Events | St. Mark the Evang

St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church

NEWS & EVENTS

On Saturday, August 20, 2022 Rev. Fr. Dennis Aréchiga was installed as the fourth pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. He was presented and installed by the Most Reverend Archbishop Gustavo García-Siller at the 5:00 PM Mass. The Archbishop proclaimed, “My dear sisters and brothers, because I am aware of your pastoral needs and am confident of Father Dennis Aréchiga’s qualifications for the office of Pastor, I now commend Father Dennis to you as your new Pastor.” His proclamation was met with applause from a congregation made of parishioners, great friends, and staff.

The Archbishop then introduced Fr. Dennis to the staff and deacons of St. Mark and to all serving on the finance council. Fr. Dennis thanked each one for being a representative of St. Mark.

The Archbishop then said, “Remember, my brother Dennis, always be a loving father, a gentle shepherd, and a wise teacher of your people, so that you may lead them to Christ who will strengthen all that you do. As a teacher of that faith, I ask you now to lead your people in the Profession of Faith.” Fr. Dennis led the congregation in the Profession of Faith with his hand firmly placed on the Book of Gospels.

After completion of the profession both the Archbishop and the new Pastor signed the “Profession of Faith and Oath of Fidelity” Decree. Then the Archbishop read the “Decree of Possession”, and after his recitation both he and Fr. Dennis signed the decree.

A reception to honor Fr. Dennis was held after Mass.

Rev. Fr. Dennis Aréchiga is Installed as Fourth Pastor of St. Mark the Evangelist - San Antonio, TX

August 24, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

Knights of Columbus Council 7613 Sponsors American Wheelchair Mission in November.

August 18, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

This past July, a handful of teens from our parish participated in the annual San Antonio Neighbors Mission Trip alongside teens from several other San Antonio parishes and beyond. The week-long experience of service, prayer, and fellowship was hosted by St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church. The group’s primary project was serving as Christ’s hands and feet in the surrounding neighborhood by painting homes in need of restoration. Beginning on Monday, the teens participated in Mass each morning, receiving strength and perspective for the day through the prayers of the Church and presence of Christ. After a hearty breakfast, the workday began. The teens worked hard in the summer heat, taking brief breaks for water, lunch, and group prayer.

In the evenings, the teens were invited into a deeper relationship with God through talks by Father Will Combs, BBD, and sacramental encounters such as Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and Reconciliation. The teens were in many different places in their relationships with God, some having very little connection to the Church or Jesus at all. However, spiritual conversations and new friendships planted seeds that, God-willing, will bear fruit in their journeys of faith. The houses began to transform as day-by-day old paint was scraped away and fresh paint was applied. After a lot of effort and teamwork, the houses were done! The residents were so grateful for the teens and their efforts throughout the week. The experience ended on Friday with a day of fun at Schlitterbahn before the teens returned home for a well-deserved weekend of rest.

After an experience like the Mission Trip, teens have an idea of what it means to work hard, pray hard, and to do it all as a young church on mission with and through Christ. Look out for details for next summer’s Mission Trip and how you can get involved and support the youth! If you would like more information on youth activities taking place at our parish throughout the year, please don’t hesitate to contact us at
210-494-1959.

Blake Tamez is the Director of Youth Ministry at St. Mark the Evangelist.

Mission Trip 2022 - It's A Wrap

July 6, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

St. Mark Women's Guild held a day of reflection, Saturday, May 14 on West Campus. The theme was "Love One Another As I Love You." The presenter for the Day was Dr. Renata Furst from the Oblate School of Theology, in San Antonio. Women's Guild volunteers served breakfast and lunch. The attendees really enjoyed the speaker's focus on love and relationships with others. The day concluded with Mass celebrated by Msgr. Kevin Ryan. The Women's Guild is grateful for the help of Richard and Imelda Lee, Pat Peak, Yolanda Underwood, Sherry Brewer, Jeannie Townsend, Luci Guyer, Barbara James, Mary Louise Johnson, Rosemary Bailey, Pronto Printing (Banda Family), Guild Board Members, and Robert Martinez.

St. Mark Women's Guild Day of Reflection

May 14, 2022, 3:00:00 PM

The Knights of Columbus Council 7613 resumes their Lenten Fish Fry Dinner Fridays during Lent. They will serve from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. Your meal will include fried fish, french fries, coleslaw, hushpuppies, and dessert or grilled fish tacos for $10.00. Children's half portion of fried fish plate or a grilled cheese with fries and dessert is $5.00. Dine in Christopher Hall or carry out. Drive through is available too. All profits support donations that Knights of Columbus Council #7613 supporting our parish, youth, and other charitable needs. See you all there!

Fish Fry Fridays During Lent

March 4, 2022, 11:00:00 PM

Catechist and Co-Catechist gathered together for a workshop Saturday, August 13, 2022 in the gym and enjoy special guest speaker Auxiliary Bishop Gary Janek and his encouraging words to our catechist. We were also blessed with the unexpected presence of our Archbishop Gustavo and support of our pastor Father Dennis and the presence of one our deacons. The clergy supports and prays for us, let us do the same, support and pray for them and their religious vocations. We pray that maybe one of our students is called and they are inspired to answer God’s call to the priesthood or religious life.

The following are main points by Bishop Gary’s Keynote presentation:
• Bishop Gary loved our theme for our session, Souls on Fire!
• As catechist, you are important to the Church! You are important to the lives of young children. You play a vital role.
• Teach the faith, teach the Gospel (Good News) according to Christ, not according to “you”!
• Teach with love, like Jesus did, with your heart.
• Teaching consists more than just presenting course material.
• People did not come to Jesus as much as Jesus came to the people.
• Be a WITNESS, be a witness with conviction and others will follow!
• The risen Savior Jesus Christ loves you, loves us, loves His Church!
• Young children are under tremendous pressures and challenges from society, so be there. Your presence teaches them that you care! Teach them how much more the Church care for them.

• According to survey, the sadness and hopelessness of youth, of our children has risen from 46.6% last year to 56.6 %. More than half of our children are sad and depress.
• Children for the first time are afraid to go to school due to the recent occurrence in Uvalde. When he (Bishop Gay) was young, he loved going to school, he felt safe and secure. His parents would drop him off at school in the morning and would pick him up until late in the afternoon. Now our schools have implemented safety security measures, high fences and metal detectors in our high schools. Those “safety measures” have a psychological effect on our children, which reflects their spirituality.
• Being a Catechist is not easy work, it takes persistence; “the persistency of love.”
• The fruits of your love as catechist are not immediately evident. Unlike a spiritual retreat that you can get instant results, being a catechist takes persistency, week by week. To all children in our care, especially to the difficult ones, the indifferent ones, the ones in the back of the room.
• Yes, you make a difference-continue to “Show Up!” Showing up means that you care.
• Yes, there will be difficulties and it will not be easy, but more the reason that being a catechist requires Prayer!
• Pray everyday - let your day be a prayer.
• Most important, have a strong devotion to the Holy Eucharist –
the source and summit of our faith!

Bishop Gary Janak Catechises the Catechists

August 22, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

The St. Joseph icon is the latest icon to be a part of the Knights of Columbus Pilgrim Icon Program. Every few years, the Knights of Columbus selects an icon of a saint whose patronage is particularly inspiring to Knights and their communities to be featured in the program. The icons travel from council to council and serve as the centerpieces for prayer services in parishes throughout the Order.

Every few years, the Knights of Columbus selects an icon of a saint whose patronage is particularly inspiring to Knights and their communities. Since the first traveling pilgrim icon of Our Lady of Guadalupe in 1979, more than 174,800 council and parish prayer services with some 22 million participants have been held.

For more information and resources: https://www.kofc.org/en/what-we-do/faith-in-action-programs/faith/pilgrim-icon.html.

Knights of Columbus Bring the Icon of St. Joseph to St. Mark

July 11, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

Msgr. Kevin Ryan was honored Saturday, June 25, 2022 with a picnic hosted by St. Mark the Evangelist Ministries and headed by Sharron Hanson. The grounds were decorated with an Irish theme as a proper send off for Fr. Kevin. Approximately 500 parishioners attended. Thank you, volunteers, for your hard work. It truly paid off. Thank you, Fr. Kevin, for your 31 years of service to the St. Mark Community and 52 priestly years of service to the Archdiocese of San Antonio, TX. Peace be with you!

Msgr. Kevin Ryan's Final Week at St. Mark

June 30, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

Elementary faith formation students participated in reciting the rosary in front of Our Blessed Mother on Saturday, May 7 prior to the 5:00 PM Mass. They were joined by The Knights of Columbus Council 7613 to amplify their voices. Following the Rosary, the children crowned Our Blessed Mother.

Crowning of Mary

May 7, 2022, 9:30:00 PM

A Jerusalem Marketplace Vacation Bible School will take place July 11 to July 15 at St. Mark the Evangelist. Stay tuned for registration information. For more information contact Rita Cabello (210) 494-1606.

Save the Date! Vacation Bible School is Back!

July 11, 2022, 2:00:00 PM

Every year, from early March through mid-December, Silver Roses are stewarded by Knights of Columbus Councils along routes from Canada to Mexico. Every stop the Silver Rose makes throughout the pilgrimage is a rosary-centered occasion for Knights, parishioners, and community members to pray for respect for life, for the spiritual renewal of each nation, and for the advancement of the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Thank you to all the ministries for making this happen.

The Knights of Columbus Welcome the Silver Rose

August 22, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

Congratulations to Scout Brady Rabel, son of Dwayne and Patricia Rabel for completing his Eagle Scout Project for St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. Brady noticed the need for a complete sidewalk by building 1 across from St. Francis Circle. People coming and going from the Circle and east parking lot had to walk through grass and dirt to avoid the traffic before and after Mass each weekend. He enlisted the help of about 32 of his friends to help dig out, lay forms and rebar, and then pour cement to complete the project. Remaining donations that he collected were presented to Msgr. Kevin Ryan, June 30, 2022, to benefit the parishioners of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church.
Brady is an active member of Boy Scout Troop 360 and St. Mark Young Church.

Eagle Scout Project Complete

July 6, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

Catechists are called to share their faith, give witness, pray, model service, and build community. Catechists minister to children in a variety of locations and programs such as Faith Formation, Sacramental Preparation, Liturgy of the Word for Children, and more. Through Word and example, catechists pass on the Catholic faith and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Being a catechist means that you are teaching our faith formation students about our Catholic Faith and the love of Jesus. If this is something that you are called for, then come join us. We provide you with the materials and offer training. So you do not need to be an expert, just have an open heart to teach God’s Children.
For more information call Rita Cabello at (210) 494-1606 Ext. 320

Elementary Faith Formation Catechists Needed

June 30, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

Boy Scout Troop 500 in conjunctions with Knights of Columbus Council 7613 held a flag retirement ceremony Saturday, May 14, 2022 on West Campus of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. The event was hosted by St. Rafael Guizar Valencia and coordinated by S.K. Ray Paige and Col. Mark Rayfield (Ret.) Fourteen U.S. flags were burned by the Troop. Veterans who attended received a U. S. Flag lapel pin in thanks for their service.

Flag Retirement Ceremony

May 14, 2022, 5:00:00 AM

The Yvonne Cosgrove Concert Series presents David Kauffman with Mark Schuenemann.
SAVE THE DATE- Thursday, March 24, 2022, 7:00-8:30 pm

David Kauffman Returns to St Mark to present a one-night Lenten Mission “Generosity…The Pathway to Conversion”

David Kauffman is prolific artist, whose works touch and inspire people worldwide. He is the founder of Good For The Soul Music™ in San Antonio, Texas. Kauffman is a songwriter and recording artist, screenwriter and movie producer, husband and father whose creations are described as “good for the soul.” Please join us for our Lenten Mission of song and story with reflections for the Lenten Season.
A Free Will Offering will be collected to benefit the Ministry of David Kauffman.
All are welcome! Bring the Family!
For more information contact Josh Frilling, Director of Music Ministry, at (210) 494-1606. See you there!

David Kauffman In Concert

March 25, 2022, 12:00:00 AM