A recent Pew Research Study showed that a majority of Catholics do not believe that the bread and wine used at Mass become the body and blood of Christ.
Bishop Robert Barron said “It’s hard to describe how angry I feel after reading what the latest @pewresearch study reveals about understanding of the Eucharist among Catholics. This should be a wake-up call to all of us in the Church.” and “It’s been a massive failure of the church in carrying out itw own tradition.” See all that he had to say on this important topic recently:
33 Days to Morning Glory Retreat and Marian Consecration
Each Wednesday from Oct 16–Nov 20, from 9 to 10:30 AM
We will use videos from Formed.Org featuring Father Michael Gaitley, MIC and materials from allheartsafire.org and we will meet each week from 9 to 10:30 on Wednesdays. At the end we will have a special mass at 10 a.m. on 11/21 – The Presentation of Mary and we will make the Marian Consecration together. Come and join us each week and all are welcome. There will be a small donation for materials required – more on that soon. Please RSVP if you plan to come so we can plan for materials. Call the office at 772-461-8150
Each of the five canonical Hours includes selections from the Psalms that culminate in a scriptural proclamation. The two most important Hours are Morning and Evening Prayer. The Gospel canticle acts as a kind of meditative extension of the scriptural proclamation in light of the Christ event. Morning and Evening Prayer also include intercessions that flow from the scriptural proclamation just as the Psalms prepare for it. See bulletins from August for more information or go to this link:
On Wednesday 8/21 from 10AM-11AM in the Rectory. Join the journey of discovering the truth behind the Catholic Church’s most influential people with Bishop Barron’s CATHOLICISM: The Pivotal Players series. Beginning with St. Francis of Assisi– The Reformer and the radical simplicity his life demonstrates as the foundation of true and lasting reform built upon the witness of the saints.
Come and see this awesome series starting 8/21 in the Rectory Meeting Room. Each video is unique so you can come in at any point in the series.
On 9/11/19 we viewed and discussed Blessed John Henry Newman – the Convert. He came into the Church as a convert and used his prodigious intellectual gifts to engage the assaults of a secular age.
On 9/18/19 we viewed and discussed G.K. Chesterton – the Evangelist. He shows that the fundamental disposition of effective evangelism is joy, and life in Christ is a day-to day encounter with an abundant and surprising offer of grace.
On 9/25/19 we will view and discuss Michelangelo – The Artist. He serves as a privileged representative of the creative potential engendered by the Catholic faith. He demonstrates that beauty is a route of access to God.
On 10/2/19 we will view and discuss St. Catherine of Sienna – The Mystic. St. Catherine exemplifies the power of a life lived in relationship with Jesus and provides an example of faith that changes the culture.
On 10/9/19 we will view and discuss Fulton Sheen – the Communicator – a new video in Part 2 of the Pivotal Players series.
Then starting 10/16/19 we will begin 33 Days to Morning Glory – a small group Marian Consecration Retreat which will be from 9 AM to 10:30 AM each Wednesday from 10/16 to 11/20. A special mass will be held on 11/21 at 10 AM for the conclusion of the retreat.
Then starting on Wednesday 11/27, Deacon Bill Hobby will lead a study of the Gospel of John. See the bulletin for more information before the study begins.
Bishop Barron is filming the second part of the film series titled Pivotal Players which includes the story of St. Ignatius of Loyola and Bartolome de las Casas. Here is a link to the initial trailers for the series:
We also have a copy of his first series which includes the stories of St. Francis of Assisi, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Catherine of Siena, Blessed John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, and Michelangelo. We are currently showing these videos in the Rectory Meeting Room on Wednesdays from 10AM to 11 AM, see the Bible study post for more details.
This article was written for Knights.net, the Knights of Columbus digital portal. Looking for more great Catholic content and a faith-filled brotherhood?Join the Knights of Columbus today!
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Suffering comes, ready or not. A sudden cyclone drops a bomb of rain in the Midwest, washing out homes, ruining farms and leaving people devastated, with no explanation from merciless nature. A disaster of this magnitude makes the daily trials of life seem small, but we suffer nonetheless from a fender-bender or termites in the basement.
We are constantly tempted to ask why bad things happen to good people. This age-old question has confounded great thinkers and caused many to reject religious faith while asking, “How could a good, all-powerful God allow such suffering in the world?”
For some, the answer is simple. We humans are not “good” and make trouble for ourselves and others. From the dawn of existence, you can trace the train of evils that has followed humanity through the ages.
In this view, we get what we deserve, and then we die.
A view more in keeping with a Catholic outlook acknowledges the devastating, ongoing harm of original sin and our own personal sins, but insists that there is still good within humanity and the world. When God created man and saw that all things were “very good,” he did not destroy that good with the sin of Adam and Eve. He still loved them, cared for them and bid them to go forth and multiply, knowing the hardships they and their descendants would endure.
God could have kept humanity from sin and suffering, but in doing so he would have denied free will. Without free will we would be safe under God’s thumb but lack the very thing that caused him to create us: Love.
Love must be freely given or it is not love; it requires free will and the possibility of choosing ill. God’s very nature is love and he yearns for our love in response. As difficult as it may be to accept, God allows evil for the sake of a greater love.
God staked everything on his love for humanity and even offered his only-begotten Son to save us from the power of sin, evil and death. As Catholics, we have been taught this, we claim to know this, yet we struggle each day to really believe what God has done for us. Maybe we await a more modern, sophisticated savior, one in step with the feel-good temper of our times. A guru or life coach.
Certainly, Jesus offers ultimate wisdom for a good life, and answers prayers and watches over us with a loving care that we cannot comprehend. But these things are only part of his saving mission. He was crucified, died, buried and rose. That is the fullness of the Easter proclamation, the Gospel, the Good News.
To ask why bad things happen to good people is to stand at the foot of the cross and the mouth of the empty tomb. It is to touch the mystery of faith. In the end, it seems, God does not give an answer. He gives himself, at the Last Supper, on the cross, in the resurrection, in the Holy Eucharist and his everlasting gift of love. “Be still and know that I am God” (Ps 46:10).
Evil is strong. Sin is persistent. Suffering and death pervade our days on earth. But the tomb is empty and the gates of heaven are open. Love and life have won in Jesus Christ, and we are free to love in return – even when bad things happen.
St. Mark’s is happy to announce that we are starting a youth group! This is a great opportunity for all teens at our parish to get together and have a good time growing in friendship and in faith. If you are a teenager, feel free to join us at our next meeting on Wednesday July 29th, at 6:00pm in the Parish Social Hall. Also please follow us on Instagram (@st_mark_youth) and join our Facebook group (St. Mark Youth Group FP)! See you there!
Come and check out all the great finds at St. Mark’s Thrift Shop. From clothes to home essentials there is something for everyone! We hope to see you soon.
