Our LIFE Through Christ's Body, the Church

As Catholics we have wondrous opportunities to be nourished and renewed through the sacraments. The sacraments are privileged experiences of grace: the loving and abiding presence of God in Christ through the power of the Spirit. If you have questions about the Church's Sacramental life and the celebration of the sacraments at Saint Mark’s, see below or call the Parish Office for further information.

Worthiness to Receive Holy Communion

The Church teaches that we must be properly disposed to receive the Eucharist worthily, making
use of the Sacrament of Reconciliation prior to the reception of the Eucharist if we have
committed a serious sin (I Cor. 11: 27-29). The Catholic Bishops of the United States said:
[A]ll must examine their consciences as to their worthiness to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord. This examination includes fidelity to the moral teaching of the Church in personal and public life [Catholics in Political Life, 2004].

As the U.S. bishops further said in 2006:
Some Catholics may not fully understand the Church’s doctrinal and moral
teaching on certain issues. They may have certain questions and even uncertainties.

In these situations of honest doubt and confusion, they are welcome to partake of Holy Communion, as long as they are prayerfully and honestly striving to
understand the truth of what the Church professes and are taking appropriate steps to resolve their confusion and doubt. Individuals who experience serious difficulties or doubts about Church teaching should carefully study those Church teachings from authentic sources and seek advice from a confessor or pastor.

If a Catholic in his or her personal or professional life were knowingly and obstinately to reject the defined doctrines of the Church, or knowingly and obstinately to repudiate her definitive teaching on moral issues, however, he or she would seriously diminish his or her communion with the Church. Reception of Holy Communion in such a situation would not accord with the nature of the Eucharistic celebration, so that he or she should refrain.
[Happy Are Those Who Are Called to His Supper: On Preparing to Receive Christ Worthily in the Eucharist, 2006]

In his remarks the Pope John Paul II reaffirmed the Church’s longstanding conviction that respect for
the right to life of the unborn child is one of these fundamental moral teachings.

“Today, Catholics risk cooperating in a false pluralism. Secular society will allow believers to have whatever moral convictions they please -- as long as they keep them on the private preserves of their consciences, in their homes and churches, and out of the public arena. Democracy is not a substitute for morality, nor a panacea for immorality. Its value stands -- or falls -- with the values which it embodies and promotes. Only tireless promotion of the truth about the human person can infuse democracy with the right values. This is what Jesus meant when He asked us to be leaven in society. American Catholics have long sought to assimilate into U.S. cultural life. But in assimilating, we have too often been digested. We have been changed by our culture too much, and we have changed it not enough. If we are leaven, we must bring to our culture the whole Gospel, which is a Gospel of life and joy. That is our vocation as believers. And there is no better place to start than promoting the beauty and sanctity of human life. Those who would claim to promote the cause of life through violence or the threat of violence contradict this Gospel at its core.” [USCCB, Living the Gospel of Life 25, online, http://www.usccb.org/prolife/gospel.shtml, 2008]

 The Saturday Evening/Sunday Mass
This is the highlight in the life of a Catholic person. To attend and actively participate in the Mass each week is vital to our spiritual life. We are always reminded to come on time and to remain for the entire Mass out of respect to the Lord and others who are present. Click here for the Schedule of Holy Mass.

 Anointing of the Sick
This sacrament of healing provides Christ's healing presence to those who are experiencing serious illness, those undergoing surgery as well as those who are in danger of death from sickness or old age. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick may be repeated for those whose illness becomes more serious or for those who regain health and then fall sick again. In an emergency, for the homebound, or before surgery, please call the Parish office.

Patient confidentiality is an increasing concern throughout the United States. We are no longer able to look in a book to see who in the hospital is Catholic, permitting the priest to make a visit. We ask that you please call the parish office for details on receiving:

1. The Eucharist when you are in the hospital or if you are homebound.
2. The anointing of the sick should be scheduled with a priest prior to a scheduled medical treatment. This Sacrament is meant to be celebrated at the beginning of an illness rather than an “Emergency Room” Sacrament.

Please do not assume that the priest or office staff know you are in the hospital or homebound. Please call or have a family member call the Parish Office indicating that you would like a visitation from a Priest or Eucharistic Minister prior to your admission to or shortly after your admission to the hospital.

 Baptism
Baptismal classes are scheduled every other month and services are scheduled as needed. Call the Parish Office to reserve dates for the actual Baptism, and to attend the Baptismal Preparation Class. This class is usually offered on Saturday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the Parish Office. Godparents are also welcome. To have your child baptized you must be a registered parishioner for at least three months and practicing the faith.

Confirmation
Candidates for Confirmation participate in classroom instruction, evening meetings, service projects and a retreat day. Those to be confirmed are to select a "sponsor" who is a good role model, is faithful to his/her religious obligations, and is committed to the Church. Sponsors are expected to attend a Saturday Retreat with their candidate. The sacrament of Confirmation is celebrated in the spring for our High School students. Older candidates should contact the Office of Religious Education.

First Reconciliation [Confession] and First Eucharist

The celebration of First Reconciliation and First Eucharist is held in the spring. Our program consists of classroom instruction and parent meetings for second graders and their families. First Communicants are required to have at least two years of prior religious education. Parents of older children wishing to receive First Eucharist should contact the Office of Religious Education.

Marriage
This sacrament of service and vocation strengthens committed couples as they strive to become one in life and love in the presence of Christ. Because of the serious nature of the commitment in marriage, Catholics asking to be married at St. Mark’s are expected to be practicing members of the Catholic Church.

One should be a registered parishioner, or the child of an active parishioner. The pastor should be contacted at least six months before the desired wedding date, and only he can set a date for the wedding, once he has determined that there are no impediments to the marriage and he has secured the promise of the couple that they will cooperate with the pre-marriage program.

After an initial meeting and the setting of the date, a three-part preparation process begins.

This process includes participation in an Engaged Encounter Weekend, enrollment in Natural Family Planning training and additional meetings with the priest who will schedule a meeting with a wedding planner.

Marriage counseling and information on the annulment process can be obtained by contacting the Parish Office.

Reconciliation [Confession]
This sacrament of healing where sinners are reconciled to God is also called Penance or confession. It is celebrated every Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. inside the Church with a priest. The reconciliation room provides the opportunity to receive the sacrament behind a screen or face to face. To schedule an appointment outside these times, please call the Parish Office.

In addition, our parish and other local parishes have "communal celebrations" of Reconciliation before Christmas and Easter. For these, there are prayers, a Scripture reading, brief homily, and examination of conscience. Afterwards, at least five priest-confessors hear individual confessions and offer absolution.

Funerals

When the need for readings, musicians, eulogy recommendations, memorial opportunities, reception arrangements