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 Rev. Msgr. Kevin T. O’Neill Jennifer Lang, Director of Faith Formation Kathy Skomski, Administrative Assistant Toni Drzewiecki, Administrative Assistant Bill Fay, Director of Music Bill Morris, Buildings & Grounds April 26, 2020 Masses: Sat. 4:00pm (Vigil), Sun. 8:30am & 10:30am Weekday: 8:30am (M-F) Reconciliation: Sat. 3:00pm Week of April 26, 2020 ST. JOHN XXIII PARISH Stewardship in Faith: From the Desk of Fr. John For the week of April 19, 2020: No Collection Once again I offer a warm virtual welcome to our Pa- rishioners — I really miss you! Keep in mind that eve- Help Us! With no Sunday Mass, we ry Sunday of Easter is unique and builds upon the pri- were not able to take up a collection. or week. On this Third Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Would you kindly mail it to our Par- fact that we are called to be witnesses to the Resurrection — ish? As you know, our collection in our manner of speaking and conducting ourselves. In es- revenue is down overall, and without regular sence, radiating the saving power and joy of God. In a time contributions we will experience problems with of social distancing, we can still model what it means to fol- bills. Please prayerfully consider increasing low the Lord — by the way we use the true gift of Easter, Resurrection, in our interactions with those we love. If you your contribution if you are able. Help us help can, pray for those who have hurt you, call those who are you. God’s generosity can’t be outdone. away or lonely, and work for the good of family, neighbors and friends. Please pray for our world and our Parish — I’m “Dustbusters, Inc.” … Team #4 will clean the confident all the time that we will be joining each other Church the week of April 26th. Thanks! around the altar in the near future. JOIN THE BINGO FUN . WE’RE READY!!! Every week I work hard to broadcast a Sunday Mass SATURDAYS 7:00 PM which you can locate via our website, www.stjohn23.com, Sat. Purple Progressive No. 56 – Guarantee $ 1,000. and upload a collection of weekly Prayer Resources. Use Sat. Black Progressive No. 55 - Starting $ 706. them. Easter Meditations can also be found as a free down- load on our website — remember it’s not too late to begin Upon This Rock Paschal Candle Memorials reading them. I continue to celebrate a daily private Mass In loving memory of…Nowak & Agostinelli Families…(Anne for all of you, our community, and the daily Mass Intentions. Marie Agostinelli), Buchina & Burns Families…(Burns Fami- Today’s readings tell us how Peter and the disciples ly), Ronald Damasiewicz…(Wife, Diane), Ignatius, Antoinette brought the Good News of the Resurrection to both Jews and & Thomas Piskor…(Toni Drzewiecki), Nelson & Marion Mo- Gentiles (i.e., the world). This week, share with your family ran, Nelson Moran, James & Patricia Moran and Bill Falk- and friends how God has worked in YOUR life, even if it is ner…(Judy Falkner), Russell, Rose, & Sammy Greco and Joey Grisanti…(Micki Greco), Hartnett Boys…(Linda Hartnett), how God is protecting you through this pandemic. May you Jarka Family (Thomas & Theresa Jarka), Elizabeth Kostek, come to see and feel God’s work in your daily life. John & Margaret Kostek, Frank & Florence Jern, and Ray, El- God’s blessings, Fr. John. lie, & Michael Jern…(John Kostek and Jean & Robert Vetter), [email protected] Kuczma & Kalstek Families…(Theresa Kuczma), Lexner & MacDonald Families, Sandy MacDonald and Barry Tirko… Donation Update! Thanks to all who have (Pat MacDonald), Bernard J. Ruda…(Mariann & Family), mailed or dropped off their weekly dona- Spyche & Pittner Families…(Gerald & Agnes Spyche), Sandra Nowicki…(Henry & Lorraine Stahl), Ted Wieleba and Ed & tions. We are grateful. Please help us. Alice Sobon…(Eleanor Wieleba), O’Neill & Jachlewski Fami- lies…(Tom & Barb O’Neill), Sandy Douglas…(Ann Muffo- letto), Joe Kowalewski…(Alice Kowalewski), Bauer Family… Patronal Saint Of Freedom From Pandemics (Tom & Joan Bauer). Interested in the Patronal Saint against Corona- virus, and all pandemics? It’s St. Sebastian, a sol- Family Moment. The Scriptures this weekend identi- dier in the Roman Army in the 5th century and fy “joy” as a gift, as a fruit of the spirit, and as testi- Captain under Diocletian. When it was discovered mony to God’s Resurrection triumph. As a family, that he was a Christian, and was converting many soldiers, he was ordered to be shot with arrows. He how can you radiate that “joy” at home to your fami- was left for dead, but a Christian widow found him and ly members? “Joy” is a decision. Make it infectious! nursed him back to health. In a courageous act of du- ty, he reported back to Diocletian, who then ordered We pray through the power of Christ for the healing of … Robert Rath, Emelia Cutre, Eileen Coughlin, Stephen Boryszewski, Leo Schiffhaer, him to be beaten to death. St. Sebastian’s patronage Alice Morrisley, Stanley Tater, Jeanette Watkins, Judy Kelly, Michael against pandemics stems from the association of ar- Weishaupt, Lynn McKenna, Grace Lord, Fred Postolese, James Hogan, Rosalie Diaspara, Marian Spoor, Beverly Tater, Patricia Walczak, Pat rows with disease. The fact that he recovered from Jerard, Mary Perillo, Thomas Lavelle, Marge Dutka, JoAnne Hahn, Max their infliction, which resembles the eruption of the Wojciechowski, Ann Ehrig, Dolores Conlin, Mark Bucholtz, Tony Pe- ters, Tom Bauer, Christopher Travis, Rick Stoddard, Joseph Gallagher, skin caused by the plague, suggested his immunity Kaylin Kline, Elizabeth Fay, Rick McEvoy, Cheryl Lane, James Ruggi- from such pandemics. “St. Sebastian, martyr and saint, ero, Gladys Roche, Norman Dailey, Mary Laubenthal, Heidi Sheehan, I call on your strength and courage to help me through Karen Helt, Beverly Smith, Harry Gray, Sharon Quinn, Hugh Bondanza, Bridget Robinson, Janet Shamrock, Andrew Dodges, Phyllis Elbers and this difficult trial. Your faith was so deep, a multitude Larry Lachat. of arrows could not finish you. I ask for your interces- We pray for the faithful departed … William M. Comerford, Mary T. Pawlak, Lucia Roncone sion that I may also survive that which threatens to “May the souls of all the faithful departed, destroy my health during this pandemic.” Amen. through the mercy of God, rest in Peace. Amen.” WEST SENECA, NEW YORK Week of April 26, 2020 From the Desk of Jennifer Lang, Director of Faith Formation Be Today is the Third Sunday of Easter. Today would have been the celebration of First Communion for eight children at our Parish. The children had been preparing for this day. God is asking them to wait a little longer to receive Him in the Eucharist. Perhaps the plan of the Holy Spirit is to tell us all to be patient, in- crease our desire for the Blessed Sacrament, and thereby strengthen our faith. Let us continue to pray and learn about our faith in anticipation when we can do so in Community. Pray also for our little ones. Jennifer Lang, Director of Faith Formation Email: [email protected] Catechetical Corner Always Remember... A Weekly Faith Growing Bulletin Corner _________________ As long as we have memories, yesterday remains. As The Paschal Candle Blessing long as we have hope, tomorrow awaits. As long as we We are so grateful to the Donors of our Pas- have love, today is beautiful. Live your life! chal Candle, one of the central parts of the Easter Vigil Mass. Blessing of Lights is a reli- Be safe! Be indoors! gious tradition that was influenced by the separa- tion of the Eucharist from a meal. It was a Jewish All cooped up because of COVID-19? Great — custom to bless special lights or lamps in the even- you are listening to the doctors and being safe! ing as part of ceremonial meals. This continued in Good for you! Here’s some thoughts of what to do: - Bring the Eucharist (see, e.g., Acts 20:8). For Christians, The Outdoors Indoors.. Consider growing plants indoors — this ritual took on a special meaning, a reflection on even start a little herb garden. It won’t take up much space the light of Christ among them. When the Eucha- and, if you don’t have natural sunlight coming in, you can rist was no longer celebrated at night, this blessing put the plants under a bright lamp for a few hours a of the lamps continued as a separate ritual called day. Pray about how God is the gardener of life and you’ll “Lucernare” (meaning “light”). It eventually evolved be back out in it soon. - Undertake A Modest Beautifica- into a daily prayer called Vespers and finally, in the tion Project. Take a small space and fix it up so it looks par- Middle Ages, gave rise to the Easter Fire and Pas- ticularly nice. Declutter and beautify at the same time! - chal Candle blessings. Each time we gaze upon or Take Up An Art Or Craft. Consider sewing, painting or light this Paschal Candle, may we remember that needlecraft. Use the activity as a way to reflect on the im- Christ is the Light of the World. agination of God in our lives. Dream the impossible dream. - Discover The World Of Internet Podcasts. You can find Easter Greetings from St. John XXIII... Podcasts on every imaginable subject. Podcasts that follow a person’s life are amazing, no matter how ordinary people “Easter is for us all a dying to sin, to passion, to appear to be, everyone is interesting and unique.