Bulletin Announcements
Past Weeks

Subscribe to Diocesan News: Have you visited the Website of the Diocese of Buffalo recently? There is much to see and do on the diocesan website including the ability to "Subscribe to Diocesan News." The website address is: http://www.buffalodiocese.org. There are links to all kinds of information about the diocese. Choose the item entitled "Subscribe to News" in order to be able to receive information by Email from various diocesan departments. Also, be sure to browse around to see what is happening in our diocese.

From the Ground Up! Learn your faith anew. Did Jesus laugh? Did Jesus create a Church? What was His purpose on earth? How can he be fully human and fully divine? All are welcome for all or any of the sessions during the 6 weeks of this adult faith formation program offered by Father Mark Noonan and Brian Ruh. This free Catechism-based course will focus on the person of Jesus Christ. It will take place Wednesday evenings at 7:00pm on January 14, 21, 28 and February 4, 11, 18 in St. Amelia Church, 2999 Eggert Road, Tonawanda. Following each session there will be time for your questions, followed by refreshments and fellowship. For more information, call Father Mark or Brian at 836-0011.

Epiphany Concert. In observance of the conclusion of the Christmas-Epiphany season, all are invited to a concert in historic St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr Church, 123 Townsend Street, Buffalo on the Feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, January 4 at 4:30pm, featuring Soprano Soloist, Brittany Mruczek. During the concert, Bishop Edward M. Grosz will bless and distribute to all attendees containers of blessed water. Free-will offering. The Feast of the Epiphany highlights the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child, the Baptism of Jesus in the waters of the Jordan River, and the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana.

Our Daily Bread for January will feature some international cuisine. Join host Father Paul D. Seil as he cooks with Marie Budin, a French student at the University of Buffalo, NY. Tune in Saturday, January 10 at 5:30am and Noon on WKBW Channel 7. Check the website for more info at http://www.buffalodiocese.org/daybreak/.

New Year's gift ideas: Proving Holiness Documentary DVD; Food for Thought DVD Cookbook; Our Daily Bread Cookbooks, potholders, aprons, tote bags; Apostle of Peace DVD/VHS; St. Joseph Cathedral documentary. Legacy of Victory documentary; Enduring Faith documentary. Sunday Mass DVD/VHS. Call Maryann at 847-8721 to order.

RETROUVAILLE (RET-RO-VI) is a program for troubled marriages. A marriage is more than one that "works out", or one that just survives. If you feel that your marriage is sinking or needs a lifeline, let RETROUVAILLE help. The next weekend is scheduled for January 23-25. For a brochure or further information call the Office of Family Life Ministries at 847-2210. For reservation, call 652-7138 or 668-9068. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

The death of a spouse is one of the most difficult challenges you may ever experience. Feelings of grief, loneliness, anger and guilt may be overwhelming. SURVIVE, a support group for those who have lost a spouse, welcomes those who have had a recent loss as well as those who have been bereaved for several years. We will support those who are grieving the death of a spouse for as long as needed. For information or a packet, call Family Life Ministries at 847-2210.

"Matters of Faith", Daybreak TV's monthly talk show. January 4th will be a rebroadcast that explores the Catholic Church's standpoint on "the Right to Life and the Dignity of the Human Person". Kevin Keenan's featured guest will be Bishop Edward U. Kmiec; additional guests are Dawn Iacono, Director of the Diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities, and Sharon Urbaniak, Associate Director of the Diocesan Office of Lifelong Faith Formation. The program airs on WIVB-TV Channel 4 at 5:30am and repeats on cable. Listings: http://www.buffalodiocese.org/daybreak/.

Sunday Televised Masses Sunday 7:30am WUTV Fox TV29. 1/4/09 Father Roy Herberger. 1/11/09 Father James Bastian. 1/18/09 Father Thomas Quinlivan. 1/25/09 Father Ronald Sajdak.

"DNR vs. Do Not Care" will be presented by Dr. William Toffler, a Professor of Family Medicine at Oregon Health & Science University. He will speak at the annual Communion Breakfast of the Catholic Medical Association on Sunday, Jan. 25. Bishop Kmiec will celebrate the 8:30am Mass at St. Louis Church, Main & Edward Sts., Buffalo, followed by breakfast at the Catholic Center (directly across the street from the church). For reservations and further information, please call the Catholic Medical Association at 847-5529.

Scholarship Essay Contest. The St. Thomas More Guild, an organization of Catholic lawyers, announces its annual scholarship essay contest. Two Scholarships are awarded. For students who will be in grades 6, 7 and 8 in the 2009-10 academic year, one $500 scholarship will be awarded. One $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to a student attending or entering a Catholic high school in 2009-10. We encourage all eligible students to apply. This year, applicants are asked to "Identify someone you consider to be a modern day St. Thomas More and explain why you chose that person and what makes that person a modern day St. Thomas More. All essay applications must be postmarked not later than January 15. An application and the contest rules can be obtained from any Catholic elementary or secondary school, the St. Thomas More Guild website at http://www.stthomasmorewny.org or by calling Laurie Styka Bloom at 853-8102 or David Mineo at 639-0058.

* Individual Spiritual Direction is offered by appointment during January.
* "Be Still & Know", Contemplative Weekend for Men and Women with Father John Mergenhagen January 2-4. Friday at 5pm with 6pm dinner through Sunday brunch.
* Journey into Love (Marriage Preparation). Jan. 11 at 1:45pm includes dinner
* Group Spiritual Direction, January 15 from 10-Noon
* Contemplative Prayer Meeting, presented by Father John Mergenhagen, Jan. 15 from 7pm-8:15 pm. (Reservations are not required.)
Programs offered at the St. Columban Center, 6892 Lakeshore Road, Derby. Reservations are required, except where noted. Please call 947-4708 or email Columban@buffnet.net for information or visit http://www.stcolumbancenter.org for information.

If you are a victim of Domestic Violence and are in need of access to safety planning, spiritual care, legal assistance, limited medical assistance counseling, law enforcement, the Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc. "Where Families Come First" is for you! All services are free. All conversations are strictly private. More information: (716) 558-7233 or http://www.fjcsafe.org.

God Knows Parenting is a Wild Ride! A FREE parenting packet is designed just for you with practical tools, resources, skill-building techniques, and lots more. Parenting Packet I: addresses the basic tough tasks of raising children in today's world. Parenting Packet II: for those separated or divorced. Focuses on positive ways to co-parent well in order to help children of all ages who are profoundly affected by their parents' divorce deal with the pain and upheaval in their lives. Parenting Packet III: Death and grief are inescapable. If you feel ill-prepared to discuss death with a child, you are not alone. This packet offers useful tools from preschool through teens. For your free packet, call or email your Office of Family Life at 847-2210 or familylife@buffalodiocese.org.

God's Family offers Religious Education for persons of all ages with special needs. We meet the third Saturday of every month in the café of Baker Hall School from 1 to 3:30pm. All are welcome. Come share a meal, pray, share our lives and a lesson of our Catholic faith. This year our theme is the Ten Commandments and how we can follow them in our daily lives. For more information contact Sharon at 847-5514 or surbaniak@buffalodiocese.org.

"The Prayer of St. Paul -- Groaning Before the Lord" is a retreat day offered at Villa Maria convent at 600 Doat Street, Buffalo, on Saturday, January 24, 2009 from 9:00 am - 5:00 pm. The retreat theme is an invitation to examine our groaning before the Lord as did St. Paul in Romans 8:26 and celebrate the presence of the Spirit in our lives. Retreat Director: Sister Mary Lucette Kinecki, CSSF. The retreat will also include the Sacrament of Reconciliation and Sunday's liturgy. Please call Sister Charlene at 892-4141 ext. 202 for further information or an application form.

The Dark Night of the Soul. Sister of Social Services, Ann Lehner, will be teaching this masterpiece of St. John of the Cross at St. Joseph Center for Spirituality in Clarence from 7-9 pm Thursday nights, Jan. 8 - Feb. 5. Registration: 759-6893 x 408.

Save the Date for the Seventh Annual Catholic Men's Conference. The Seventh Annual Catholic Men's Conference will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2009. The speakers for the Conference include NFL Hall of Famer and former Buffalo Bill Joe DeLamielleure, Archbishop Donald W. Wuerl, S.T.D. Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, D.C. and Bill Moyer, the newly installed Executive Director of the National Fellowship of Catholic Men. The Conference site has been moved to Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda right off the I-290. Mass will be offered as the concluding Conference event. Space will be more limited than in the past so register early by using our online registration system which can be found at www.spiritiscalling.org. Men who register by February15th will also receive a discount on their registration fee.

If there is anyone seeking employment in parish ministry after displacement because of parish reconfigurations, please send resumés to the Office of Parish Life at 795 Main Street or e mail the resumé to: ParishLife@BuffaloDiocese.org.

Coping with the Holidays, Anniversaries, Special Occasions. Whether you are grieving the loss of a loved one, hurting from the pain of separation or divorce, experiencing loneliness, depression or just the 'blues' please contact us for your free packet of ideas, reflections and insights designed specifically with you in mind. Just call Family Life Ministries at 716-847-2210 or email familylife@buffalodiocese.org. We care.

Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ, Peaceprints and Nonviolence. Speakers are available for talks, mini-retreats, evenings of reflection on themes of Sister Karen's life: forgiveness, tolerance, mysticism, redemption, nonviolence, peace, and charity. Sister Jean Klimczak and others are available for presentations. Call Sister Karen Center: 832-0507 or email Vivian Waltz, Director of the SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak Center for Nonviolence: vivian@sisterkarencenter.org.

Reunion for St. Gerard School/Parish/Neighborhood. We are looking for alumni. Please call Amy (Mazur) Griggs '84 at 731-4355 or email: stgerardreunion@roadrunner.com. Proceeds will benefit Gerard Place now in the former St. Gerard School.

Make Your Voice Heard - The New York State Catholic Bishops have formed a statewide Catholic Advocacy Network of concerned Catholics who want to put their faith into action. Together, we can speak out in support of the poor and vulnerable, the sick and elderly, the unborn, children and families. Our parish encourages you to join this network. There is no cost. The easiest way to join is to go to http://www.nyscatholic.org to sign up. Or you can send your name, address, phone number and email address to Catholic Advocacy Network, New York State Catholic Conference, 465 State Street, Albany, NY 12203-1004. Be sure to mention you are a member of our parish in the Diocese of Buffalo.

If you been abused or victimized by a member of the Catholic clergy... Please believe in the possibility for hope, help, and healing. We encourage you to come forward and speak out. Every diocese in the United States has a victim assistance coordinator who is available to obtain support for your needs, to help you make a formal complaint of abuse to a diocese, and to arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative, if you desire. The victim assistance coordinator for the Diocese of Buffalo is Kathryn Marsh, LCSW-R. The telephone number to contact Ms. Marsh is (716) 895-3010. Written complaints can be sent to Ms. Marsh at Catholic Charities, 1581 Bailey Avenue, Buffalo, New York 14212. Her e-mail address is kathy.marsh@ccwny.org.

Festival of Lights at Fatima Shrine in Lewiston NY now through January 4. The lights are on every evening from 5pm until 9pm. This great family event features a nine-foot illuminated angel gazing over the super-life-size Nativity scene with over 50 other displays celebrating Christ the Prince of Peace. The cafeteria and gift shop are open until 9:00pm. Call 716-754-7489 or visit http://www.fatimashrine.com.

Steubenville Summer Conference for Teens. St. Gregory the Great Parish and Fr. Peter Karalus of Epiphany of Our Lord are teaming up again this year to invite and bring teens from all over the Buffalo Diocese to the 2009 Steubenville summer conference. The Conference dates for this year are July 10-12, 2009, and the theme is "Above All." We invite you to join us and we hope to bring a few hundred teens from the Buffalo Diocese again this summer. To receive information about the Youth Conference, please email Sue Kreppel at skreppel@roadrunner.com. The deadline for submitting your deposit for the summer conference is December 15, 2008.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The Sisters of Mercy, in collaboration with Catholic Charities, facilitate a support group for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren. The meetings are held at Mercy Center, 625 Abbott Rd., Buffalo (next door to Mercy Hospital) on the 2nd Thursday of each month (except July and August) from 10:30am-11:30am or 7-8pm. The purpose is to meet other people, to find out about new resources eg. legal, social, financial, and to share ideas and learn from one another. Call Sr. Joan Sherry at 826-3585.

BRIDGES is a group for divorced, separated and widowed individuals. Many have found great comfort in attending group meetings on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the rectory conference room of St. Bernadette Church, 5930 South Abbott Road, Orchard Park. If you would like an e-mail update, please forward your name to Tracy at carboni@adelphia.net For more information call Dawn at 472-2491 or the Office of Family Life Ministries at 847-2210.

Marriage Spirituality Tune Up Packet Available. Jesus' first miracle took place at the Wedding Feast of Cana (John 2:1-12). Jesus changed the water into the best wine! He changed the ordinary into the extraordinary. Every marriage whether months or 75 plus years has tune-up needs. For your free practical useful packet with many suggestions and resources to enrich your marriage, contact Family Life Ministries at 847-2210 or at familylife@buffalodiocese.org

Mark your calendars! With great joy, the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, NY celebrate their 150th Anniversary year, which began on August 3, 2008! There will be a variety of events in the various areas where they have ministered and are presently ministering. Plans are underway to have a special Mass followed by a dinner on April 24, 2009 in Allegany. For more information, you may visit the web site http://www.fsallegany.org for updated information. The committee is also interested in hearing stories or your connections with the Sisters. You may also contact the celebration committee at 150thcelebration@fsallegany.org and at 716-373-0200 ext. 3266.

Engaged? Are you or someone you know engaged and looking for a meaningful marriage preparation program to fulfill your pre-Cana requirements? Engaged Encounter is a weekend retreat held at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY that provides an excellent foundation on which to build your marriage. Call Mike or Sue at (716) 685-2114 or e-mail msmauste@verizon.net for more information.

Needed: Nursing Supervisor/RNs/LPNs. Full or part- time PCAs. Day/Evening Shifts. Please phone 892-4141 ext. 306. Felician Sisters, 600 Doat St., Buffalo, NY 14211.

Catholic Charities' Human Dignity Packages. A simple "gift" for people in need, intended to honor the dignity of the human person. The dignity packages are literally a bag containing personal items such as shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush, soap etc. These packets are given to people in need who come to the doors of Catholic Charities. If you or your parish is interested in making donations please contact Eileen Nowak at 853-4424 ext. 3005.

Give the Gift of True Love! Heart to Heart PAIRS workshops help both men and women learn the tools to communicate skillfully, to problem solve constructively, and to build lasting love in their relationships with their spouse and children. For information contact Dan & Irma at 716-652-1203 or http://www.hearttoheartworkshops.com or email: hearttoheartworkshops@yahoo.com.

What have you done for your marriage today? Resources for living happily ever after are right at your fingertips. Check out our U.S. Catholic Bishops new marriage website at http://www.foryourmarriage.org. Forward the website address to your friends and family whether engaged or married any number of years.

Domestic Violence -- It's time to learn the facts. Many women get trapped in an abuse cycle because of hope. The abused wife usually loves her husband and goes on believing that things will change; this rarely happens. If you do not feel safe at home or have been in a relationship in which you were physically hurt or threatened, call for more information or assistance: Catholic Charities, Sister Martha, 856-4494; Child and Family Services Haven House, 884-6000; Crisis Services 834-3131.

PROJECT RACHEL is in the heart of the Church. Don't suffer alone; be set free from the pain. Many women and men suffer in silence from their abortion experience that is not easily erased. The Father of mercies is ready to give His forgiveness, hope and peace to all who grieve with this wound. The Project Rachel Program offers confidential, spiritual healing. (716) 847-2205 and also see http://hopeafterabortion.com or http://www.menandabortion.info.

Western New York Catholic Weekly is heard on Sundays at 6 a.m. on WBEN Radio (930 AM) and at 10 a.m. on WLOF Radio (101.7 FM) in Buffalo. In Jamestown, it can be heard on WJTN Radio (1240 AM) on Sundays at 7 p.m. In Warsaw, it airs on WCJW (1140 AM) at 6:30 a.m. It is produced by the Radio Ministry Department of our diocese and is funded in part by your generous donations to the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC).

The Diocesan Office of Lifelong Faith Formation serves as a resource to parishes regarding the faith formation of persons with disabilities. They provide consultation, support and resources to catechetical leaders (DREs/CREs), parents and pastors for the inclusion of all people with special needs into spiritual formation programs. For more information, contact Sharon Urbaniak at 847-5514 or surbaniak@buffalodiocese.org.

The Diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities advocates for the sacredness of all human life from conception until natural death, and responds to any threats to life. It is their hope to build a "culture of life" that respects and protects all life particularly to the most vulnerable" the unborn, persons with disabilities, the elderly, and the terminally ill. For more information, visit http://www.buffalodiocese.org/prolife/index.html or contact Director Dawn Iacono through Miriam Escalante, Secretary, at 847-2205 mescalante@buffalodiocese,org.

The Diocesan Disabilities Action Team has been established to increase awareness and inclusion of all individuals with disabilities into our Catholic parishes by opening doors to accessibility, opening minds through awareness, and opening hearts to minister to the needs. For a listing of current resources provided in our diocese, visit the team's first project at http://www.buffalodiocese.org/disabilities.

The Diocesan Council for Persons with Disabilities, established in 1975, is the advisory council that communicates to the Bishop on issues and activities related to the spiritual needs of persons with disabilities and their families throughout the diocese. For more information, contact Deacon Bill Willis at 675-5891 or WSDEACBILL@aol.com.

Pharmaceutical Access Program of St. Vincent de Paul is designed to help those who need prescription medications, but can't afford them. The Society has designed this service for many who are on low or fixed income situations. In order for this program to work, we need volunteers to help with phone calls and also client interviews. If you would like to help or need more information, please call 882-3360, ext. 8.

"Long Term Care" includes a variety of health and other services used by people of any age who need help to function in their daily lives. It may include care provided by family members, early childhood intervention, home-delivered meals, adult day care, case management, assisted living, personal care services, nursing, physical therapy and nursing home care. Finding your way around the Long Term Care system can be challenging, but Erie County NY Connects has a goal to help you identify the best available care options. For free, impartial information and assistance, contact Erie County NY Connects: Call (716)-858-8582 or 1-800-396-2705. E-mail: nyconnects@erie.gov or visit the website at http://www.erie.gov/nyconnects Contact Jennifer Mantione, Project Coordinator of Special Events, Erie County Senior Services, at 858-2117 or Walter Carrick, Long Term Care Coordinator, at 858-6791.

The Catholic Guild for the Blind is a volunteer organization under the auspices of Catholic Charities dedicated to providing spiritual and social opportunities for persons who are visually impaired. Volunteers transport and assist the visually impaired to participate in a variety of community activities. If you have the time to help out on a regular basis, or from time to time, please call 853-4424, ext 305. You'll be rendering a service to some very impressive people.

Free Step-Family Support Group Available. A chapter of the Step-Family Association of America, this group meets the first Wednesday of every month at 8 p.m. facilitated by Dr. Christopher Pino, Ph.D., Licensed Psychologist. Call for information: 832-0010. Leave your name and number and Dr. Pino will get back to you. Check out website http://www.saafamilies.org for information on this solid non-profit educational group.

Do you need health insurance? At Fidelis Care New York, the NYS Catholic Bishops' sponsored health plan, we have one mission: to make sure that everyone in New York State - regardless of age, race, sex, religion, citizenship or ethnic background - has access to quality health care. We offer free or low cost health care plans through New York State's Child Health Plus and Family Health Plus programs to all who qualify. ALL children under the age of 18 automatically qualify for coverage. For more information, please contact Ariana at 716-564-3630, ext. 2312.

Crossroads is a Catholic community of single adults, forty years of age and older, seeking to share diversified spiritual and social needs and blessings. We welcome people of all faiths. Crossroads respects and upholds the spiritual, moral, and ethical teachings of the Catholic Church, including respect for life. Meetings are held once every other month. For more information, contact Barbara at 685-2818.

Need household items. The Diocese of Buffalo Ladies of Charity, an affiliate organization of Catholic Charities, is in desperate need of household items to complete Fresh Start packages. Fresh Start packages benefit those who were previously homeless, need to restart a home after a fire, or leave an abusive situation. Items needed are: blankets, comforters, towels, drapes, silverware, toasters and coffeepots. Items may be taken to Ladies of Charity, 1122 Broadway, Buffalo, or contact Eileen Nowak, Ladies of Charity executive director, at eileen.nowak@ccwny.org or 895-4001 if you have questions.

Poison Help 1-800-222-1222. The Western New York Poison Center provides immediate treatment advice for poison emergencies. They also provide information about poisons and poison prevention, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Calls are free and confidential. Please call to get information on poison proofing your home and stickers to place on your telephone.

The Diocesan Bereavement Hotline is available for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one. By calling 332-0202 you will receive a message from Bishop Kmiec, information about Bereavement and someone to talk with about your loss, if requested.

The Little Portion Friary, located at 1305 Main Street in Buffalo in the former O'Hern High School Convent, provides temporary shelter, meals, clothing and other services to homeless men and women. Presently we are in need of volunteers, especially on weekends and for evening or night coverage. Beginning volunteers would have a training period and would have another volunteer with them. The work includes: supervision of guests, filling clothing requests, admitting guests, helping with meals, etc. Through your gift of time, you will touch and be touched by those whose lives have been shattered by violence, or are in bondage to addictions or degraded by the burdens of poverty. We invite you to be a part with us of God's "little portion" for His poor. If interested in volunteering, please leave a message at the shelter (882-5705) or call Sister Jane O'Connor at 829-7699.

Attention Women of all Ages! Would you like to be a part of an energizing, vital and stimulating discussion group that shares ideas and feelings focusing on personal growth from a Catholic-Christian perspective? Then, Bishop's Committee Discussion Program is meant just for YOU. Meetings are held once a month with trained facilitators dealing with 21st century topics of concern to all women. The Bishop's Committee Discussion Program is open to women of all faith traditions. If interested call Margaret at 667-7574. For brochure/information contact Sharon in the Family Life Department at 847-2210.

The Catholic Alumni Club is a 35 year old national organization for Catholic single professionals. We invite Catholic singles over 21 years of age to join and become active with us. For more information, contact Marcia Popaduch (693-0640), Rich Stroh (895-7612), or Al Schneider (633-7157).

The Western New York Perinatal Bereavement Network assists the community by meeting the needs of people facing the pain of perinatal death. We promote standards of bereavement intervention through educational support, community programs, and referral services to bereaved parents. The "Forget-Me-Not" newsletter is available and proves to be a valuable resource. To obtain more information call the "Footprints on the Heart" program at Sisters Hospital at 862-1678 or e-mail them at WNYForgetmenot@aol.com.