Religious Education News

·      Religious Ed classes resume today, February 7, for grades 9-11.

·      First Eucharist Meeting in the school cafeteria on Monday, February 8 at 7 p.m.  

·      NO Religious Education classes next Sunday, February 14 in celebration of President’s Day.

·      Sacrament of Confirmation will be celebrated on May 23 at 3 p.m. in St. Joseph’s Cathedral.  Any 11^th or 12^th grade parochial student, who has not yet been confirmed, is asked to attend instructions today from 10:30-11:45 a.m. in the school building.

Pro Life Committee Meeting Minutes: January 11, 2010

Those in attendance: Bob, Barb, Olivia & Marybeth Musilli, Aaron and Adam Sagun, and Fr. David.

Meeting began at 7:40 pm with a prayer and reading of minutes.  Discussion then began as to how to divide money raised for the March for Life in Washington, DC.  Fr. David presented $525 in parishioner donations.  It was agreed that there would be a stipend of $65 per person among 17 participants which included profits from bake sale and t-shirt sales.  Thank you notes will be sent out from the partici-pating families to donating parishioners as well as one for the bulletin.

Future purchases were discussed to order pro-life DVD’s, pamphlets, CD’s, and materials for the back of the church.  A possible lending library was also discussed.  More t-shirts will be ordered for parishioners requesting them. They will be available in the back of church for purchase.

Health care was brought up as a topic needing attention at weekend Masses Jan. 16/17.  Bob will speak at each Mass to update parishioners on what our US Bishops need us to do.

Marriage preparation was discussed regarding NFP training.  Packets for couples containing updated materials and DVD’s will be put together.

Beggars for Life, presented by the Sagun’s, will be tentatively scheduled for the Feb. 13/14 Masses.

A modesty fashion show and collection of baby items for at-risk mothers were also mentioned as future endeavors.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 pm with a prayer led by Fr. David.  Next meeting will be March 8^th at 7:00 pm.  All are welcome.

PASTORAL COUNCIL MINUTES OF 1-20-10

Present: Fr. David, Joan Makowski, Verna Wojcik, Tony Lis, Justine Jankowski, Karen Pszczolkowski & Noreen Mavromatis.

The meeting opened at 7:05pm with a prayer read by all. The November 4 minutes were read by Noreen.

The number of students in the Religious Ed program remains at 51, and Karen continues to teach 3 students in a special sacramental program. A Commitment Ceremony for the Confirmation candidates will be held on Sunday, March 14.

Fr. David mentioned there were approximately 20 priests at the Vicariate Meeting held for Clergy. He said the number of marriages in the diocese of Buffalo has dropped to less than 2,000 a year.

Masses for Ash Wednesday (February 17) will be at 9am and 7pm. The Lenten Retreat will be held on March 15, 16 & 17. The Retreat will be in English at 12 noon and Polish at 7pm.  The Retreat Master will be from the Divine Mercy Shrine in Stockbridge, MA. Stations of the Cross will be held on Fridays at 12 noon in Polish and 7pm in English, and Gorzkie Zale will be on Sundays at 4pm.

A Christmas Bazaar follow-up meeting is scheduled for February 16. The Holy Name Society will hold its annual Night at the Races on February 20 in the school gym.

Coffee Hour Socials are scheduled for: February 14, March 21 and April 25. The Chicken Dinner & Theme Tray is scheduled for May 16, and the Parish Family Picnic for August 15 in Cheektowaga Town Park.

The Pastoral Council will be in charge of the celebration for the parish’s 95^th anniversary, which will be held in June 2012. This celebration would include a Mass with the Bishop and a banquet following the Mass.

The meeting adjourned at 7:55pm with a closing prayer by Fr. David. The next meeting is scheduled for March 9 at 7pm.

                                                 Submitted by: Noreen Mavromatis

Pictures from Farewell to the Crib
Photos Courtesy of Parishioner Paul Stachnik

New Mass Translations

The U.S. Bishops’ Committee for Divine Worship has posted on its web site the new edition of the priest’s and people’s prayers at Mass.  The site, www.usccb.org/romanmissal, includes background material on the process of development of liturgical texts, sample texts from the Missal, a glossary of terms and answers to frequently asked questions.  The new translation is offered with the hope Catholics will prepare themselves for the time the new translation goes into effect.  Bishop Arthur Serratelli of Paterson, N.J. and chairman of the Committee on Divine Worship, in a welcome-to-the-site video states, “In the years since Vatican II we have learned a lot about the use of the vernacular in the liturgy and the new texts reflect his new understanding.  The new texts are understandable, dignified, and accurate.  They not only strive to make the meaning of the text accessible for the listener, but they also strive to unearth the biblical and theological richness of the Latin text.”