Church of the
Annunciation

CLICK HERE FOR DIOCESAN LETTER ON MASK MANDATE DECEMBER 10, 2021

Erie County has reinstituted a mask mandate in indoor public locations.

Please wear a mask coming to, during and leaving Mass.

January 25, 2022

Conversion of St. Paul, Apostle 

Dear Friends in Christ:

January 30 to February 5, 2022 Is Catholic Schools Week. We recognize the contribution and success of Catholic Schools in providing safe, in person, quality education and faith formation. It will be a week of school Masses, open houses, and special events for students, teachers, administration, staff, families, parishioners and community. Check out www.wnycatholicschools.org for more information and the Bison Children’s Scholarship Fund at bisonfund.com for financial assistance. Annunciation Church provides tuition assistance to neighboring Catholic Elementary Schools for students whose families are active in our parish.   

Wednesday February 2, 2022 is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or Candlemas Day commemorating Mary and Joseph coming to the Temple for Mary’s purification. She offers two turtle doves. Jesus is presented or consecrated to the Lord like Hannah did with her son Samuel (1 Samuel 1:24-28) during a sanctuary service at Shiloh. Simeon and Anna are inspired at the temple and foresee Jesus as the hope and salvation of Israel (Luke 2:25-38). Simeon’s prayer becomes Compline, Night Prayer, in the Liturgy of the Hours. “Now, Master, you may let your servant go in peace, according to your word, for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and glory for your people Israel.” Candles will be blessed during the 9 AM Mass. Wednesday 2/2/2022 is also World Day for Consecrated Life. According to St. Pope John Paul II its purpose is “to help the entire Church to esteem ever more greatly the witness of those persons who have chosen to follow Christ by means of the practice of the evangelical counsels” as well as “to to be a suitable occasion for consecrated persons to renew their commitment and rekindle the fervor which should inspire their offering themselves to the Lord.” Many people are living consecrated lives without knowing the name and without recognition. They offer their day, its joys, sorrows and sacrifices, to God and pray for God’s grace and strength to sustain them. 

Thursday February 3, 2022 is the feast of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, early in the 4^th century. He is associated with healing of ailments of the throat. Throats will be blessed during morning Mass. “Blessing of Throats” is a sacramental. According to the Catechism of the Church sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church’s prayer, they prepare one to receive grace and dispose a person to cooperate with it. For the faithful, Sacraments and sacramentals sanctify almost every event of their lives with the divine grace which flows from the Paschal mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. From this source all Sacraments and sacramentals draw their power. Blessing of throats and prayers for healing are appropriate at this time of care and concern.    

I received an invitation and announcement from Deacon Tim Chriswell, Director of Deacons, regarding interest in becoming a Permanent Deacon. “Do you feel you are called to serve Christ in a deeper way? Do you want to know something about the Permanent Diaconate? If you are a male between the ages of 30 and 55 and have asked yourself this question, please join us on Saturday February 12 from 9am – 12 noon to talk, pray, and discover more about the Permanent Diaconate with no commitment. We will gather at St. Rose Retreat Center, 217 Winston Rd. Buffalo, NY 14214 - Please RSVP to Deacon Howard Morgan at hmorgan@buffalodiocese.org and let him know you are coming.  God is calling you, will you follow?”

Fr. Gene Ulrich