2023 Winter Activties

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There is still a lot of summer left, but in order to ensure that we have enough materials for all students, registration for new and returning families is now open! Again this year, we will be registering through our online giving platform, please click the blue link below and follow the instructions on the Religious Education button,

If you have any questions, please contact Christina Smith (dre@stmarkjtn.org)

 Before we know it, the children of Jamestown and the rest of Rhode Island will be heading back to the classroom.

Again this year, the St Mark Outreach Ministry will have a Back to School collection so we can help struggling families send their children back to school with all the necessary supplies to get them off to a good start.  These will be distributed to worthy students in both Jamestown schools and to children whose families are supported through the food pantry at Our Lady of the Rosary parish in the Fox Point neighborhood in Providence.

Through a most generous donation to Outreach from retailer Land's End, we will be purchasing all of the backpacks in bulk and are are asking for your help in collecting the following supplies to fill them:

• 2 pocket folders
• Single subject, wide ruled notebooks
• Composition notebooks
• Ball point pens (blue or black)
• #2 pencils
• Block erasers
• Small glue sticks 
• 24 pack crayons
• 10 pack markers (broad or fine)
• 12 pack colored pencils 

Your donations may be placed in the colored bins in front of the statue of St Mark, to the right of the main altar through Sunday August 13th.

Any brand is appreciated, if you would like to shop on Amazon, please click below.

 The St. Mark Book Club selection for the months of July/August is The Catholic Table by Emily Stimpson Chapman. In this book, Chapman presents a Catholic perspective on how, with God's grace, the food we make, eat, and share can transform and heal us.  Emily Chapman is a Catholic writer based in Steubenville, Ohio.  She writes regularly in her blog about faith, hospitality and food.  Please join us to discuss this title on Thursday, August 24th at 6:30 p.m.  For meeting details, please contact the parish office (401-423-1421)

Our Parish Flag Tribute program has had an amazing outpouring of support. All funds collected will benefit the Chapel Fund of the R.I. Veterans Home in Bristol, R.I. This fund helps to meet the spiritual needs of all residents of this nationally recognized facility.  Thank you for your generosity!     The flags will be displayed on the church grounds from Flag Day, June 14th until Independence Day, July 4th to show our gratitude and appreciation for those who serve or have served in our military branches in defense of our country. 

The month of May at Saint Mark Parish has traditionally been dedicated to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus.  

On the Tuesdays of May (May 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30), a devotional time of prayer will be conducted from 6:30 to 7:00 pm.  The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, the Rosary recited and a simple blessing with the monstrance will conclude the evening. The evening of May 2 will begin at 6:00pm and will conclude at 8:00pm with Benediction.  The Rosary will begin that evening only at 6:30pm. 

Everyone is welcome, invite a friend to join!

Beginning on May 6, 2023, our Parish will begin the practice of celebrating Mass on consecutive Five First Saturdays of the month.  This means practically that we will have an 8am Mass dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the First Saturday of May, June, July, August and September.  This devotion is born from the apparition of the Blessed Mother to the children at Fatima in Portugal in 1917. 

During the month of May, we will be collecting items to help mothers and their babies in financial distress as they try to raise their families in these difficult circumstances.

We are very happy to be joined again by our friends and neighbors from St Matthews Church, making this a true community and ecumenical endeavor!

The items that are most needed are:

Diapers: all sizes including pull ups

Baby wipes

Baby toiletries and supplies

Infant Formula 

     New clothing : sizes 6 months to 4T

            Blankets, sleepwear, onesies

Stop & Shop and Walmart Gift cards($25 or less)

Any brand is acceptable, however for those who would like to order online from Amazon, please see link below.

The agencies we will be assisting are St. Mark Food Pantry, St. Gabriel's Call in Providence, Newport and South Kingstown, Holy Family Home for Mother's and Children located in Providence and St. Edward’s Food Pantry and Wellness Center located in Providence.  

Please place your donations by the statue of Our Blessed Mother to the right of the main altar beginning on May 5th through May 25th.

As always, we thank you for your generosity and compassion

May God bless you all.

The St. Mark Book Club selection for the months of March/April is Eucharist by Bishop Robert Barron.  Bishop Barron has written a meaningful and inspiring book on the ancient meaning and power of the Eucharist.  

In addition to this main title, Sister Proctor's book, 201 Inspirational Stories of the Eucharist is also recommended as supplemental reading.  This book offers true stories written by lay men and women, religious, and influential leaders on the healing power of the Eucharist.  The stories are short and will complement the main book. 

The date for the discussion is Thursday, April 27th, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m in the church hall.  All are welcome to participate!

Join us for our next parish wide Novena!  

During this Novena we will pray with gratitude for the love in our lives and for God’s grace  to share our love with others.   The Novena will begin on February 6th and end on St. Valentine’s Day.  Just sign up with the link below to receive a daily email from February 6th to the 14th which will include a picture, quote, simple prayer, and song link. Then on your own time or with your family, you can pray and reflect on the theme of the day using all pieces or just what speaks to you most. All are welcome to participate. 

Last year, St. Mark parish donated  85 backpacks filled with all the necessary school supplies  to those in need at  the Jamestown School and to the children at Our Lady of the Rosary parish food pantry in Providence.   In order to support all these children again this year, we are asking for your help in collecting backpacks (dark colors ONLY please, NO novelty prints) and the following school supplies...... 

two pocket folders 

single subject, wide ruled notebooks

 ball point pens (blue or black) 

#2 pencils 

block erasers 

24 pack crayons 

small glue sticks  

10 pack markers (broad or fine) 

12 pack colored pencils  

Your donations may be placed in the marked bins located at each of the church entrances until August 7th.  You may donate a complete backpack or any quantity of the supplies.  Also, any brand is acceptable, however for those who would like to order online from Amazon, please click link below  

Beginning on May 7, 2022, our Parish will begin the practice of celebrating Mass on consecutive Five First Saturdays of the month.  This means practically that we will have an 8am Mass dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the First Saturday of May, June, July, August and September.  This devotion is born from the apparition of the Blessed Mother to the children at Fatima in Portugal in 1917. 

The St. Mark Book Club selection for the months of July/August is Maryam of Bethlehem by Sister Emanuel Maillard.  This book relates the life of Maryam Baouardy, a daughter of Galilee, who was known as the "Lily of Palestine.”  She became Sr. Maryam of Jesus Crucified in the Carmelite Order and was beatified on November 13, 1983 by Pope John Paul II.  Sr. Maryam's life and words are significant for us today as they enlighten the future of our broken world.

Please join us in a Zoom meeting to discuss this book on Thursday, August 25th, at 6:30 p.m.   All are welcome.  For login in details, please contact the parish secretary at secretary@stmarkjtn.org

The St. Mark Book Club selection for the months of May/June is Memoirs of a Happy Failure by Alice von Hildebrand. This book is an inspiring glimpse into the life of one of contemporary Catholicism's most notable minds.  It is the story of a life filled with courage, faith, and God’s grace.  Alice von Hildebrand is known for her many EWTN appearances, books, essays, and articles. Please join us in reading and discussing this book in a Zoom meeting on Thursday, June 30th, at 6:30 p.m.   All are welcome.  For login in details, please contact the parish secretary at secretary@stmarkjtn.org

Our Parish Flag Tribute program has had an amazing outpouring of support. All funds collected will benefit the Chapel Fund of the R.I. Veterans Home in Bristol, R.I. This fund helps to meet the spiritual needs of all residents of this nationally recognized facility.  Thank you for your generosity!     The flags will be displayed on the church grounds from Flag Day, June 14th until Independence Day, July 4th to show our gratitude and appreciation for those who serve or have served in our military branches in defense of our country. 

The Parish Outreach Ministry would like to thank all for the tremendous outpouring of love and support for our May Baby Shower. This year we were joined by our friends at St Matthew Episcopal Church, making this a true community event.    Your gifts were distributed to  St Mark Food Pantry, Gabriel's Call, St Edward's Food Pantry and Holy Family Home for Mother's and Children. We delivered 26 cases of diapers, 56 packages of diapers, 7 cases of baby wipes, 31 packages of wipes, 27 cans of formula, 11 boxes of baby food, $550.00 in gift cards, along with numerous outfits, beautiful handmade quilts and blankets, hooded towels, receiving blankets, bathtubs, bath products and baby supplies.   They were all displayed under the loving gaze of the image of Our Lady of Fatima.  May God bless you all for your kindness and support for those we try to help.   

The month of May at Saint Mark Parish has traditionally been dedicated to Mary, the Blessed Mother of Jesus.    On the remaining Tuesdays of May (May 10, 17, 24 & 31), a devotional time of prayer will be conducted at 6:30pm.  The Blessed Sacrament will be exposed, the Rosary recited and a simple blessing with the monstrance will conclude the evening.  This year we are using the beautiful Parish statue of Our Lady of Fatima to be the focal point of our Marian Devotions.  Come and attend these lovely times of prayer and adoration! 

The Outreach Ministry of St Mark Parish will again conduct the Annual Lenten Project.  It will begin on Ash Wednesday and conclude on Palm Sunday of this year.  The agencies that we assist have asked us to collect personal care items.  We will collect both full and travel size items. You may choose either or both sizes.  We are collecting this year for Lucy's Hearth Middletown, Crossroads North Kingstown, Boys Town Portsmouth and the McKinney Shelter Newport.  Please take a bag located at the church entrances should you choose the travel size option.  The bags have suggested items listed. Place your returns in the marked bins located at each of the church doors by April 10th.  The Outreach Ministry thanks everyone in advance for your continued concern and compassion for those we try to help. 

Join Fr. Doug for a three part discussion based on the book, A Crucified Christ in Holy Week by Fr. Raymond Brown in which the Gospels, written thirty to sixty years after the life of Christ, are treated as reflecting considerable theological and dramatic development and not simply as literal accounts of a historical event.  

The first session will be an introduction, the second based on the Gospel according to Mark and the third on John’s Gospel.  

To accommodate parishioners with different schedules, the discussion will be offered on 

Monday evenings at 6:30pm or Tuesday mornings at 9:00am.  

The morning session will be a repeat of the evening session.  There is no need to register if you plan to attend in person.  If you would like to join virtually, please contact Chris at dre@stmarkjtn.org for meeting login information.  

Monday Sessions at 6:30pm - 

March 7, March 21, & April 4 

Tuesday Sessions at 9am -

 March 8, March 22, & April 5