Saint Mark Catholic Church

Weekly Newsletter

August 6, 2026

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Transfiguration. It reminds us that the Lord is faithful, that He continues to work, and that our task is to remain open to His grace so that He may continue to transform our lives.

I saw that grace at work this past weekend as 740 parishioners came together to package 157,896 meals for those in need. What a gift it is to come together as a parish family and unite for the sake of our brothers and sisters. Thank you to everyone who volunteered, donated, organized, and prayed to make this event possible.

I also want to thank the 70 parishioners who have already responded "yes" to serving as catechists. Faith Formation is one of the most important things we do as a parish as we assist parents in their role as the primary educators of their children in the Catholic faith. We still need additional volunteers, so if you have the sense that maybe God wants you to do something more, or if you're simply pondering the possibility, I encourage you to speak with our Faith Formation team.

Along those same lines, please pray for parishioner Mark Pressley, who is entering St. Joseph College Seminary. Mark's family has been a part of St. Mark for many years. Please also keep the other nine young men who are beginning seminary formation this fall in your prayers.

The Lord continues to work. May we remain open to His grace and generous in responding to His call.

In Christ,

Fr. John

Important Notes

You may have noticed some construction on the drive behind the Kerin Center. This is for a new water line and fire hydrant. The parallel spaces behind the building are not available, and traffic there is affected. Please use caution in the area, and parking in designated spaces only. Construction is expected to be completed by Labor Day. We appreciate your patience.

Our Fall 2026 Small Groups Program will begin soon. Before we invite parishioners to join this September, we first need welcoming people willing to become Small Groups Hosts. Hosting isn't about teaching the faith or having all the answers. It's simply about creating a place where people feel welcomed. We'll provide the study materials, host resources, and a brief facilitator workshop.

You choose the day, time, and location—whether in your home, a coffee shop, restaurant, workplace, or here at the parish.

Someone sitting beside you at Mass may be praying for deeper friendships, encouragement, and a place to belong. Perhaps God is inviting you to be the one who says, "You're welcome here."

Please go to www.stmarknc.org/small-group-leaders and complete our form if you are interested in hosting a Small Group for our upcoming session.

For questions on hosting a Small Group, please contact Karen Donahue at karen.donahue@stmarknc.org.