News

Chicken BBQ (St. Aloysius):

Chicken BBQ Needs New Leadership: Maureen Dash and Jeanne Kessler have been leading the chicken BBQ for many years now and they are looking to pass the torch on to new leadership! Please consider carrying on this yearly fundraiser that supports all of our parish families. Please contact Maureen Dash or Jean Kessler if you are interested.

Choir & Folk Group at St. Aloysius:

If you love to sing or if you play an instrument, the St. Al’s choir and Folk Group would love to have you join our choir family. We sing on Sundays at 10:30 am and also on special Masses throughout the year.

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Based on the bulletin of August 24, 2025. Please see the bulletin for contact info.

Thinking about separation or divorce? Is your marriage or that of a relative or friend heading for divorce?

Retrouvaille is designed to help troubled marriages regain their health. The program is highly successful in saving hurting marriages.

For more information, visit HelpOurMarriage.org

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Based on the bulletin of August 17, 2025. 

OLV Charities Print Shop – Fast, Affordable and Professional!

Whether you are looking for business cards, brochures, booklets, invitations, letterheads or flyers, we take pride in offering fast turnaround times and high-quality printing services.

Our goal is to make your organization look its very best!

To discuss any of your upcoming printing needs, contact Patricia Dobson. (For specific contact info, please see the bulletin of August 3, 2025.)

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Based on the bulletin of August 3, 2025.

“I promise you, in the excessive mercy of my Heart that my all powerful love will grant to all those who receive Holy Communion on the first Friday for nine consecutive months, the grace of final repentance; they shall not die in my disgrace nor without receiving the sacraments; my divine Heart shall be their safe refuge in that last moment.”

Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary

How to complete the First Friday’s Devotion:

1. Receive Holy Communion on each First Friday.
2. The nine Fridays must be consecutive.
3. They must be made in honor and in reparation to His Sacred Heart.

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Based on the bulletin of July 27, 2025.

Jubilee Prayer

Father in heaven,
may the faith you have given us
in your son, Jesus Christ, our brother,
and the flame of charity enkindled
in our hearts by the Holy Spirit,
reawaken in us the blessed hope
for the coming of your Kingdom.
May your grace transform us
into tireless cultivators of the seeds of the Gospel.
May those seeds transform from within both
humanity and the whole cosmos
in the sure expectation
of a new heaven and a new earth,
when, with the powers of Evil vanquished,
your glory will shine eternally.
May the grace of the Jubilee
reawaken in us, Pilgrims of Hope,
a yearning for the treasures of heaven.
May that same grace spread
the joy and peace of our Redeemer
throughout the earth.
To you our God, eternally blessed,
be glory and praise for ever.
Amen

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Based on the bulletin of July 20, 2025.

If parishioners would like to bring in fresh picked flowers from their garden, to be placed on the altar for Sunday Mass, at the Arcade worship site, please bring the flowers on any Friday, between 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, and place them in the vase, which will be on the white card table, located left of the door as you enter the Church. Thank you!

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Based on the bulletin of July 20, 2025.

Dear Catholic Community,

As we celebrate the conclusion of another successful school year, we are filled with joy and anticipation as we welcome our new Superintendent, Mrs. Joleen Dimitroff. Her leadership brings renewed hope for the future of Catholic education in our community.

Out recent strategic planning process has yielded a bold and inspiring vision: Forming Disciples in Catholic Schools. This vision challenges us to reimagine Catholic education in light of today’s social, demographic, and financial realities. It also outlines an ambitious timeline for implementation, one that Mrs. Dimitroff has thoughtfully reviewed with her team, outside advisors, and several parents.

From this consultation, two key insights have emerged:

1. We must be people of hope, embracing the opportunities for growth, innovation, and transformation before us.

2. We must also be realistic and discerning, ensuring we implement the plan on a timeline that supports lasting success.

In that spirit, I wish to communicate with you that while we are continuing to move forward with our aspirations stated in the strategic plan, the formal process related to NY State Education requirements and many other factors will push our timeline for full implementation out at least one year.

As our late Holy Father Francis and his successor, Pope Leo XIV, have reminded us, synodality is the call to journey together in a spirit of listening, dialogue, and prayer. I believe this delay provides a grace-filled opportunity to move forward deliberately and faithfully, building a strong foundation for the future—not just quickly, but wisely.

In the coming months, the Catholic Education Team will engage in meaningful conversations with key stakeholders to ensure the Strategic Plan is implemented with integrity and care.

To support this ongoing work, we have engage Avanti Advisors, who will assist us in nurturing the dialogue and preparation needed to plant the seed for long-term success.

Our new Strategic Plan can be found on our website: wnycatholicschools.org

Thank you for your continued faith, partnership, and support.

Catholic Education Team

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Based on the bulletin of July 13, 2025.

Bread of Life Outreach Center in Colden, NY is looking for one or two volunteers to drive to Monk’s Bakery in Pifard, NY once a month to pick up bread donations to be shared with the BOLO Food Pantry and Love, INC.

Please call Tracey if you can help. Gas reimbursement is available. (Please see the bulletin of July 6, 2025 for specific info.)

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Based on the bulletin of July 6, 2025.

If you’re making a Summer Bucket List for your family, here are some ideas to help you live your Catholic faith together all summer!

– Courtesy of Catholic Mom

• Visit an Adoration Chapel
• Do yard work for an elderly neighbor
• Make a pilgrimage to your Cathedral (or a nearby basilica or pilgrimage site)
• Pick wildflowers, write a card, and take them to a homebound parishioner
• Find area free lending libraries and leave books about saints or the Faith
• Pray the Stations of the Cross outside
• Visit a cemetery and pray for the dead
• Go to Mass and Confession on the First Fridays of the summer
• Stay up late and pray Night Prayer under the stars
• Harvest some of your garden produce for a soup kitchen or to share with someone in need
• Make dinner for your parish priests or invite them to your house
• Host a lemonade stand on behalf of your local pregnancy resource center
• Have a movie night and watch The Chosen
• Take your grandparents to Mass and breakfast on the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne
• Go on a hike and pray the Rosary (inspired by John Paul II and Bl. Pier Giorgio)

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Based on the bulletin of July 6, 2025.

THANK YOU for your generous support of Catholic Charities Appeal 2025.

We hope you know how grateful we are for your parish chairs’ and other Appeal volunteers’ dedication and commitment to this year’s campaign and, of course, for you, our faith donors.

If it weren’t for your compassionate support, we couldn’t be a beacon of HOPE for those in need.

Your efforts are truly life-changing for those who come through our doors – from food assistance to mental health services to education and job skills.

We are humbled and grateful for your support of our work at Catholic Charities!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

– The 2025 Appeal Team.

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Based on the bulletin of July 6, 2025.