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 Catholic Church 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 Saint 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 Lee Peters * 207-0430 in advance and are expected to complete the Pre-Cana Program. 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 John Fahey * 510-6798 Sacrament of the Sick or the Eucharist brought to the home. 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 POPE FRANCIS: “The path to Easter demands Christopher, Maureen Michaels, Dottie Besant, Janice Kerber, Karen that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians 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 Pope Francis 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.