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GivingA Brief History of Our Parish
In late November of 1999, Bishop Richard Hanifen, Bishop of the Diocese of Colorado Springs determined a need for a parish in west Highlands Ranch. Fr. Larry Solan was charged with founding a parish to serve the Catholic Community.
During planning meetings potential parishioners discussed a vision for the new parish. Many families described experiences of impersonal and distant Catholic communities, and stated a desire for a warm, welcoming church. And from these conversations the mission was decided, the new parish would be a place where all would feel welcomed and included.
The first Mass for the new parish community was celebrated on Palm Sunday, April 16, 2000 at Thunder Ridge High School. On that Sunday parishioners of the new parish brought food for a potluck after the Mass, to enjoy fellowship. The next week three Masses were celebrated and the parish family grew to over 1,000 people.
St. Mark moved quickly to establishing a loving and accepting parish of dedicated servants to the Word of God and His people. The church building was dedicated on April 25, 2005, on the feast day of St. Mark. The community celebrated with Mass and family activities.
Ministry is an important part of our church. With more than fifty ministries, St. Mark is a vital faith community making a difference. The Parish is teaching the word of God, working as good stewards of time, talent and treasure, helping other in need both near and far, and welcoming new members to the faith family.
St. Mark continues to move forward and grow in numbers, spirituality, focus, stewardship and strength. If the past is any indication of the future, St. Mark will continue to move and grow, basking in the love and friendship that are present here. More importantly we will continue to work to fulfill the mission given to us by our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.
A Stewardship Prayer for the Faithful of St. Mark
O God, who raised up Your evangelist St. Mark and endowed him with the grace to preach the Gospel with the boldness of a roaring lion, grant, we pray, that we may so profit from his teaching as to follow faithfully in the footsteps of Christ, who is the Lion of Judah
(Ez. 1:10, Rev. 4:7, Rev. 5:5).St. Mark, patron saint of this parish, we humbly implore your intercession. We ask you to plead our cause to God, asking Him to reveal His holy will to us, and to give us all of the grace necessary for us to know, accept and do only His will, for His greatest glory and the salvation of souls. We ask all of this through the hands and Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
St. Mark, pray for us. Amen.