to parishioners this past week. It outlines the plans, schedules, and safety measures in place as we return to public masses on June 13 & 14.

There are many important details in the letter, including:

• some permanent changes to Mass times.
• please bring your own chair (if possible) for Mass at St. Mark, which will be held in the Social Hall. If you cannot bring a chair one will be provided.
• please wear a mask at all times while on church grounds, except when receiving Holy Communion.

If you wish to follow the readings during Mass using your electronic device, you may follow this direct link for the current day’s readings (http://usccb.org/bible/readings/index.cfm).

To download the readings in advance, you can find a link to them on our website (https://www.stmarkstlukeparish.org) near the bottom of the home page in the “DAILY READINGS” feed.

Dear Ones, 

     I hope everyone is doing well. I can’t believe it’s been almost three months since I have seen you. I truly miss all of you. I am getting excited knowing that our time to be together is coming soon. I, with our wonderful parish staff, have been preparing for your return to St. Mark and St. Luke for public Masses. Please know, as we move into the yellow phase of reopening, I must follow the guidelines established by the Diocese of Harrisburg.  That being said, I am happy to inform you that we will begin our public Celebration of Mass on the weekend of June 13 and 14. I will start offering the Sacrament of Reconciliation at St. Mark every Monday from 6:30 – 7:30 pm, beginning June 8. Confessions will be heard in the foyer between the church and the social hall. To prevent the spread of the virus, you will need to remain standing. Confessions will be face-to-face. Please park in the north lot and wait in your car. We will have volunteers to let you know when it’s your turn. If there is still a line at 7:30, I will continue to hear confessions. The church itself and restrooms will remain closed.

     I will be mailing a letter to everyone next week with the guidelines given to us by the Diocese. This letter will explain the new procedures that we have formulated to fit our parish’s specific needs.

     I kindly ask for your prayers and patience as we work to make the liturgy and sacraments as available as possible during these unusual times. I know that you are excited to come back to Mass. Please know that I can’t wait for you to come back to church again, however, I must make sure we have a safe place for you to come back to. 

In Christ, 
Fr. Walter

• A letter from Fr. Walter dated Monday March 23, regarding his private celebration of Masses during our current period of medical isolation:
  letter-3-23-20.pdf
• Instruction from Fr. Walter on what you can do while unable to go to Confession or Holy Communion during isolation:
  Perfect-Contrition-and-Spiritual-Communion.pdf

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.

As announced, our parish is providing free access to FORMED online content for all parishioners.  If you are still not sure what FORMED is all about, please watch the video below to see all it has to offer!

REGISTER NOW:

1. Go to stmarkstlukeparish.formed.org
2. Click “REGISTER NOW” and enter your name, email address, zip code and desired password
3. You’re all ready to access the inspiring and engaging content on FORMED!