St. Mary's

Catholic Church in Arcade, NY

News

Details on ‘Family of Parishes’

When the Buffalo Diocese was flush with clergy in the 1970’s and 1980’s, it usually took years for a priest to earn an appointment as pastor of his own parish. But that wait time decreased dramatically as a growing priest shortage forced bishops to rush newly ordained clergy into pastorates. Bishop Michael W. Fisher soon will be taking a different approach with pastor appointments.

Instead of a pastor for each of the diocese’s 160 parishes, Bishop Fisher will name just 36 pastors — one for each of the “Families” of parishes designated earlier this year as part of the diocese’s “Road to Renewal” effort. St. Mary’s is “family #33” in this renewal effort. Our “family” includes:

  • St. Mary’s, Arcade/East Arcade
  • St. Jude, Sardinia
  • St. Aloysius, Springville
  • St. John the Baptist, West Valley

St. Aloysius also includes the Regional School for our “Family.”

Diocese leaders on Tuesday invited 132 active priests to apply for the 36 open pastor slots. The latest phase of the “Family of Parishes” model has priests worried about their future roles and parishioners concerned about losing a favorite spiritual guide in the reshuffling.

Priests have until May 23 to request to be one of the 36 pastors.

God’s Blessings Always,
Fr. Joe Gullo

The above is based on Fr. Joe’s letter from the bulletin of May 22, 2022.

Special Prayers for Buffalonians

Please remember our brothers and sisters from Buffalo who need our prayers for healing and peace during this difficult time.

The above copy is from the bulletin of May 22, 2022.

World Day of Prayer for Vocations (2022)

On Good Shepherd Sunday we celebrate the World Day of Prayer for Vocations.

Let’s pray together for an increase in all vocations: marriage, priesthood, diaconate, religious life — especially in our diocese.

May Jesus raise up new shepherds in our midst. If you are one of them, visit buffalovocations.org

The above information is based on the bulletin of May 8, 2022.

Prayer For First Communion

Lord Jesus Christ, bless the children coming forward to receive Holy Communion for the first time.

May this day be the step toward a lifelong love of the Eucharist.

Give them a hunger for this sacred food so that they turn to you for comfort, guidance, and wisdom as they grow into full discipleship.

Thank you for their innocence and goodness.

May their hands, extended in anticipation of your body and blood, inspire all of us to cherish this sacred Sacrament.

Amen.

Please remember our young parishioners in your prayers!

Cemetery Offering Envelopes (2022)

Now that Spring is here, we will begin to maintain our parish’s cemeteries in Arcade and East Arcade.

A Cemetery Upkeep envelope is included in your boxed envelopes. Your donation helps us continue to maintain the resting place of your loved ones and friends.

Your donation may be mailed to the parish office throughout the spring or summer or dropped in the collection basket. Thank you for your generosity.

The above information is based on the bulletin of May 1, 2022.

How to Make a Good Confession

Confessions will be heard one-half hour before every Mass during Lent 2022!

How to Make a Good Confession

1. Examination of Conscience
Use the 10 Commandments as your guide for Examination of Conscience:

  1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against you neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

2. After Examination of Conscience, go in to see the priest, either face to face or behind the screen, and proceed as follows:

“Bless me Father for I have sinned. This is my 1st Confession (or my last Confession was……). These are my sins.”

3. Proceed to tell the priest the sins you are sorry for and would like Jesus to forgive.

4. The priest will give you spiritual advice and penance which may be a prayer (such as a Hail Mary or Our Father) or possibly something to do.

5. The priest will ask you to pray the Act of Contrition aloud at this time.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you.
I detest all my sins because of your just punishment, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Amen

6. The priest will give you absolution and God’s blessing.

For even more information about Lent 2022 at St. Mary’s, please see the following link:
Lent (2022)

The above is an edited and expanded version of copy found in the bulletin of March 6, 2022.

Catholic Charities Appeal (2022)

In addition to supporting Catholic Charities, Appeal 2022 also benefits the Fund for the Faith. Established in 1937 by Bishop John Duffy out of concern for those in need of spiritual comfort due to hardships of the Great Depression, the Fund for the Faith continues to provide spiritual nourishment throughout our diocese today. Proceeds provide ministry support services that are instrumental to the vitality of our faith experience and enable us to spread the Gospel message of Christ’s love. If you have already given this year, thank you! Give the gift of HOPE for all seasons.

“Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me,”

Jesus calls us to help and love our neighbors, especially those who are most vulnerable and struggling.

Catholic Charities of Buffalo offers several basic and emergency services, such as food, rehousing, medications and clothing.

Your donation to the Appeal 2022 today can help ensure that the hungry have food, the naked have clothing, and those facing eviction have shelter.

If you have already given this year, thank you!

Give the gift of HOPE for all seasons.

Visit ccwny.org/donations/ or text GIVEHOPE22 to 44321 today!

The above is edited from copy found in the bulletin of March 13, 2022 and March 20, 2022.

Lent (2022)

The following contains edited copy from the bulletins of February 27, 2022 and March 6, 2022. The edit includes an edited excerpt from the Diocese of Buffalo website.

Abstinence:

All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days: Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.

Fasting:

All Catholics between their 18th and 59th birthdays are also bound to observe the Law of Fast on the following days: Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.

Easter Duty:

“After they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, all the faithful are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year. This obligation may be fulfilled between [March 5] (First Sunday in Lent) and [June 12] (Trinity Sunday).”
— Source: Diocese of Buffalo, https://www.buffalodiocese.org/lent/ (Accessed: 3-1-2022. Edited to correct dates.)

Lenten Procedures

  • Confessions will be heard 1/2 hour before every Mass during Lent.
  • Stations of the Cross will be private this year. Please pray the Stations of the Cross during Adoration on Thursday and Fridays, or before Mass.

How to Make a Good Confession

1. Examination of Conscience
Use the 10 Commandments as your guide for Examination of Conscience:

  1. I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
  2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
  3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s day.
  4. Honor your father and your mother.
  5. You shall not kill.
  6. You shall not commit adultery.
  7. You shall not steal.
  8. You shall not bear false witness against you neighbor.
  9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
  10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

2. After Examination of Conscience, go in to see the priest, either face to face or behind the screen, and proceed as follows:

“Bless me Father for I have sinned. This is my 1st Confession (or my last Confession was……). These are my sins.”

3. Proceed to tell the priest the sins you are sorry for and would like Jesus to forgive.

4. The priest will give you spiritual advice and penance which may be a prayer (such as a Hail Mary or Our Father) or possibly something to do.

5. The priest will ask you to pray the Act of Contrition aloud at this time.

Act of Contrition

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you.
I detest all my sins because of your just punishment, but most of all because they offend you, my God, who are all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Amen

6. The priest will give you absolution and God’s blessing.

Envelopes have arrived! (2022)

Our envelopes for 2022 have arrived and will be available at both worship sites! Availability will begin the weekend of February 27, 2022. In Arcade, envelopes will be found in the church vestibule. In East Arcade, the envelopes will be found in the Multipurpose Room.

God’s Blessings Always!

New Survey: Road to Renewal

The survey is now online! Please click the button below and you will be taken to the Catholic Leadership Institute’s website to participate in the survey. Thank you for your help!

(If you would prefer a paper copy of the survey instead, please see below.)

Road to Renewal — Family of Parishes

St. Mary’s Parish will be participating in a parish survey about discipleship conducted by the Catholic Leadership Institute! We need your help!

Please help us by participating in a 10-15 minute survey online. The survey can be accessed through an online link from March 2-April 4, 2022 and will ask you to reflect on your own spiritual growth and enable you to provide feedback on our parish’s efforts to help you grow. All responses will be confidential and the parish will only receive information about the community as whole.

We are trying to get the highest response rate possible. This information will be invaluable to Father Joe and our various ministries as we plan for the future and strive to be the best disciples we can be. We will receive the results this spring/summer at which time we will share what we have learned with the entire parish.

If you prefer a paper copy of the survey, copies will be available in the parish vestibule at both worship sites. Additional copies may be obtained from the parish office (please call) as needed. To submit the completed paper survey, you may place them in the weekend collection or drop them off at the parish office on Tuesdays. You may also leave your completed survey in the office foyer (in the clear paper holder next to the office door).

Thank you for your help!!