Word, Worship, and Works of Mercy - Each night we will explore one of these three pillars and give you practical ways to bring them more fully into your lives. Our speaker is Thomas Smith, author and retreat director. He is a repeat guest on EWTN and Catholic radio, as well as a sought-after parish mission and conference speaker. Dec. 10th, 11th, 12th at 5 PM in the Church.

Our Annual Advent Reconciliation Service will begin at 5 PM in the Church. The service will open with Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, followed by prayers, readings and spiritual songs. There will be nearly a dozen priests available for confessions during the service. The service will close with Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

The Knights of Columbus #14222 is sponsoring their annual dinner on Saturday, Dec. 15th in the Social Hall. Buffet Dinner at 6:30 PM by LaHacienda Catering. Music/Dancing from 7 PM until 10 PM by Joe Carter Entertainment. Tickets are $35 per person and are on sale now in the Narthex at all weekend Masses.

St. Mark's Celebration Choir presents their annual Advent/Christmas Concert, "We are the Reason", on Friday, December 7th, at 5 PM. Directed by Roger Grenier. A "Free Will Offering" will be made.

This year's Giving Tree tags will be available to pick up at any weekend Mass from Nov. 17th thru Dec. 2nd. Please choose a gift tag, purchase the gift, place it in a box/bag and wrap. Securely attach the tag to the gift and return it to the Narthex of the Church no later than December 9th. The gifts will go to the children of the families served during 2018 by the SVdP Society.

The Knights of Columbus are again selling the red "Jesus is the Reason for the Season" yard signs for $6, as well as two styles of car magnets. The "Keep Christ in Christmas" magnet is $5, the "Keep God in America" magnet is $3. The Knights will be in the Narthex before and after all Masses the first two weekends in December.

Please join the Compassionate Friends' Society as they participate with thousands of others around the world to remember and honor their loved one lost too early. If you have lost a child, a grandchild, a sibling or anyone who died too soon, this beautiful remembrance service can help you to have closure as you honor your loved one by lighting a candle in their honor. The service starts at 7 PM in the Church. Share with others who have experienced the same pain and loss.

Calling all Dusting Angels!! We will be doing a special pre-holiday cleaning of the church on Monday, December 17th, immediately following the 7:30 AM morning Mass. Due to the Christmas/New Year's holidays, we will not be cleaning the church in January. If you have any questions or are interested in becoming an "angel" yourself, please call Mani Wells at 352-347-4358.

Father Dominik will be celebrating a Charismatic Mass at 6:30 PM on Monday, December 17th, in the Chapel. There will be teams available after Mass for personal prayer. All are invited!

Come and discover the history of many of the beautiful artworks contained within our Church. The stained glass windows, the amazing material from which the Stations of the Cross were created, and especially the little miracle of how we acquired our beautiful Black Madonna Icon. Plus so much more. You need no reservation to attend. Tours are on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 1:30 PM. Meet in the Narthex. Please note that tours will continue thru the summer. The next tour date is December 20th

The Right to Life Group will be praying the Rosary at 11:30 AM in the Church before the noon Mass. We meet every 4th Sunday of the month to pray the Rosary. Join us to pray for the safety of all the unborn as well as the continued success of the Alpha Center.

Again this year you have the opportunity to memorialize a candle in honor of or in memory of a loved one. The Christmas Memorial Candles will adorn our Church window sills and be displayed in alphabetical order so that you can more easily locate your loved one's Candle. Order forms are in the bulletin or available in the Narthex. Candles are $25/each and must be submitted before December 21st.

The new 2019 Parish Calendars as well as the Little Blue Advent Books are available to pick up beginning on Thanksgiving. One per family of each please. The Polish Christmas Wafer (Oplatek) will be available to purchase beginning the weekend of Dec. 1st & 2nd. The Wafers are in the Narthex and are $2 per pkg.

If you missed getting your copy of the new Parish Directory, they will be available at the Parish Office. Parishioners who had their Lifetouch portraits taken for the Directory are entitled to a FREE copy. Other registered parishioners may purchase one for just $5.

You have the opportunity right now to be a part of our new Prayer Garden. Memorialized Paver Bricks are available in two sizes. You may donate a brick for yourself or someone else, to commemorate special occasions, or to honor or remember special loved ones. 4" x 8" brick(s) are $75 each; 8" x 8" brick(s) are $115 each. Order forms are available on the large bulletin board in the Narthex, right below the display of our new garden. Samples of the bricks are also on display in the Narthex by the forms. You can also download the order form by clicking the link above. Prayer Intention Cards are also now available. You may pick up a Prayer Card in the Narthex near the Paver Brick Display. These completed Prayer Cards will be accumulated and sealed into the actual construction of the grotto. Just complete your prayer intention and return the form to the Parish Office. Suggested offering is $10 for each card.

There is an immediate need at St. Mark's for both Ushers and Sacristans. If you are an able-bodied parishioner who is wondering what you can do to serve St. Mark - this is your call! Please consider giving of your time and talents to St. Mark--it's only a few hours a month and one-on-one training and instruction is given. For Ushers: contact Jed Hayden at 352-775-4279 or Gerry Becker at 352-259-8359; for Sacristans, contact Jay Clooney at 352-259-4215.

Based on Johnnette Benkovic Williams' Book "Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life," this nine-week foundational study explores prayer, Sacred Scripture, Church documents and teachings, and much more. An Information & Registration Session will be held Wednesday, January 9th, in Room B of the Saint Sebastian Enrichment Center from 9:30-11:30 AM. Classes will be Wednesdays, at 9:30-11:30 AM, beginning January 23rd thru March 20th. For more information, please contact Barb Bremus at 703-595-3777.

Tickets on sale now for the next Polish Dinner-Dance. The doors open at 4:30 PM in the Social Hall. Dinner is catered by La Hacienda Catering. Music is by John Stevens & The Double Shot Polka Band until 8:30 PM. Tickets are $30 each and will be on sale at all Masses the first two weekends in December and again the first weekend in January. BYOB. For more information, call Joanne Szajdecki at 352-217-6906 or Pat Murawski at 352-259-2463.

There will be a training session here at St. Mark on Saturday, February 16th, for anyone interested in becoming an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion. The Mandate acquired thru this training MUST BE ACQUIRED in order to do Ministry to the Sick and Homebound as well as the Communion Service. Application forms are available in the Ministry Room. After completing your form, place it in the Extraordinary Ministry mailbox located in the Ministry Room. You will be registered at that time. Your completed application MUST be submitted at least two weeks prior to the class. For any questions, contact Joan Andre at 352-430-0674.

The Knights of Columbus Council #14222 is presenting a concert on Sunday, March 24th featuring Cahal Dunne. Tickets will go on sale in February. For information, contact Bill Delaney at 352-561-6130.