In the center of the main altar is the Tabernacle, where Jesus is truly present in the form of the Holy Eucharist. The sanctuary light hanging from the ceiling tells everyone that Jesus is present in the Tabernacle. Because we recognize Jesus as our Lord, we genuflect or bow as a sign of our honor of Him and our humility before Him.

To the right of the altar is the priest's chair. There sits the presider as representative of the bishop.  He is responsible for drawing all the prayers and actions of the people together in Christ.

In 1881 the first organ was installed in St. Mark's Church. In 1926 a new pipe organ was purchased and installed. The third classical instrument organ was designed by Eric A. Fiss in 1974 and was considered one of the best in the Archdiocese. It contained 1,128 pipes and was severely damaged in the 2005 fire. The current organ is a Rodgers 4-manual 1038 organ. It is an electronic hybrid with five ranks of beautiful real pipes and 148 equivalent electronic ranks. The new organ can be played from a keyboard on the musicians' platform downstairs or from the choir loft.

Stained Glass Windows

The original windows were only clear glass. After 15 years the parish installed "milk-glass" windows - which you will find in most area churches of that era.  The only two milk-glass windows remaining in the church are the two small windows on either side of the main altar. These two windows were destroyed in the August 24, 2005 fire but have been beautifully restored.

Before World War I, Emperor Franz Josef of Austria commissioned a set of art-style, stained glass windows for a family chapel. After World War I, Fr. Savs located the windows that were intended for the chapel that was never built, and because Germany was cash poor after the war, he was able to purchase them at a price of $250 per window. Because there were only 10 in the set, he located the original maker and had them make three more windows of the same design, one of which is a memorial window for men from St. Mark's who dies during World War I.

Stained Glass Windows on the North (right) side of the church starting at the main entrance and going toward the Altar:

• St. Anthony's Bread
• Holy Family (Boy, Christ)
• Resurrection
• The Prodigal Son
• Blessing Children
• Guardian Angel
• Pentecost

• World War I Memorial
• Sacred Heart appears to Margaret Mary Alacoque (The apparition of the Sacred Heart)
• St. Dominic receiving the Rosary
• Mary Magdalene anoints Jesus's feet
• The Nativity
• The Assumption

Station I starts on the South (left) side of the altar if you are facing the altar. Follow the stations to the back of the church toward the main entrance to Station VII. Then cross the back of the church to Station VIII and head towards the altar to finish with Station XIV.

Saint Stephen, wearing a dalmatic (robe with wide sleeves), was one of the first ordained deacons of the Church. He was also the first Christian martyr and is holding a martyr's palm frond, representing the victory of spirit over flesh, and the stones used in his martyrdom.

DECEMBER 26 - ST. STEPHEN

Stephen's name means crown. He was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Church. We read about him in chapters 6 and 7
of the Acts of the Apostles. Peter and the apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons. Stephen is the most famous of these.

God worked many miracles through St. Stephen. He spoke with such wisdom and grace that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church of Jesus were furious to see how successful St. Stephen's preaching was. At last, they laid a plot for him. They could not answer his wise arguments, so they got men to lie about him. These men said that he had spoken sinfully against God. St. Stephen faced that great assembly of
enemies without any fear. In fact, the Holy Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel.

Stephen spoke about Jesus, showing that he is the Savior God had promised to send. He scolded his enemies for not having believed in Jesus. At that, they rose up in great anger and shouted at him. But Stephen looked up to heaven. He said that he saw the heavens opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. His hearers plugged their ears and refused to listen to another word. They dragged St. Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. The saint prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he fell to his knees and begged God not to punish his enemies for killing him. After such an expression of love, the martyr went to his heavenly reward.

St. Stephen had a forgiving heart. He did not let himself give in to thoughts or actions of revenge. We can ask him to obtain for us the grace to forgive and forget when someone has
hurt us.

Joseph was the husband of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the foster father of Jesus, whom he is holding in one hand. In the other hand, he holds a flowering staff which tradition tells was the miraculous sign that he was to be the husband of Mary. He was a descendant of David, and when he went for the census, he took his pregnant wife Mary with him. Jesus was then born in David's city of Bethlehem.

Aloysius de Gonzaga (March 9, 1568 – June 21, 1591) is the patron saint of youth. He was an Italian aristocrat and the firstborn of eight children to Ferrante de Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglione, and Dona Marta Tana di Santena. He loved Jesus and he dedicated his short life to the Lord and to others. He renounced any right to his inheritance and status to become a Jesuit. He suffered many bodily ailments including disease of the kidneys, skin disease, chronic headaches, and insomnia. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of a serious epidemic preparing them as best he could to receive the Sacraments. It is said that he had a vision in which the Archangel Gabriel told him that he would die within a year. He died on the Octave of the feast of Corpus Christi. He was beatified in 1605 and canonized in 1726.

JUNE 21 - ST. ALOYSIUS GONZAGA

Aloysius, the patron of Catholic youth, was born on March 9, 1568. Since he was so full of life, his father planned to make a great soldier out of him. When Aloysius was just five, his father took him to the army camp. There little Aloysius marched in parade. He
even managed to load and fire a gun one day while the army was at rest. He learned rough language from the soldiers, too. When he found out what the words meant, he felt very bad that he used them.

As he grew, Aloysius was sent to the courts of dukes and princes. Dishonesty, hatred, and impurity were common. But the only effect it all had on St. Aloysius was to make him more careful to live his own Christian commitment. He became sick. That gave him an excuse to spend some time praying and reading good books. Aloysius was sixteen when he decided to become a Jesuit priest. His father refused his consent. However, after three years, he finally
gave in. Once Aloysius had joined the order, he asked to do hard and humble tasks.  He served in the kitchen and washed the dishes. He used to say, 'I am a crooked piece of iron. I came to religion to be made straight by the hammer of mortification and penance.'

When the plague broke out in Rome, Aloysius asked to be allowed to care for the sick.  He who had always had servants to wait on him gladly washed the sick and made their beds.  He served them until he caught the sickness himself.

St. Aloysius was only twenty-three when he died. It was the night of June 20, 1591. He said simply, 'I am going to heaven.' The body of St. Aloysius Gonzaga is buried in the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome. He was proclaimed a saint by Pope Benedict XIII in 1726.

If we know that peer pressure can make us say and do things we shouldn't, we can ask St. Aloysius for the courage to do what is right.

John the Baptist wore garments made of camel's hair and preached repentance. The lamb at his feet reminds us that he pointed to Jesus and told his disciples Jesus was the Lamb of God.

Mark the Evangelist wrote the second Gospel, so he holds a pen and a book in his hand. The lion at his feet is his symbol, for his Gospel begins by describing John the Baptist, who was like a lion roaring in the desert.

George was a soldier in the imperial army of Rome. He was martyred in 303 AD in Lydda, Palestine. He was the patron saint of the Knights of St. George who, in the early years of this church, were dedicated to the defense of the Catholic faith and donated this statue. He is the patron for the health of domestic animals, against herpetic diseases, and of soldiers. He is also one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

APRIL 23 - ST. GEORGE (Georgius)

Pictures of St. George usually show him killing a dragon to rescue a beautiful lady. The dragon stands for wickedness. The lady stands for God's holy truth. St. George is slaying the dragon because he has won the battle against the devil.

Not much is known about St. George except that he was a martyr. He was a soldier in the army of Diocletian, a pagan emperor. Diocletian was a bitter enemy of the Christians. In fact, he put to death every Christian he could find.

It is believed that St. George was one of Diocletian's favorite soldiers. When George became a Christian, he went to the emperor and scolded him for being so cruel. Then he gave up his position in the Roman army. St. George paid a very high price for his bravery. He was cruelly tortured and beheaded.

So boldly daring and so cheerful was St. George in declaring his faith that people felt courage when they heard about it. Many songs and poems were written about this martyr.  Soldiers, especially, have always been devoted to him. He was named the patron of England
in 1222.

St. George was killed in Lydda, Palestine, around the year 303.

We all have some "dragon" we have to conquer. It might be selfishness or anger. It might be laziness or greed, or something else. We can ask St. George to help us fight against these "dragons. He will help us if we ask.

Barbara was a martyr who died to maintain her virginity. The three windows in the tower indicate her love of the Trinity. As one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, Barbara is a popular saint, perhaps best known as the patron of armorers, artillerymen, military engineers, miners, and others who work with explosives because of her legend's association with lightning, and also of mathematicians. She is invoked for help against lightning and fire and is regarded as the patroness of gunners, hence the cannonballs.

DECEMBER 4 - ST. BARBARA

Barbara was born either in Heliopolis or in Nicomedia, the daughter of a rich pagan named Dioscorus who carefully guarded her, keeping her locked up in a tower to preserve her from the outside world. After she secretly became a Christian, she rejected an offer of marriage that she received through her father.

Before departing on a journey, Barbara's father commanded that a private bathhouse be erected for her use near her dwelling, and during his absence, she had three windows put in it as a symbol of the Holy Trinity, instead of the two originally intended. When her father returned, she acknowledged herself to be a Christian. Dragged before the prefect of the province, Martinianus, who had her cruelly tortured, Barbara held true to her Christian faith. During the night, the dark prison was bathed in light and new miracles occurred. Every morning, her wounds were healed. Torches that were to be used to burn her went out as soon as they came near her. Finally, she was condemned to death by beheading. Her father himself carried out the death sentence; however, as punishment, he was struck by lightning on the way home and his body was consumed by flame. Barbara was buried by a Christian, Valentinus, and her tomb became the site of miracles.

Mary, the mother of Jesus has flowers around her heart indicating the sweetness of the love she has for Jesus and us. The wand is a sign that she is Queen of Heaven.

Mary Magdalene loved Jesus greatly. Jesus healed her of seven evil spirits. The vase in her hand is in remembrance of her washing Jesus' feet.

JULY 22 - ST. MARY MAGDALENE

Mary Magdalene was from Magdala near the Sea of Galilee. Some people identify her as a well-known sinner when she first saw Our Lord. It seems that she was very beautiful and very proud. But after she met Jesus, she felt great sorrow for her evil life. When Jesus went to supper at the home of a rich man named Simon, Mary came to weep at his feet. Then, with her long, beautiful hair, she wiped his feet dry and anointed them with expensive perfume. Some people were surprised that Jesus let such a sinner touch him. Our Lord knew why. He could see into Mary's heart. He said, 'Many sins are forgiven her because she has loved much.' Then to Mary, he said kindly, 'Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.'

 From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly served Jesus and his apostles.  When Our Lord was crucified, she was there at the foot of his cross. She stayed with the Blessed Mother and St. John, unafraid for herself. All she could think about was that her
Lord was suffering. No wonder Jesus said of her 'She has loved much.' After Jesus' body had been placed in the tomb, Mary went to anoint it with spices early Easter Sunday morning. She was shocked when she saw that the tomb was empty. Not finding the sacred body,
she began to weep. Suddenly she saw someone she thought was the gardener. She asked him if he knew where the body of her beloved Master had been taken. Then the man spoke in a voice she knew so well: 'Mary!' It was Jesus, standing right there in front of her.
He was risen from the dead. And he had chosen to reveal himself first to her. The Gospels show Mary as being sent by the Lord himself to announce the Good News of the resurrection to Peter and the apostles. In the early centuries of the Church, Mary Magdalene's feast was celebrated with the Mass of an apostle.

We can ask St. Mary Magdalene to give us grateful hearts. We want to appreciate what Jesus has done for us because he loves us.