After serving the parish of St. Mark for nearly 11 years, our stellar business manager, Crystal Sheehan, has decided to retire. Crystal began working as our Parish Secretary in 2015, and advanced to the position of Business Manager in 2018. She was crucial in assisting me transition to being a pastor after 30 years in campus ministry. Crystal’s work here has touched so many lives, even though most parishioners may have little idea of just how much she has done to keep the parish running. In fact, the impact was so overarching that she will be consulting remotely for a time to help facilitate a smooth transition. We are so grateful for her dedication to St. Mark and pray God will pour out His blessings upon her as she moves to the beach with her family to enjoy her well-deserved retirement.
This week we have officially welcomed Theresa Kohler as our new Parish Business Manager. Theresa brings 25 years of executive leadership experience in financial and operational management for the federal government to St. Mark. Theresa is also a long-time parishioner, who has been involved over the years in multiple service and community growth ministries, and her daughter graduated from St. Mark Catholic School. We are blessed to welcome Theresa to her new role here.
I’m also pleased to announce Denise Argote as our new Parish Office Manager. Denise has been working as the worship/service/community growth secretary for 16 years and has deep knowledge of parish ministries and operations. Denise is energized to help manage the Parish Office and work towards supporting the Parish especially through the goals set out in our strategic plan.
Our parish is indeed growing and changing. Mass attendance is up more than 25% in the past 2 years and many new families have joined the parish. At this year’s Easter Vigil, 12 people joined the Church, and 30 more are currently exploring receiving the Sacraments next year. As a result, we have found a need to reorganize our Religious Education Department. We are currently looking to hire an Assistant Director for Religious Education who can help teach and train catechists. https://www.catholicjobs.com/job/1078174696
As part of this change, Sarah Lundquist will be leaving her role as the RE and Youth Ministry Administrator. We were blessed to have Sarah’s administrative talents helping to ensure our Religious Education and Youth Ministry programs ran smoothly. We are grateful that she will continue to share her musical talents with the Parish as a cantor and substitute choir director. We thank her for her contributions to RE and Youth Ministry over the years, and we look forward to continuing to hear her beautiful voice at Mass.
Thank you for your patience and support with me as I continue to learn the many joys and responsibilities of being your pastor. Please pray that I may grow in wisdom, patience, and charity, and that together we may follow where the Lord is leading our parish.
Peace and prayers,
Fr. Peter