News

A quick, COVID-related update. (Current as of December 11, 2020.)

• Both worship sites can be filled to 33% capacity.
• Social distancing measures are in place at Mass.
• Please bring your face mask and hand sanitizer when you come to Mass.
• Holy Communion will be given in the hand only.

Our Apostolic Administrator, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger has issued a Pastoral Letter to the Clergy, Religious and Lay Faithful of our diocese. The letter is being mailed to registered Catholic households as well as being made available at all of our parishes and Catholic Institutions in time for the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2020. The purpose of the Pastoral Letter is to provide the spiritual foundation for our Diocesan Road to Renewal Initiative. Everyone in our diocese is encouraged to read the Pastoral Letter and to spend time reflecting and sharing with one another the significance of this call to renewal in the Diocese of Buffalo.

Read the Pastoral Letter online: View now (PDF)

Information from Father Joe Gullo concerning re-opening of our parish:

We welcome everyone back to St. Mary’s on June 13th and 14th as we reopen our Worship Sites with the 5:00 p.m. Mass on Saturday and the 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Masses on Sunday!

When both worship sites are filled to 25% capacity, we will open the front doors of the church and the overflow will stand outside, 6 feet apart, keeping with Social Distancing guidelines.

Just some reminders:

• Please bring your face mask and hand sanitizer when you come to Mass.
• Holy Communion will be given in the hand only.
• More guidelines will be given when you come to the Eucharist.  Looking forward to welcoming you all back to our parish!

God’s Blessings Always,
Father Joe Gullo, Pastor

Calling all PIONEER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT FAMILIES!

• Are you looking for a small class size with individualized instruction for your child?
• Do you want your child receiving his/her education at the only STREAM school in the region?
• Does having your preschooler in the only Montessori Preschool in the area interest you?
• Would you like to have your child in one of the best elementary schools in all of WNY?

• BISON Fund Scholarships available

• Call us today at (716) 592-7002 or email starsoffice@staloysiusregional.com
  or visit our website at https://staloysiusregional.com/

• Busing provided by PIONEER CSD at no additional cost!

Holy Thursday: Both worship sites will be opened from 5:00-8:00 pm for private prayer. (4-9-2020)

Good Friday: Both worship sites will be opened for private prayer from 12 noon-3:00pm. (4-10-2020)

Easter Sunday: Both worship sites opened for private prayer from 8:30-11:30 am. (4-12-2020)

Bishop Scharfenberger announces Cessation of public Masses during Coronavirus Threat!

    Bishop Scharfenberger announces that there will be no regular scheduled public Masses in the Diocese of Buffalo until further notice due to an abundance of caution and growing concerns about the spread of the novel coronavirus. Churches may remain open, as locally feasible, and the faithful are encouraged to continue to visit and pray while maintaining a prudent distance from one another.

Bishop Scharfenberger announced that all Catholic faithful are dispensed from obligation to attend Sunday Mass and Holy Days of Obligation.

In addition, all other parish events and large gatherings are to be postponed.

“As the faithful community of WNY, we have an important part to play in protecting those most vulnerable and those with underlying medical issues during this period of extreme concern over the spread of the coronavirus,” said Bishop Scharfenberger.

I realize how deeply disappointing it is during our season of Lent to refrain from gathering at public Masses and participating together in our liturgical life, but we must avoid the risk of wider infection. I encourage the faithful to pray fervently during this time when we must be apart and to continue their Lenten journey within families and in the quiet of their own prayerful reflection, knowing that Christ abides with us always and in every place.

Message from Father Joe Gullo

In accordance with the Diocesan guidelines from Bishop Scharfenberger, all daily and weekend Masses are canceled at our parish. Intentions scheduled are being celebrated by me privately.

All Religious Education Sessions and all Lenten Services are also canceled. We are still awaiting guidelines concerning Holy Week and Easter.

Please be assured of my prayers and thoughts for all of you at this time. I encourage you to use social media/television to watch daily and weekend masses. Please continue to pray daily as a family.

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place on Thursdays and Fridays each week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please remember social distancing.

Also, both of our Worship Sites will be opened for private prayer each Sunday morning from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Please remember social distancing if you will be making a visit. Weekend bulletins will be available with updated information each Sunday in the vestibule of both worship sites.

We are trying to conduct business as usual while keeping our staff and parishioners healthy and safe. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the parish office. We will try and address your questions over the phone.

Finally, you are welcome to send your weekly contribution or your Catholic Charities donation to the parish through the mail.

Let us look to the Lord at this time for His blessing and strength.

Rev. Joseph A. Gullo
Pastor

The RCIA program will begin the last Thursday of September 2019 at the Arcade worship site. The RCIA is a program for those individuals who want to be Catholic and receive the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and Confirmation.

For more information, please see our Religious Education page.

Religious education will begin September 8, 2019 here at St. Mary’s, the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

For more information, please see our Religious Education page.