CLERGY

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

ST. MARK CATHOLIC CHURCH 4220 Ripa Avenue | St. Louis, MO 63125

Office: 314.743.8600 | Fax: 314.743.8618 | www.stmarkstl.com

Rev. Brian E. Hecktor Parochial Administrator frhecktor@stmarkstl.com

314.743.8609 - parish office 314.743.8620 - rectory

Rev. Ted Vitali, C.P. Non-Resident Associate

vitalit@slu.edu 314.729.7572

Deacon Richard Rosenkoetter Permanent Deacon

RichardRosenkoetter@archstl.org

PARISH: 4200 Ripa Ave. | St. Louis, MO 63125 Alice Wilcox - Bookkeeper

314.743.8603 | alicewilcox@archstl.org Christina Sanders, Ph.D. - Secretary

314.743.8602 | secretary@stmarkstl.com Rose Masidonski - Music Director

314.743.8605 | rosiemaz@hotmail.com Dean Little - Webmaster

314.544.8970 | webmaster@stmarkstl.com Julie Dwyer - Coordinator, Parish School of Religion

314.743.8604 | psr@stmarkstl.com

SCHOOL: 4220 Ripa Ave. | St. Louis, MO 63125 Fax: 314.743.8690

Julie Bingham - Principal 314.743.8643 | principal@stmarkstl.com

Mary Althage - Secretary 314.743.8641 | malthage@stmarkstl.com

Mass Schedule Sunday: 7:00, 9:00, & 11:00 am

Monday - Friday: 6:30 am & 8:00 am Saturdays: 8:00 am & 5:00 pm

Holy Day: please consult the bulletin

Confessions Saturday: 3:30 to 4:30 pm Tuesday: 8:00 to 9:00 pm

Sacraments Call 314.743.8620 or 314.743.8609

to make an appointment with one of the Priests.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday: after 8:00 am Mass to 9:00 pm

Prayer Hotline Dolores Bollwerk - 314.631.5108

Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) Interested in becoming Catholic, speak with Fr. Brian Hecktor

314.743.8609 - parish office or 314.743.8620 - rectory

Bulletin Announcements Submissions must be received by 12 Noon on the Monday prior to publication. Submit to Parish Office or secretary@stmarkstl.com.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time February 16, 2020

From the Desk of Fr. Brian Hecktor … Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 26. Help yourself to The Word Among Us mediation booklets in the vestibules of church to assist in your Lenten prayer. Along with Lent are Fish Fries! They will be on February 26, March 6 and 20, and April 3 and 10. Bring your family and friends. We also need workers! Sign up in the Cafeteria after Masses this weekend! It’s a great way for the parish to work together, to raise funds, and to offer a sacrifice for Lent. Lectors and Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, we have a meeting at 12:15 pm next Sunday in church. Please make every effort to join us for renewed instructions and a commissioning blessing. Earlier this year, with the help of Mrs. Bingham, I sent a letter to our school families about the exciting things happening in the school. I’ve included that letter in this bulletin [page 5] so you all can read it and hear about these awesome things as well. Thank you for supporting the school in so many ways! Have a great week and God bless you. Fr. Hecktor

Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule ~ February 26 6:30 am, 8:00 am, and 7:00 pm

Beginning on Monday, March 2 there will be …

5:30 pm Mass every Monday through Thursday during Lent.

Beginning on Friday, February 28 there will be … Stations of the Cross at 7:00 pm every Friday during Lent.

DON’T FORGET YOUR PALMS Please remember to bring your

2019 palms next time you come to church.

Baskets will be at the entrances.

As Jesus fasted 40 days in the desert, the Church traditionally fasts during Lent. A form of bodily prayer, fasting and abstinence in union with other Christians reminds us of our utter dependence on and love for God. A gesture of repentance, fasting is symbolic of a change of heart as we turn away from sin to live in fidelity to the Gospel.

Lenten Regulations Fast: Ages 18–59 fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, limiting themselves to one full meal and two smaller meals each day, with no snacking between meals.

Abstinence: Catholics age 14 and older abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and all the Fridays of Lent.

Mass Intentions

February 16 - 23 (Saints & Observations)

Sunday (6th Sunday in Ordinary Time) 7:00 Earlene Judd 9:00 Daniel Stout 11:00 Mary Jo Ponder

Monday (Seven Holy Founders of Servite Order; Presidents’ Day) 6:30 Frances Kohlmann 8:00 Thomas Nanna

Tuesday 6:30 Ed Deters 8:00 Danielle Colon

Wednesday 6:30 Deceased Members of the Battaglia, Lawless,

Di Merurio, & Capizzi Families 8:00 Diane & Bob Dooley

Thursday 6:30 Deceased Members of the Johnston

& Puricelli Families 8:00 C.J. & Carol Stuckenberg

Friday (St. Peter Damian) 6:30 Albert Seper 8:00 Peter Mayer, Jr.

Saturday (The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle; Washington’s Birthday)

8:00 Marty Michalski 5:00 Larry Bereswill

Sunday (7th Sunday in Ordinary Time) 7:00 People of the Parish 9:00 Lee & George Sweeney 11:00 J.M. & D.E. Sanders’ Children, Grandsons &

Great Grandchildren

Readings for the Week

Monday: Jas 1:1-11; Ps 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76; Mk 8:11-13 Tuesday: Jas 1:12-18; Ps 94:12-13a; 14-15, 18-19; Mk 8:14-21 Wednesday: Jas 1:19-27; Ps 15:2-4ab, 5; Mk 8:22-26 Thursday: Jas 2:1-9; Ps 34:2-7; Mk 8:27-33 Friday: Jas 2:14-24, 26; Ps 112:1-6; Mk 8:34-9:1 Saturday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19 Sunday: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48

Monday 6:30 Server needed

Tuesday 6:30 G. Shoger

Wednesday 6:30 Server needed

Thursday 6:30 Server needed

Friday 6:30 Server needed

Saturday 8:00 Server needed 5:00 Servers needed

Sunday 7:00 Servers needed 9:00 K. Maloney Servers needed 11:00 J. Smedra Servers needed Servers: Schedule your Mass times through SignUp.com. Are you a new server?, email secretary@stmarkstl.com

ALTAR SERVERS SCHEDULE February 17 - 23

Ministry Schedule

February 22 & 23

5:00 Lectors: M. Rosenkoetter, M. Gilligan Ministers: B. Terry, M.A. White, M. Cass, E. Schneider, K. Goersch Hospitality: A. & M. Cafferata, M. Paur, R. Flynn

7:00 Lectors: C. Oberbeck Ministers: C. Fleming, J. Johnson, C. Oberbeck, D. Stanger, L. Wells Hospitality: D. Tullman, R. Leiber, M. Masidonski, L. Weber

9:00 Lectors: K. Kraus, R. Velasco Ministers: J. Langevin, M. Mallette, L. Malone, K & K. Maloney Hospitality: M. Fischer, K, Griebenow, M. Kramper, F. Stephens

11:00 Lectors: D. Smedra Ministers: J. Fuchs, C. Coerver, S. Hentz, D. Plumley Hospitality: C. & J. Snethen, B. Fischer, J. Hanak

Meeting of Lectors & Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion

Next Sunday, February 23 at 12:15 pm in church

We’ll go over instructions for your role (some things have changed), welcome new members, and recommit to these important Mass duties through a prayer and blessing. Please make every effort to attend. If you are unable, contact Fr. Hecktor to go over the instructions.

especially Larry Jenneman, Jan Kopff (Ann Jenneman’s sister), Julia Sanders.

In our busy lives, it’s always good to have options for Confession and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. St. Mark Parish offers Confession and Adoration

every Tuesday from 8:00 pm to 9:00 pm. St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Shrewsbury

offers Confession and Adoration every Wednesday at 5:30 pm.

Dear St. Mark Parishioners:

We thank you for your prayers, support and thoughtfulness during this difficult time. We are in awe at the support and sense of community that carried us through. We are truly touched by all of the outpouring of love given to us on the sudden death of beloved husband and devoted father, Charles.

The Wilcox and Wells Family

THIS WEEK IN OUR PARISH ...

February 17 - 23

Monday 8:00 pm Basketball, Parish Center NO PSR for students 6:00 pm PSR Catechist Meeting, Parish Office

Tuesday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm Eucharistic Adoration, Church 9:00 am Crafters / Prayer Shawl, Parish Office 5:30 pm Basketball, Parish Center 6:30 pm BINGO, Bandwagon Hall

Wednesday 5:30 pm Basketball, Parish Center 7:00 pm Christ Journeymen, Parish Office

Thursday 5:30 pm Basketball, Parish Center

Friday 5:15 pm Basketball, Parish Center

Saturday 8:00 am Basketball, Parish Center & Cafeteria 6:00 pm Family Potluck/Game Night, Cafeteria

Sunday 12 Noon Basketball, Parish Center & Cafeteria 12:15 pm Meeting of Lectors &

Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, Church 4:00 pm Cub Scouts Pack Meeting, Cafeteria

Eucharistic Adoration Tuesdays 9 am - 9 pm

These 12 hours at St. Mark church is an open invitation to all. Perhaps you might consider the time slot 5:45 pm or perhaps morning, noontime or late evening. Whatever time or amount of time we spend with Jesus in quiet adoration is each person’s bonus as one adores, reflects, and converses with our Triune God.

On Tuesdays during Lent, the Blessed Sacrament will be reposed 15 minutes before the 5:30 pm Mass, and exposed right after Mass.

BINGO IS PLAYED EVERY TUESDAY AT BANDWAGON HALL

(REAVIS BARRACKS & LEMAY FERRY RD.)

DOORS OPEN AT 3:30 PM. GAMES BEGIN AT 6:30 PM.

Team 5 will work Tuesday, February 18

If you cannot work when scheduled or have questions, call: Laura @ 314.229.7200 or Terri @ 314.413.0882.

There will be no PSR on Presidents Day, tomorrow, Monday, February 17. Catechists will meet in the parish offices at 6:00 pm.

FROM THE PRINCIPAL …

Dear Parishioners,

Our Kindergarteners and 1st graders recently celebrated the 100th Day of School. The excitement radiated out of their classrooms as they participated in many activities with the theme of 100. It was wonderful to see them talk about everything

they have learned in their first 100 days.

Our students were also excited to welcome the St. Louis Blues Street Blues program to their PE classes. This is a free ball hockey program that offers area schools a PE class curriculum that is a fast-paced alternative to traditional PE class units. The Blues also donate a complete set of equipment (two nets, four set of goalie equipment, 36 sticks, one case of balls, and a curriculum guide) to St. Mark.

Registration for the 2020-2021 academic year has begun. We would love for you to call (314.743.8641) for a tour or for more information. Please spread the word to friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers. We would love to show all that St. Mark has to offer.

St. Mark, Pray for Us. Julie Bingham

VOLUNTEERS! Sign-up sheets will be available after all Sunday Masses. Discounted dinners ($5) are available to all volunteers, or volunteers may help themselves to any leftovers after 7:00 pm.

CALLING ALL BAKERS! All bakers (men and women) are encouraged to bake cakes, pies, cookies, cupcakes, etc. for our Fish Fry dinners. Desserts can be dropped off at the table in the church vestibule the day before or the morning of a Fish Fry.

NEW THIS YEAR! Special appetizers will be available for eat-in, with different options each Fish Fry. On Ash Wednesday, sample toasted cheese raviolis, 5 for $1! See you there!

Feed The Poor: St. Mark is making a deliver to St. Agatha’s Food Pantry tomorrow, Monday, February 15. Monetary donations are appreciated, place your donation in one of the envelopes available in the lobby / vestibule. Please drop the envelope in the collection basket.

Thank you for your generosity.

Dottie Laumann Joanne Schneider Chris Noto Jennifer Runiewicz Connie Goodson

Debbie Kopff Brian Schindler A/B Buganski Bill Boyd Alex Onaahon

Pat Kohlberg Theresa Reilly Kevin Bradshaw Jane Johnson

Your gift to God on Sunday, February 9, 2020

Envelopes $11,934.00 Online Giving 1,403.00 Loose 443.25 School Support 430.00 Total 14,210.25 - Avg. Weekly Expenses 15,000.00 Final Total $ 789.25

Ladies’ Guild News … ∗ THIS Wednesday, February 19: 2020 Winter Table

Games, 7:00 pm, in cafeteria! ∗ We would like to thank all the bakers, buyers, and

donators for our bake sale last weekend. Once again you all helped us to have a very successful event happen. BIG THANKS of appreciation for your participation!!

MARDI GRAS FAMILY POTLUCK GAME NIGHT

Enjoy food, fellowship and friends next Saturday, February 22 around 6 pm in the cafeteria. Bring a dish and a game to play. Soda available for 50¢ per can. No alcohol please. RSVP to Glenn at 314.803.6475.

St. Mark GIRL SCOUT

COOKIE SALE

This Weekend after Masses,

in the Cafeteria.

♦ Monday, March 2: Board Meeting, 1:30 pm, Parish Office.

♦ Monday March 9: Membership Meeting, 7:00 pm, in the Cafeteria.

Ed Wheatly will present and show a video on the St Louis Browns! Members you do not want to miss this opportunity.

The St. Mark Student Spotlight is shining on Grace Shoger for the month of February. In June, Grace and her mom will be traveling to Kibwezi, Kenya for a mission trip with the Christian non-profit, Generation Next. Their goal is to improve living conditions for children and families in Kibwezi. Here a school and a freshwater well are being built. The new school will serve 200 sponsored students with the money being used to cover the cost of teachers, curriculum, uniforms and two meals a day. The well will provide fresh drinking water to the community.

While in Kibwezi, Grace and her mom will visit families, deliver essentials to new moms, fun kits to children in the hospital pediatric ward and get to meet the students of the sponsored school. She is looking forward to meeting the boy her group is sponsoring and seeing first-hand how she can make a difference in their lives.

Grace knows the trip won’t be easy but says, “I think this trip will deepen my faith because I know there will be challenges and I will see things that will make me uncomfortable, but I know that God will be with me through it all.”

Grace needs to pay for her own trip and has decided to use her artistic talents to create one-of-a-kind art work, Valentines and note cards. If you would like to help Grace fund her trip by making a donation or purchasing artwork, please contact her mom, Michelle Shoger at moshogers4@gmail.com. Samples of Grace’s work are found to the right.

Grace is the perfect example of what we hope for all our students: Enter to Learn and go forth to Serve. Please pray for safe travels and good wishes for her experience of a lifetime. St. Mark is so proud of you, Grace!

St. Mark

Saturday, March 14 St. Mark Parish Center Doors open at 6:00 pm

Tournament starts at 7:00 pm

St. Mark Athletic Association is sponsoring a Texas Hold’Em Tournament. Donation is $50 and includes roast beef, fried chicken, beverages and one seat in the tournament. Call Joe Pudlowski at 314.814.9046 for reservations or questions.

$$$ Cash Prizes $$$

Sign up (https://dynamiccatholic.com/best-lent-ever) for this free email program from Dynamic Catholic that will guide you on Lenten journey toward the-best-version-of-yourself.

Beginning on Ash Wednesday, February 26, 9 - 10:30 am, join St. Mark parishioners as we use this publication to deepen our response to Scriptural readings of the Church’s liturgical year, especially during the

Season of Lenten. For more info or to register (cost: $5), contact Christina at 314.743.8602.

Join our study group starting on March 2, 6:45 - 8 pm. We will meet each Monday evening in Parish Office until May (when School breaks for summer). We read and study “33 Days to Greater Glory” (to be

provided). By February 28, contact Denise at 314.540.1278 (leave

message) if interested.

January 14, 2020

Dear St. Mark School Families,

It is my honor to be a part of a school that has so many new things happening. I am proud of what we do, very excited about our school, and want to share that excitement with you! The STREAM (Science, Technology, Religion,

Engineering, Arts, and Math) Lab that was established at the beginning of the school year is used daily. The rectory dining room is located directly over the lab, and as I often sit there working on my homilies, I can hear the students working, learning, and laughing. They are having fun while discovering new things. A new View Board was recently installed in the 7th grade classroom and the preschool got their long-awaited Smart Board. Chromebooks are being utilized by the middle school students for homework and research. They are taught to sift through information to find what they need, as well as how to use technology responsibly and considerately. This will prepare them well for high school. We have plans to update our current computer lab to make it more conducive for 21st century learning. We are pricing new flooring, tables, and air-conditioning to encourage more movement and discovery in this room. Security in the school will be improved as we install new doors in the hallway near the school office. These doors will be secured at all times so students, faculty, and staff will be safer anytime the Church is open to the Faithful. We continue to look at other aesthetic and practical improvements as well. Many of the signs around the campus are hard to read and confusing. We are looking into new signage that is easier to read and represents our campus well. New heating and cooling options are also being researched as we look to update the school building in this regard. Mrs. Greubel and Mrs. Bingham have been going through the process of writing grants. We have identified and applied for a few grants for which we are eligible. They are currently finishing a grant through the Beyond Sunday Foundation which is entitled Watch our STREAM Grow. It includes new fencing around the school garden, a greenhouse, Marian and memorial gardens, outdoor Stations of the Cross, a green screen, and new video cameras. It is quite large, but I am excited to see that it is progressing nicely. We have volunteers giving time to our school every day. As I walk our halls, I see volunteers reading, writing, and doing Math with our students. Other volunteers give time each month helping us keep up with changing technology. Still others help maintain the building and grounds. I am proud to work with a very active School Board, Parish Council, and Finance Council. They are invested in our school and are always looking toward the future. St. Mark is a school filled with laughter, passion, and learning. In my first meeting with Mrs. Bingham, one way she described our school was by saying, “it feels like home.” She, the teachers, and the staff truly believe St. Mark is a family and they are always happy to welcome people home. This attitude enables us to meet the challenges of academic excellence in a positive, fun, and nurturing environment. As we always want to continue improving, I welcome your input.

God bless you and have a great spring semester!

Fr. Hecktor