St. Mark Catholic Church

8300 Morganford Road, St. Louis, MO 63123

Office: 314-743-8600, Fax: 314-743-8618 www.stmarkstl.com

December 4, 2016

Mass Schedule Sundays—7:00, 9:00, & 11:00 am (church) Monday—Thursday—6:30 & 8:15 am (church) Friday—6:30 am (church) 8:15 am (school) Saturdays—8:15 am & 5:00 pm (church) Holy days—Eve—7:00 pm Day—6:30 & 9:00 am, 7:00 pm

Confessions Saturday afternoon—3:30 to 4:30 pm

Sacraments Call 743-8620 or 743-8600 to make an appointment with one of the Priests.

Prayer Hotline Dolores Bollwerk @ 631-5108 Rose Duane @ 631-0202 Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament Tuesday after 8:15 am Mass to 9:00 pm

Bulletin Announcements Deadline is Monday at noon BULLETIN—dianelittle@archstl.org WEB—www.stmarkstl.com

Clergy Rev. Monsignor Patrick K. Hambrough Pastor phambrough@archstl.org 314-743-8609—church 314-743-8620—rectory Rev. Monsignor Charles J. Forst Retired cforst@archstl.org Rev. Ted Vitali, CP Non-Resident, Associate vitalit@slu.edu 314-729-7572

Administrative Staff—Parish 8300 Morganford, St. Louis, MO 63123

Diane Little—Secretary 743-8602 dianelittle@archstl.org

Alice Wilcox—Bookkeeper 743-8603 alicewilcox@archstl.org Christina Sanders, Ph.D.—Pastoral Associate 743-8604 christinasanders@archstl.org

Rose Masidonski—Music Director 631-8260

Loretta Gutting—Webmaster 922-6838 loretta5@swbell.net

Administrative Staff—School 4220 Ripa Ave. St. Louis, MO 63125 Fax: 314-743-8690

Jill Burkett—Principal

743-8643 principal@stmarkstl.com

Mary Althage—Secretary 743-8640 malthage@stmarkstl.com

PREPARE THE WAY Saint John the Baptist appears on the scene today as Advent enters its

second week. The mysterious consumer of locusts and wild honey, John echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah as he calls for repentance in the

face of the nearness of the kingdom of heaven. The rhythms of the Christian life are often confounding. Each year we meet the Baptist and hear his calls for repentance. Each year we see him pointing to the one who is coming after him, the Lord Jesus. Yet each year the words and actions of John the Baptist echo anew in our hearts, because we have

fallen into old sinful traps again and again. Advent gives us the opportunity once again to turn away from our sinful ways and embrace the gospel way of life. John the Baptist invites us to prepare the way for

the Lord, in whom we place our hope. Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Second Sunday of Advent December 4, 2016

I am very grateful to all of you who have participated in the Beyond Sunday campaign. Thus far, the total amount of pledges is just over $350,000, which means $210,000 will go to help families afford a Catholic education for their children as well as assisting schools with the purchase of necessary technology and $140,000 will be coming back to our parish. Your sacrificial donation will be

of great benefit to many people, including us. If you have not given yet I ask you to prayerfully consider your participation. Can you donate $1,000 a year for the next five years? Too much? How about $500 a year? Still too much? How about $50 a year for the next five years? That’s less than $4.25 a month, just over a dollar a week. Surely, that is affordable, and, again, many people will be helped. I was on retreat when the bulletin for the First Sunday of Advent was printed so allow me to offer this quote for your reflection during this special time. It was spiritual writer, Bill McKibben who penned, “Advent is the time to listen for footsteps—you can’t hear footsteps when you’re running yourself.” During this beautiful, yet busy, Advent Season be sure to slow down sometime and listen for the footsteps of Christ. He’s on the way. He’s moving toward your heart. He wants to take over your life and lead you to Paradise. Slow down and listen for Him. Work continues on our new worship space at school. The dismantling of the interior of the school chapel is proceeding as I write. The walls that made up the sacristies are coming down as is the fake brickwork that covered the walls. Soon work will commence in removing sidewalks and dirt where the two expansions to the building will be. It is good to at last see a lot of work being done. I am thankful to all who decorated church for the Season of Advent and to all who changed the missalettes. I’m thankful, too, to all those who have purchased items for our Giving Tree. By the way, that tree was donated by Mason’s Nursery at 2296 Union Road. They will be donating other trees to St. Mark’s when we decorate for the Christmas Season. If you’re looking for a tree you might try them. Last Monday our 2nd grade parishioners made their First Confession and last Thursday Archbishop Carlson was here to administer the Sacrament of Confirmation to our 8th graders. Please pray for these young parishioners. May the grace of the Sacraments inspire them to follow always Jesus Christ.

May God bless all of you. Father Hambrough

St. Mark's Ladies Guild

Our Christmas Party is Monday, December 12 at Genesis Banquet Hall.

Cor Jesu Choir will be entertaining us this year.

Doors open at 5:15 pm and dinner served at 5:45 pm.

Please make your reservations by December 5 to Marion Hebrank at 487-2207.

Immaculate Conception On Thursday, December 8, we will celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, a holyday of obligation. Masses will be at 6:30 & 9:00 am and at 7:00 pm. Father Hambrough will also say Mass at St. Andrew’s church at 12:00

pm that day.

Toy Mass St. Mark First Grade Toy Mass will

be held on Friday, December 9th in the Parish Center. School families and parishioners are encouraged to bring in a new, unwrapped toy that will be placed before the altar before Mass. The collected toys will be donated to local charities in the St. Louis community. This Mass is a great way to celebrate the Advent season.

St. Mark APP Information—Check your Parish App for information about Advent. Look at your messages for instructions on how to update and get several new items including Advent. If you don’t see Advent as one of your

choices after you have updated just remember you can slide your screen over for additional features.

SOUP KITCHEN VOLUNTEERS To anyone who is a St. Peter/Paul Soup Kitchen cook, baker, and/or server: If you will not be able to continue to volunteer in 2017, please let Barb Haaser (314-845-8986) know as soon as possible. You can just leave her a message. New schedules will go out the beginning of January, 2017. Thank you.

We welcome to our faith and to our parish those recently baptized: Thomas John Baumgartner, son of Ryan and Melissa Baumgartner, Jack Robert Dalton, son of Isaac and Lisa Dalton, and Tristen William Woods, son of Jesse Woods and Kristie Pruellage. May God bless and guide Thomas, Jack and Tristen and their families as they journey with Christ to the Kingdom.

Please note the change in the Sunday Mass schedule for Christmas Day. On that day only we will celebrate the Birth of our Lord at midnight, 7:30 am and 10:00 am.

We will have a Mass at 5:00 pm on December 24, too. We will return to our usual schedule on Sunday, January 1.

Monday 6:30 J. Vollet Tuesday 6:30 T. & M. Joseph Wednesday 6:30 B. Haubrich

December 5—11

Thursday 6:30 C. & A. Maloney 9:00 T. & H. Bast 7:00 pm A. Linkogel, D. Davis Friday 6:30 S. Zinn

Saturday 8:15 B. Farmer 5:00 N. Nguyen, J. Davis Sunday 7:00 K. & R. McLeod 9:00 R. Rosenkoetter 11:00 L. Grebing, T. Buganski

Mass Intentions December 4—11

Sunday 7:00 Linda Meier 9:00 Peggy Waldon 11:00 People of the Parish Monday 6:30 Mark Haberberger 8:15 Levi Partin Tuesday 6:30 Holy Souls in Purgatory 8:15 Larry Bereswill Wednesday 6:30 Margaret Waldon 9:00 Michael Ryterski 7:00 pm People of the Parish Thursday 6:30 Holy Souls in Purgatory 8:15 Ronald A. Seper Friday 6:30 Agnes Paskas 8:15 Virginia Bodnar Saturday 8:15 Willard Hart 5:00 Sr. Jean Iadevito, CSJ Sunday 7:00 People of the Parish 9:00 Linda Raymonds 11:00 Trish Blood

Ministry Schedule December 8—Immaculate Conception

9:00 AM Lectors: Mitzi Mallette Ministers: K. Waeckerle, D. Stanger, L. Wells, C. Oberbeck Hospitality: A. & M. Desrosiers, V. Slama, D. Webb

7:00 PM Lectors: Ed Schneider Ministers: J. Fuchs, K. Vaughn, E. & L. Waugh Hospitality: S. Carosello, D. Little, L. Meier, R. Puricelli December 10 & 11

5:00 Lectors: Jean Schatz Ministers: J. Preisack, M. DeHekker, K. Goersch, P. O’Rourke, E. Schneider, M. White Hospitality: D. Benz, D. Bollwerk, C. & R. Hamilton

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

9:00 Lectors: Fran Stevens & Sally Landro Ministers: M. Adlersfluegel, D. Kopff, L. Malone, M. Terhaar Hospitality: L. & R. Abeln, R. Bird, M. Hogrebe, J. Langevin

11:00 Lectors: Loretta Gutting Ministers: S. Bialczak, D. Brauer, K. Gillman, K. Waeckerle Hospitality: M. & J. Bono, C. & J. Snethen

From the Desk of Msgr. Forst

When I was growing up our dining room was locked during the month of December. It was the Holy Season of Advent. The 3rd Sunday was Gaudete

Sunday. On Christmas Eve the big sliding door was opened and we got to see a tree and then gifts for each of us. It was not elaborate but it did give us reason to rejoice (Gaudete). Now it is not easy for me to enjoy the present “state of affairs”. For many it is the one day of the year to celebrate, for others the tree was taken down soon after Christmas. Pray that some of those “happy times” will come back so that we can celebrate the Birth of Jesus.

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to write letters to our beloved "shut-in" or sick. Your generous outpouring of love and time spent writing these "love notes" is greatly appreciated. May God bless you abundantly at Christmas and throughout the New Year!

Please pray for the repose of the souls of our parishioners who recently died, Lorraine Baker and Anna Kemper. May they, and all the faithful departed , rest in peace.

As mentioned last week by seminarian Patrick Russell, you are invited to attend the Annual Advent Novena at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary. The Novena began last Wednesday and it concludes Thursday, December 8th. It begins each evening at 7:00 pm at the seminary in Shrewsbury. You are invited also to the Novena occurring at St. Andrew Church. This Novena begins Saturday, December 17 and concludes on December 23. It begins each evening at 6:00 pm.

December 5—11

Monday 10 am—Canasta—St. Martha 1:30 pm—50+ Club Board mtg.—Patrons 5 pm—Basketball—Parish Center 6:30 pm—PSR class—school ——————————————————————————- Tuesday 9 am to 9 pm—Adoration—church 6:30 pm—Bingo—Bandwagon Hall 8:30 am—Crafters—St. Martha 7 pm—Boot Camp—Hamb. Hall 7 pm—Christmas Concert—Parish Center —————————————————————–--———–-Wednesday 8:30 am—Quilters 9 am—Bible Study—St. Paul 11:00 am—Line Dancing—Hamb. Hall 1 pm—Liturgy Planning—St. Paul 5 pm—Basketball—Parish Center 7 pm—Boot Camp—cafeteria 7 pm—Christ’s Journeymen—St. Paul 7 pm—Liturgy mtg.—Patrons ———————————————————————–—–---Thursday Immaculate Conception—Masses at 6:30 & 9:00 am and 7:00 pm ——————————————————————————- Friday 6 pm—Girl Scout babysitting—Hamb. Hall 5 pm—Basketball—Parish Center 6 pm—Boot Camp—cafeteria ——————————————————————————- Saturday 9 am—Young Women’s Study Group— Patrons 4 pm—Private Party—Hamb. Hall

December 5—11

Monday: Is 35:1-10; Ps 85:9ab, 10-14; Lk 5:17-26 Tuesday: Is 40:1-11; Ps 96:1-3, 10ac, 11-13; Mt 18:12-14 Wednesday: Is 40:25-31; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10; Mt 11:28-30 Thursday: Gn 3:9-15, 20; Ps 98:1-4; Eph 1:3-6, 11-12; Lk 1:26-38 Friday: Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Mt 11:16-19 Saturday: Sir 48:1-4, 9-11; Ps 80:2ac, 3b, 15-16, 18-19; Mt 17:9a, 10-13 Sunday: Is 35:1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10; Mt 11:2-11

Bingo is played every Tuesday at Bandwagon Hall, on Reavis Barracks and Lemay Ferry Road.

Doors open at 3:30 pm and games begin at 6:30 pm.

Team 2 will work Tuesday, December 6

If you cannot work when scheduled or have questions, please call Loretta @ 922-6838,

or Megan Bono @ 261-3570.

Dottie Lauman C/T Buescher Kim Spencer Carol Bradley Sheila Mason

Melissa Beck Leanne Gaddy Betty Hummert Rick Dreiling Anna Cantoni

4F Nights

High Schoolers join us Thursdays

from 7:00-9:00 PM in the St. Paul Room. Information on coming up 4F Nights can be found in

the church vestibule and online.

As always our evenings will consist of Faith, Fellowship, Fun, and Food.

IGNITE’s door is open to any high school student whose faith life may be burning ablaze or just getting kindled.

Please invite your friends and join us as we, through God, IGNITE each other’s fire within.

MORE INFO about IGNITE in the vestibule & online: http://www.stmarkstl.com/youth-ministry

Join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IGNITEYMSTL

Giving Tree This weekend you will find the Giving Tree in the church vestibule. We ask that you take an ornament and purchase the suggested item. Please do not wrap the gift.

The gift ideas are for those items that Feed My People is most in need of for their clients. The Giving Tree Room will be open to their clients to choose from the donated gifts that best suit their family members’ needs. You may also donate wrapping paper and scotch tape so that clients can wrap their chosen gifts. All gifts must be returned and under the tree by December 11th. If you have any questions, please call Diane Little at 743-8602.

Get some Christmas shopping done and enjoy an evening out while the Girl

Scouts entertain the kids!

When: Friday, December 9, 6-10 pm Where: Hambrough Hall

Cost: $15 per child, $10 for each additional child (3 or more $35)

Snacks, movies, games, crafts and more will be provided. Girl Scout Troop 4 is CPR and First Aid certified.

Reservations are required. Please RSVP to Laura at LauraESchindler@sbcglobal.net

Christmas Concert Join the St. Mark school kids for their Christmas Concert on Tuesday, December 6 at 10:00 am and 7:00 pm in the Parish Center. All are welcome to share in the joy of the Holiday!

Derek Abeln Stephanie Ayers Connie Berkbigler Ellie Bisher Karen Blatchford Marie Brambilla Dorothy Carron Carol Capkovic Linda Cardenas Tom Cherry Carol Coughlin Ryder Curcuru Nicholas Dalba Scott Drennan John Earley Brenda Edleson Chris Farrell Barbara Finan Mary Fischer Joanne Flankard Christian Flores Ann May Freise Lou Fuchs Bob & Rose Gion Marie Gorczyca Melissa Happe Eileen Happold Brett Haubrich

Bernice Hegger Karen Henson Lisa Hincklin Grace Hoeflinger Ann Holdman Ted Holzem Lea Huckabee Mary Ingram David Jenneman Mary Jensen Barbara Kerber Dolores Kertz Fran Kohlmann Matthew Kraus Richard Krus Bob Lally Emma Lauer Margie Leonneke James Lewis Louise Linsin Darlene Mahar Terri Malen Marie Markowski Grace Martise Bud Mashowski Jane Matoushek Rose Mayer

Mike Seevers Jackie Semar Marian Serra Rose Sheedy Brittany Sloss Carolyn Smith Kerry Staats Cathy Staten Kelly Stewart Patricia Stock John Stockman Kelli Stout Rich & Kate Tappella Mary Ellen Tayon Amy Terhaar Karen Thaman Karen Thompson Arthur Turgeon Laverne Valenti Lou Ann Walters Nathan Weber J. Werstein Marie Williams Randy Wood Karen Wright

Rita McAdams Rob Myers Steve Michalski Josh Miller Ruth Mintner Rosemary Miriani Pat Nappier Liam Niemira John Nolan Judy O’Hare Kathleen O’Shea Jack Overturf Jacquelin Parson Tom Patania Jody Pfeiffer Mary Phillips Michael Pieri Bryant Pines Francis Polasky Ava Reichert Joshua Rubel Joann & Bill Schaub Meghan Schmitt Marian Schroeder Rita Schnorbus Juanita & Frank Scotino

50+ Club News Monday, December 5th—Board meeting at 1:30 pm in the Patrons room.

Wednesday, December 14th—Christmas party at Genesis Banquet Hall. Doors open at 5:00, open bar at 5:15 & dinner at 5:30 pm. We will have 50/50, December birthdays and attendance prizes. John & Doe will be our entertainment. Cost is $15.00. Pay at November meeting. If you cannot attend the meeting, call Fran to sign up at 892-1779 or Mike at 276-5767. Cut off is December 4, no exceptions.

Wednesday, December 28th—Trip to see Christmas lights at Our Lady of the Snows. We still need 10 people for the bus trip. If you don’t want to eat the buffet, you may choose something else as we will eat in the dining room. We will browse the gift shop and visit the Christmas Tree room. We can also feed the animals or ride the camels. There is an extra charge for this. They do sell snacks and kettle corn by the animals. Cost is $20 per person based on having 20 people attend. The buffet dinner is $17 per person. We will leave St. Mark’s parking lot at 4:00 pm and return around 7:30 pm. To sign up, call Mike at 276-5767. All parishioners welcome!

A faith community here at St. Mark for those aged 18-39

(graduated from high school). Our door is open to anyone—

of any faith and any stage in their faith journey.

More info: http://www.stmarkstl.com/yag

November 20, 2016

Envelopes $ 9,874.00 Online Giving 1,593.00 Loose 673.89 School Support 436.00 Total $12,576.89 —Avg. Weekly Expenses 15,000.00 Final Total $ 2,423.11

November 27, 2016

Envelopes $ 8,218.00 Online Giving 1,508.00 Loose 702.54 School Support 295.00 Total $10,723.54 —Avg. Weekly Expenses 15,000.00 Final Total $ 4,276.46

Thanks for your continuous support!

to the 2nd grade students of St. Mark School and Parish School of Religion (PSR) who went to the Sacrament of Reconciliation this past Monday, November 28th. May they always know the love and mercy of God the Father.

Lucas Althage Madison Belosi Augustus Bilger

Lily Brann Collin Buck

Nicholas Cusumano Jack Dalton

Yarisbeth Gallegos Morgan Gast

Nicholas Hackmann Jessica Hendrix Mikey Hendrix Luke Maxwell

Samuel Medina Christian Roth

Jackson Scheller Sidney Sellers

Gavin Stocking John Paul Wildermuth

Lily Winkelmann

Thanks to everyone who donated food or cash to the Thanksgiving Day collection. A special thanks to the school parents and children who collected 1449 cans of food for the Thanksgiving school Mass. Our partners at Affton Christian Food Pantry will be well supplied for the beginning of the winter months. Once again, “THANKS”!

Update Membership Information

Does our Church database have YOUR family membership correct? It is time for us to update our

database with any changes, additions, or deletions that may have occurred in your family over the past year. Have you changed your phone number? Have you moved? Are you preparing to move soon? Are all of your children still at home and are they all included in your membership

record? Do you want your record published? If you have not already informed the Church Office about changes to your record, please let us know at 743-8600 so that the

information in the Guide Book & Directory is correct.

Guide Book & Directory Advertising Opportunity

We have contacted Guide Book (GBP) to publish a Guide Book & Directory for our congregation that will be updated and delivered directly to your homes annually. This book will contain everything pertinent to our church: the various ministries, organizations, committees, activities, functions and events plus a complete directory of all members. This book is being provided and mailed to each member at no cost to our church. Local businesses are being solicited to advertise in the book. GBP would prefer to place advertisements for members of our congregation over your business’s competitors. If you own or manage a business and would like to find out about advertising in our book, please call our office at 314-743-8600.

Recent survey results by Guide Book Publishing show that 92.1% of families would rather patronize a Guide Book & Directory advertiser over a non-advertiser. It “will pay” to advertise in our new Guide Book & Directory.

MISSOURI LIFE CARAVAN—is once again organizing buses for the Annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. Thursday—Saturday, January 26—28, 2017. Join us and thousands of others from across the U.S. for this huge pro-life gathering in our nation’s capital. This trip does not involve overnight stays in hotels as we sleep on the buses. The cost before December 23 is $190. The cost after December 23 is $205. For registration and bus information contact us at: 314-434-4900 or mrl.eastern@yahoo.com. You can also download our registration form at www.missourilife.org. Registration deadline is January 3, 2017.

SHINE Middle School Ministry “Food For Thought” Night

DECEMBER 17th

WHAT: Evening of fellowship & faith formation for 6th-8th graders WHEN: 6:00-8:30 PM WHERE: Hambrough Hall

--Dinner provided— SIGN UP TO ATTEND

through website, school, or PSR --more information-- http://www.stmarkstl.com/shine

FIAT Women's Group—Give yourself a gift this Advent and join us on Thursday, December 15 at Kenrick Glennon Seminary (5200 Glennon Dr. 63119). Our speaker will be Father Mark Kramer, SJ. We will pray the rosary at 8:00 am and the talk will run from 8:15 to 9:00 am. Coffee and social time follow. All are welcome! See www.kenrick.edu/fiat for more information and for recordings of previous talks.

YWCA-Woman’s Place presents Surviving Stress

A free workshop for women Saturday, December 17, 9:30am to 11:30am at

8300 Morganford Rd. behind St. Mark Church

How is stress affecting your life? Explore a variety of ways to cope with stress in this uplifting, interactive workshop. Pre-registration is required by calling 314-645-4848.

Woman’s Place works to end violence against women by providing compassionate crisis intervention, facilitating women’s

transition to safety and healing, and educating the community.

Serving the community from two locations:

8300 Morganford Rd in Affton and 4116 McClay Rd in St. Charles

YWCA-Woman’s Place is proud to be a new program of the YWCA Metro St. Louis.

Widow/Widower’s Group—St. Simon the Apostle Church offers Widow / Widower's monthly support group meetings. These meetings are held in the Lower Church Hall in the 'Mary Room'. Our next scheduled meeting will be taking place on Sunday, December 18th. Times are 1:30 pm- to 3:00 pm. Any questions, please contact Linda Jackson @ 314-544-5623 or RJJANDLSJ@aol.com.

Alternative New Year’s Eve Celebration

We are having our annual Alternative New Year’s Eve Celebration on Saturday, December 31 at 6:00 pm. Begin your celebration with Mass at 5:00 pm and then join us in Hambrough Hall for a family potluck and game night. ALL are welcome! Bring a dish to share and a game to play, your family and friends, and be ready for a wonderful evening of food, fun and fellowship. We will have coffee and tea. Soda will be available for sale. NO alcohol please as this is a family event. To RSVP, call Glenn Zeitler at 314-803-6475 or email to zeitz13@aol.com.

Pro-Image Sports Apparel Sale—2 days only, Friday, December 16 from 3:00-9:00 pm and Saturday, December 17 from 9:00 am-3:00 pm. Just in time for last minute Christmas shopping! Save up to 50% on Cardinals, Blues, Mizzou, Nike, Under Armour, Adidas, Majestic, NCAA and more! Jackets, sweats, tshirts, hats, memorabilia etc. will all be available! Held In the DuBourg Café at 5850 Eichelberger St., St. Louis, MO 63109—Proceeds benefit the DB Athletic Association.