St. Mark Catholic Church Newsletter — Nov/Dec 2021

Saint Mark

NOV/DEC 2021

NEWSLETTER

Liturgy Schedule Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m. (Spanish) Sunday: 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m. (reserved for 60 & above parishioners), 4:00 p.m. (Lifeteen) Daily Mass: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, 7:30 a.m.; Wed, 12 p.m. (noon) Adoration: Mon. - Thurs. 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Fri. 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Confessions: Sat, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Parishioner Kevin Imming Reflects on

Our New Church Building Project •

g ro u n d b r e a k i n g s e t f o r a p r i l

2022 •

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n just a few short weeks, we will enter 2022. An exciting year is ahead as we will break ground on the St. Mark’s Church building. This is such a big step in the legacy of our parish, which was founded in 1990 as a mission church of Immaculate Conception Church. From 400 registered families in 1996 to 2,700 in 2021, our community has certainly grown! Now, it’s time to begin the next step — the construction of a permanent worship space that will seat 1,800 people and follow a Spanish-mission style.

Our current worship and religious education spaces were completed in 2014. If all is on track, the new church will open in December 2023. This will be the first time in St. Mark’s history that parishioners can worship in a true church building.

“Every part of the church will be designed in a way that draws our hearts, minds and souls into prayer, community and the desire to evangelize,” says the Capital Campaign booklet.

The Imming family

Kevin Imming is Vice President at Linbeck Group, which has done other work in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Kevin has been in the field for about 21 years and serves as the contact between St. Mark’s and Linbeck Group.

“We are so fortunate to have been selected for this project,” he says. continued on back cover

Keeping Things in Perspective During the

Christmas Season

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he Christmas season has arrived. Garlands, poinsettias, lights, and Christmas trees are starting to pop up in homes and businesses. Cookies are being baked, holiday guests are arriving, and Christmas cards are flooding our mailboxes.

This joyous season is now upon us. But before we know it, in just a few short weeks, the Christmas cards will be replaced with holiday bills and statements reminding us of the money we spent on holiday gifts for our loved ones.

So how are you financially handling the holiday season thus far? Perhaps you are staying within your means by planning a detailed budget and remaining within its limits.

You may be taking advantage of seasonal sales in order to purchase that otherwise expensive, sought-after item. Maybe you are simply overspending on unnecessary items, having been drawn in by the seasonal marketing campaigns.

The financial pressures of creating the perfect holiday scenario can be quite daunting, especially in America, where the “buy now, pay later” philosophy prevails.

Of course, we all want to provide a wonderful Christmas experience for our family and friends. But at what cost?

As good stewards of our financial resources, we are called to be responsible with our money throughout the entire year, even at Christmas.

Take a moment to remember last Christmas. Do you remember all the presents you received? Probably not. Instead, you probably remember the way a certain food tasted, or the smell of the Christmas tree, or how the beautiful lights glistened in the dark. You most likely remember the feelings of joy caused by sharing a special occasion with 2

loved ones. These are the memories that truly matter most, rather than what was packaged under the tree.

Though most of us believe this in our hearts, each year we find ourselves focusing on the material aspects of Christmas, sometimes forgetting the true reason for the season – the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. After all, it wouldn’t feel like Christmas if we didn’t buy nice presents for every person on our long gift list – or would it?

Perhaps, instead of just buying and spending, we could use our talents to share with others. Or, as busy as we are these days, maybe we could actually spend more time with those we love.

We could make a gingerbread house with our grandchildren, or brew up a cup of hot cocoa and watch It’s A Wonderful Life with our family at our side.

We are often so busy shopping, we don’t have time for sharing of ourselves. As good stewards, we are called to share our time and talent with others to glorify God, just as much as we are called to share our treasure. And even if we are fortunate enough to have the financial means to shower our friends and family with gifts, should we so recklessly spend our money? Aren’t there better places to utilize our God-given treasure?

Keeping our finances in perspective can be difficult, but asking God’s guidance as we make our financial decisions this holiday season is a perfect way to stay on track. Ask God to help you be a good steward. Ask God to give you the strength not to overspend as a result of guilt or a desire to “show off.” Indeed, true friends and family members will love you for your gesture, rather than the size of their gifts.

A Letter From Our Pastor

Stewardship Possibilities are Endless at Christmas Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

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hen I think of December, the first thing that comes to my mind is Christmas. While that may seem obvious, there are several other possibilities. I could think of Advent, which prepares us for Christmas. I could think of the Immaculate Conception, a Holy Day of Obligation, and the patronal festival of the United States. I could think of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whose popularity has spread far beyond the Hispanic community. December also brings the winter solstice. And it brings the end of the secular calendar year, which means getting my financials together for the upcoming income tax season.

But instead, I think of Christmas — one of the greatest feasts of the Christian year, along with Easter and Pentecost. The basic truth of Christmas, celebrating the birth of Jesus the Messiah, God Incarnate, is plenty of reason for us all to rejoice and worship. But we’ve piled so much extra baggage on our Christmas observance, and worship is often almost lost in the shuffle.

We send Christmas cards to people we contact at no other time of the year. We put up wreaths, Christmas trees, and lights. We host parties for family and friends. We visit relatives. We plan and prepare Christmas meals. And we have Christmas gifts to buy. No wonder the Christ Mass becomes an afterthought!

Maybe, though, we can combine our Christmas activities with our stewardship commitments.

Treasure is the simplest. Shouldn’t the most expensive Christmas present we give be the one to Jesus whose birth-

day we’re celebrating? Risen and glorified, He needs nothing we have.

But His Body — the Church — continues Jesus’ mission here on earth and always needs additional resources.

Time and Talent may be a little more complicated, but can’t we spend a little more of our time in worship and prayer? Stop by the church for a visit to the Christmas Crib and offer a prayer of thanks for the gift of God’s Son. Attend Mass each day of the Christmas Octave.

Gather your family for prayers together in the morning or at dinner in preparation for Christmas Day and through the Christmas season.

And Talent? There are lots of possibilities: Sing in the choir for the Christmas Masses. Help decorate the Church. Cook or bake for someone who is homebound. Invite someone who will be alone to share Christmas dinner with your family.

Offer to work in a soup kitchen if you will be alone. The possibilities are endless.

Yes, December means Christmas. But with some planning, we can make this hectic time a real blessing both for ourselves and others. Pray for me that I can keep Christmas properly, and I’ll pray for you. And by the way, have a Merry Christmas!

In Christ, Fr. George Pastor

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An Exciting New Beg

Parish Building Project Soon St. Mark parishioners recently had the opportunity to learn more about our upcoming parish building project, set to begin in 2022.

Our Building Committee, Finance Council, and Parish Council have been working hard as we get ready to set this project in motion.

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ginning: Underway

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Creating Faithful and Loving Advent Traditions

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s the Christmas season approaches, it is easy to get swept up in the commercialism that tells us Christmas begins on Black Friday. Advent begins on Nov. 28, and Advent-centered traditions are a simple way to differentiate between the two seasons. Traditions can help us embrace what this season truly means and allow us to consider ways to enter into careful preparation for the birth of the Christ child with our families.

While hanging stockings, consider hanging one for Jesus so family members can place “gifts” in the stocking for Him. These can be commitments made on a notecard offering to give up desserts during the week or promising to do one extra chore for another family member. Advent can be as much of a time for fasting and almsgiving as the season of Lent — after all, both seasons prepare our hearts for a great feast of the Church.

Need more ideas? Create a manger bed for Jesus. For every good deed that a member of your family performs, place some straw in a small manger displayed somewhere

prominently in your home. By Christmas, there will be a fitting bed in which the Christ Child can be placed. If your parish participates in a gift outreach, make the shopping experience for that gift a family outing. By focusing on the person who will receive the gift, you will help make the act of shopping more meaningful.

While there are many activities to help prepare our hearts for the Christmas celebration, nothing centers us more securely in this season of Advent than participating in the liturgy. Try to attend parish penance services or live nativities or take part in service opportunities organized by our parish ministries. Spend time with your children with the Blessed Sacrament in Eucharistic Adoration, reminding them that the Christ Who dwells there in the monstrance is the same Christ Who came to this world as a baby — for it will be there in the presence of Christ that we can truly sing, with hearts ready to receive Him, “Oh come let us adore Him, oh come let us adore Him.”

Advent and Christmas Liturgies Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Dec. 7, Vigil — 7 p.m.

Dec. 8 — 6 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 p.m.

The Nativity of our Lord Dec. 24, Christmas Eve — 4 p.m., 8 p.m., 11 p.m.

Dec. 25, Christmas Day — 8 a.m., 10 a.m., 12 p.m.

(Spanish)

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Solemnity of Mary Mother of God Dec. 31, Vigil — 5 p.m.

Jan. 1 — 7:30 a.m., 9 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m.

Meet Bob and Emily Garza:

Encouraging All to Get Involved in the Faith and Parish Life

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f every person at St. Mark’s used their talents to serve the Lord, imagine all the good works we could do! We all have talents that fit — from singing to cleaning to praying. Bob Garza has a talent that might not immediately jump out as important in a parish, but it is. He’s a whiz at spreadsheets, and he has used talent that to create personalized spreadsheets for the Money Counter Ministry. He also leads one of two teams of counters.

His career was in information technology, mostly at AT&T, and he did a lot of financial work during this career — experience that is essential to the Money Counter Ministry.

Bob and his wife, Emily, moved to Denton from Carrollton nearly five years ago. They love the community they have found at St. Mark’s. Bob’s zeal for the faith exploded when he retired about 11 years ago. He started attending daily Mass at their previous parish, Mary Immaculate in Farmers Branch, as an offering for Lent.

“From daily Mass, I went on to become very involved,” Bob says. “This led me to be a sacristan and an usher.

And I got involved in the finance committee, served as a ministry director

Bob and Emily Garza

for senior adults and brought Communion to the nursing home.”

Here at St. Mark’s, Bob locks the building twice a week and does the repose for the Adoration Chapel at 8 p.m. He arrives in time to pray a Rosary before the repose. He prays the Rosary each day, but enjoys having the opportunity to pray in the chapel at least twice per week.

“This is a special time,” Bob says.

“It brings me closer to God.” Bob has also helped with inventory and tracking for Oktoberfest. In

addition, he helps Fr. Baby George by providing transportation to administer the Anointing of the Sick or the Eucharist, when Fr. George is going to an unfamiliar area.

“When I was at Mary Immaculate, I caught the bug to be involved,” Bob says. “I gave myself a year here to get the lay of the land, and I got to know Fr. George and the staff. I’m glad to be involved.”

Bob was raised mostly by his greatgrandmother and aunt. Thanks to his aunt’s encouragement, he was able to graduate high school and go on to college at the University of North Texas, where he stays involved as a volunteer with the alumni association.

Bob and Emily have been married 56 years, and they are blessed with two children and four grandchildren. Emily recently retired and enjoys reading in her free time. When Bob has free time, he enjoys playing golf.

As we approach Advent, Bob encourages everyone to get more involved at St. Mark’s and with their faith. Last year, he made an effort to learn more about Advent — he and Emily have an Advent wreath at home. Bob regularly posts to Facebook to help friends learn more about the season.

“When I was at Mary Immaculate, I caught the bug to be involved. I gave myself a year here to get the lay of the land, and I got to know Fr. George and the staff. I’m glad to be involved.”

— Bob Garza

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Saint Mark 6500 Crawford Road│Argyle, TX 76226 (940) 387-6223│www.stmarkdenton.org

All Masses can be streamed any time on the parish Facebook page — https://facebook.com/st.markdenton.com

Parishioner Kevin Imming Reflects on Our New Church Building Project continued from front cover Kevin and his wife, Gretchen, have been members at St. Mark’s since 2015, and are parents to son, Jack and daughter, Alex. They moved from Houston when Jack was starting kindergarten — the Argyle School District drew them to the area. The couple chose St. Mark’s partially because of Fr. Baby George.

“We went to a lot of churches to find the right one,” Kevin says. “We just really like the community feel here.”

Both Kevin and Gretchen were raised in devout Catholic families. Kevin wants to create that same stability in his own family. He especially looks forward to seeing the building process through to the finish — after all the planning, fundraising and the separation brought on

by the pandemic. The church groundbreaking will take place in April 2022. When finished, St. Mark’s will be the largest parish, in terms of square footage, in the Diocese of Fort Worth.

“This is going to be quite a size change,” Kevin says.

“It’s going to feel huge, at first.”

In particular, Kevin looks forward to the updated sound system and technology upgrades. He’s excited to see the beauty of the new, long-awaited space.

“There’s not going to be a bad seat in the whole place!” Kevin says.

Be sure to check out building project updates in upcoming editions of our parish newsletter!