Religious Education begins on Sunday, October 3, 2021. Learn more
You might have noticed a change in dates for Religious Education.
Religious Education will begin on Sunday, October 3, 2021. (10/3/2021)
For more information on Religious Education, please see the following link: Religious Education
Thank you for your understanding, and God’s Blessings always.
Reservations are now closed for the 175th Anniversary Celebration.
Thank you for your understanding, and God’s blessings always.
The following is an edited excerpt from Fr. Joe’s weekly letter, from the bulletin of September 5, 2021.
Our RSVP’s for the Parish 175th Anniversary are coming in. If you haven’t sent yours in, now is the time. You can drop the RSVP in the weekend collection (September 4-5, 2021) or return it by mail this week. IMPORTANT NOTE: Reservations are now closed. Thank you for your understanding, and God’s blessings always.
For more information about the celebration to be held on September 26, please see the following link: 175th Anniversary Celebration: September 26, 2021 (Updated)
The following is an edited and updated version of a message that was originally printed in the bulletin on June 27, 2021.
Based on prevailing guidance from health officials or an individual’s doctor or other medical professional, masks are now optional, but may continue to be worn at the discretion of the individual.
Ministers of the Eucharist will continue to wear masks when distributing communion for the protection of the vulnerable and those who may not be able to be vaccinated.
Based on current guidance from New York State (June 9, 2021), baptismal fonts and holy water stoups should remain empty; hymnals are allowed in pews.
When receiving Communion, you must continue to receive it in your hand.
As always, please see the most recent bulletin for the latest updates. (You can view the bulletins online! View bulletins)
The following is an excerpted and edited portion of a message from Fr. Joe, which originally appeared in the bulletin.
Dear Parishioners,
St. Mary’s, East Arcade is celebrating the 175th anniversary this year. I found this wonderful letter written to Father Steinbach from Bishop Edward Head when the parish celebrated the 135th anniversary, dated May 31st, 1981. Here is a portion of the letter:
A Parish is really a Community of Faith — a group of people who come together to celebrate the Presence of the Lord Jesus in Word and in Sacrament. Since the foundation of the Diocese of Buffalo, in fact one year before our Diocese was established, St. Mary’s was organized.
The anniversary of a Parish Community is an occasion for all the members of the Parish to deepen their faith, hope and love, and to recommit themselves to the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and to strengthen the Christian Community.
I will provide more information about our celebration as plans are made.
God’s Blessings Always,
Fr. Joe Gullo
For more information about our 175th Anniversary celebration, please see the following post: 175th Anniversary: September 26, 2021 (Updated)
The following is an assortment of information about Catholic Charities from past bulletins, specially selected and edited for this page.
These are challenging, uncertain times. But one thing remains a constant: Just as we have for nearly 98 years, Catholic Charities is here and ready to help now. If you have a need for food or toiletries, mental health counseling, substance abuse treatment and more, Catholic Charities is ready to answer your call. Our Helpline can be reached at 716-218-1419. The Helpline is staffed weekdays from 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. and you can leave a message at any time.
You don’t have to struggle with mental health, familial or marital problems. Catholic Charities can help. The agency offer several different types of support including: marriage counseling, individual psychotherapy, family and group therapy, substance abuse treatment, diocesan counseling. For more information, see the “Counseling and Mental Health” tab under the “Services” menu on the righthand side of the following page: https://www.ccwny.org/services
The Friendly Phones program serving Orleans County and Home Visitation Program in Genesee County, as well as the Telephone Assurance Program (TAP) in Erie County are free volunteer services providing regular telephone calls to home-bound elderly and disabled persons to check on their well being and to give people an opportunity to socialize. Relationships grow and last for years through a regular 5-to-10 minute call. These friendly calls can alleviate some concerns facing those who live alone, and can help them maintain their independence. If you know someone in Orleans and Genesee counties who would like to receive calls or to volunteer to make calls, call 585-343-0614, ext. 18 for Friendly Phones. If you live in Erie County, you can connect with TAP by calling 716-218-1400.
Catholic Charities runs nine food pantries, seven in Erie County and a pantry in both Franklinville in Cattaraugus County and Wellsville in Allegany County. Your donation of non-perishable food items can help feed hungry individuals in your community. In light of the pandemic, all donations must be scheduled ahead of time. To schedule a time to drop off your donation, call 716-218-1400, ext. 2005. To find your nearest pantry, visit: https://www.ccwny.org/services/food-pantries
Are you or a family member at risk for out-of-home placement? Do you need help navigating complex healthcare and social support systems? If so, we can help. Catholic Charities offers Care Coordination Services for a range of ages through Children’s Health Home Care Management and Project HOPE (Helping Older People Excel) programs.
Our care coordinators will work with you, your family, your own care providers and whoever you deem important to your health and happiness to complete comprehensive assessments and work together as a team to create a care plan directed by you so you can meet your goals. If you have a mental health diagnosis and/or multiple chronic conditions and feel you would benefit from linkage and referral to services, as well as advocacy and intervention, please visit https://www.ccwny.org to learn more about our Care Coordination Services.
Is your child displaying chronic negative behaviors such as noncompliance, verbal and/or physical aggression, truancy, school failure, curfew violations, running away, illegal substance abuse and/or criminal activity? Our Multisystemic Therapy Program in Erie, Niagara, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties can help. MST is an intensive, family-focused intervention program that’s facilitated in the youth’s natural environments, including the home. Think MST might be a good fit? Call 716-204-0555, ext. 5025 or visit https://www.ccwny.org/services/mst-eligibility In other WNY counties, office-based counseling is always available to families.
Catholic Charities: Hope for All Seasons. To make a secure online donation, visit https://www.ccwny.org/donation.
[This post updated June 5, 2021 to add extra information and a link to more details at WNY Catholic.]
From the bulletin:
A Statement on a Return to Sunday Mass by the Roman Catholic Bishops of the Upstate New York Diocese of Buffalo, Ogdensburg, Rochester and Syracuse:
Now is time to return to Sunday Mass.
For those who are healthy and not at great risk, the presumption of the faithful should be that, unless they are at an enhanced risk, sick, or caring for others who are at risk or sick, the obligation to attend Sunday Mass now resumes, effective the weekend of June 5-6, 2021, the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ in our diocese.
Come home to Mass!
In another document, the bishops note,
The obligation to attend Holy Mass on the Lord’s Day is a sacred one. Anyone who is frail or at risk due to advanced age or medical conditions is always excused from this obligation, and we encouraged you to use your prudential judgement throughout this pandemic to determine if it was unsafe for you to attend Mass. This remains true.
You can read more at Western New York Catholic by clicking here.
A quick, COVID-related update. (Current as of December 11, 2020.)
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:
God’s Blessings Always,
Father Joe Gullo, Pastor
