Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time ………………………………………………………….. .………………………………………………………… GENERATIONS We're just a few days from the OF FAITH beginning of Lent. Ash Wednesday is this week, and with it we will enter into forty days Living as of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Catholic parishes do all sorts of Catholics things to make Lent a special Our 2012-2013 year: time. There's Bible study, days of reflection, and retreats. “Social Justice” There are faith-sharing groups and Stations of the Cross, extra times for prayer and the celebration of the sacrament February’s theme: of penance. During Lent we try to empty ourselves of sin ‘Option for the Poor & Vulnerable’ and evil and make room in our hearts so that we can be February’s Sessions: filled with the love of God and our neighbor. Saturday, February 9th ● 9:30-12:00pm This Sunday's Gospel is a perfect pre- th Lenten text. After all, how many parishes host fish fries or Sunday, February 10 ● 5:00-7:30pm meatless dinners on the Fridays of Lent? All those fish Monday, February 11th ● 6:00-8:30pm have to come from somewhere! Of course, the great catch ………………………………………………………….. of fish in the Gospel is not about our Lenten fasting and You’re invited to participate in CRS Rice abstaining from meat on Friday. Simon and James and Bowl! Our parish will be participating in CRS Rice Bowl, John had no idea that there would ever be a season called Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten program, as a way to en- Lent. They were fishermen going about their daily tasks. counter Jesus through others, especially through the most As Jesus makes clear, the miracle of the great number of vulnerable in our world. Many families received their Rice fish is a metaphor about the growth of the community of Bowls at our February “GOF” sessions. More Rice Bowls believers. are available in the vestibule and Parish Hall. Please be That is what Lent is all about too. During sure to take one home and use the easy and fun re- Lent we pray strenuously for those who will plunge into the sources to deepen your family’s Lenten experience. Your waters of baptism at the Easter Vigil. These men and prayers, fasting and almsgiving this Lenten season will women are the concrete signs of the growth of our help Catholic Relief Services continue to provide life-sav- community. But our penitential disciplines of prayer, ing assistance in nearly 100 countries. CRS works on our fasting, and almsgiving are not for ourselves alone. behalf to care for the poorest in our world and to end glob- Through our actions others should be able to see how al poverty. much we love God and love our neighbor. In that way, what we do during Lent acts as the net that we cast out .………………………………………………………… into the sea of the world, bringing others closer to Christ because they are caught up in God's love by the example 11THGRADE CONFIRMATION: Student sessions we share. Lent is a time to cast out into the deep. will continue Monday, February 25th at 7:00pm in the Parish Hall. The schedule is available on our website. 2012 Liturgical Publications Inc .………………………………………………………… CONFIRMATION DATE: The Sacrament of Confirmation will be conferred on our Grade 11 We have been given an candidates on Saturday, April 20th at the 5:00 PM abundance of gifts by God. The Mass. Bishop Grosz will be the celebrant. There will Lord calls us to develop our be a Confirmation practice on Tuesday, April 16th at particular gifts to the full and 7:00 PM. use them for others. Next week: As Our Lord was led into OUR CONFIRMATION STUDENTS…THE FU- the wilderness, so the Church enters the holy season of TURE of OUR CHURCH…THE ‘ROCKS OF th Lent, to learn again to “worship the Lord your God, and OUR FAITH’: Our 11 grade students are beginning serve him alone”. their direct preparation to receive the Sacrament of .………………………………………………………… Confirmation in the spring. In the vestibule, there is a basket of special rocks, with our Confirmation stu- dents’ names on them. Please take one home, hold it PLEASE PRAY FOR: in your hands, and pray for them as they prepare to Billy Kwitowski & Joan Steiner receive the Holy Spirit and fully live their Catholic faith – building on the solid foundation of our church. Rocks should be returned to the vestibule by Easter REST IN PEACE: Sunday. They will be given to the students on their Marilyn Fridman, Bob Hack & George Caman Sr. Confirmation day, as a symbol of the prayerfulness ST. JOSEPH’S CHURCH and support of St. Joseph’s faith community. Vol LVIII No. 5 Counters for February 17th: Team M ……………………………………………… February 9th – 10th, 2013 …… ……………………………………………… Baskets for Palms: There will be baskets at the …… entrance of the church next weekend to collect palms that Mass Schedule will be burnt for Ash Wednesday. ....…..…………………………………………………… & ASH WEDNESDAY: Wednesday, February 13th is Ash Intentions Wednesday, the first day of lent. A Lenten Service will be for the Week held at 7:00 AM, and Mass will be held at 8:00 AM and Monday, February 11th 7:00 PM. Ashes will be distributed during all of these 8:00am Living & Deceased Parents services. Tuesday, February 12th Lenten Penance Service will be celebrated on 8:00am For All Parishioners Monday, March 18th at 7:00 PM. Adults are reminded of Wednesday, February 13th their obligation to refrain from eating meat during the 7:00am Ash Wednesday Service Fridays of lent. 8:00am William Leising (Estate) ….…..…………………………………………………… 7:00pm Jane Sweeney (Estate) STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Will be held Friday, Thursday, February 14th February 15th, at 7:00 PM 8:00am No Mass ….…..…………………………………………………… Friday, February 15th 8:00am Janel McKinny (John & Mary Fronczak) Father/Son & Men of the Parish Breakfast: Saturday, February 16th The Social Committee will be sponsoring a Father & Son 5:00pm Jane Sweeny (Estate) Communion Breakfast at the Parish Hall on Sunday March rd Sunday, February 17th 3 after the 8am Mass. All the men of the parish are 8:00am Living & Deceased Parents invited to attend this annual event. Please mark your 10:30am William Leising (Estate) calendars, great breakfast, guest speaker & door prizes. This event is always well attended. Tickets will go on sale Altar Server Schedule this weekend in the vestibule of the church. The cost per Wednesday, February 13th ticket is $4.00 and boys four years old and younger eat 7:00pm Erin, Alexandra & Elizabeth Izydorczak free. If you never attended why don’t you consider Saturday, February 16th coming; it is a great way to meet other men in our parish. 5:00pm A. Fridman, J. LoVullo & M. Wagner ….…..…………………………………………………… Sunday, February 17th 8:00am Dalton Cochran & Abigail Jusiak Eleventh Annual Catholic Men's Conference 10:30am A. & S. Andrzejewski & Emily Zehnder will take place on Saturday, March 9th. The speakers for the Conference will include internationally known speaker Eucharistic Minister Schedule th and evangelist, John Fridmore, parish priest, inspiring Wednesday, February 13 homilist and Men's Spirituality Advocate, Rev. Msgr. 8:00am D. Bartz, M. Major & C. Kramer 7:00pm R. & T. Painter & B. Andrzejewski James E. Wall, and Hard as Nails Ministry founder and Saturday, February 16th Evangelist, Justin Fatica. The Conference will again be 5:00pm C. Roth, N. Hack & D. Ende held at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda off the Sunday, February 17th I-290. Register by February 15th at www.spiritiscalling.org 8:00am D. Bartz, D. Wilson, & G. Weissenburger to receive an added discount from the Conference 10:30am A. Everts & B. & R. Andrzejewski registration fees. Don't miss this inspiring annual event. ….…..…………………………………………………… St. Joseph’s Annual Mardi Gras Party: Due to Lector Schedule not enough help there will be no Mardi Gras Wednesday, February 13th celebration on Tuesday, February 12th at 6:00pm in 8:00am Mary Ruminski the Parish Hall. 7:00pm Terry Bennett ….…..…………………………………………………… Saturday, February 16th 5:00pm Ed Russell Prayer Shawl Ministry: Is in need of yarn, if you Sunday, February 17th have any lying around and would like to donate to the 8:00am John Hilton church, please contact Kathleen Gray or a member of the 10:30am Kathleen Gray Prayer Shawl Ministry. Thank you for all your help and support. ….…..…………………………………………………… Sacristan Schedule Sat/Sun February 16th – February 17th A Lenten Journey: “Following the Pathway of Jesus”, ●5:00pm M. Roth ●8am A. Bartz ●10:30am S. Kidd Thursday, February 28th from 7:00 – 8:30pm at St. Bernadette Church, 5930 South Abbott Rd. Orchard Park, Gifts to God: NY 14127, please contact Linda at 667-9536 or 649-3090 Collection Week Of: 02/03/2013 www.stbernadetteopny.org. $3162.00 Regular Collection, $25.00 Religious Education, $5.00 Catholic Relief Services & $55.00 Church in Central & Eastern Europe