HOLY WEEK 2014

Holy Week Schedule 

April 17-April 20, 2014

Holy Thursday 

9 am Prayer Service, 5 pm Supper, 7 pm Mass 

Good Friday 

9 am Prayer Service, 12 pm (noon) Passion of the Lord, 

6 pm Stations of the Cross 

Holy Saturday 

9 am Prayer Service, 3 pm Blessing of Easter Baskets 

 Easter Vigil Saturday at 8:30pm 

Easter Sunday

Masses 8 am, 10 am, 11:30 am

Lifelong Faith Formation NEWS

Lifelong Faith

Notes from the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation

Prepare for Lent: What is the purpose of Lent?  What does it mean?  Why is it forty days?  How can we actively engage this holy season of the church year?  Please join our next Generations of Faith meeting on February 9^th, from9:00 -11:20 a.m. Continental breakfast provided. No charge!  All are welcome!

Coloring @ Mass: Are your kids ever bored at mass?  We have just the thing!  Have them think about the gospel by coloring.  In the vestibule of the church we have coloring sheets on the theme of the Gospel.

Faith + Film: Bring the whole family to a wholesome film about the Catholic faith on Saturday, March 29^th following the 5:00 PM Mass.  We will be showing, “The Shoes of the Fisherman” a classic film about the papacy.  Refreshments will be served and Fr. Mock will be facilitating a discussion following the movie. Come join us as we talk about how a Pope, depicted in a movie, compares to Pope Francis today.

Office Hours in the Vestibule: If you have questions about programs coordinated by the Office of Lifelong Faith Formation, such as: Generations of Faith, Monday Religious Education, First Penance, First Eucharist, Confirmation, Vacation Bible School…  even, Pizza with the Pope, please stop by and see me (Matt Smith), in the vestibule of the Church after every mass on Sunday (and the Saturday vigil mass).

St. Joseph's Table 2014

The St. Vincent de Paul Society is sponsoring a St. Joseph's Table on Sunday, March 9th 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 OR Eileen Hettich @emh0106@hotmail.com. Tickets will also be on sale after all masses beginning in February. Please contact Kathy or Eileen for more information. 

PLEASE NOTE: PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS EARLY SINCE ONLY A LIMITED NUMBER WILL BE AVAILABLE and invite your family and friends to join too!

Click photo of our statue of Christ and St. Joseph for the history and meaning of the St. Joseph Table tradition. 

A Prayer in a Winter Storm

 Almighty God, 
You have blessed us abundantly with snow and wind 
to show Your power and majesty. 
Help us show your compassion and kindness to those who suffer - 
may we extend Your love to 
the elderly and the infants, 
the homeless and the powerless, 
the sick and the injured, 
the traveler and the home bound, 
so they too may appreciate Your Presence in their lives. 
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, 
one God, forever and ever. 
AMEN.

Help Refugees here in Buffalo!

Catholic Charities here in Western New York helps resettle about 500 refugees every year.  

Can you help us help them?  

Our Salt & Light Group at St. Benedict's would like to assist by providing basic household items.

Please leave your donation in the vestibule of our church and our Salt & Light members will make sure it is delivered to Catholic Charities.  

Thank you!   Thank you!   Thank you!

Items we are in need of:

detergent and dish soap

kitchen/bath cleaner

sponges

toilet brushes

mops, brooms and dust pans

toothpaste, soap, shampoo and deodorant. 

CHRISTMAS MASSES

Tuesday - 24 December 

4:00 pm (Pageant begins at 3:45pm)

10:00 pm (Choir begins at 9:30pm). 

Wednesday - 25 December 

10:00 am 

11:30 am.

Pizza with the Pope!

"Pizza with the Pope"

Want to go past the headlines and get to know  what the Pope really thinks?

Pope Francis recently wrote, "The Joy of the Gospel" and YOU are invited to join Deacon Bill after the 11:30 Sunday mass for a luncheon group to reflect on the Pope's words.

The "Joy of the Gospel," is five chapters long  so we will be discussing one chapter per week over five consecutive weeks in 2014: January 5, 12, 19, 26 and February 2nd.

The Joy of the Gospel is also known by its Latin title: Evangelii Gaudium.

The luncheon will be for just one hour, roughly from 12:40 - 1:40pm (starting time may very slightly depending on when mass ends).

This series is free but we invite people to make a free will offering to offset the cost of the delicious pizza!. 

Please let us know if you can join us via email: msmith@saintbenedicts.com.  

We are looking forward to seeing you and listening to your thoughts on the Pope's words. 

Please join us!  

St. Ben's is located on Main Street and Eggert Road in Eggertsville (Amherst) NY. Directions on our website - www.saintbenedicts.com

[simply click "The Joy of the Gospel" or "Evangelii Gaudium" anywhere in this blog post to begin reading the document.]

Respect Life events coming up!

Respect Life news!

There is a lot happening in the coming weeks.  Please take a moment to read this and renew your commitment to protecting innocent human life from conception to natural death!   We deeply encourage your participation in these events.

·         March for Life – Hotel deadline is December 13, please make your reservations on time in order to get the low rate

o   Guest Speaker - Reverend William Scott Daniels, O.P.

o   Bus reservation deadline is January 4, 2014 (indicate bus# and pick up location)

o   Youth Groups – view our website for waivers, permission forms http://www.buffalodiocese.org/Evangelization/ProLife/YearlyCalendar.aspx

·         Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe – 11:00 am Mass celebrated by Bishop Malone @ St. Anthony Parish, 306 Ingham Ave., Lackawanna 

·         National Night of Prayer – Various parishes will participate in this endeavor from 9:00 pm on December 8th to 1:00 am December 9th (with the exceptions noted by *.)  View our website for the list of parisheshttp://www.buffalodiocese.org/Evangelization/ProLife/YearlyCalendar.aspx

·         40 Days for Life - will be hosting a one hour peaceful and prayerful vigil in front of Buffalo Women services, 2500 Main Street, Buffalo, N.Y. 14214 from 10:00am-11:00am on SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2013. All are invited to attend as we pray to end abortion and encourage adoption! Peter Adornetto, Director 2013

·         Special Blessing of the Child in the Womb - at Masses Saturday, December 21 and Sunday, December 22 - St. Christopher Parish, 2660 Niagara Falls Blvd., Tonawanda, NY.  The Gospel reading for Sunday, December 22 is of the Annunciation of Jesus' impending birth foretold by Gabriel to Mary, so it is very appropriate for us to bless all unborn children that day. We invite all who are pregnant, parishioner or not, to join us that day along with their families for this very special blessing! For more information contact the parish at (716) 692-2660.

·         Roe v Wade Observance Mass – Saturday, January 18, 2014 @ 4:30 pm – Blessed John Paul II Parish, 2052 Lakeview Road, Lake View, NY 14085

·         Save the Date – St. Gianna Banquet – Wednesday, February 12, 2014 @ Classics V – 6:00 pm

Please continue to regularly check our website for updated Alerts, Events & Newshttp://www.buffalodiocese.org/Evangelization/ProLife.aspx.