Almighty God, who by the hand of Mark the evangelist have given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

Holy God, in whom all things in heaven and earth have their being,
Have mercy on us.

Jesus Christ, through whom the world is reconciled to the Father,
Have mercy on us.

Holy Spirit, whose glory fills the world and searches the depth of God,
Have mercy on us.

Blessed Trinity, source of both unity and diversity,
Have mercy on us.


From blind hearts and petty spirits, that refuse to see the need of all humankind for your love,
Savior, deliver us.

From pride, self-sufficiency and the unwillingness to admit our own need of your compassion,
Savior, deliver us.

From discouragement in the face of pain and disappointment and from lack of persistence and thoroughness,
Savior, deliver us.

From ignorance, apathy, and complacency that prevent us from spreading the Gospel,
Savior, deliver us.


O God we pray for the gifts of ministry. Inspire our minds with a vision of your kingdom in this time and place.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our eyes, that we may see your glory in all creation.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our ears, that we may hear from every mouth the hunger for hope and stories of refreshment.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our lips, that we may tell in every tongue and dialect the wonderful works of God.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our hearts, that we may discern the mission to which you call us.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our feet, that we may take your Good News into our neighborhoods, communities, and all parts of the world.
Hear us, O Christ.

O God we pray for the gifts of ministry. Inspire our minds with a vision of your kingdom in this time and place.
Hear us, O Christ.


Touch our eyes, that we may see your glory in all creation.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our ears, that we may hear from every mouth the hunger for hope and stories of refreshment.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our lips, that we may tell in every tongue and dialect the wonderful works of God.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our hearts, that we may discern the mission to which you call us.
Hear us, O Christ.

Touch our feet, that we may take your Good News into our neighborhoods, communities, and all parts of the world.
Hear us, O Christ.


God the Father, who created the Apostles
Glory and Praise to you.

God the Son, who redeemed the Apostles
Glory and Praise to you.

God the Holy Spirit, who renewed the Apostles
Glory and Praise to you.


St. Mark, cousin of Barnabas
Encourage us to seek God.

St. Mark, companion on Paul's first missionary journey
Encourage us to seek God.

St. Mark, first bishop of Alexandria
Encourage us to seek God.

St. Mark, author of the second gospel
Encourage us to seek God.

St. Mark, patron of Venice
Encourage us to seek God.

St. Mark, symbolized as a lion
Encourage us to seek God.

St. Mark patron and protector of this parish family.
Encourage us to seek God.

Let us pray,

God of apostles. You call people from all different walks of life to follow you. Give us the courage of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John to evangelize our own culture and people by living our lives as a gospel of life and hope. We pray in the name of our good news, Jesus Christ the Lord who lives and reigns now and forever. Amen.

You, O Mark, are the mystic Lion, which, with the Man, the Ox and the Eagle, are yoked to the chariot where upon the King of kings pursues His triumphant course through the earth. Ezekiel, the Prophet of the Ancient Testament, and John, the Prophet of the New Law, saw you standing nigh the Throne of God. How magnificent is your glory! You are the historian of the Word made Flesh, and you publish to all generations His claims to the love and adoration of humankind. The Church reveres your writings, and invites us receive them as inspired by the Holy Spirit.

It was you that, on the glad Day of Easter, who announced to us the Resurrection of our Lord: pray for us, O holy Evangelist, that this divine Mystery may work its effects within us; and that our hearts, like your own, may be firm in their love of our Risen Jesus, that so we may faithfully follow Him in that New Life, which He gave us by His Resurrection. Ask him to give us His Peace, as He did to His Apostles when He showed Himself to them in the Upper Room and as He did to you when He appeared to you in your prison. Amen.