SURVEY for 18-39 year olds!

Attention those ages 18-39! 

You have a voice in the Catholic Church and we want to hear it. 

The Diocesan Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministry is conducting an area-wide survey of all young adults to help understand your spiritual and social needs. This includes all high school grads, college students, young singles, young families, etc.

We are interested in the responses of those who regularly attend Mass, occasionally attend, and those who may have left the Catholic Church or are no longer practicings.

If you are a young adult, or if you have a young adult in your family, please visit www.dobyouth.org/youngadultsurvey.  It only takes 5-10 minutes to complete and all responses are anonymous.  

The results will be shared with pastors and church leaders to help address your needs. The more responses the better, so please share with your young adult family and friends. The survey will be live through May 31st. 

Thank you.

St. Joseph's Table BASKET RAFFLE PRIZES

We have an amazing array of Basket Raffle Items at our St. Joseph Day Table this coming weekend.  Not only that, but we have a fantastic doorprize this year -  a NOOK HD, 8g!

Tickets are available!
Contact Kathy at kmichals@niagaracc.suny.edu or by phone at 536-2183.
A special thanks to all our donors.

1)  $25 to Creekview Restaurant & a bottle of wine
Donated by: Creekview Restaurant

2)  $15 to Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant & a bottle of wine
Donated by: Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant

3)  $50 to Protocol Restaurant and Bar
Donated by: Protocol Restaurant and Bar

4) Sunday Brunch for 2 at Banchetti by Rizzo’s Restaurant &a bottle of wine
Donated by: Banchetti by Rizzo’s Restaurant

5)  $25 to Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant & a bottle of wine
Donated by: Salvatore’s Italian Restaurant

6) Two 25% Discount Certificates to Chef’s
Donated by: Chef’s

7) $25 to Russell’s Steaks, Chops and more &a bottle of wine
Donated by: Russell’s Steaks, Chops and more

8) $25 to 800 Maple & a bottle of wine

Donated by: 800 Maple Restaurant

 9) 4 games of golf and 100 arcade tokens

Donated by: Adventure Landings

10) 4 free Go-Kart Rides and 40 tokens

Donated by: Adventure Landings

11) One Adult and One child certificate for Narrated Erie Canal Cruise

Donated by: Lockport Locks and Erie Canal Cruises

12) Dinner for Four at Burger King
Donated by: Carrols Corporation

13) One ½ hour Private Hunt Seat Riding Lesson

Donated by: The Buffalo Equestrian Center

14) One Free Homemade Ice Cream Cake or Pie and two Regal movie Passes

Donated by: Anderson’s and The Buffalo News

15) Two Ticket vouchers good for ‘SWONDERFUL, April 10^th-May 19^th at Musicalfare

Donated by: MusicalFare

16)  $20 towards hot dogs at Ted’s

Donated by: Ted’s

17) Two Burgers and two ice creams at Bill Grays

Donated by: Bill Grays

18) Family Four Pack to a Buffalo Bison’s home game
Donated by: Buffalo Bisons

19) Two Guest passes for admission to the Buffalo History Museum

Donated by: The Buffalo History Museum

20) Two $10 Gift Certificates for Dry Cleaning Services at Arthur’s Executive Cleaners

Donated by: Arthur’s Executive Cleaners

21) $50 Gift Certificate to be redeemed at City Mattress

Donated by: City Mattress

22) 3 Month Family Membership Certificate at JCC of Greater Buffalo

Donated by: Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo

23) Buffalo Bills #27 Stephon Gilmore and #99 Marcell Dareus laser signed photo

Donated by: Buffalo Bills

24) Sabres #55 Jochen Hecht signed puck

Donated by: Buffalo Sabres

25) One St. Benedict School Dare to Dream Raffle and Admission Ticket

Donated by: The St. Benedict dare to Dream Committee

26) One St. Benedict School Dare to Dream Raffle and Admission Ticket

Donated by: The St. Benedict dare to Dream Committee

27) Laundry Basket: Tide, Downey and Stylish Hamper

28) Crayola Super Arts and Crafts Kit

29) QuikSilver Large zipper Hoodie

30) U-Build Battleship Game and Cartoon Capers puzzle

31) Tazo Teas, Teapot and placemats

32) Christmas Basket

33) Buffalo Mug and ornament

34) Skinnygirl Vodka, book and glasses basket

35) Taylor Swift Bath wash, bag and RED CD

36) Snow Globe craft and activities – BOY

37) Snow Globe craft and activities – GIRL

38) Lottery Ticket basket

Donated by: The Anders Family

39) Four Tickets and four Popcorns to see “Annie” the musical: Presented by the 8^th grade class at St. Benedict School on either March 21^st or 22^nd

Donated by: St. Benedict School 8^th grade class

Teaching Mass - 18 March 2013

Have you ever been afraid to ask a question that might seem too simple?

Why do they hold that book in the air? 

Why do the priest and the deacon kiss the altar?

Why do they move those candles around? 

Why do we kneel, sit and stand at different times?

Everyone has at least one question about the mass!

Do you go week after week, but still feel like you still really don't "get it”?

Do you ever “tune out” or feel bored at mass?

Learning about the ritual of the mass will help make it

more meaningful and engaging!

Would you like to have a deeper understanding of your faith?

Lent is here!  This is the Year of Faith!  Don’t be afraid to go deep!

Please join us for a

TEACHING MASS

Monday, March 18th, 2013

at 6:45 p.m.

St. Benedict Church

3980 Main Street

Eggertsville, New York 14226

Everything from what the priest wears and does,

to the words he and the deacon say

and the postures we assume will be explored on this special evening 

as Fr. Mock and Deacon Bill share wisdom and

insights about this ancient form of worship which is so central to our faith. 

Be sure to invite non-practicing Catholics

as well as non-Catholic friends and relatives.

All are welcome!

For more information, contact Matt Smith at msmith@saintbenedicts.com

or call the St. Benedict Office of Life Long Faith Formation at (716) 836-6444.

New Bible Study - all welcome!

Why read the Bible?

We should read and study the Bible because it is God's Word to us. In this busy world of ours, how can we expect to hear God speak to us? The Bible can inspire us, can support us in times of trials. It is the Bible that reveals God to us. Just as we talk about our family members, Jesus talks to us about His heavenly Father in the Bible.

Bible reading is meant to deepen our personal relationship with Christ. We become closer to each other by spending time with each other. One hour a week (Mass time) is not enough to develop a close relationship with God and His Son.

So beginning Monday Feb 25, there will be a Bible Class during Lent. We will be meeting in the Tobin Room, 6:45pm - 8pm. Note to parents of Monday night Religious Education students - this is the time you drop your students off so you can stop in and join us!  We will be discussing Jesus' Passion and Resurrection. All are welcome!

The following is an outline of the class and you are welcome to attend any night.

February 25 - Brief introduction to the New Testament - Jesus' predictions of his passion

March 4 - Jesus' entry into Jerusalem Last Supper

March 11 - Trial of Jesus and His death

March 18 - The Resurrection

Prayer for the Church awaiting a new pope

 

Most Reverend Richard J. Malone,

Bishop of Buffalo, NY

Apostolic Administrator, Diocese of Portland, ME.

Prayer for the Church

(courtesy of the Knights of Columbus - www.KofC.org)

O Lord Jesus Christ, Supreme Pastor of Your Church,
we thank you for the ministry of Pope Benedict XVI
and the selfless care with which he has led us
as Successor of Peter, and Your Vicar on earth.

Good Shepherd, who founded Your Church
on the rock of Peter’s faith
and have never left Your flock untended,
look with love upon us now,
and sustain Your Church in faith, hope, and charity.

Grant, Lord Jesus, in Your boundless love for us,
a new Pope for Your Church
who will please You by his holiness
and lead us faithfully to You,
who are the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Amen.

Religious Freedom CALL TO ACTION

Call Congress to Protect Religious Freedom! Take Action! Ask for conscience protection in must-pass legislation Dear Friend of Religious Liberty: As you know, there are major threats looming against people and groups that are opposed in conscience to providing insurance coverage for sterilizations, contraception, or abortifacient drugs, or to participating in or facilitating an abortion. Now is the time to act! Congress will soon be considering a "must-pass" bill that will fund the federal government. Congress can include conscience protection as part of that bill and solve this problem now. Can you spare 5 minutes to contact your Members of Congress and ask them to support conscience protection for EVERYONE? Call or click here to email your two Senators and Representative. Please join with us in calling on Congress to protect the right of all people and groups to participate in life-affirming health care -- without violating their consciences! Not sure what to say? Here are some suggestions: The administration has issued a mandate requiring virtually all insurance plans to include sterilization and contraception, even including the morning-after and week-after pills. People who run secular charities, or religious or secular businesses, are being forced to buy insurance coverage for "services" to which they have a deeply held moral or religious objection -- with no exceptions. I oppose forcing people to participate in, fund, or provide things they believe are wrong or immoral. Though churches themselves are exempted from the mandate, religious ministries of service -- such as charities, schools, and hospitals -- are given second-class status under the law, in the form of a still-murky "accommodation." But these ministries are integral to our religious community and deserve the same exemption as our houses of worship. I oppose government action that defines our religious community narrowly and inaccurately, reducing freedom of religion to freedom of worship only. Freedom of religion is a bedrock principle on which our nation was founded. It is referred to as our "First Freedom" -- first on the list in the Bill of Rights, and first in priority among human freedoms. I support religious freedom as a fundamental human right of every person. A distinct blessing of being an American is that we are free to choose our faith, and live by the dictates of that faith throughout our lives -- at home, at church, and in the public square. Other countries may force faith underground, but in America we can follow our conscience while also participating fully in society. I support policies that allow Americans to live their faith in their jobs and in their everyday life. In the words of Cardinal Dolan, "In obedience to our Judeo-Christian heritage, we have consistently taught our people to live their lives during the week to reflect the same beliefs that they proclaim on the Sabbath. We cannot now abandon them to be forced to violate their morally well-informed consciences." I support the right of all men and women who work in health care -- whether providing services or providing insurance -- to live and work in harmony with their faith and convictions. Please call your Congressional representatives today and urge them to take whatever action is necessary to protect religious freedom and the moral convictions of all! For more information or to join the postcard campaign, go to NCHLA's action alert. A special note: Members of Congress will be in their home states and districts for the remainder of this week. This represents an excellent opportunity for you to talk with Members directly on the urgent need for conscience protection legislation. Thank you for all that you do in support of life and liberty! -Your Religious Freedom and Conscience Protection Team P.S. Please forward this to friends and family who share your concern to protect the rights of all to participate in health care!

Mini-Retreat Feb. 23 - 9am to noon

Lenten Mini-Retreat

Need to go a little deeper this Lent? 

Join us for a short retreat at St. Benedict's.

All are welcome.

Saturday 23 February 2013

We will begin with 9am Mass together in Church, followed by a light breakfast, then prayer and study.

Please feel free to invite others too!  All are welcome.

Let the Holy Spirit work in you! 

Spend this short period of prayer exploring the interconnectivity of the Lenten practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving.

Bishop Malone's Statement on Pope's resignation

Bishop Malone’s statement on resignation of Pope Benedict XVI: [CLICK HERE FOR POPE BENEDICT'S DECLARATION - FULL TEXT.]


This morning’s announcement from the Holy Father that he would be resigning at the end of the month certainly came as a surprise.When I met with the pope in November 2011 at the Vatican, he did seem rather frail.  I wish to express my gratitude for his faithful ministry as Successor of St. Peter, his life of scholarship and his faithful leadership of the Catholic Church. 

One hallmarks of Pope Benedict XVI is his humility and pastoral concern in putting the good of the Church first in his discernment.  I cherish the pectoral cross he gave to me and other bishops who met with him during our Ad Limina visit.  During his nearly eight year papacy, we have been witness to his keen intellect through his marvelous encyclicals:  God is Love, In Hope We Are Saved and Charity in Truth.  His Jesus of Nazareth book series is inspirational.

With the pending resignation of Pope Benedict, the same process by which he was elected in 2005 will be followed as soon as he steps down, with a conclave of the College of Cardinals, guided by Holy Spirit, electing the next pope.

I ask all Catholics in the Diocese of Buffalo to join me in prayer for Pope Benedict XVI, giving thanks to our Heavenly Father for the pope’s lifetime of dedicated, selfless service to the Church.