Christmas 2023

Dear Parishioners and Guests,

Please note that our Sunday morning Mass schedule has changed – but only for Sunday, December 24, 2023!

• There will be no 8:00 am Mass at St. John’s in West Valley!
• There will be no 11:00 am Mass at St. Mary in East Arcade!

You can still find Sunday morning Masses — the Fourth Sunday of Advent — at St. Mary’s Arcade at 9:00 am, or St. Aloysius Springville at 10:30 am.

We will have many Christmas Eve Masses available later in the day, including one at St. Mary’s East Arcade! View Christmas Mass Schedule 2023

Thank you and Merry Christmas!

Based on the bulletin of December 24, 2023.

This year, Catholics will be able to receive a plenary indulgence from Dec. 8 (2023), the solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to Feb. 2, 2024, the feast of the Presentation in the Temple of Our Lord Jesus Christ, by praying before a Nativity scene in a Franciscan church.

As part of the celebration of this Franciscan Centenary, the Conference of the Franciscan Family asked Pope Francis for the approval of this plenary indulgence. The Apostolic Penitentiary welcomed the request, allowing the faithful to receive this indulgence under the usual conditions.

If you have any questions, please call one of our parish family priests.

St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church is located on 4263 St. Francis Dr. in Hamburg, NY.

Based on the bulletin of December 10, 2023.

There are lots of opportunities to assist families in our area through the Giving Trees at:

• St. John
• St. Aloysius
• St. Jude

The St. Aloysius Angel Tree has a basket below the tree filled with tags with specific gifts. When you take a tag, please take an angel from the angel basket and hang it on the tree. Please return the gift by December 10 with the tag firmly attached on the outside.

The Advent Giving Tree at St. John has gift tags on the tree. When you take a tag, please hang an angel ornament on the tree where the tag was. For security reasons, please return the wrapped gift with the tag attached (on the outside) inside the crying room at the back of the church by December 17.

The Pioneer Central School District is continuing their sponsorship program. Last year they helped over 35 families and 94 children with coats, boots, toys and games. Any donation amount is helpful, and if you’d like to sponsor a child, the amounts are $65 for Elementary, $75 for Middle School or $90 for High School. Checks can be made out to “Pioneer Giving Tree” and mailed to Pioneer Giving Tree Program, Pioneer Central School District, County Line Rd PO Box 639, Yorkshire, NY 14173.

All the families involved with our Giving Trees are going through financial hardships. The greatest gift we can give them are our prayers, so please consider taking the time to pray for their greatest needs to be met through the grace of our Lord.

Based on the bulletin of December 3, 2023.