Events

A German and Austrian Christmas Markets and Cathedrals Pilgrimage from November 30 — December 10, 2025 with Fr. Peter Karalus.

Consider a very unique and special trip to celebrate Advent/Christmas 2025.

At this time of year, the towns and cities of Germany and Austria become a magical Christmas wonderland.

Each location on the itinerary offers a Christmas market filled with specialty foods, unique gifts, and a festive atmosphere.

Highlights include Cologne, Frankfurt, Rothenburg, Ob Der Tauber, Nuremberg, Munich, Salzburg, and Vienna.

Mass celebrated at significant shrines/cathedrals, and guided tours.

Stay in centrally located hotels so you can explore each of the stops at your own pace.

For full itinerary and online booking, visit the following link:

Information & Booking Page from Unitours

If you reserve by January 2, 2025, you will receive a $50 discount. It’s not too early to plan ahead.

---

Based on the bulletin of December 29, 2024.

On Saturday, December 14, 2024 the Southern Tier Saxophone Quartet will present a free Christmas concert at 7:00 pm at St. Mary’s in Arcade. (417 West Main Street, Arcade)

This concert has become a yearly tradition for the quartet and has gained quite a following.

Music will include both Classical Christmas standards, Christmas Carols and traditional Christmas songs.

All are invited to attend!

---

Based on the bulletin of December 8, 2024.

The season of Advent is a time to repent of our sinfulness and return to the Lord.

To assist our parishioners to do so through the Sacrament of Penance, in addition to our regular schedule of confessions on Saturdays at 3:00 PM at St. Aloysius (Springville) and 4:30 PM at St. Mary’s (Arcade), we will also have…

Advent Penance Services: Thursday, December 19, 2024 at St. Mary’s, Arcade Worship Site.

When: First service at 3:00 PM, second service at 6:00 PM.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of these opportunities to prepare to celebrate the coming of Jesus Christ by being reconciled through the reception of the Sacrament of Penance.

---

Based on the bulletin of December 15, 2024.

? Our Masses for Christmas of 2024 will be as follows:

Christmas Eve: Tuesday, December 24, 2024

• 4:00 PM at St. Aloysius, Springville
• 5:00 PM at St. Jude, Sardinia
• 7:00 PM at St. John the Baptist, West Valley
• 7:30 PM at St. Mary’s in East Arcade
• 9:00 PM at St. Aloysius, Springville

Christmas Day: Wednesday, December 25, 2024

• 12:00 Midnight at St. Mary’s in Arcade
• 9:00 AM at St. Aloysius, Springville
• 11:00 AM at St. Mary’s in Arcade

---

Based on the bulletin of December 1, 2024.

Father Jim Bastian and Dustin Bliss will present information and guidance on how to grow you faith through a deeper prayer life.

Topics discussed will include: praying for ourselves, praying for others, ritualistic prayer, contemplative prayer, praying over others, and intercessory prayer.

This retreat will be held Saturday, January 18, 2025 from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm at St. Joseph’s Church 46 N Main Street, Holland NY.

Lunch and snacks will be provided.

RSVP is appreciated, but walk-ins are welcome.

There is no cost to attend, but donations are welcome

Please contact Dustin Bliss, or St. Joseph’s in Holland. For specific contact info, please see the bulletin of December 15, 2024.

---

Based on the bulletin of December 15, 2024.

News: It is with regret that we are informing you that due to unforeseen circumstances, the Diocese of Buffalo will not be traveling to the March for Life 2025 in Washington, D.C.

Please join us for a Vigil for Life Mass on Thursday, January 23rd, 2025 at 6:00 pm at St. Christopher Church 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd, Tonawanda, NY 14150.

More details coming soon! May we stand together in peaceful and prayerful support for LIFE!

---

Based on the bulletin of January 5, 2025.

---

 

Join the Buffalo Diocese and hundreds of thousands of Catholics and others in solidarity for a pilgrimage of public witness, penance and prayer in Washington, DC.

Bus departs OLV Charities, Lackawanna on January 23 (2025) at 5:30 am.

Deadline for bus registration and payment: December 20, 2024.

For hotel reservations, call Washington Plaza Hotel at 202-842-1300 or 800-424-1140 or book online at https://www.washingtonplazahotel.com

For pamphlet and online registration, visit https://www.buffalodiocese.org/pro-life-services/

Limited space; register today.

Based on the bulletin of December 15, 2024.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary is celebrated each year on December 8th, however, because that date falls on Sunday this year, the Solemnity is celebrated on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Following new instructions from the Vatican, it remains a holyday of obligation to attend Mass on Monday, December 9, 2024.

Therefore, we will be celebrating Masses on Monday, December 9, 2024 at:

• 7:30 am at St. Aloysius, Springville
• 12:00 Noon at St. Mary, Arcade
• 6:30 pm at St. John the Baptist, West Valley

We encourage you to celebrate the holyday of obligation honoring the Patronal Feast of the United States of America.

---

Based on the bulletin of December 1, 2024.

“Road to Renewal Rightsizing and Reshaping Update”

Last month, the Cattaraugus Creek Catholic Community Transition Team met to propose a transition date for the rightsizing and reshaping of our family of parishes according to the final decision of Bishop Michael Fisher to present to the Renewal Team of the Diocese.

At that meeting, it was decided that we would close St. John the Baptist, West Valley and St. Mary’s, East Arcade Worship Site and merge St. Aloysius, Springville and St. Joseph, Holland into St. Mary’s Parish, Arcade on Sunday, May 18, 2025.

That date has been accepted by the Renewal Team. Therefore, on that date, we will celebrate the closing Masses at St. John the Baptist and St. Mary’s, East Arcade Worship Site and St. Aloysius and St. Joseph will become secondary worship sites of St. Mary’s Parish, Arcade. The transition team will be working to co-ordinate the necessary steps of this transition and we will keep everyone updated on the progress over the next several months.

As part of the final decision from Bishop Fisher, in response to our counter-proposal to keep Bingham Hall in West Valley for the Clothes Closet Ministry and some property at the East Arcade Worship Site for the use of fundraisers for our Family of Parishes, we were tasked with deciding by January 1, 2025 whether it is financially sustainable and beneficial to our Family of Parishes to do so.

As part of that decision, the transition team recommended meeting with the parishioners of St. John the Baptist and St. Mary’s East Arcade to get their input.

Therefore, we will have a meeting following the Sunday Masses on:

• Sunday, December 8  (2024)  at St. John the Baptist
• Sunday, December 15  (2024)  at St. Mary’s, East Arcade
  

---

Based on the bulletin of December 1, 2024.

As our nation celebrates Thanksgiving Day this Thursday, we join with our fellow Christians to give thanks to God for the blessings he has bestowed upon us, our families, our communities, and our nation.

Masses

On Thanksgiving Day (2024), we will offer our gratitude to God at the celebration of Mass at:

• St. Mary’s Church, Arcade — 8:00 AM
• St. Aloysius Church, Springville — 9:00 AM

Join in the Thanksgiving

We encourage everyone to join us as you are able as we give thanks to God.

---

Based on the bulletin of November 24, 2024

36th Annual Festival of Lights from November 23 (2024) to January 5 (2025) at Our Lady of Fatima Shrine, 1023 Swann Rd., Youngstown.

Lights will be on from 5-9 pm the following days:

• November 23 — December 1
• December 6-8
• December 13-15
• December 20 — January 5

See 15 acres of spectacular Christmas lights, including a 9-foot tall outdoor illuminated Nativity scene and a life-size Fontanini Nativity scene in the Basilica.

For an amazing view, go to the top of the Basilica and get a bird’s eye view of the Avenue of Saints and the Spirit of Christmas.

Admission and parking are free.

All groups welcome.

For scheduled hours — and specific dates for office, gift shop and cafeteria — call our office at 716-754-7489.

---

Based on the bulletin of November 24, 2024.