ST. JOHN XXIII PARIS H 1 Arcade Street ● West Seneca, New York 14224 Office Hours: 9:00am - 2:00pm (M-F) (716) 823-1090 ● www.stjohn23.com Rev. John E. Stanton, Pastor Welcome To May Toni Drzewiecki, Executive Assistant The Month of Mary Jennifer Lang, Director of Faith Formation Bill Morris, Director of Buildings & Grounds Thomas J. Mudd, Jr., Director of Music May 2, 2021

Masses: Sat. 4:00pm (Vigil), Sun. 8:30am & 10:30am Weekday: 8:30am (M-F) Reconciliation: Sat. 3:00pm Week of May 2, 2021 ST. JOHN XXIII PARISH Stewardship in Faith: From the Desk of Fr. John For the week April 25, 2021: We begin the Month of May, a month celebrating the Regular: $ 5,526.50 Blessed Virgin Mary’s faithfulness, by having our First Communion class crown Mary at today’s 10:30 a.m. Help Us! Without Sunday Mass for Mass. Thanks kids — we are so proud of your First Holy several months last year, our annual Communion. Mary represents discipleship, and our call to collections have been affected. Would say “Yes” when God asks. May we have that same courage. you help us? As you know, our col- Consistent with Mary’s example, today’s Readings call lection revenue is down overall, and without regu- us to boldly proclaim the Gospel — in word and in lifestyle. lar contributions, we will experience problems It doesn’t have to be hard — no fancy words or special with bills. Please prayerfully consider increasing knowledge or memorization is necessary. Instead, you can speak plainly and sincerely, and show the Gospel in your life your contribution if you are able. Help us help by the way you live. That’s genuine sharing of Jesus. That’s you. God’s generosity can’t be outdone. also what St. Barnabas does in the First Reading. Where can “Dustbusters, Inc.” … Team #3 will clean the you grow this Easter time ever more closely to God? Consid- er checking out our Eucharistic Adoration this Friday. Church the week of May 2nd. Thanks! Next weekend over Mothers’ Day we will hold a flow- JOIN THE BINGO FUN . . . WE’RE READY!!! er basket sale. These flower baskets make great gifts for STARTING SOON — SATURDAYS 7:00 PM yourself and others: $20. The baskets are always beautiful. Sat. Purple Progressive No. 56 – Guarantee $ 1,000. Sales for our May Chicken BBQ Dinner (Friday, May Sat. Black Progressive No. 55 - Starting $ 706. 21st, from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m.) need you! At $12, it’s a bargain because the meal includes a 1/2 chicken, roasted potatoes, cold slaw, and cookies. Join in. Please either mail the regis- In loving memory of…Nowak & Agostinelli Families… tration form to our Parish, drop in the collection basket, or (Anne Marie Agostinelli), For Those Most in Need of Thy sign-up at Church. I miss seeing everyone at Church and en- Mercy…(Anonymous), Tom, Greg & Chris Bauer…(Bauer courage you to return and join us around the Altar. Check out Family), Parucki & Bracikowski Families…(Alice & Eu- www.stjohn23.com for more information. gene Bracikowski), Tommy Byrne…(Donald & Maryalice In Christ’s love, Fr. John. Byrne). Ronald & Ron Damasiewicz…(Diane [email protected] Damasiewicz), Ignatius, Antoinette & Thomas Piskor… (Toni Drzewiecki), Paul J. Fusco, (Jr.)…(Beverly Fusco), Deceased Family Members…(Pamela Fusco), Russell, Donation Update! Thanks to all who have Rose & Sammy Greco & Joey Grisanti…(Micki Greco), Mike, L. mailed or dropped off their weekly dona- Mike & Bob Hartnett…(Linda Hartnett), Jarka & Ziemba Families… tions. We Are Grateful. Please Help Us. (Terry Jarka), Joseph Kowalewski…(Alice Kowalewski), Deceased Loved Ones…(Mary Jane Lane), John & Mildred Lavelle, Alvin & Ruth Lehman…(Dick & Barbara Lavelle), Mom & Dad Crutchfield, Help Us—Chicken BBQ Teddy, Richard Lewandowski, Melissa…(Joyce Lewandowski), Harry M. Lipka, Sr., Linda & Gene Kazmerczak, Valentine & Martha Lip- We’re strongest together. Do you have a ka, Christine & Cindy Manka, Casmier & Katherine Manka… few hours on Friday, May 21st, to help (Dolores Lipka), Sandy MacDonald & Barry Tirko…(Pat MacDon- with our Chicken BBQ? Volunteers are ald), Adeline & Albert Mattucci… (Daughters), Marie & Francis needed for serving, being a runner, directing traffic, McLaughlin, Mary & Francis Kuntz, Fran Kuntz, (Jr.)…(Mr. & Mrs. Richard McLaughlin), Frank & Emily Witkowski…(Dorothy cleaning up (all while having fun!). You do not need Meindl), Jachlewski & O’Neill Families…(Tom & Barb O’Neill), to stay the whole time — we will have shifts availa- Luzowski & Piotrowski Families…(Wally & Val Piotrowski), Ber- ble. Help us and contact the Rectory (823-1090). nard J. Ruda…(Mariann Ruda), Deceased Family & Friends…(Robert & Camille Rybarczyk), Deceased Loved Ones…(Roberta Santuci),

Helen Schneller…(Don Schneller), Tom & Peggy Shea…(Maureen LIVE-STREAM MASSES & EVENTS: Shea Keicher), Sandra Nowicki…(Henry & Lorraine Stahl), De- FACEBOOK.COM/ST.JOHN XXIII PARISH ceased Loved Ones…(Shelley Stoeckl), Brownie Kosowski, Adele & Joseph Stupski, Anna & Andrew Decker, & Anna & Carol Ann Eck- el...(Ronald & Mary Lou Stupski), Deceased Loved Ones…(Susan Our First Eucharist Class... Weber), Wieleba & Sobon Families…(Eleanor Wieleba). Congratulations to our 2021 First Eucharist We pray through the power of Christ for the healing of … Robert Rath, Class. We are so proud and warmly wel- Eileen Coughlin, Stephen Boryszewski, Leo Schiffhaer, Alice Morrisley, Jeanette Watkins, Judy Kelly, Michael Weishaupt, Lynn McKenna, Grace come Patrick Fanning, Dakota Fish, Char- Lord, Fred Postolese, James Hogan, Rosalie Diaspara, Marian Spoor, Patri- lotte Kalinka, Julia Kozlowski, Kaitlynn Stahl, and cia Walczak, Pat Jerard, Mary Perillo, Thomas Lavelle, Marge Dutka, Jo- Anne Hahn, Max Wojciechowski, Tony Peters, Christopher Travis, Rick Samantha Toy to the Table of the Lord. Stoddard, Kaylin Kline, Elizabeth Fay, Rick McEvoy, Cheryl Lane, James Ruggiero, Gladys Roche, Norman Dailey, Mary Laubenthal, Heidi Sheehan, Beverly Smith, Harry Gray, Sharon Quinn, Hugh Bondanza, An- drew Dodges, Phyllis Elbers, Alice Kowalewski, Patti Catanzaro, Judy 2021 MASS INTENTION BOOK Bondanza, David Smith, Eleanor Szefler, Rosyln Hawthorn, Kevin De- necke & Mary Jane Lane.

Our 2021 Mass Intention Book is open. We pray for the faithful departed … $15/Mass Intention; $10/Candle. Let us Audrey V. Toomey remember and pray for your loved ones. “May the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Peace. Amen.” WEST SENECA, NEW YORK Week of May 2, 2021 From the Desk of Jennifer Lang, Director of Faith Formation Be This weekend begins the month of May. The First Communion children will crown the Blessed Mother at the 10:30 am Mass. This beautiful tradition has seen a resurgence in the last few years. I remember being chosen to be in the May procession when I was in elementary school. Only two children from each grade participated in the May court. I thought it was a great honor. It is nice that this year, our Parish will have a May Crowning and that the children in the Faith Formation Program will be part of a May procession. Last week, the First Com- municants dedicated their lives to Jesus, and this week they will be able to dedicate their lives to His mother, Mary. Jennifer Lang, Director of Faith Formation Email: [email protected]

Catechetical Corner Welcome To The Month Of Mary...A A Weekly Faith Growing Bulletin Corner longstanding Catholic tradition, the “May ______Crowning of Mary” honors the Virgin Sts. Philip and James Mary. She is often presented with a floral We do not know much about James, son of crown and other handmade items. As we Alphaeus, except his name and, of course, the fact that Jesus chose him to be one of the twelve pillars of the celebrate motherhood in May, Catholic Churches New Israel, His Church. James, son of Alphaeus, is typically create a dedicated area to place a picture or also known as James the Lesser to avoid confusing him statue of Mary, surrounded by flowers and candles. with James, the son of Zebedee, also an Apostle and This tribute remains up throughout the entire known as James the Greater. Philip came from the month in order to memorialize the importance of same town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida in Galilee. our Mother Mary in our Church and in our lives. Jesus called him directly, whereupon he sought our Na- thanael and told him of the “one about whom Moses wrote” (Jn 1:45). Like the other Apostles, Philip took a There are things we don’t want to happen but long time coming to realize who Jesus was. As in the just have to accept ... things we don’t want to case of the other Apostles, we see in James and Philip know but just have to learn, and people we men who became the foundation stones of the Church, can’t live without but just have to let go. and we are reminded again that holiness and its conse- quent apostolate are entirely the gift of God — not a Spring brings new growth. Weed out the bad and matter of humans achieving power. This is true even in make new for something beautiful. the power of human freedom to accept His gifts. “[Y]ou are clothed with power from on high” (Lk 24:49), Jesus told Philip and the others. Their first commission had The Vine & The Branches been to expel unclean spirits, heal diseases, and an- The Vine and the Branches from the Gospel nounce the kingdom. They learned that these externals of John (Jn 15:1-8) is part of Jesus’ discourse were sacraments of an “even greater miracle inside at the Last Supper. In John’s Gospel, the their persons” – the divine power to love like God. Last Supper begins with Jesus washing His disciples’ feet. Jesus then provides them with a series of Time to Grow! WHEN THE ROOT instructions about the importance of following His ex- IS DEEP…..THERE IS NO REASON ample of love and service, about the gift they will re- ceive when Jesus sends them the Holy Spirit (and about TO FEAR THE WIND. their relationship with Jesus and the world). He is the vine and His disciples are the branches. Just as Jesus God is the Master Teacher. Through this relationship with the Gardener of Life, will “remain in” His disciples, so will His words. Our we are fashioned and pruned into the commitment is through God’s Word, which we show by people we are intended to be and can be. serving our neighbor: feeding the hungry, caring for the It is only “in God” that we are able to sick, sheltering the homeless, and almsgiving to the find our best selves. God’s command- poor. Our commitment is strengthened by prayer and ments are the very guideposts and benchmarks we need — nourished by the Eucharist. Through the Eucharist, Je- yet often we seek to remove them from all public view be- sus dwells in us, remains with us, and transforms us so cause they appear to limit self-expression and suppress that we my bear fruit in His name. Live on the vine! “human freedom.” Nevertheless, His commandments are the only way we can find freedom. Until we learn this lesson, we will continue to spiral out of control, never really knowing Litany of Mary. As we begin the Month of who we are and what our potential can be or how life really May, pray the Litany of Mary; part of Church tradi- can be lived. We will not know inner peace without God. tion since 1587, & found at www.stjohn23.com. LITURGICAL SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, May 1, 2021, Fifth Sunday of Easter 4:00pm. Kevin Spencer - by Mom, Rosemary

AND: Regina & William Nowak - by Gary Labedz Sunday, May 2, 2021, Fifth Sunday of Easter 8:30am. Rev. John Fox AND: Stanley & Charlotte Nikiel - by Mariann & Grandchildren 10:30am. Debra Breitenbach - by Paul & Sue Breitenbach AND: Patricia Nowicki - Barbara & Dick Lavelle Monday, May 3, 2021, Sts. Philip & James, Apostles 8:30am. William Boland - by Kathy Zawadzki Tuesday, May 4, 2021, Easter Weekday 8:30am. Thomas Gavin - by Gavin Family AND: Adela & Angelo Cecchini - by Don & Arleen Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Easter Weekday 8:30am. Natalie Clemens - by Anne Marie Agostinelli AND: All Souls’ Intentions Thursday, May 6, 2021, Easter Weekday 8:30am. Joseph Gallagher - by Thursday Morn. Prayer Group Friday, May 7, 2021, Easter Weekday 8:30am. Creina Ehrig & Helen Borowiak - by Dayna Stoddard Saturday, May 8, 2021, Sixth Sunday of Easter 4:00pm. Edward & Laura Close - by Bill & Carol

AND: Dolores Strasser - by Hafner Family Sunday, May 9, 2021, Sixth Sunday of Easter 8:30am. David Kiefer - by Family AND: Carol DiMaria - by Bob & Linda Markiewicz 10:30am. Gail Steck - by Charlie AND: Deceased Labedz Family - by Gary

Scriptures for Next Sunday First Reading: Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48 Psalm: 98:1-4 Second Reading: 1 Jn 4:7-10 Gospel: Jn 15:9-17 The Sanctuary Light will shine this week for Norman Rosinski, Donna Margarucci, & Nick Margarucci, by Rosinski Family. ST. ROSE VENERINI (MAY 7) Italian-born St. Rose Venerini (1656-1728), was told by a Jesuit priest that her vocation was as a teacher “in the world” rather than in a convent. In 1685, with two helpers, she opened a preschool for girls in , Italy. St. Rose had the gift of ready and persuasive speech, and a real ability to teach and to teach others to teach. In 1692, she was invited by Cardinal Barbarigo to advise and help in the training of teachers and organizing of schools in his Diocese of Montefiascone. She organized a number of schools in various places. In 1713, she made a founda- tion in that received the praise of Pope Clement XI himself. It was in Rome that she died. Her reputation of holiness was confirmed by miracles. After her death, Rose’s lay school teachers were organized as a , the Venerini Sisters, and are found in America, as well as in Italy. She was canonized in 2007. This Week at St. John’s Sunday Mass. We’re Open: Saturday 4:00 p.m. Vigil, Sunday 8:30This a.m. Week & 10:30 at a.m. St. Also John’s view Mass live Lessons on Facebook & Carols and. Sunday online atat 4:00www.stjohn23.com p.m. .

MayHealthy Crowning Living:. Sunday Fun low at-impact 10:30 a.m. exercises while sitting with Kathy Zawadzki. Monday at 9:30 a.m. Healthy Living: Fun low-impact exercises while sitting Christmas with Kathy Mass Zawadzki& New Year. Monday Schedule at 9:30Below. a.m.

RosaryLiturgy. ofWednesday the Hours: at Morning 9:00 a.m. Prayer. Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Classic Citizens. Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. HolyBoy Scouts Name. SocietyThursday. Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. at 7:00 p.m. LiturgyBingo. Adjournedof the Hours: until Morning Saturday, Prayer January. Thurs. 5th at at9:00 a.m. Boy Scouts. Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration. Friday at 9:00 a.m.

Bingo (To Be Determined). Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Next Weekend at St. John’s Flower Basket Sale. All Weekend Masses.

This Friday, May 7th 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

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