Church of the
Annunciation

September 13, 2023

The highly anticipated Mass schedule for our family (Family 6) was released last weekend.  I thank the Liturgy Pillar for all the work they have put into this schedule as so many events are tied in with Mass times.  Here are some of the considerations that influenced the schedule.

Of primary importance is that the available Masses be spread out to offer more opportunities within the family for people to attend Masses and receive sacraments.  Some people work 12 or even 24 hour shifts and are not available at the “normal” times.  Spreading out the weekend Masses allows us to be available for their needs.  There are very few Sunday evening Masses throughout the Diocese of Buffalo, so it is important for me that we keep one in the family.  Having three masses running simultaneously while leaving a specific need unaddressed is not the best use of our resources.

The weekday schedule was decided based upon specific needs and with the objective of making some opportunity for weekday Mass available to as many parishioners as possible.  Thus, Annunciation is scheduled for the 7:00 am Mass to allow people to go to Mass on their way to work.  Immaculate Conception’s Mass schedule is set to support the school and not interfere with children arriving at school as much as possible.  It offers three weekday Masses at 8:00 am before the students arrive and one on Tuesday at 9:15 am with the school children. St. Vincent de Paul’s weekday schedule adds two scheduled times for confession on weekday evenings, in addition to going prior to a Saturday Vigil Mass.  We were also able to restore two weekday Masses to St. Joseph in Holland and keep two out of the three weekday Masses at St. George in West Falls.

I know change is always difficult.  The priests are very much affected by the new schedule too. We and the pillar have done our best to provide more opportunities within our family as the Road to Renewal seeks to keep a Catholic presence within each parish.

• Fr. Jerry