St. Mark Catholic Parish
"…The seed is sprouting and growing…" (Mark 4:27)
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Events Around the Diocese…
Posted by on February 23, 2023
MARCH 2023
Evenings with His Excellency – Bishop Wayne Lobsinger invites everyone to join him for “Evenings with His Excellency”. This is an opportunity to learn more about our Catholic Faith based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Class is the second Friday of each month, at 7pm – 8:30 p.m. at St. Ann Church, Ancaster. This month we will begin our look at The 10 Commandments. It is also available by livestream on St. Ann’s YouTube channel. No cost, no homework, just an opportunity to learn about our faith, all are welcome.
Young Adults Night – April 1st – Guelph – Fr. Mark Morley invites all young adults (ages 20s and early 30s) of our diocese to attend a night of Adoration, Fellowship and Praise Music. Arrival and Holy Hour (6:30pm-7:30 pm), Social with Food (7:30pm-8:30pm), Praise Night and Vocation Testimony (8:00pm-9:00pm), and Compline (9:00pm) on Saturday, April 1st at the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate (28 Norfolk Street, Guelph). Sponsored by the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Hamilton. For more information, please contact: vocations@hamiltondiocese.com.
Vacation Bible School Workshop 2023 – The Office for Evangelization and Catechesis invites all parish ministers, youth ministry leaders to join in our annual Vacation Bible School workshop in preparation for summer children’s ministry. New to VBS? Looking to learn more about recruiting youth volunteers? Want a peek at new VBS kits available this year? Come and join us for this informative virtual workshop on April 19, 2023 from 7:00-8:30pm. Registration is available on the Diocesan website: www.hamiltondiocese.com .
Join the Reel Justice Film Festival for our fun family screening of Coco March 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM! This delightful film follows young Miguel as he dreams of becoming an accomplished musician, despite his family’s generations-old ban on music. Themes of Family and Community, Dignity of the Human Person, Forgiveness, and Cultural Diversity are explored. The screening will be hosted online. R.S.V.P. and view our full schedule of events at www.reeljusticefilmfestival.wordpress.com/. A partnership between the Bishop Farrell Library & Archives and Development and Peace, the Reel Justice Film Festival shines a spotlight on issues of social, political, and economic injustice.
The Serra Club of Hamilton is holding their Vocations Recognition Dinner on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at Liuna Station. Tickets are $90. Please email SerraHamilton1965@gmail.com or leave a message at 905-628-5682 if interested.
ReSTART: Moving Forward – Join us for our new and updated program offering support to anyone seeking to heal and move forward after divorce or separation. The program runs from Tuesday, March 21st to May 23rd. The sessions take place from 7-9 pm at the Chancery Office at 700 King St. West in person, or you are welcome to join using our zoom classroom. Cost is $25 for materials, but no one is turned away. Registration is required so please call Sarah at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249, e-mail familyministry@hamiltondiocese.com, or register on line at ReSTART Program: Support for Separated and Divorced – (hamiltondiocese.com).
Grief Relief – Has someone you cared about died? Are you grieving the loss of the person’s presence in your life? Join us on Thursdays from 7 – 8:30 p.m. from April 13 – May 18, 2023 to learn more about what you are feeling and how to gently move forward. You are not alone! The Diocese of Hamilton program will be offered online using Zoom. To register, go to hamiltondiocese.com and look for April 13th under Upcoming Events. To find out more, please call Teresa at 905-528-7988 ext. 2250.
The 2023 Diocesan Wedding Anniversary – Time is running out! Are you celebrating your 25th, 40th, 50th, 60th, or 60+ Wedding Anniversary in the year 2023? If you are, you are cordially invited to join couples from across the Diocese of Hamilton for a Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King in Hamilton at 1:30 pm. (Space allows room for Anniversary couples only – those married 60 years or more may bring 1 guest if you require assistance). Register now at hamiltondiocese.com, or contact the Family Ministry Office at 905-528-7988 ext. 2249.
Help for Every Marriage – Are you frustrated or angry at each other, or have you just stopped talking to each other? Retrouvaille helps couples through difficult times and allows you to rediscover the relationship that drew you together. This program has helped tens of thousands of couples find a better way for their marriage. For confidential information about, or to register for the program, happening the weekend of March 10, 11, 12, 2023 please call 905-664-5212 or email: 1013@helpourmarriage.org or visit the web site at www.retrouvaille.org.
RESTART: Refresh, Renew Revive –Learning, support and fun for anyone who is looking for support after a separation or divorce! These get-togethers offer continual support and insights for people as they journey through the divorce/separation process and beyond. Held the 2nd & 3rd Fridays of each month, you can join in-person (700 King St. West, Hamilton), or by ZOOM. No registration required, but for ZOOM link please contact Sarah at familyministry@hamiltondiocese.com, or 905-528-7988 ext. 2249. We look forward to seeing you!
World Youth Day at Home – We know many young people are unable to make the international pilgrimage to celebrate World Youth Day this summer in Lisbon. We invite any young person who is interested in gathering together to celebrate World Youth Day here at home in Diocese of Hamilton this August to let us know by completing the survey found at: https://wyd.hamiltondiocese.com/. This survey of interest closes March 10th, 2023.
Did You Know… Children in our parishes benefit from the Catechetical Correspondence Program each year for ongoing religious education and preparation for the Sacraments. We need volunteers to support the program! If you are willing to accompany these children in their learning journey, please reach out to the Office for Evangelization and Catechesis at catechesis@hamiltondiocese.com. To learn more about the Catechetical Correspondence Program, please visit: https://bit.ly/DOHCCC.
Adult Faith Formation through VLCFF – The Diocese of Hamilton is proud to partner with Dayton University’s Virtual Learning Community for Adult Faith Formation (VLCFF) to offer certificate programs for ministry and enrichment for adult faith formation. Three and five week e-seminars are available at a discounted rate for all adults in the Diocese looking to further their learning. For more information about our programs, and how to register, visit us at www.hamiltondioceselearns.com.
St. Vincent de Paul Society
Posted by on October 27, 2022
A Message from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul
St. Mark’s Conference
October 2022
Dear Parishioners of St. Mark,
For many years the parishioners of St. Mark Church have supported those less fortunate in our own community through the support of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul conference here at St. Mark’s.
As you know, as a result of Covid-19, we were unable to continue providing food hampers to families. Food distribution became centralized through The Food Bank of Waterloo Region at that time and a new food distribution system continues to develop.
Our SVDP conference continues to work with the various agencies involved in any way that we can, and will revisit options on how best to use our resources in the future.
While much continues to be unsettled, we appreciate your past support and wanted to let you know what we can as our community needs are as great as ever.
Part of the new food distribution system is the use of community centers being run by the House of Friendship. We are currently in talks with the Forest Heights Community Center to see how we can pool our resources to aid families here in our community.
But for now, we are focused on Christmas. We will be assisting the House of Friendship with this year’s Christmas program by providing volunteers and the use of our parking lot on December 16th. In addition, we will provide financial assistance if possible. The number of families that can be supported through this program has been capped based on last year’s numbers. But they are expecting more calls this year so we have offered to provide direct assistance to an additional 20 families in our area.
Online registration for assistance with food or toys opens November 1st at www.christmassupport.ca. Separate forms must be filled out for food and toys.
You can again find a blue SVDP envelope in your box of offertory envelopes. Any donation you make is deeply appreciated and will be used in our efforts this Christmas.
Sincerely,
St. Mark’s Conference Members
Society of St. Vincent de Paul
Available Food and Other Assistance Information
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region supports the Community Food Assistance Network – a system of 100+ community programs and agency partners.
A complete list of Hamper Programs, Community Center Food Distribution and Community Meals Programs can be found on their website:
www.thefoodbank.ca
and click on “Need Food?”
Alternatively, you can call:
519-743-5576 ext. 340
Included on this website for our area is:
Forest Heights Food Program
1700 Queens Boulevard
519-498-7328
This program runs weekly on Tuesdays from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
* Identification with name and address is required. *
If you require support for other non-food services you can
visit the webpage of Region of Waterloo Community Services:
www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/community-services.aspx#
Alternatively, you can call 519-575-4400 and ask for assistance.
The Region’s website provides access to many programs including:
Ontario Works ……….…….. 519-883-2100
Carizon Family Services ….. 519-743-6333
KW Counselling Services … 519-884-0000
The House of Friendship …. 519-742-8327
Salvation Army …………….. 519-745-4215
Financial Support
Posted by on February 12, 2021
Financial Support
If you are able, we hope you will consider continuing your financial support of the parish during periods of shut-down or reduced attendance. When we are unable to open our doors or are limiting attendance due to restricted capacity, it means we do not receive regular contributions to help us pay our bills – which continue to come in.
Three options are available for donating to St. Mark Parish:
Monthly Pre-authorized Giving through your bank account – perhaps the easiest method. You can request more information or enroll in this plan by emailing Pam at the parish office for a form (stmark@rogers.com).
Mail in your envelopes to the parish – 55 Driftwood Drive, Kitchener, ON N2N 3A2.
Online Giving (one-time or monthly) using your Credit Card, PayPal, or CanadaHelps Gift Card. This is done online through the Diocese of Hamilton and your tax receipt will also come from the diocese, but your donation goes to the parish. To use this method, please visit: www.hamiltondiocese.com/covid19parishfund and select *St. Mark Parish, Kitchener* from the drop-down menu (parishes are listed alphabetically by CITY).
Any of these methods would be truly and profoundly appreciated and would help the parish at a time of difficulty.
May God bless you for your generosity!
Virtual Mass
Posted by on May 5, 2020
TELEVISED MASS:
Vision TV
(To find your channel, enter your postal code and service provider at www.visiontv.ca)
Sunday 8:00 a.m.
Monday–Friday 8:00 a.m., 12 noon
Saturday 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m.
Salt+Light TV
Find your Channel or Watch Live
Sunday 11:00 a.m., 10:30 p.m.
Monday–Saturday 6:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 3:00 p.m., 10:30 p.m.
YES TV
Find your Channel
Sunday 10:30 a.m.
Monday–Saturday 1:00 p.m.
ONLINE MASS:
Local Parishes
The diocese has gone to considerable effort to compile a list of local parishes who are uploading or streaming their own Masses.
As well, His Excellency Bishop Crosby will celebrate Sunday Mass from the Cathedral Basilica of Christ the King, televised Sundays at 11:00 a.m. on Cable 14 and at 1:00 p.m. on CHCH TV.
YouTube
YouTube offers many channels that upload Daily and Sunday Masses. Here are two popular ones: Bishop Robert Barron and National Catholic Broadcasting Council
Lectio Divina
Posted by on November 20, 2018
Lectio Divina is a Latin term, meaning “divine reading” and describes a way of reading the Scriptures whereby we gradually let go of our own agenda and open ourselves to what God wants to say to us.
The first stage is lectio (reading) where we read the Word of God, slowly and reflectively so that it sinks into us. Any passage of Scripture can be used for this way of prayer but the passage should not be too long.
The second stage is meditatio (reflection) where we think about the text we have chosen and ruminate upon it so that we take from it what God wants to give us.
The third stage is oratio (response) where we leave our thinking aside and simply let our hearts speak to God. This response is inspired by our reflection on the Word of God.
The final stage of Lectio Divina is contemplatio (rest) where we let go not only of our own ideas, plans and meditations but also of our holy words and thoughts. We simply rest in the Word of God. We listen at the deepest level of our being to God who speaks within us with a still small voice.
If you would like to incorporate the Lectio Divina into your life,
visit the website of the Order of Carmelites in Italy here:
http://ocarm.org/en/lectio-divina.
Once there, simply browse for the correct day of the week,
and click on “Read more.”
St. Mark Catholic Parish 