St. Mark Church, Buffalo NY

REMINDER: The rectory office is closed today and tomorrow. 🇺🇸Happy 4th of July🇺🇸

Just a reminder, our CCBN rectories and offices will be closed Thursday, 7/4 and Friday, 7/5 for the Fourth of July holiday!

Eucharistic Adoration on Friday, June 21st will have a delayed start due to a funeral and will be 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Spend 1-hour to just “be there” in Jesus’ presence. Reflect on His work on the cross and adore Him for all He has done for you and humankind. Unsure on what to do? You can pray in various ways and not limited to the ones below:
✝️Pray the Psalms or the Liturgy of the Hours
✝️Meditate using Scripture
✝️Pray the Rosary
✝️Sit quietly and just "be" in the presence of God

Send a message to learn more

“Rightsizing & Reshaping” UPDATE: We've had numerous parishioners and school families asking, how can we help?

The best way to help St. Mark Parish is to Pack the Pews! Mass attendance is more important than ever! Each weekend St. Mark Church has a Mass on Saturday at 4p.m. AND Sunday at 8a.m.

✉️If you are a registered parishioner, don't forget your envelopes or sign-up for automatic online giving. Even a contribution of $5 a week can help show that you are a contributing family which directly supports our beautiful church. (Link in comments.)

❓Interested in becoming a registered parishioner? Please contact the parish office during business hours Mon.-Thurs. 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. at (716) 836-1600.

Don't forget to join us today at 4PM for a "Mass on the Grass" at St. Margaret. It looks like a gorgeous day to pray together outside!

"My sweetest Joy is to be in the presence of Jesus in the holy Sacrament. I beg that when obliged to withdraw in body, I may leave my heart before the holy Sacrament. How I would miss Our Lord if He were to be away from me by His presence in the Blessed Sacrament!"
- St. Katharine Drexel

Just a reminder that St. Mark’s 4:00 PM Mass and Confessions at 3:00 PM tomorrow (June 15th) will move to St. Margaret's due to a previously scheduled wedding.

Bring lawn chairs/blankets and join us for this Mass on the Grass as we celebrate together on the front lawn.

Join us at St. Margaret Parish for what looks to be a beautiful Saturday outside, with Mass on the Grass at 4:00 p.m. this coming Saturday, June 15th!

“Therefore, to strengthen and exalt the Catholic Faith, we decree that, besides the daily memory that the Church makes of this Sacrament, there be celebrated a more solemn and special annual memorial. Then let the hearts and mouths of all break forth in hymns of saving joy; then let faith sing, hope dance, charity exult, devotion applaud, the choir be jubilant, and purity delight. Then let each one with willing spirit and prompt will come together, laudably fulfilling his duties, celebrating the Solemnity of so great a Feast.”
– Pope Urban IV
(From the papal bull Transiturus de Hoc Mundo, which established the feast of Corpus Christi as an annual celebration for the whole Church)

Earlier this month Fr. Dave celebrated the Family Mass led by the 4th grade. April Students of the Month were recognized by Mr. Gardon for the trait “Curiosity.” Open gym followed mass. Congrats students!!

Please join us for our next Student of the Month Mass Saturday June 1st at 4pm.

Due to a funeral today at St. Mark Church, there will be no Eucharistic Adoration between 10:30-11:30 a.m.

📢Due to a staff meeting, our office will be closed between 11:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. today.

Lionheart 2024 is thrilled to reveal our most extraordinary Lionheart announcement yet!

Are you ready?!

With Teacher Appreciation Week on the horizon...

This year, at Lionheart, one of our AMAZING St. Mark Teachers (along with a lucky guest) will win an all-inclusive tropical vacation, complete with airfare! Each of our SMK Teachers will receive one entry per year of service at St. Mark School. And the lucky winner? Father Dave will draw the winning Teacher's name raffle-style, right on the Lionheart stage during our ceremonies! You don't want to miss this live drawing! Who of our AMAZING St. Mark Teachers is going to win?

So, purchase your tickets to Lionheart today! Remember, early bird pricing ends May 16th!

https://saintmarkschool.ejoinme.org/MyEvents/Lionheart2024/SponsorshipAdsandTickets

We are also on the verge of wrapping up the Lionheart Gift Gathering Party season with one last 2nd Grade extravaganza this Friday. In the spirit of gratitude that fills this beautiful May air, we want to thank Aimee Bova, our Gift Gathering Party extraordinaire and Coordinator, and Liz Bevilacqua, our simply marvelous Gift Acquisition Chair, all our wonderful Gift Gathering 2024 Party hosts, attendees (we hope you had fun!), and our generous contributors. Your support ensures the success of Lionheart, and for that, we are truly thankful!

If you missed your grade’s Gift Gathering Party or wish to contribute a gift to either our Silent or Live Auctions, please reach out via [email protected].

Lionheart 2024 promises to be an event to remember, so don't miss out!

Let's keep the Lionheart momentum roaring as we prepare to Wake the Lion on June 8th!

Thank you, Teachers!

Together as a Pride,

Your Lionheart 2024 Co-Chairs

Vera & Keith Carlino, Susan & Angelo Gambino, Erin & John Gerken, and Kate & Matt Maleski

This past weekend, our 3rd grade students celebrated the sacrament of First Holy Communion. The blessing continued with a May Crowning School Mass. We welcome all to the table. 🦁🙏✝️

“The Eucharist is the secret of my day. It gives me strength and meaning to all my activities of service to the Church and to the whole world.” – Pope Saint John Paul II

Today we celebrate the Feast of St. Mark, the patron saint of notaries and Venice.

'A winged lion is Mark’s symbol. The lion derives from Mark’s description of John the Baptist as a “voice of one crying out in the desert” (Mark 1:3), which artists compared to a roaring lion. The wings come from the application of Ezekiel’s vision of four winged creatures to the evangelists.

Mark fulfilled in his life what every Christian is called to do: proclaim to all people the Good News that is the source of salvation. In particular, Mark’s way was by writing. Others may proclaim the Good News by music, drama, poetry, or by teaching children around a family table.'

Want to learn more? Check out this article: https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-mark/

“The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus. After this, there is nothing more but Heaven itself.” – Saint Peter Julian Eymard

📌REMINDER: Family Day of Service for Shoshone Cleanup is this weekend! Join us on Saturday, April 20th at 10:00 a.m. (meet by concessions).

Let's help get the park ready for little league ball! Dress for the weather & meet at the concession stand for instructions. Garbage bag provided. Bring rakes, w**d trimmers, etc.! Families are encouraged to come serve together.

SMK student alumni in need of service hours are WELCOME to join us!

NOTE: Additional parking on Parkside and in NFTA parking lot, a quick walk down the bike path.

☔️☔️☔️☔️ Postponed to Saturday April 20th at 10:00am.

Spring into service!🦁🌞♻️🗑🧹

*additional parking on Parkside and in NFTA parking lot, a quick walk down the bike path.

Congratulations to the St. Mark School March Students of the Month who were recognized at the family mass on Saturday for demonstrating the character trait of “integrity.” Fifth graders led the mass which was celebrated by Fr. Dave. After church guests enjoyed open gym and refreshments. Thank you to all who attended and special thanks to those who donated to the Baby Supply Drive.

📌REMINDER: Come celebrate our Students of the Month today at 4PM. Also, last weekend to donate to the St. Mark School & Church 👶Baby Supply Donation Drive🍼 Bins are located at the St. Mark Church.

**Items in need: Diapers, wipes, formula, bottles, wash, and lotion**

“This is the bread of everlasting life which supports the substance of our souls.”
– Saint Ambrose

☔️☔️☔️☔️ Postponed to Saturday April 20th at 10:00am.

Spring into service!🦁🌞♻️🗑🧹

*additional parking on Parkside and in NFTA parking lot, a quick walk down the bike path.

REMINDER: Novena prayed during 3:00 p.m. hour before tomorrow’s Vigil Mass while confessions are taking place.

"Oh what awesome mysteries take place during Mass! ... One day we will know what God is doing for us in each Mass, and what sort of gift He is preparing in it for us. Only His divine love could permit that such a gift be provided for us ... this fountain of life gushing forth with such sweetness and power."
-St. Faustina (Diary 914)

Happy Easter! What a beautifully decorated altar at Mass this morning. Do you have photos to share?

Post them in the comments, message us or email [email protected]

Happy Easter! "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said." - Matthew 28: 5b-6

Easter Sunday crowns the Triduum celebration and begins our time of reflection – how can we continue to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus? How can we bring the newness of life to others? How do we bring the peace of Christ to all?

As at the Vigil, we renew our baptismal promises, we raise our voices in Alleluia, we continue to become more & more, the Body of Christ in the world.

Join us tonight at 8:00 p.m. for the Easter Vigil at Assumption Buffalo. Jesus is in the tomb. The Virgin Mary is most sorrowful. The day is quiet and somber.

The great paschal candle is lit from the Easter fire, five wax-nails of incense (the five wounds of Jesus) are embedded into the candle, as it becomes the symbol of the crucified Christ. We process with candles lit from the one Easter candle. During the Liturgy of the Word, we will hear the story of our redemption from the “first creation” through the “new creation”, a story of God’s everlasting love and mercy.

That we participate in our New Creation is seen in the Baptism of adults and children from our parish family, and our own renewal of baptismal promises. The Liturgy of the Eucharist follows. We leave in joy – Alleluia is our song!

This year we have three basket blessings in our family: 1pm at Holy Spirit Parish, 2pm and 3pm at Assumption Buffalo.

Do you celebrate the tradition of Święconka (the blessing of the Easter baskets)?

Join us at 3PM today for the Passion of the Lord Liturgy at All Saints R.C. Church. On Good Friday, we journey with the Lord, innocent servant of God, who has taken our sins upon Himself as He walks the path to Calvary.

We begin in silence, for we are at the foot of the Cross with His mother. There are traditionally, since the earliest centuries, only 3 parts to this service:

1. The Liturgy of the Word and The Solemn Intercessions
2. The Adoration of the Cross
3. The Communion Rite

After the closing prayer we leave in silence. The altar is stripped, but the Cross remains.

May abundant blessings, O Lord, we pray,
descend upon your people,
who have honored the Death of your Son
in the hope of their resurrection:
may pardon come,
comfort be given,
holy faith increase,
and everlasting redemption be made secure.
Through Christ our Lord.

"I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you."
-John 13:34