157 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga, New York 14215 Web Site: stalschurch.com Rectory: ...... 833-1715 Religious Education Office: ... 836-9657

Rectory Fax: ...... 837-5703 Convent: ...... 834-1889

Rectory E-Mail: .. [email protected] Parish Hall: ...... 836-4617

MISSION STATEMENT Our goal, our purpose, is threefold:

(1) to proclaim the saving mission of Jesus Christ through word and sacrament to the people of St. Aloysius Gonzaga Parish and to strengthen them as a Community: St. Aloysius Gonzaga (2) to reach out and proclaim the good news to the un-baptized, the un- 1568 – 1591 churched and the inactive; and Patron of Youth (3) to impact our principles and beliefs upon the community in which

St. Aloysius Gonzaga is shown carrying a we live. victim of the Roman plague. He eventually succumbed to the illness himself, dying at the Mass Schedule: age of twenty-three. He is seen in the Jesuit Saturday Vigil: 5:00 p.m. habit, which he donned, having left the royal Sundays: 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. courts and riches of his family castle. Vigil of Holydays: 5:00 p.m. Holydays: 6:45 and 8:30 a.m., 12:00 and 7:00 p.m. PARISH LEADERSHIP Monday thru Friday: 6:45 and 8:30 a.m. Saturdays: 8:30 a.m.

Pastor: Confessions: Saturday: 4:00 to 4:45 p.m.; anytime upon request

Rev. Peter J. Popadick Devotions & Prayer:

Weekend Assistants: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: Mon.-Fri., 1:00 to 9:00 p.m. Rev. Martin X. Moleski, SJ Novena to St. Anthony & St. Theresa: Tuesday before 6:45 a.m. Mass Rev. Msgr. Matt Wendzikowski Stations of the Cross: Fridays of Lent, 7:00 p.m.

Parish Trustees: Rectory Office Hours: Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Thomas L. Franczyk (Business Manager) and 1:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. Richard W. Jauch Baptisms: During or after Sunday Masses; Parents are expected to Pastoral Care/Parish Outreach Coordinator: complete Baptism Training Program. Sister Maryann Kolb, SSJ * 833-1715

Music Ministry/Choir Director: Marriages: Registered couples should contact the Rectory six months in advance and are expected to complete the Pre-Cana Program. Lee Peters * 207-0430

Religious Education/RCIA Coordinator: Care of the Sick: The pastoral care of the sick and homebound is a Robert Rybarczyk * 688-1380 priority of our parish ministers. Please notify the rectory immediately if

Web Master: someone is hospitalized, enters a health care facility or is in need of the Sacrament of the Sick or the Eucharist brought to the home. John Fahey * 510-6798

Evangelization Committee Coordinator: Letters of Recommendation: Those chosen to be Godparents at John McMahon * 833-3454 Baptism or Sponsors at Confirmation are to be role models in the

Parish Council Contact: practice of the Catholic Faith. Therefore, those seeking a Letter of Recom- Paul & Donna Lewis * 834-8493 mendation are expected to attend Mass regularly, live according to Gospel Values, be at least 16 years of age, have received the Sacrament Finance Committee Chairperson: of Confirmation, and be generous in their service of others. Thomas Gaulin * 833-1715

Eucharistic Adoration Director: Parish Registration: New parishioners are always welcome within the Frank Guglielmo * 832-1519 Community of St. Aloysius Gonzaga. Members of the Evangelization Committee meet with new parishioners, sharing with them information Pro-Life Coordinators Contact: on our parish and inviting the new parishioners to become actively Rose Fera & John Tomasello involved in the faith life and ministerial opportunities of our parish. Page Two St. Aloysius

SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2019 FRIDAY BINGO: We begin at 7:30 PM in the school; doors open FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT at 6:15 PM. Prizes total $3,000. Games are all paper. Assigned workers are asked to report by 6:30 PM. MONDAY, MARCH 11, 2019 — LENTEN WEEKDAY SATURDAY BINGO: Doors open at noon; Casino Bingo begins at 6:45 AM Esther Richter—req. Allen 12:30 PM & Bingo games start at 1:00 PM. Prizes total $1,800+. 8:30 AM John Harder, Jr. & James Bartsch—req. Cynthia Harder TUESDAY, MARCH 12, 2019 — LENTEN WEEKDAY 6:45 AM St. Aloysius Parishioners & Their Families REFLECTING ON THE WORD OF GOD: Lent reminds us that it is a 8:30 AM Msgr. David Slubecky—req. Father Peter time to become more grounded in our faith, more united in a deep way to WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 2019 — LENTEN WEEKDAY our loving God. What does that mean for us? How can we really know 6:45 AM For the Military & their families—req. Friends from St. Al’s God? How can He become a more intimate part of our lives? 8:30 AM Virginia Arnold— req. Melvin P. Ledger In meeting with God in the depths of our hearts, in the stillness of 7:00 PM Repose of the soul of Joan M. Freiert silence, He will allow us to see Him, to experience His closeness, His THURSDAY, MARCH 14, 2019 — LENTEN WEEKDAY love, His infinite embrace. 6:45 AM All Souls How many times have we been at Mass and heard the words at 8:30 AM Ray & Grace Sieg—req. Colleen & John Consecration, “Do this in remembrance of Me.” FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2019 — LENTEN WEEKDAY What would it mean in the depths of our hearts if we prayed, “Be this 6:45 AM Repose of the souls of SM Olivia Baranowski & SM in remembrance of Me?” What does being Eucharist mean to us? God has Eulodia Gramczak—req. Sisters of St. Al’s Convent asked us to be Him for others. He has joined us for the journey. 8:30 AM Irene Szutkowski—req. The Trapp Family We are called to be eucharist with a small “e”. We do this by SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2019 — LENTEN WEEKDAY proclaiming God’s love for all of creation. May God fill our hearts with 8:30 AM Marilyn Martinelli—req. Father Peter the spirit of joy, hope and love. With burning hearts His spirit will pour 5:00 PM Mildred Staebell —req. Sister, Dolores out on others. Let us continue His ministry in our times. SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 — SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT God has promised to be always with us. Can we make Him more real 9:00 AM Joseph Nebrich, Sr. (Anniversary)—req. Cindy & Sandy in our lives and in the lives of others? 11:00 AM Marcella Onarato—req. Tom & Bonnie “Be this in memory of Me.” Be eucharist with a small “e”. 5:00 PM James F. & Alice G. Turner—req. Don Stoll May this Lent be your life-giving journey in communion with God for all of creation. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK: Mary Davis, Loretta Phillips, - reflection prepared by Sister Maryann Kolb, SSJ Dorothy Hensen, Barbara Ross, Andrew Hashimi, William Bystrak, Andrew Richesin, Sarah Nelson, Rene Meyer, Dorothy Coyne, Chris IN THE WORDS OF FRANCIS: “The path to Easter demands Christopher, Maureen Michaels, Dottie Besant, Janice Kerber, Karen that we renew our faces and hearts as through repentance, Mitchell, Al Stritzel, John Dedloff, Barbara Kelly, Susan Hilburger, Stacey conversion and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the Grant-Littleton, John & Lori Mento, Paulette Adams, Flora Perez, Susan paschal mystery…Once God’s law, the law of love is forsaken, then the Duquin, Theresa McKibbin, Anne Dyson, Lina Kujawski, Ruth Vaught, law of the strong over the weak takes over. The sin that lurks in the Mary Ellen Kern, Paul Pronti, Nancy Hoffman, Rose Oehler, Robert human heart takes the shape of greed and unbridled pursuit of comfort, Clinch, Vivian Kurylo, Rylin Boncore, Charlotte Braun, Timothy Martin, lack of concern for the good of others and even of oneself…the mentality Harry Flynn, Elaine Luparello, Mary and Ferd Philipps, Joshua Rudnicki, expressed in the slogans “I want it all and I want it right now,” and “Too Marilyn Roof, John Gatti, Dominic Palmeri, Ashley Kern, Thomas Martin, much is never enough”, gains the upper hand. Lent is a sacramental sign Louis Augello, Sue Hartke, Nick Ball, John Halper, Luvena Moore, Eileen of this conversion. It invites Christians to embody the paschal mystery Somogye, David, Joy Berry, Father Michael Uebler, Hal Lane, John more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, Albarella, Mary Ann Talarico, Joseph Craddock, Davina Kollaranska, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving.” Marilyn Fiegel, Ken Schuh, Maureen Boncore, Esther Curtin, Felix Mayer, - Message of His Holiness for Lent 2019 Loraine Wallmeyer, Evangelina St. John, Anne Stepien, Alaina Drzyzga, Kim Paul, Rose Causley, Noah Curr, Eric G., and all our parishioners in TASTE AND SEE – WEEK ONE OF LENTEN JOURNEY: As we Nursing Homes. enter the first full week of our Lenten Journey, there are many opportunities to taste and see the Goodness of the Lord. Among the PLEASE PRAY FOR THE DECEASED: Father Richard Hoar (Jesuit Lenten experiences available to us are the following: Priest, Canisius High School and St. Michael’s, ordained 1956), Franca - Sunday, March 10, Eucharistic Holy Hour for an Increase of Conti (mother of Maurizio of Romeo and Juliet Restaurant and friend of Vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life, Adoration Chapel at Father Peter) 6:15PM. - Monday, March 11th, Vicariate Program on the Eucharist at Good WEEKLY STATISTICS Shepherd Parish, Pendleton, at 7:30PM. Weekly Collection …………..…...…...... $5,310.00 (Last Year: $6,330.00) - Wednesday, March 13th, Bible Study at 9:15AM, Confessions at Weekly Attendance ………………...………………………….. 365 People 6PM and Lenten evening Mass at 7PM. - Thursday, March 14th, Faith Formation Program – the Pivotal Players, St. Augustine, with Bishop Robert Barron, 6:30PM, in school cafeteria. - Friday, March 15th, Stations of the Cross after 8:30AM Mass and again at 7PM in Church. The devil said to him, "All this will be yours, if you worship me." Jesus - Saturday, March 16th, Magnificat Breakfast for Women at said to him in reply, "It is written: You shall worship the Lord, your God, Millennium Hotel. and him alone shall you serve." - Lk 4:6a, 7-8 Other opportunities to Taste and See are daily Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, the Novena to St. Anthony and St. Theresa, the daily reading Readings for the week of March 10, 2019 from our Lenten book, daily reflection form Bishop Barron and Matthew Sunday: Dt 26:4-10/Ps 91:1-2, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 [cf. 15b]/Rom Kelly thru our parish web-site, volunteering at the Response to Love 10:8-13/Lk 4:1-13 Center and finding time to enter the classroom of silence and be still in the Monday: Lv 19:1-2, 11-18/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15 [Jn 6:63b]/Mt 25:31-46 Presence of God…Make this Lent one of the best Lents of your life. Tuesday: Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19 [18b]/Mt 6:7-15 Wednesday: Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19 [19b]/Lk 11:29-32 A MESSAGE FROM JOHN FAHEY: Parishioner John Fahey will Thursday: Est C:12, 14-16, 23-25/Ps 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 [3a]/Mt speak at all Masses this weekend offering our parishioners and friends a 7:7-12 unique way to come together this Lent to taste and see the Goodness of Friday: Ez 18:21-28/Ps 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7bc-8 [3]/Mt 5:20-26 the Lord. Information on this Lenten experience can be found in our Saturday: Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8 [1b]/Mt 5:43-48 Lenten Packet. John will also be available to answer any questions Next Sunday: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18/Ps 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14[1a]/Phil 3:17— following Mass. 4:1 or 3:20—4:1/Lk 9:28b-36 Page Three March 10, 2019 MARCH MINISTRY SCHEDULE: The March Ministry Schedule – CONGRATULATIONS TO ANNIE STOLL: The parish Community of Celebrants, Homilists, Confessors – will be posted around our Church and St. Aloysius Gonzaga extends prayerful congratulations to Annie Stoll, school. Again this is done with the sincere hope that if a particular Priest – daughter of parishioners, Therese and Donald Stoll, who received a by the manner he celebrates Mass, by his insights into the Word of God Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited-Edition Package for during the homily, by his pastoral guidance in the confessional – is helpful her work on “Squeeze Box: the Complete Works of Weird Al Yankovic” to you on your own spiritual journey, you may be able to adjust your during the nationally televised Grammy Awards, February 10th, in Los schedule to the parish schedule. Changes may occur, but it is still a good Angeles. Annie is a 2008 Graduate of Daemen College. She currently lives guide. Please thank any visiting Priests for so generously sharing with us in New York City. their Priesthood and Ministry during the month of March. YEAR OF PRAYER FOR HEALING: Bishop Richard Malone has LENTEN JOURNEY PACKETS: Lenten Journey Packets are available asked that beginning this past Ash Wednesday a Year of Prayer for the at the main entrance to our Church. For parishioners the packets are Healing of Victims of Sexual Abuse and for the Church will be observed arranged alphabetically. If you notice a friend or neighbor has not picked throughout the Diocese of Buffalo. Lent is a time of prayer, mercy, up the packet, it would be very helpful if you would hand deliver the forgiveness and renewal. This past Ash Wednesday Bishop Malone packet. celebrated Holy Mass in St. Joseph Cathedral. During this Liturgy, Bishop For visitors, there are packets available marked “Friends of St. Malone lighted a purple vigil candle reminding all to pray for the victims Aloysius Gonzaga”. Please take as many as you need to share with friends, of sexual abuse and for healing within the Diocese. The candle will burn neighbors and co-workers. each day throughout the Year of Prayer and Healing. Lenten Activity Books are also available for the children and youth of During this special year of prayer, various celebrations will be the parish to help them make this Lenten Season a time to walk in the scheduled in all areas of the Diocese. Each parish is also asked to light a footsteps of Jesus. Again, take extra copies of any of these activity books similar candle in the parish church. Our candle will be lighted and placed to share with family and friends. before the statue of St. Aloysius Gonzaga as a reminder to pray for the The Lenten Journey Packets contain many suggestions to help all of victims of abuse, to pray for holiness in the lives of all our Priests and us – young and old, parishioners and friends, visitors and total strangers – Bishops, to pray for a change of heart for the perpetrators of abuse and to make this Lent a time when we truly “taste and see the Goodness of the beg our Merciful Father for healing, peace, reconciliation and mercy Lord.” throughout Western New York. It is most appropriate to place the candle before the image of St. Aloysius Gonzaga because he is the of THREE PILLARS: This week we begin our journey to experience the Youth – and we seek his heavenly intercession to protect all young people. “Three Pillars” of Lent in a new and hopefully deeper way. We will do this The candle will burn so we will never forget the harm caused to by putting the three pillars of fasting, prayer and almsgiving into a individuals by the betrayal of trust within the Church. It represents sorrow concrete, shared action plan. (The goldenrod colored sheet in our Lenten for these actions ever occurring and the Light of Hope for Healing. packets contains a full description of the plan.) We start this journey with a A special prayer has been composed to observe this Year of Healing. fast. This sacrifice can happen once a week or once a day, whatever feels Copies of the prayer can be found at the entrances to our church. It would right for us. If we open our minds to the voice of God, we will recognize be wonderful if you would take a copy of this prayer and pray it each day the fast He is calling us to observe each week. At the exact moment that during the coming year. we make this sacrifice, we will pray the common prayer “Taste and see the May all of us as the Church of Buffalo join together in prayer and goodness of the Lord”. Our individual prayer will be multiplied many action to bring healing and reconciliation, a restoration of trust and times over by the identical prayers of those on the same journey. Lastly, confidence, to the People of God of the Diocese of Buffalo and the people we will assign a monetary value to the sacrifice, either actual or estimated, of all eight counties of Western New York. and place that dollar amount in an envelope labeled “MY FAST”. As we move throughout the Lenten season, this envelope will become a reminder TRIDUUM AT CARMEL CLOISTER: Rev. Mother Prioress and our of our journey to prepare for Easter. We will turn in our alms in the MY Cloistered Carmelite Nuns invite the good people of St. Aloysius Gonzaga FAST envelope on Easter Sunday. It does not matter if the envelope to their annual Triduum in honor of Saint Joseph. The Triduum takes place contains $6 or $600, what matters is that we have joined together as a from Sunday to Tuesday, March 17 thru March 19. It concludes on parish family in this common mission of making room for the Lord in our Tuesday, the Feast of St. Joseph. The is recited each evening at hearts as we grow closer to him through prayer and supporting those in 7PM, followed by Mass, and an opportunity to go to Confession. Father need. Peter Santandreu, a newly ordained Priest of the Diocese who serves at St. Amelia’s Parish, will conducted the Triduum. The Carmelite Monastery of CATHOLIC BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP: Because there are so the Little Flower of Jesus is located on Carmel Road (about ten minutes many opportunities to grow spiritually during this Lenten Season, our from St. Al’s). Catholic Book Discussion Group will not meet during March. Our next It is a powerful and prayerful experience to celebrate Holy Mass and discussion will take place on Thursday, April 25th, at 7PM in the rectory. honor St. Joseph with our Carmelite Nuns. If you are able to attend part or The focus of our discussion will be Chapter 4 of Pope Francis’ Apostolic all of the Triduum, please lift up in your prayer the spiritual and pastoral Exhortation, Rejoice and Be Glad. In Chapter 4 (paragraphs 110 to 157), needs of our community here at St. Aloysius Gonzaga. If you meet Sister entitled “Signs of Holiness in Today’s World”, Pope Francis helps us find Consolata, one of the extern Nuns, please assure her and all Carmel of the God in all the ordinary activities of daily living, to remain always in the prayers and love of Father Peter. Presence of God. Our Holy Father writes: “Let us rethink our usual way of doing things” so that we can “leave a mark in this world.” Plan on joining HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS: Each year on the First Sunday of the discussion as we see how we can really leave a mark on this world as Lent a Eucharistic Holy Hour for Vocations to the Priesthood and followers of Jesus Christ. Religious Life takes place. This Sunday, March 10th, at 6:15PM, in our Adoration Chapel we will come together to beg our Eucharistic Lord to CATHOLIC CHARITIES APPEAL: It seems what people need most send more workers into the vineyard – to ask God to call more men to the these days is the Gift of Hope – Hope that our Church, our World, our Priesthood and men and women to the Religious Life. Attendance at the Families and our Lives will be blessed with peace and meaning. The theme Holy Hour is small but is growing each year. This is certainly a sign of of this year’s Catholic Charities Appeal and the Bishop’s Fund for the how aware we are of the need for more Priests, Sisters, Brothers and Faith is help your neighbor find Hope. Deacons who will serve the Church with the mind and heart of Jesus Catholic Charities brings Hope to the poor and needy, to families and Himself. Plan on coming to the Eucharistic Holy Hour and join in prayer marriages torn apart by misunderstanding, to the young and the elderly, to for an increase of vocations to the Priesthood and Religious Life. the hungry and homeless. The Bishop’s Fund for the Faith brings Hope to college students, ADDITIONAL LENTEN RESOURCES: There are a variety of patients in hospitals and residents of health care facilities, to the confused additional Lenten materials – daily readings, Lenten prayers, holy cards, and pregnant teenager, to the blind and deaf communities. family activities – available in the Trautenberg Library – materials that By your generous contribution to this year’s Appeal, please continue could further enhance your spiritual growth this Lent. Please feel free to the work of Jesus and bring Hope to all in need. St. Faustina, intercede for take as many of these Lenten materials you wish for your own use or to a successful Catholic Charities Appeal and Bishop’s Fund for the Faith share with others. All the materials are free. Drive in our parish and around the Diocese of Buffalo. WAGNER MONUMENTS Monuments, Markers, Urns Vases, Cemetery Lettering Anthony V. 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