MASS FOR LIFE POSTPONED

Due to the weather concerns on Thu, Feb 25, the Mass for Life has been postponed to Thu, Mar 11 at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Thank you for your understanding.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS — EVERY FRI DURING LENT

Stations of the Cross will be held each Friday during Lent at 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel. Please join us!

LENTEN PRAYER BOOKLETS

Each family in the parish is encouraged to take one “Little Black Book of Lenten Prayers” from the vestibule of the Church or Chapel this weekend. The idea behind the prayer booklets is to get all of us into the good habit of spending a minimum of six minutes a day in prayer. The booklets facilitate this by giving interesting historical facts about Lent and Easter and providing a focus for meditation and prayer.

THE LIGHT IS ON FOR YOU

St. Mark will be participating once again with other parishes in the Archdiocese of Baltimore with the program called The Light is ON for You, suggested by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien, to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Lenten Season.

In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we acknowledge our sins before God and His Church and look to be reconciled. Confessions at St. Mark will be heard by Fr. Whatley and Fr. Bowen during the Five Wednesdays of Lent in the Chapel between 7:00 & 8:30 p.m. Come experience God’s forgiveness and mercy through the Sacrament and receive the Gift of Sacramental Absolution.

Feb 24, Mar 3, Mar 10, Mar 17, Mar 24

Please look for the guides in the vestibules of the Church and Chapel.

RESPECT LIFE — PRAYER WARRIERS NEEDED!!!

On First Friday, Mar 5, from 8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., in recognition of 40 Days for Life, St. Mark will have Eucharistic Adoration in the Chapel. Come at your convenience to spend some time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament while praying for the unborn. To sign up for a time, call Cindy Mohler at 410-747-4589.

CAREER DAY AT ST. MARK SCHOOL

Calling all parishioners&hellip We are holding our annual CAREER DAY on Mar 5 from 8:30–11:30am. We always have such a tremendous response from the community to educate our students, grades K–8, on the different career possibilities for their future. If you have any questions or if you would like to volunteer, please contact coordinator Laura Kuhl at lrkuhl@stifel.com or 410-744-2268. Our students are eager to see you again. Thanks for your support.

PATHWAYS TO NEW HORIZONS

Please join Pathways to New Horizons, a support group for widows and widowers, in the Youth Room of the Parish Center on Wed, Mar 10 for Game Day!

ST. MARK HEALTHCARE MINISTRY

The St. Mark Healthcare Ministry will be available after all Masses the weekend of Mar 13/14 to take free blood pressure screenings in the tutorial room of the Fr. Dunn Suite. Please take this opportunity to have your blood pressure checked!

CONFIRMATION 2011

Orientation Meeting: If you are interested in receiving the Sacrament of Confirmation in 2011 and you are in the 7th grade or above, please grab a parent and attend the Confirmation Orientation Meeting on Tuesday, Mar 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the Coakley Room of the Parish Center. For more information, please contact Rae Ellen Clegg at 410-744-6560, ext 231 or rclegg@stmarkchurch-catonsville.org.

Service Hours Opportunity: Pizza, Prayer & PB&Js. Get together with other Confirmation candidates for pizza, Lenten prayer, and making sandwiches for My Brother’s Keeper. Come to Fr. Henry Hall on Friday, Mar 19 from 6:15–8:15 p.m. with 1 or 2 loaves of white bread and, if your last name begins with the letters A–P, bring peanut butter; if your name begins with Q–Z, bring a squeezable grape jelly. Please also bring $1 for pizza and soda. Please pre-register by contacting Rae Ellen Clegg at 410-744-6560, ext 231 or rclegg@stmarkchurch-catonsville.org.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Interfaith Institute: As in past years, St. Mark Parish has been invited to participate in the annual Baltimore Hebrew Congregation Interfaith Institute. Unlike other religious study days, this day is unique in that the participants actually take part in formulating topic questions that are then addressed by an outstanding panel of faith leaders. This year’s topic is: “Use and Abuse of Religion in American Elections.” The Catholic perspective will be presented by Fr. Bob Albright, former campus minister of Towson University. The Institute will be held from 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on Mar 22 at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. The cost for this event is $12 and includes a delicious, catered, boxed lunch. Carpooling from St. Mark will be available, if desired. To register for this event, please call Jane at 410-744-6560, ext 224 by Monday Mar 15.

Book Club: If you are a fan of such biblical novels as The Red Tent, please join us on Apr 8 as we discuss Orson Scott Card’s Rachel & Leah: Women of Genesis. The Book Club meets from 7:30–9:00pm in the Parish Center. All are welcome!

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE SEEKING NEW MEMBERS

Wanted: new, enthusiastic ideagenerators for the St. Mark Social Justice Committee! We are always seeking new members. Many activities and events (Giving Tree, Lenten Appeal, etc) are sponsored throughout the year. Join us to make a difference! Our next meeting is Apr 5 at 7:00 p.m. in the Coakley Room. We look forward to seeing YOU!!

SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE CHILDREN’S CLOTHING DRIVE

It’s that time of year again! We are collecting clothing donations to send to the children of Guatemala City. Please bring your new or gently-used children’s clothing to the back of the Church or Chapel on the weekends of Mar 13/14 and 20/21. More information next week! Any questions, please call or email Mary Scavilla at 410-788-3572 or mescavi@earthlink.net.

THE ARCHBISHOP’S ANNUAL APPEAL

WHEN I CALLED, YOU ANSWERED ME… (PSALM 138:3)

The Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is now underway. Many of our parishioners have received a mailing from Archbishop O’Brien asking that you make a pledge to the 2010 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal. The Appeal not only funds the operations of the Archdiocese, it funds services that are of great help to the ministries here at St. Mark.

Our contributions to our parish and our Archdiocese serve as a sign of gratitude not only for God’s answers to our prayers but also as a sign of our recognition that all that we are and all that we have are gifts given to us by God. Your gift will enable archdiocesan support of ministry, education, and service that touch thousands of lives not only in our Archdiocese but throughout the world.

Our parish receives 25% of each dollar contributed up to our goal of $115,300. Then, we receive 50% of the additional funds received. This year, we will commit our parish rebates to Capital Improvements in Fr. Henry Hall. Please answer the Archbishop’s request and make a generous pledge. All pledges can be billed in ten monthly installments. Thank you in advance for your support.

For more information on the 2010 Archbishop’s Annual Appeal, please visit the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s website.

SOCIAL JUSTICE ANNUAL LENTEN APPEAL

TO BENEFIT THE CATONSVILLE EMERGENCY FOOD MINISTRY AND THE NIGHT OF PEACE FAMILY SHELTER IN WOODLAWN:

Please help these organizations assist the less fortunate in our community. As you can imagine, the need this year is greater than ever. Please bring items listed below and leave them in the collection boxes in the back of the Church and Chapel. This drive will run from Ash Wednesday through Palm Sunday (3/28). Our parishioners have been generous in the past, and we thank you for your support. If you have any questions, please call Dorothy Hilditch at 410-480-8483.

REQUESTED ITEMS:

ST. MARK ROAMIN’ CATHOLICS

St. Mark Roamin’ Catholics are planning the following trips and would like to remind the parish that these events are open to everyone:

Apr 25–May 2 — New Orleans, LA — 7 nights: 2 nights en route each way, 3 nights in New Orleans; 7 breakfasts & 6 dinners. Tour the city of New Orleans including the French Quarter, take a sightseeing riverboat cruise on the Mississippi River, visit Harrah’s casino — and much more. We need at least 25 people for this trip. Cost: $744 per person based on double occupancy. $100 due with reservation.

May 10 — Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island — Bus to Liberty State Park in NJ to board ferry to Ellis Island and/or Statue of Liberty. Stop at Mastorie’s Restaurant in NJ for dinner on own. Cost: $58. $25 due with reservation.

June 6 — Totem Pole Playhouse — to see Sisters of Swing — Follow the Andrews Sisters through their rise to fame. Lunch at Dobbin House Tavern, Gettysburg, PA. Cost: $85; $25 due with reservation.

Early reservations are recommended. Call Carol at 410-744-7092 to reserve your space.

BLOOD DRIVE COMMITTEE NEEDED

We’re putting together a St. Mark Blood Drive committee. The committee will focus on donor recruitment, volunteer coordination, fundraising, advertising, and drive day coordination. The committee works closely with the American Red Cross. If you're interested in helping out with this important ministry, please call 410-744-5776.

H1N1 FLU LITURGICAL GUIDELINES

The Archdiocese of Baltimore has instructed all parishes to cease distributing the Precious Blood at Mass beginning, November 28/29 due to influenza concerns. This guideline will be followed until further notice. Thank you for your understanding. Additional guidelines can be found via the Archdiocese of Baltimore’s website.