Fern Proulx – Saint Mark the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church

Marriage

Fern Proulx — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:34:02 +0000

Dear engaged couple

Congratulations on your recent engagement! It is our prayerful wish that the Holy Spirit will bless and guide you during this important time of your life. Your decision to begin a lifetime commitment to each other is a graced moment. May the Lord bless your decision and bring your plans and desires to fulfillment.

In its sacramental ministry, the Catholic Church is at the service of the Lord’s mission and of its members. You have decided to consecrate your love in the sacrament of matrimony. Our goal is to support you in that decision and to bring you, as a consecrated married couple, to participate in the life of your faith community. This is the reason why we, like you, take seriously the preparation of marriage. It is a sacrament which is a moment of grace for the members of the Church, both you who celebrate it as well as for the entire community who shares your joy.

In addition, we welcome visiting priests and deacons to bless marriages. If you intend to invite a priest or a deacon to bless your marriage, we would ask you to provide us with his full contact information (name, complete address and phone number, email… etc.).

Requirements

To be married in the Catholic Church, at least one of you must be a baptized Catholic. It is strongly suggested that baptized Catholics also have been confirmed before their wedding. If you have not been baptized and/or confirmed, we’ll be happy to discuss the possibility of a preparation for baptism and/or confirmation at the Church.
Completion of an authorized marriage preparation course is mandatory. Your marriage date is accepted on the condition that you will fulfill all requirements for marriage preparation including the completion of the preparation course before your marriage date. Please note that we may coordinate the marriage preparation courses at the Diocese.

Please contact the parish office by telephone (819-684-6926) or e-mail 1 year before your wedding. This will allow us to discuss your plans as well as options for marriage preparation.

Funeral Rites

Fern Proulx — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:31:47 +0000

The pastoral care of the bereaved and the burial of the deceased is important to all of us. The needs of each individual family will be taken into account in the planning stages.

Please note that we do not make funeral pre-arrangements for individuals that are still living. If that is something that you are interested in, it is recommended to discuss with a funeral home instead. You may express your desire to hold your funeral here to them and once you have passed, they will make arrangements on your family’s behalf.

Please contact the parish office to inquire about arranging a funeral at 819 684-6926 or email exadmin_stmark@bellnet.ca

Reconciliation

Fern Proulx — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:23:11 +0000

The Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) is celebrated each Saturday from 4:00 – 4:30 pm or you can contact the office.

Please contact the parish office to arrange a time to meet with the parish priest at 819 684-6926 or email execadmin_stmark@bellnet.ca

Confirmation

Fern Proulx — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 16:13:14 +0000

Teenagers 15 and over are invited to prepare for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Click the icon below to register for the preparation program:

Register

When is the next celebration of Confirmation?

We celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation once a year. Preparation for Confirmation starts early in the year, and continues until the time of Confirmation, usually in June.

How do we prepare for Confirmation?

Along with Baptism and First Communion, Confirmation is an important step in our Christian Initiation. Receiving the fullness of the Holy Spirit received at Baptism, Confirmation conforms us more fully to Christ so that we may bear witness to Christ for the building up of his Body in faith and love. Proper preparation is important for Confirmation to be meaningful.

What about Confirmation for adults?

There is much variety in the ages in which people seek Confirmation, particularly since the school system no longer plays a role in automatically preparing children and teenagers for the sacraments. Adults regularly contact us to request the Sacrament of Confirmation. Sometimes they want to become godparents or to be married in the Church. Others wish to reconnect with the Church after a time away and realize that they were never Confirmed. We like to think of Confirmation requested by an adult as a God-given opportunity to take a second, more mature look at the faith our parents have introduced us to in Baptism. Contact the parish office by telephone (819-684-6926) or e-mail stmarkchurch@bellnet.ca so that we can set up a meeting to discuss your request for Confirmation.

Anointing the Sick

Fern Proulx — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 19:08:38 +0000

The church possesses a sacrament for the benefit of the sick – the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Those who suffer from serious illness, advanced age, or who are facing major surgery can request this sacrament by contacting the parish office.

The parish also provides pastoral care to the sick, visiting parishioners who can no longer join us for Sunday Mass. If you or one of your family members could benefit from such a visit, please contact the parish office.

What is the Sacrament of Anointing?

In some circles, this particular sacrament is identified as “the last rites”. That is unfortunate, because it means that we tend to postpone it as long as possible so that too often it becomes the sacrament of the dying. Ideally, it is very appropriate when we face a serious illness, an experience which makes us often face new questions. For that context, calling upon Jesus Christ and celebrating in the ritual of anointing with oil (blessed by the bishop in Holy Week) we put our trust in, and bear witness to, Christ: present to us on the trying path of suffering.

Contact the office to schedule a visit 819 684-6926 or by email: Exadmin_stmark@bellnet .ca

Readers, Servers & Communion Ministers

Fern Proulx — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:51:48 +0000

Many volunteers are needed for weekend masses as
– Servers
– Readers
– Communion ministers
Depending on the number of volunteers for a given mass, a person may be called to serve once every 1 to 4 weeks. Training is provided for each task. If you wish to serve the community through liturgical ministry, please get in touch with the Parish Office at 819-684-6926 or email exadmin_stmark@bellnet.ca

REMINDER: It is up to you to find your own replacement.

Ushers / Greeters

Fern Proulx — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:46:15 +0000

Ushers greet and welcome mass attendees at the church entrance ways. they assist attendees as needed with finding a seat, paying particular attention to those with special needs. When late-comers arrive, ushers help minimize disruptions by asking them to momentarily stand by during the readings and the priest’s homily.

Ushers are also responsible for passing around the collection baskets. During communion, they assist the eucharistic ministers by pointing out those who cannot proceed through the communion line and therefore need communion brought to them.

Once the mass is over, ushers stand by the church doors to field any questions from visitors They also straighten up all the pews by collecting trash, putting hymnals in their proper places, picking up articles left behind.

Should you wish to join our team of Greeters/Ushers please contact the parish Office

Development & Peace

Fern Proulx — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:36:53 +0000

Development and Peace — Caritas Canada, the official international development organization of the Catholic Church in Canada, is a democratic movement for global solidarity rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.

We are the Canadian member of Caritas Internationalis, a global confederation of over 160 Catholic organizations around the world.

We have over 12,800 members across Canada who are at the heart of our democratic movement.

We wish to keep you mindful and invite you to become active partners or associate members. You can do this without ever attending any meeting, although you are always welcome to participate. We will keep you informed about what is going on through emails. If you are interested, please contact a D&P member, or contact Michael O’Callaghan at mocallaghan945@gmail.com

Saint Vincent de Paul

Fern Proulx — Tue, 31 Dec 2024 00:23:32 +0000

Founded in 1833, the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) is an international lay organization, united in the mission to serve persons in need. In Canada alone, the SSVP helps more than 350,000 people each year. We provide material support in the form of non-perishable food, clothes, household items and furniture to individuals and families across the country. Whether in their homes, on the street, in shelters, in hospitals or in prison, our work knows no boundaries. The Society also provides assistance to refugees, immigrants, and northern communities.

Our founding activity, still practiced today, is the Home Visit. Through these visits, our members, known as Vincentians, establish personal relationships with persons in need by offering material assistance, as well as friendship and understanding.