Confession - WHY? HOW?

Let's face it - the Sacrament of Reconciliation (commonly called Confession or Penance) is not popular. 

Pope Francis going to confession

OK so we faced it!   Now what? 

Popularity does not make something right or wrong. Coming face to face with our sins is not fun and it never will be, but it is necessary.  Perhaps it helps to think of Confession like childbirth - a painful experience that results in new life.

Admitting our sins is, paradoxically, a way of showing our deep need of Jesus, the savior of the world.  He saves us from sin!  In fact the very name "Jesus" means savior.  We do not need to hold on to our sins, or justify them to ourselves, or rationalize them, or be ashamed of them any more. Every "confession" is a profession of the saving power of Jesus Christ. 

Jesus clearly hands on His authority to forgive sins in John 20:23.  Of course, only God forgives sins, but it is equally true that God works through people! Our sins affect not only our relationship with God, but our relationships with other people.  So we face this reality when we confess to a priest or bishop.  He re-presents to us the forgiveness of God and the forgiveness of our neighbor.  How good Jesus is to make our forgiveness so complete! Remember - Jesus is both God AND man.  To be "right with Jesus" is to be right with BOTH God and our fellow man.

Here is a quote from our Metropolitan, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, given in his Presidential Address to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, November 12, 2012

"To believers also the Church must ever preach faith and penance,” declared the council fathers in the very first of the documents [of Vatican II] to appear, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy. (SC, n. 9)...

The premier answer to the question “What’s wrong with the world?” “what’s wrong with the church?” is not politics, the economy, secularism, sectarianism, globalization or global warming . . . none of these, as significant as they are.  

As Chesterton wrote, “The answer to the question ‘What’s wrong with the world?’ is just two words: ’I am,’”

I am!  Admitting that leads to conversion of heart and repentance, the marrow of the Gospel-invitation. ...

Here is a short video explaining WHY we go to confession, followed by a handy link to step-by-step instructions for receiving this amazing sacrament.



Click this link for instructions on HOW to go to confession - http://www.bustedhalo.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/how-to-confess.pdf

St. Joseph's Table 10 March 2013

Good afternoon! Sunday, March 10th, will be the return of the Annual St. Joseph's Table at St. Benedict's! This is a longstanding tradition in our parish and is one of the major fundraisers for our St. Vincent de Paul Conference (assisting those in need in our community). Please see below for details and ways in which we can use your help!

#1. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is sponsoring a St. Joseph's Table on Sunday, March 10th at 1:00 PM at St. Benedict's Church (in the cafeteria). There will only be one seating. Tickets are $20/adults and $5/child (12 and under). Advance reservations can be made by emailing Kathy Michalski at kmichals@niagaracc.suny.edu. Tickets will also be on sale after all masses beginning in February. Please contact the rectory for more information. PLEASE NOTE: PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS EARLY SINCE ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER WILL BE AVAILABLE AND WE HAVE SOLD OUT THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS!

#2. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THE ST. JOSEPH'S TABLE ON MARCH 10TH!: Please contact Agnes Smith (@ mattandag@mac.com) or contact Agnes @ 832-2086 if you are able to help with set up, serving, and/or clean up. **

** NOTE: This will count for service hours for our religious ed students--you must be a Freshman in High School (or older) to volunteer.

#3. BASKETS NEEDED FOR THE ST. JOSEPH'S TABLE: Back by popular demand will be our basket raffle at the St. Joseph's Table! Please contact Megan Andrews @ meganlandrews@aol.com if you would like to donate a basket! Advance raffle tickets will be available for sale prior to the Table. More details to come!

 

 

Week of Christian Unity

From the 18th to the 25th of January, we redouble our prayer for Christian unity.

In this Year of Faith, we have been asked to reexamine the documents of the Second Vatican Council.  One of these documents is called Unitatis Redintegratio, commonly called the "Decree on Ecumenism" in English.

The first paragraph of this conciliar document clearly and unambiguously expresses the sentiments of the Catholic Church in regard to Christian unity:

The restoration of unity among all Christians is one of the principal concerns of the Second Vatican Council. Christ the Lord founded one Church and one Church only. However, many Christian communions present themselves to men as the true inheritors of Jesus Christ; all indeed profess to be followers of the Lord but differ in mind and go their different ways, as if Christ Himself were divided.  Such division openly contradicts the will of Christ, scandalizes the world, and damages the holy cause of preaching the Gospel to every creature.                  The full text is here - http://ow.ly/gIBS5

Recently, Pope Benedict XVI spoke directly and clearly about Christian unity (20 Jan 2013) saying:

One of the most serious sins that disfigures the face of the Church is against its visible unity, especially the historical divisions the have separated Christians that haven't yet been overcome.

 It's a moment always welcome to believers and communities, which awakens in all the desire and spirit of commitment to full communion.

The Pope will close the week of prayer for Christian unity 2013 by presiding at vespers in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls alongside representatives of other churches and communities.

As both the Second Vatican Council and our present Pontiff have made clear, we need to pray more and work more for the unity of all Christians.

It's Not Over: Christmas Season

The Christmas season is NOT over.

The Holy Family, Nave Window
St. Benedict's, Amherst NY

It is very tempting to let the secular world determine when Christmas starts and ends.  But that is not the Catholic understanding.  For us the liturgical season of Christmas BEGINS on Christmas Eve and ENDS with the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

We must be careful not to let the world of commerce usurp our sense of sacred time.  Businesses use our holy days to make money, and while it is certainly admirable for people to earn an honest living, we must not let consumerism determine Christmas.  For too many Christians, that is exactly what happens.

Please keep your Creche scene on display throughout the liturgical season of Christmas. Click HERE for details about Christmas and the Creche scene. Understandably, our trees may need to come down earlier, but don't let that determine the end of Christmas! Become aware of how the Church's celebration and the secular world's celebration of Christmas differ.  Keep Christ in Christmas for His entire season of grace.

Nave Window
St. Benedict's, Amherst NY

Here is how the Christmas Season unfolds for believers:
Christmas celebrates the mystery of the Incarnation - God became man or to put it in biblical terms: "The Word became flesh."  Jesus is truly God and truly man.

Dec. 26 - we recall the first person to die for the Christian Faith - the deacon and first martyr, Saint Stephen.  This day reminds us of the seriousness of our Faith. This is also true of the feast of the Holy Innocents on the 28th of December.

The Feast of the Holy Family reminds us how important the family is.  Jesus was truly like all of us.  Jesus, Mary and Joseph are highlighted as a group.



click image for details

January 1st we observe the most ancient feast day of Mary - Mary, Mother of God (Theotokos). This reminds us of Mary's unique, mysterious and wonderful role in salvation history.

Epiphany is celebrated to remind us that Jesus is Christ for ALL people.  The magi represent all people, all nations, recognizing Jesus as Lord and Messiah.

*****

There is an ancient hymn used by the Church in the Office of Readings (Matins).  It is particularly appropriate for Epiphany and the Baptism of the Lord:



Te Deum - Ancient Hymn

God, we praise you; Lord, we proclaim you!

You, the Father, the eternal –

all the earth venerates you.

All the angels, all the heavens, every power –

The cherubim, the seraphim –

unceasingly, they cry:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Hosts:

heaven and earth are full of the majesty of your glory!”

The glorious choir of Apostles –

The noble ranks of prophets –

The shining army of martyrs –

all praise you.

Throughout the world your holy Church proclaims you.

– Father of immeasurable majesty,

– True Son, only-begotten, worthy of worship,

– Holy Spirit, our Advocate.

You, Christ:

– You are the king of glory.

– You are the Father’s eternal Son.

– You, to free mankind, did not disdain a Virgin’s womb.

– You defeated the sharp spear of Death, and opened the kingdom of heaven
    to those who believe in you.

– You sit at God’s right hand, in the glory of the Father.

– You will come, so we believe, as our Judge.

And so we ask of you:
give help to your servants, whom you set free at the price of your precious blood.

Number them among your chosen ones in eternal glory.

Happy New Year of Faith!

Happy

New
Year of Faith!

Thresholds in time also create special moments in time. The New Year is just such a threshold for assessment and decision - our resolutions. But real, "do-able" resolutions mean personal change. We change because we see something, that makes us feel something, and propels us to change something. What really motivates us is emotion, not information.

Stop and take a look inside yourself.  Pull out your calendar and your favorite posts, tweets, pics or blogs on Facebook, Youtube or Pinterest.  Look over your timeline, activities and the events of 2012.

Ask yourself:

• What was most significant in my life over the 365 days that just past?
• What do I need to put aside for God to be at the center of my life? What change do I want to see in my relationships?
• What must change in me in order to have a hope capable of sustaining me no, matter what lies ahead?
• What will I continue to consume and what will I allow to consume me?
• Am I a Catholic on purpose or am I a Catholic by default?
• What support do I need from God in the coming New Year of Faith?

Now pray for it!

Congratulations!    You just kicked off your own New Year of Faith! 

p.s. you're invited to our next Year of Faith meeting, Thursday 24 January, 7pm in the Tobin Room - use Eggert Rd lot, door number 5, first floor.  Hope to see you there!

courtesy of Dennis Mahaney
Office of Parish Life
Diocese of Buffalo, New York

CHRISTMAS 2012 schedule

Christmas Mass Schedule

St. Benedict Parish

1317 Eggert Road

Amherst, NY

www.saintbenedicts.com

 

 

Christmas Eve

Family Mass 4:00 pm

(pageant at 3:45 pm)

 

Vigil Mass 8:00 pm

Midnight Mass (Music begins at 11:30 pm)

 

Christmas Day

Mass 10:00 am

Mass 11:30 am

 

 

New Year’s Eve - Mary, Mother of God (Holyday Vigil)

Vigil Mass 5:00pm

 

New Year’s Day- Mary. Mother of God (Holyday)

Mass 10:00 am
Mass 11:30am

All are welcomed to join us for this celebration of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Here are suggestions for keeping Christ's birthday special this year:

1) keep your Christmas decor up at least until the Feast of Epiphany - the 12 days of Christmas.

2) explain your Nativity Set to your childen and grandchildren  - details at http://bit.ly/tXuXmY
 

3) have a Bible visible to visitors and opened to Matthew or Luke's Gospel
 

4) make sure one of the gifts for your children and grandchildren is a sacred reminder (an icon, rosary, statue, etc.). Enclose a little note telling them how important your faith is to you.
 

5) invite others to sit with you at Christ's Mass (schedule above)

For more information about Christmas click HERE.

If you would like more information about the Catholic Faith or joining our parish, please contact Deacon Bill at bhynes@saintbenedicts.com. 

Drummer Boy Mass 2012

Saint Benedict School invites you to

The Drummer Boy Mass

Thursday, December 13, 2012 - 10 a.m.

Reception immediately following in church vestibule

If you are new to our Saint Benedict family, this is an event you won’t want to miss! The whole student body and faculty process into the church bringing wrapped Christmas gifts to be given to Gateway-Longview – a local foster care program that takes care of children who have been removed from their homes due to neglect or abuse.

The music from The Drummer Boy is played and a special second grader is chosen as the Drummer Boy to lead the procession. This beautiful annual tradition at Saint Benedict School will surely grip your heart and will remind you of the true meaning of Christmas.

All are invited to please come and join us to celebrate this wonderful event!

Our "Good Bye" to Fr. Joe

A "good-bye" farewell for
Fr. Joe Porpiglia

Come and say "good bye" to
Fr. Joe.

 

Next Sunday,
December 2nd
after the 11:30 AM Mass.

 

Everyone is invited.

 

Here is copy of the letter Fr. Joe wrote to us to announce his new assignment:

To the Parishioners of Saint Benedicts:

It has been my pleasure to be your Pastor for the past six years. With my term about to expire,
I applied for and was appointed by Bishop Malone to be the new Pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Gowanda and St. Mary's Parish in Cattaraugus, effective December 3, 2012.

My time with the people of St. Benedicts has been a blessing to me. The dedicated service and commitment people have shown to the faith has been a real inspiration. Please be assured of my

prayers for all of you and please keep me in your prayers during this time of transition.

My last weekend at St. Benedict's will be December 1 & 2. I wish you Godspeed as you continue
to support the parish and Fr. Paul Sabo as you await your new Pastor to be assigned.

May God's Blessings be with all of you for many years.

Fr. Joe Porpiglia