ACTIVITIES - SAINT MARK'S AND HOLY ROSARY AND OTHER PARISHES AROUND THE AREA RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS – There will be a brief meeting for all high school students and parents (Parochial, too) Tuesday, October 10 at 7:00 pm at Holy Rosary’s Church Hall. Tenth and 11th grade students need to bring their red folders. To complete the forms for Shycon, parents are asked to bring their insurance cards. If you have any questions, please call Suzanne Barry, Director of Religious Education, 814 381-5247. BAKE SALE – The Religious Education Classes are sponsoring a Bake Sale after Masses at Saint Mark’s and Holy Rosary Parishes October 14 & 15, 2023. Lots of good tasting baked goods are expected. All proceeds benefit the Religious Education classes. Parishioners are asked to help by bringing their favorite baked goods to Mass and have them on plates or in zip-locked bags and marked what they are. Please mark your calendars, bake something to help, and buy something at the sale. Your support will be greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, call Suzanne Barry at 814 381-5247. SPAGHETTI, TWO MEATBALLS, SALAD, ROLLS AND COOKIES – Scheduled Pick Up Time is October 8, 2023 from 12-1:30 pm - Questions or concerns, please call Robyn Murphy at 814 931-5683. CHRISTMAS PROGRAM – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT – There will be a meeting on Tuesday, October 3, 2023, at 7:00 pm at Holy Rosary Church basement for anyone interested in helping with this Christmas Program geared toward families. It is a fun, family event that will last for an hour or two on the First Sunday of Advent emphasizing the true meaning of Christmas. For questions or if you have an interest but are unable to attend the meeting, please call Barb Kowalski at the Rectory or 814 934-6142. BOSCOV’S FRIENDS HELPING FRIENDS (FHF) – Get a Boscov’s FHF Pass to get 25% off in most departments by making a $5 donation to Saint Mark’s Church. The Date to use the Pass is October 18, 2023. Passes will be sold by Sally Young. Please call her at 814 502-9059 if you are able to help sell some passes. Passes will also be available at Saint Mark’s Rectory on Mondays and Fridays. SAINT MARK’S YARD SALE – 8 am – 1:00 pm – Friday and Saturday, October 20 and 21 - $15 to rent a double table. Please call Sally Young at 814 814 502-9059 to reserve a table and/or if you have any questions. There will also be a church table if you have clean and reusable items. Call Sally to find out when you can bring items to the hall. TO ALL SENIOR CITIZENS (55 YEARS AND UP) – The Dorothy Day Outreach Center invites you to a free Thanksgiving Dinner on Wednesday, November 22, 2023 - 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM. Please show up before 12 PM at the Torivan Dining Hall at Saint Francis University, 117 Evergreen Drive, Loretto, PA 15940. Please RSVP to Mary at 814 419-8682 or Tara 814 419-8676. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COLLECTION OF BREAKFAST CEREAL - OVER 2500 BOXES OF CEREAL WERE COLLECTED BY THE VARIOUS CHURCHES IN THE AREA - THANK YOU TO ALL. Thank you to Mrs. Judy Savine, the St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry and our parishioners. This WAS a great family project. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SAINT PATRICK’S SCHOOL is now enrolling students for grades Pre-K – 8th Grade for the 2023/24 school year. Interested families can contact the Principal, Tara Steinbugl at 814 695-3819. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ STAINED GLASS WINDOWS AT SAINT MARK’S SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE Week #4, Window #4 (4th from the front on left): Saint Mark and Saint Barnabas were relatives, possibly cousins, who made several missionary journeys together. Barnabas was an early prominent Christian disciple in Jerusalem, first mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as one who sold some land he owned and gave the proceeds to the Apostles. He introduced St. Paul to the Apostles, accompanied Paul on some of his missionary journeys, and is also mentioned in some of Paul’s Epistles. According to tradition, Barnabas was martyred by being tortured and stoned to death around 61 A.D. This window depicts Mark and Barnabas departing on a missionary journey to Cyprus where they preached all over the island, using the Gospel of St. Matthew, the first Gospel written. St. Mark is shown traveling lightly, carrying only a purple traveling bag and a walking stick or staff, shown again at the bottom in the middle windowpane. The fire in the lower left windowpane might serve as a reminder that these missionaries are led by the Holy Spirit (often symbolized by fire) as they go forth to spread the fire of God’s love by preaching the “good news” of Jesus Christ. The symbol of the lion is frequently used to represent St. Mark the Evangelist, probably because St. Mark begins his Gospel with scenes of St. John the Baptist and Jesus in the wilderness. It is interesting to note that, at the time the Gospels were written, lions still inhabited caves within Palestine. Often the lion symbolizing St. Mark is a winged lion as in this image, wings being a symbol of divine mission. . FACEBOOK – facebook.com/saintmarksofaltoona - “Like us” on Facebook Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put on there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #5, Window #5 (5th from the front on left): In this window Saint Paul is shown under house arrest in chains, in Rome with a soldier guarding him. This event occurred during St. Paul’s second Roman captivity shortly before his martyrdom in 63 A.D. Sacred Scripture relates to St. Mark was with St. Paul to help and comfort him. (1 Colossians 4: 10-11) St. Paul near the end of his Epistle to the Ephesians, describes himself as an “ambassador in chains” as he boldly makes known the mystery of the Gospel. The bottom left window pane depicts a griffin, a mythological creature which possesses the parts of great predator animals, such as a lion and an eagle. For this reason, it is a perfect symbol of Satan, the great predator of the Christian. The middle pane illustrates the Bible with the Latin words “Spiritus Gladius”, translated “Sword of the Spirit”, imposed on a double-edged sword. This symbol is reference to St. Paul’s admonition in his Epistle to the Ephesians, written during his imprisonment. He tells them and us to “put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil… In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of the God” (Ephesians 6” 10-17) The bottom right pane shows the shield of faith mentioned above; the three circles on the shield possibly represent the Holy Trinity, the central mystery of our faith. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #6, Window #6 (1st window on the right-hand side of the church): This window presents St. Mark with parchment and a feather pen in hand, writing his Gospel as St. Peter dictates to him. Christ, crowned in glory, with the wounds of his hands and feet, appears above them, holding the world in His hands, with angels at his side. (Note the winged lion on the side of St. Mark’s writing desk signifying his divine mission in writing the Gospel, as well as the scroll proclaiming “Pax Tibi” or “Peace to Y ou”.) The Gospel of St. Mark (the second Gospel) written in Rome before 60 A.D. is a record of the life of Jesus through the eyes of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles (shown again with the keys to the kingdom hanging from his waist). For this reason, St. Peter plays a prominent role in St. Mark’s Gospel whose purpose is to prove to the Romans (and us) that Jesus is the Savior and that He is divine. Thus, a high point in Mark’s Gospel occurs when the Roman centurion proclaims, following the death of Jesus, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” FACEBOOK – facebook.com/saintmarksofaltoona - “Like us” on Facebook Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #9, Window #9 (4th window on the right-hand side of the church): In this window, Saint Mark is shown reminiscing about the events in the life of Christ as seen through the eyes of Saint Peter. In the upper left, the table at which Jesus ate His Last Supper with the Apostles is pictured. On the table is the chalice reminding us of the Blood of Christ which was poured out at Calvary. The arrest of Jesus is illustrated beside the table. On the right is depicted one of the miracles of Jesus, probably the cure of the blind man near Bethsaida which is described only in Mark’s Gospel. To the right of Saint Mark is shown the fig tree with leaves, but no fruit, an allusion to the story where Jesus cursed the fig tree, causing it to wither. To his left is seen the Gospel of Mark in the paws of the winged lion, mentioned previously as the symbol of the evangelist Mark. This points to the fact that, in his Gospel, Mark dwells most fully on the Resurrection of Christ and proclaims with great emphasis the royal dignity of Christ. (Recall that lions are known as “the king of beasts” and wings are a symbol of divine mission). Because it was once believed that young lions were born dead but came to life three days later when breathed upon by the father, the lion has become associated with the Resurrection and is thus a symbol for Christ, the Lord of life! On the bottom left, the empty tomb is surrounded by a sunburst symbolizing that Christ, who died on the cross has risen from the dead. In the middle pane, behind the cross, the books of the four Gospels, which tell the story of Christ, are presented. To the right, the open book of the Gospel of Mark, originally written in Greek, is shown accompanied by a quill pen and inkhorn. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Check out our Facebook page and see the new addition put there describing the stained-glass windows in Saint Mark’s Church. Week #10, Window #10 (5th window on the right-hand side of the church): This window shows St. Mark, the Patron Saint of Venice, Italy, seated on his throne with one hand raised in blessing and the other hand holding his Gospel opened to the Latin greeting “Pax Tibi”, translated “Peace to you”, which is a common greeting used by Jesus with His disciples. To his right stands a pedestal holding a small replica of the winged lion which also happens to be the emblem of Venice. To the top left of St. Mark is a copy of the coat of arms of Pope John XXIII, who reigned from 1958-1963, around the time these windows were installed, and the church was remodeled according to the reforms of Vatican II. (Prior to being elected Pope, he was the Cardinal Patriarch of Venice.) The components which make up this coat of arms from top to bottom are as follows: The Papal tiara (triple crown) represents the Pope’s three functions as supreme pastor, teacher and priest; the keys, a part of every Pope’s coat of arms, represent the Pope’s dual authority of binding and loosing; the winged lion holding St. Mark’s Gospel opened to the words “Pax Tibi, Marce, Evangelista Meus”; the Fleur De Lys can refer to Mary and also the Trinity because of its three parts forming one figure; the Tower of St. John is located in the Vatican Gardens, a place of quiet meditation and reflection for the Popes. Pope John XXIII chose this tower to be his hermitage; his coat of arms adorns the main door. Below this seal, a gondola floats in one of the canals of Venice. The bottom left pane pictures a ship symbolizing Mark’s missionary journeys or the Church. The banner in the middle pane contains the Latin greeting mentioned above “Pax Tibi, Marce, evangelist meus”, translated as “Peace to you Mark my Evangelist”. This greeting has its origin in the legend that, on the night before his martyrdom, while St. Mark was in prison, an angel appeared to him, strengthening him with the assurance that “Your name has been written in the book of life”. After the angel departed, as Mark thanked God for sending the angel, Jesus himself appeared to him with the greeting, “Peace be to you, Mark, my disciple and evangelist”. St. Mark started to shout, “Oh my Lord Jesus”, but the vision disappeared. On the right pane is pictured a golden reliquary containing, it is said, a fragment of the original Gospel in the handwriting of St. Mark. Around 815 A.D. Venetian merchants trading to Alexandria, Egypt, carried off (stole) the relics of St. Mark which they deposited in the city of Venice where the stately Basilica Church of St. Mark was built over them. Since then Saint Mark has been honored as the patron saint of Venice. COME VISIT SAINT MARK'S AND SEE THE WINDOWS AND JOIN US FOR MASS. WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME TO PRAY AND SING WITH US. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FIRST COMMUNION - SAINT MARK'S AND HOLY ROSARY - SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2023 - Please keep these young people in your prayers: Helena Daversa, Drew Ferguson, Garrett Ferguson, Emereigh Gonsman, Rose Hileman, Liam McPhillips, Aubrey Picciotti, Sean Phillips, James Taylor. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2023 CATHOLIC MINISTRIES DRIVE – The report as of August 31, 2023 is in the bulletin this week. Others who want to contribute to our parish goals may send your donation directly to the Diocese in the envelope provided (extra envelopes on at the back of our churches). You may also put it into the collection basket and mark either Holy Rosary or Saint Mark on the envelope. Thanks to all who have donated to date. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OUR LADY OF THE HOLY ROSARY, WATCH OVER US. SAINT MARK, PRAY FOR US. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COOKBOOKS MAKE A NICE GIFT COOKBOOKS – Just a reminder that Saint Mark’s125th Anniversary Cookbooks are for sale at a reduced price of $5 each – they are available at the Rectory. They make a nice wedding, shower, or a “just because” gift. An observation from a parishioner: "I had some extra time just sitting around and I decided to look through this cookbook again. I was so impressed with the number of recipes and started to think that I should be making some of those things. The cookbook is outstanding and thanks to everyone who had anything to do with its publication. I understand there are still some copies left and I would suggest that you stop at the Rectory and buy a few." The cookbook has 381 recipes which includes a few celebrity recipes by Lauren Kudlawiec who was the 2nd place winner cooking contestant on the Rachel Ray Show; Mary Balkavich who had a recipe published in Country Woman Magazine, and Keith Auker, the head chef at UPMC, Altoona. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ARISE – One of Saint Mark’s Arise Groups recently made some “blessing bags” that were distributed to those in the City of Altoona who were in need. On the bag were the words “A Big Hug from Saint Mark’s.” The bags which included many items of need and use were given to the Altoona Police Department to distribute. The story of this group has been featured on Proclaim! TV by the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese “Faith Forward” which is an E-News Series which highlights individuals or groups who are putting their Catholic faith into action by sharing their time and talent to help others. God Bless You and Thank You to this special group of women. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ HOLY ROSARY – Did you remember to bring a non-perishable food item for the St. Vincent Food Bank? There is a basket in the Vestibule at Holy Rosary inside the front door for donations. Thank you, donors! GARVEY MANOR AND OUR LADY OF THE ALLEGHENIES RESIDENCE are currently recruiting volunteers for a variety of positions. Even an hour or two a week or month for an individual's time can make a difference. Please contact KATHY LaVALLE, volunteer coordinator at 695-5571. HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS Campus Locations: HTCS Altoona (Saint Therese’s Site- 814 381-7011) - 424 Wopsononock Avenue HTCS Hollidaysburg (St. Michael’s Site – 814 695-6112) – 321 Spruce Street; and HTCS Middle School – (St. Rose Site- 814 942-7835) 5519 6th Avenue, Altoona. For those of you who are interested in learning more about Holy Trinity Catholic School or are thinking of enrolling your children, we encourage you to call and schedule a tour at one of our two elementary buildings or the middle school campus. We cannot think of a better way for you to learn about the school then to come and see for yourself the awesome power of our Catholic School Family. Telephone numbers are listed in the above paragraph. HOLY TRINITY CATHOLIC SCHOOL NEWS – Bingo on Tuesdays and Fridays at the Saint Rose of Lima basement. Doors open at 5 pm, games start at 7 pm, admission package is $35 which includes 18 cards for 24 regular games and 5 special cards. Any questions can be directed to Anita Zeth or Jan Crossman: 814 942-7835 |