✝️ The Parish Office encourages the use of appointments.
✝️ Offertory Envelopes were not delivered to your home for use in February. This is our second envelope company. Both companies have had supply issues -- quality of paper for printing and availability of workers. Quality has diminished. We have been assured the offertory envelopes will be sent to you for the month of March. Until they arrive, please use a plain white envelope with your name and your number. Call the parish office if you forgot or can't find the number on your offertory envelope. Thank you for continuing to contribute.
CLICK HERE FOR AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM
BISHOP FISHER CONCERNING RECENT BUFFALO EVENING NEWS ARTICLE
March 14, 2023
Dear Friends in Christ:
Our Gospel Readings for the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent are taken from the Gospel according to St. John. The Church has chosen these Readings as a source of spiritual enrichment for the assembly and for catechumens, the Elect, who are preparing to receive the Easter Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. On this 4th Sunday, March 19th, the Gospel of the Man Born Blind will be proclaimed. Jewish belief at the time of Jesus assumed that being blind or any physical affliction was a result of sin committed by the person or by his or her parents. A person with such misfortune would live with foreboding of God’s judgment. It was a life with little hope, despite the best efforts of the afflicted to live righteously. Jesus, through this sign, a miracle, changes this misperception of God’s justice. In curing this man’s blindness, Jesus bestows God’s mercy, and after seeking him out, Jesus restores his sense of belonging to the community. Jesus is the Light coming into the world that dispels darkness of ignorance and sin. We can see how appropriate this Gospel text is for the Elect, like Dixie Andrews, from our parish, who will be baptized during the Easter Vigil, and for all of us on our Lenten Journey.
March 19th is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary but this year, since it occurs on a Sunday, the feast is celebrated on Monday March 20th. When Pope John XXIII, born Angelo Roncalli, welcomed a delegation of Jewish rabbis, he quoted the patriarch Joseph in the Book of Genesis 45:4, “I am Joseph, your brother.” Earlier in his diplomatic career, Roncalli played a pivotal role in saving the lives of thousands of Jews while serving as the papal representative to Turkey during World War II. Saint Pope John XXIII had a special devotion to St. Joseph. His middle name was “Giuseppe.” I share his prayer to San Giuseppe or St. Joseph.
Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste husband of Mary, you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty. You supported the holy family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, and their hopes. They look to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too knew trial, labor, and weariness. But amid the worries of material life, your soul was full of deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with God’s Son entrusted to you, and, with Mary, his tender Mother. Assure those you protect that they do not labor alone. Teach them to find Jesus near them and to watch over him faithfully as you have done. Amen.
Join us on Tuesday March 21st and March 28ths for 6:00 PM Lenten Soup and Scripture. Attendees bring homemade soups and breads. Before the sharing of food, there is a reflection on the Sunday Gospel. It is a special occasion to break open and be nourished by the Word, and then sharing good food and company. Come for Stations of the Cross on Fridays of Lent after 9 AM Mass and at 7 PM. On Good Friday, there will be a Taize Prayer Service at 7 PM.
Our Lenten Family Penance Services will take place in St. Vincent de Paul Church at 3:30 PM and 7:00 PM on Monday March 27th. Priests from neighboring parishes will be present to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, to hear confessions and to share the peace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. This is an example of one of the blessings to come as we establish our Family of Parishes.
Fr. Gene Ulrich
If you wish to pray the Rosary with another voice the following links will provide you with that opportunity:
CLICK HERE to pray with a video of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary
CLICK HERE to pray with a video of the Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
CLICK HERE to pray with a video of the Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary
CLICK HERE to pray with a video of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary
Click here to read the Diocesan Code of Conduct for Employees and Volunteers
Weekday Masses:
9AM
Weekend Masses:
Saturday 5:00 PM,
Sunday 8:00 AM, 11:00 AM
Sunday 5:00 PM
Check the bulletin each week for daily Mass schedules and Holy Day times.
Confessions are heard each Saturday at 4:00 PM, or by appointment.
Food Donation
FISH can always use paper or plastic garbage bags.
Please protect the barrel - it is not for disposal of garbage.
Stewardship is having the wisdom to understand that everything we have is a gift from God.