Three days after feast of St. Mark on the liturgical calendar, the parish bearing its name in Lancaster witnessed its final official Mass on Sunday, April 28.

Bishop Earl Fernandes was joined by priests who have served at St. Mark Church during its 70-year history for the closing Mass at 11:30 a.m. on a warm and sunny morning.

The bishop had announced a year ago that the parish, which was established in 1959, would consolidate with the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption as part of the diocese’s Real Presence Real Future initiative necessitated by Mass attendance and population trends as well as a shortage of priests. He subsequently issued a decree of suppression for St. Mark Church that was effective on April 30.

A transition team that consisted of members from St. Mark and the Basilica of St. Mary has worked for the better part of a year to facilitate the merger.

While St. Mark will no longer be a stand-alone parish, the campus will be known going forward as the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption -- Emerald Campus. The main building that houses the current church, classrooms and a food pantry will be renamed St. Mary of the Assumption Center for Evangelization and Faith Formation.

Deacon Jeff Hurdley reads the Gospel from St. John during the final Mass at Lancaster St. Mark Church on Sunday.

All sacramental and worship activities henceforth will take place at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Assumption. The Emerald Campus will be utilized for faith formation and outreach activities, including the food pantry. Among the groups that meet at St. Mark include Al-Anon, Alcoholic Anonymous, homeschoolers and youth ministry.

Architect Luke Baus of Project Architecture, LTD has created conceptual drawings that were on display during the final weekend to repurpose the worship space at St. Mark for a variety of uses in the future that could include, concerts, catechesis, festivals, social events, recreation and youth activities.

The St. Nicholas Adoration Chapel, which was dedicated in 2023, will remain unchanged for the time being, but Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament will be offered solely at the basilica.

During the past year, Father Craig Eilerman has served as the administrator of St. Mark while continuing his duties as the basilica’s rector. He praised the parishes in Lancaster for coming together to facilitate the consolidation in a spirit of cooperation.

The choir leads the congregation in singing the processional hymn during the closing Mass at Lancaster St. Mark Church.

“The Catholic community here in Lancaster is pretty tight,” he said. I think each parish has its own culture and differences, but it’s not perhaps as much as some other places in the diocese.”

Father Peter Gideon retired as St. Mark’s pastor last July after 15 years there. He is currently serving as the administrator of the Scioto Catholic consortium of parishes in the Portsmouth area.

Father Gideon and Msgr. James Walter, who was in residence at St. Mark, moved out of the parish rectory last year.

Since last July, one Sunday Mass had been offered at St. Mark each week and one daily Mass was celebrated on Wednesday evenings.

A large congregation turned out for the final Mass that included Bishop Fernandes as well as Father Eilerman, Msgr. Walter, Father Gideon and Father John Reade, a former assistant pastor at the parish.

“No doubt, many of you are feeling a bit sad today,” Bishop Fernandes said in his homily. “We are sad because this will be the last Sunday Mass at this church, and God has poured out grace upon grace here.

“But rather than be sad, I would suggest in the first place that while we acknowledge the sadness, let us open our hearts to receive consolation from the Holy Spirit.”

Bishop Earl Fernandes celebrates the final Mass at Lancaster St. Mark Church.

He encouraged the faithful to trust the Lord and to recognize that He prays for his people.

“And so this should give us both hope and consolation, a sense of healing that the church will continue to grow in Lancaster where the faith is strong,” Bishop Fernandes said.

The bishop went on to say that he was there among them for the final Mass as a shepherd of the flock to offer encouragement, just as Barnabas did for St. Paul.

“That is what I hope as the bishop of the diocese to be for all of you, as do your pastors -- sons of encouragement, to offer an encouraging word, to take courage, to be brave, to go forth in the power and the consolation of the Holy Spirit to make new disciples,” Bishop Fernandes told the congregation.

“Change can be frightening and yet the Lord Jesus tells us, ‘Know that I am with you even until the end of the ages. And so we need not be afraid.” 

After the Mass, luncheon was provided and exhibits were available for viewing that documented the history of the parish.