St. ROMAN

SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 TWENTY-FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

MASS SCHEDULE Daily (Monday to Saturday) ...... 8:00 a.m. Saturday Vigil ...... 4:00 p.m. Sunday ...... 8:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Holy Day Vigil ...... 6:30p.m. Holy Day ...... 8:00 a.m.& 12:00 p.m. SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (CONFESSIONS) Saturday ...... 3:00–3:30 p.m. Before Daily Mass and by appointment.

DEVOTIONS St. – Tuesday after Mass Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Wednesday after Mass – Thursday after Mass

PARISH STAFF

Pastor Director of Music Fr. Ross M. Syracuse, OFM Conv Richard C. Jones ([email protected]) Cell # : 1-410-258-4087 Friars of St. Friary

Fr. Alexander Cymerman, Faith Formation Coordinator & OFM Conv ADDRESS Youth Ministry Director Fr. Taylor, OFM Conv St. Francis of Assisi Parish Mrs. Jean Hymes Fr. Romulus Rosolowski, 4263 St. Francis Drive ~ P.O. Box 182 OFM Conv Fr. Charles Jagodzinski, Athol Springs, New York 14010 Business & Facilities Manager Mr. Kurt Schweizer OFM Conv EMAIL: [email protected] Fr. George Maslar, OFM Conv WEBSITE: www.stfrancischurch.us Administrative Assistant Fr. Ross M. Syracuse, Ms. Sharon Gruver OFM Conv OUR MISSION STATEMENT St. Francis of Assisi Parish is a Faith Community of Catholic Christians who are joined in and guided by the Holy TELEPHONES Spirit, called to deepen the awareness of Parish Office ...... 627-2710 God’s presence in the lives of his people. Parish Fax ...... 627-5263 As a Faith Community, we live God’s Faith Formation Office ...... 627-3357 Word through Worship, Service, Youth Ministry Office ...... 627-3357 Evangelization, and Community. With Bereavement Office ...... 507-6281 Christ as our model and St. Francis of Diocesan Pregnancy Assistance Hotline ...... 716-847-2205 Assisi as our patron, we desire to fulfill our mission for the benefit of all people. PARISH OFFICE HOURS An ever vibrant and growing Faith Please Call Ahead Community is our prayer. ` ` ` MASS INTENTIONS ` ` ` FALL INTO A DAY OF THANKS & GIVING Monday, September 14 WINNING & EATING "Please bring a non-perishable item for our food drive" 8:00 AM Health of Julie Niemira "Win some awesome prizes." Req. by Joe & Karen Kerr "Don't cook, take home Tuesday, September 15 a delicious Spaghetti dinner." 8:00 AM + Arthur & + Lillian Hildman St. Francis of Assisi Social Center Wednesday, September 16 4263 St. Francis Drive, Athol Springs, 8:00 AM Members Of Our Faith Community NY Thursday, September 17 Sunday, September 27 Noon- 3 pm. 8:00 AM + Helen Binkowski Join us at a socially distanced Theme tray raffle with many baskets ($5/sheet or 5 sheets for $20), a Friday, September 18 duck pond (pay $20 and you are guaranteed 8:00 AM Intentions of Kenneth Koh a gift card worth $25 or more instantly) and Saturday, September 19 our lottery ticket raffle, pay $5 per 8:00 AM Intentions of & Leo Pauguette square for a 4:00 PM + Marian Czerniak chance to win Req. by Family $250 in lottery tickets. (Theme tray and the lottery winner will Sunday, September 20 be picked after closing time, 8:30 AM + Alfred Labine (Anniversary) you will be contacted if you win). And… take home a Req. by Family spaghetti dinner for $8. A part of our proceeds, along with 11:00 AM + Hertlein your non perishable items, we be donated to area food pantries. Any questions call or text Diane at 289-7051 or Req. by Family Jean at 604-8965. 6:00 PM + Richard Dawidzik (Anniversary) SPAGHETTI DINNER TICKETS WILL BE SOLD Req. by Jean AT ALL MASSES.

CHURCHES IN ACTION UNDIES SUNDAY E-GIVING (ON LINE GIVING PROGRAM) We are collecting new unopened packages of Thank you for the continued support and underwear and socks for men, women and generosity you offer to your parish family. children. They will be distributed to many area May God bless you always. Many of our charitable organizations. Please consider Faith Community members have been donating. Make someone happy! The mailing in their contributions or putting them containers are located in the front and back of the church for in the locked mailbox by the side door of the the month of September. Thank you for your generosity. parish office building or using our Online Giving (E-Giving) Program. The sign-up process for online THE VIGIL CANDLE giving is quite simple. For more information and/or to sign up for the program, please go to the home If you would like to make a donation ($10) for a vigil candle p a ge o f o ur Parish Websit e in memory of someone (living or deceased) or for a special (stfrancischurch.us) and click on ONLINE intention, please fill out the form below. It can be returned GIVING LINK which is found on the right via the mail, parish office or placed in the collection basket side under the Online Giving tab. at Mass. Each week there is one candle available for the Church and two for the Friary. L JOIN US FOR MASS IN PERSON OR ONLINE! Name ______We all know that the Mass is central to our lives as Catholics and we need to pass on to Address ______our children the importance of and the place that the Mass has in our lives. With all that is Phone ______going on, it is easy to get in the habit of not participating, whether “live” or via the Intention ______internet. Hope to see you on Saturdays or Sundays, “live” or “virtu(e)al.” To attend Mass online, go to our parish website “ Friary “ Church (stfrancischurch.us) and click on “Live Stream Mass.” Checks should be made payable to St. Francis Church SEPTEMBER 12/13, 2020 24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Mother Teresa of Calcutta (A Woman for Our Time) REFLECTIONS FROM FR. ROSS afternoon. It was very hard for her to rest and not do her I received in the mail the book Do work, but this period of enforced rest culminated in the Something Beautiful for God, The directive to go away on retreat for a month. The intention Essential Teachings of Mother was that in the interests of her health she should undergo a Teresa (now St. Teresa of Calcutta). period of spiritual renewal and a physical break from the It contains a short yet powerful work. reflection and/or challenge for each On September 10, 1946, she boarded a train for day. We celebrate her feast on , where she was to retreat. Aboard that train, . Below is a brief Mother Teresa had a supernatural experience that changed biography of this very special the direction of her life forever. She referred to it as "the call woman. within the call." Many years earlier she had been called to Mother Teresa was born Agnes Bojaxhiu in Serbia on religious life (the call). Now she was being called to , 1910. Agnes grew up in , surrounded by something more (the call within the call). The retreat wealth and prosperity. Despite their wealth, her parents were provided the perfect period of silence, solitude, and prayer to models of virtue. They loved each other deeply, and that love follow the experience God had given her on the train. overflowed to Agnes and her sister. At the age of eighteen, The next couple of years were filled with dialogue Agnes left home to join an Irish order of . Later that between her spiritual director, the Bishop, and Rome. By year, in December 1928, she set sail for to begin her 1950, at age forty, Mother Teresa had left the school and the work as a novice for the Loreto Order. Now Sister Teresa, Loreto Order, founded the of Charity, and was she spent most of the next twenty years teaching. In 1937, living among the poorest of the poor in Calcutta. At this time she made her permanent vows of poverty, chastity, and she began a new life, dreamt a new dream. She stepped into obedience, and as was customary adopted the title of Mother. the classroom of silence, sat down with her God, and said, By 1943, India was torn by war and famine. “How can I help?” Over the next twenty years, she would Mahatma Gandhi's great success in freeing India from British capture the imagination of the whole world simply by living rule had become tainted by civil war between Muslims and the Gospel. There are currently over 4500 members in the Hindus living in India. More people than ever descended community she founded, living and working in 133 countries. upon Calcutta. It finally became necessary for the Loreto Eventually, Mother Teresa was awarded the Nobel Convent to move the children and the school outside the city. Peace Prize, the United States Medal of Freedom, and the At this time, many nuns and whole orders decided to leave Prize. She is one of the India and close their schools, but Mother Teresa stayed and most beloved women of all time. She attracted the rich and worked tirelessly. As others left, she taught more and more the poor, the weak and the powerful, irrespective of race or classes, eventually teaching two subjects to eight grades. creed. She was happy in her work and well liked. By the Where did she get the power and strength to love so mid-1940s, her mere presence already had a power that had deeply and serve so selflessly? Before everything else, been born through hours of prayer and reflection. Soon Mother Teresa was a woman of prayer. Each day, she would Mother Teresa was appointed headmistress, and she wrote to spend three hours in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament. her mother, "This is a new life. Our center here is very fine. She placed Jesus at the center of life. She knew that action I am a teacher, and I love the work. I am also head of the without prayer was worth nothing. I would add that prayer whole school, and everybody wishes me well." Her mother’s without concrete action is worth the same. reply was a stern reminder of her original intentions for In the midst of all that is going on near us and around going to India: "Dear child, do not forget that you went to us, I believe it would do us all well to turn to Mother Teresa India for the sake of the poor." as a model and example of how we should approach each Kipling described Calcutta as "the city of a dreadful day, making sure we don’t lose sight of what matters most night." Mother Teresa was in the capital of poverty, a poverty and not get absorbed in what matters least. I believe that we that most people never even witness firsthand. This was the should also direct our cares and concern to her, asking her to world that surrounded the school and this was the world that intercede for us, along with those closest to us and all our was crying out for help. sisters and brothers throughout the world who are struggling In 1946, Mother Teresa became very ill herself and in so many different ways. May we continue on together in was ordered by doctors to have bed rest for three hours every hope, close to Jesus and each other. [email protected] Bobbie A. Kagle co inc parishioner murray roofing . . GET THE RUBECK RESULTS! 600 cayuga creek rd crb, crs, gri, sres, iti Lic. Associate Broker, Realtor Emeritus cheektowaga, new york 14227-1932 (716) 713-0618 (716) 896-5555 | Fax: (716) 894-5730 Carol Lee Rubeck** [email protected] [email protected] commercial and industrial roofing and repairs PARK REALTY WNY’s Most Trusted! www.murrayroofingcompanyinc.com 155 Summer St., Buffalo, NY 14222 of Western New York Call Today for your FREE Estimate!

C: (716) 308-3003 FLORALExpressions & GIFT SHOPPE INC. 5546 Camp Road Compassionate Healing Hamburg Charles A. Castiglia, Licensed Director 59 MAIN ST. • HAMBURG S-4199 Lakeshore Rd • Hamburg, New York 716.648.2110 [email protected] (716) 627-2919 www.RubeckResults.com www.lakesidefuneralhome.com www.shopexpressions.com MICHALEK & HARRINGTON, LLC Attorneys at Law Lombardo 300 Center Rd., West Seneca NY 14224 • (716) 675-6715 Let Our Family Handle ALL of Your Family’s Legal Needs Funeral Home Paul M. Michalek Our Family Serving Your Family Since 1907 Jeffery M. Harrington Jane Michalek Harrington Don’t overpay for one of life’s necessities. • Traditional Funerals Starting at $3,995 Includes 2 day viewing, 20 gauge metal casket (Concrete grave liner optional - not required by NYS; may be required by cemetery) • Direct Cremation $899 3060 Abbott Road • (Near Lake Avenue) 823-4812 “The End of High Cost Funerals”

WANAKAH Restaurant PHARMACY Book your next special event in our • Most Insurance elegant banquet room. Plans Accepted Breakfast - Lunch - Dinner • Unique Gifts TAKE OUT Open 24 hours • Sunday till 10pm • Vaccinations Areas Best Chicken/Beef Souvlaki, Available Wraps, Melts, Homemade Daily Specials Mon-Fri 9-7 5748 South Park Ave. Sat & Sun 9-2 Hamburg, NY • 649-9639 10% SENIOR DISCOUNT

627-3232 30 4923 Lakeshore Rd. • Hamburg Sunday Breakfast Buffet 9am-1 pm Simoncelli Electric, Inc. Commercial and Residential 3740 California Road Orchard Park, NY 14127

716/662-2780 • Fax: 716/662-3747 HAMBURG CHAPEL JOHN J. BLASDELL/LACKAWANNA 5453 Southwestern Blvd. CHAPEL 3450 South Park Ave. Corner Rogers Rd. ACZOR K (1/2 Mile North of Lake Ave.)

646-5555 Funeral Home, Inc. “...A Time & Place for Remembering” 824-6377 3-D-4-2 For ad info. call 1-800-477-4574 • www.4lpi.com 14-0400