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Special Diocese of Buffalo Collection for Buffalo Eastside will be collected the weekends of May 21-22 and May 28-29. Checks made payable to "Catholic Charities: Eastside Collection." Thank you. Individuals, parishes, or groups who wish to purchase or collect needed items can support the diocesan affiliated ministries of the Response to Love Center and the Mother Teresa Home/St. Gianna Molla Pregnancies Centers. Response to Love Center, 130 Kosciuszko Street, Buffalo, NY 14212 (716) 894-7030 is accepting the following items: CANNED GOODS PERSONAL CARE ITEMS (deodorant, soap, toothpaste ,toothbrushes, shampoo, brushes, combs) TOILET PAPER PAPER TOWELS DISHWASHING LIQUID HAND SOAP CLOROX BLEACH GIFT CARDS TO TARGET or WALMART The Mother Teresa Home, 208 Stanislaus Street, Buffalo, NY 14212 (716) 424-0217 is accepting the following items: BABY WIPES DIAPERS PAPER TOWELS DISHWASHING LIQUID HAND SOAP LAUNDRY SOAP GIFT CARDS TO TARGET, WALMART, or ALDI’S

Moment of Silence with tolling of Bells from 2:29 to 2:31 pm today, May 21st -- 13 tolls for the 13 victims of the Buffalo Mass shooting (10 killed, 3 wounded)

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, . . .  know the testing of your faith produces endurance,                                                              Let the endurance have its full effect, so that you may        be mature and complete and lacking nothing”                                                                     -James 1: 2-4 for complete article, click on orange title

Do we give our assent and let God in, or have we built up obstacles to God’s Presence and dwelling with us, via our stubborn sinfulness and/or refusal to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit? If we have built up obstacles, let’s pray for the grace this week to remove all barriers to our dwelling with God in harmony, freedom and peace of conscience. The consequent  serenity we experience will be worth it! 

Letter to Southern Tier Vicariate from Fr. James Vacco, Vicar Forane. click on orange title for details Dear Fr. Jim, We have been blessed by your presence in Allegany and throughout the Southern Tier as God has gifted us for so many years of your faithful service. We so appreciate all you have done and accomplished throughout our parish communities. You and your parishioners at St. Bonaventure Parish will be kept in our prayers as well as the Friars at St. Bonaventure University as you make your transition. God’s blessings and graces. Fr. John

Mama When the evening shadows fall and the lovely day is through Then with longing I recall the years I spent with you Mama, I miss the days when you were near to guide me Mama, those happy days when you were here beside me Safe in the glow of your love sent from the heavens above Nothing can ever replace the warmth of your tender embrace Oh, Mama, I long to hear your voice as you helped me with love in my choice Oh, Mama, I recall those memories of years before, Until the day that we can share them once more. Amen! click on orange title for complete article

Contemplate this week how we must pray for courage and strength in times of physical, emotional and spiritual distress. God will surely supply it.

Good and Gentle God, During this month of May, we pray in gratitude for our mothers and for all the women who have joined with you in the wonder of bringing forth new life and those that have supported us in rebirth. You who became human through a woman, grant to all mothers the courage they need to face the uncertain future that life with children, no matter the age, always brings. Give them the strength to live and to be loved in return. Bestow on them grace abundantly, beyond all measure. Give them the faithful support of family and friends as they care for the physical and spiritual growth of those around them. Most importantly surround them with Your love. Give them joy and delight in their families to sustain them in their motherhood. And, give them the wisdom and peace to know to do all things in and through You. Bless all Mothers, Grandmothers, Great-Grandmothers, Godmothers and those who have shown us motherly care and concern. Bless all of them and grant them Your graces, love and embrace on their journeys whether they continue on this earth or have received their heavenly reward and now see You face to face. Bless them and keep them in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us.

Our God is all knowing and all powerful. We’re told that Jesus’ Sheep hear His voice. Jesus! Open our ears to hear You. Open our minds and souls and hearts to love You, understand You and to know You as You know us! Fill us with love, faith and hope and the other virtues we’ll need to obey You and to faithfully follow after You. Help us to fulfill Your Holy Will for us; both in this world and throughout eternity.  Amen.

Stay Tuned for part 3 of 5 in this series of Dealing with Loss: Suffering and Spirituality. Note: This series will culminate in our parish families offering individual and group sessions on Coping with Loss, Bereavement and Grief. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our Grief Support Ministry (see add on page 5) and/or contact Carol Autieri at 716-372-4841 X 144 for more information or if you need support more immediately.

Jesus’ offering of this opportunity to Peter is a gift of great mercy and an opportunity for profound healing for Peter. Our Lord offers us an equally generous opportunity for healing via the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). Are we taking advantage of this invitation to receive forgiveness?

Click on title for complete article by Fr. John Note: This series will culminate in our parish families offering individual and group sessions on Coping with Loss, Bereavement and Grief. We strongly encourage you to take advantage of our Grief Support Ministry (see ad on page 4) and/or contact Carol Altieri  at 372-4841 ext. 144 for more information if needing support more immediately.        

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, His love is everlasting.” On this blessed Feast of Divine Mercy, we proclaim over and over: “His mercy endures forever!” The psalmist celebrates God’s merciful help to her or him, in the past, and thanks the Lord for his/her current faith and courage. We must thank God for the gifts of any faith and confident courage that accompanies our beliefs, as all faith and courage is a gift from God. We can never achieve them, of our own accord. All spiritual gifts are given to us by our divinely merciful God! As the psalmist attests, Jesus has become the cornerstone of the Catholic Church, our spiritual home. Let us, again rejoice and be glad. Our God supports and sustains us!

This Divine Mercy Sunday, we learn of the beautiful image that St. Faustina  Kowalska saw in a vision as Jesus appeared to her telling her of His forever love for us and how this Sunday in  particular (a week after the Solemnity of His Resurrection, should know with   confidence that an ocean of mercy and forgiveness will flow from His sacred heart unto the World. Additionally, the images of Divine Mercy that she experienced as He appeared to her should be venerated on this day. As you observe from the image above, the two rays streaming from Jesus’ heart denotes His Blood (red)  and Water (white). The pale ray represents the water that makes souls righteous (for purification). The red ray stands for the Blood which is the life of souls (God’s very life, the life line to all of us). His Love and Mercy flows from His Most  Sacred Heart.

“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad." Psalm 118 Click on title for complete reflection.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in His great   mercy gave us a new birth to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  1 Peter 3

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? This psalm foretells the desolation, sorrow, humiliation and scorn that Jesus suffered on the Cross. We can only imagine Jesus’ sorrow as such cruel hatred was vented upon His saintly and pure body and soul. This psalm begins with the Savior’s agony, but ends with a serene and courageous expression of confidence in God’s attentiveness and saving power. Despite our sufferings and burdens, let’s give glory and praise to God, as this psalmist does! For complete reflections, click on orange title

PRAYER OF ABANDONMENT Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.  Whatever you may do, I thank you:  I am ready for all, I accept all. Let only your will be done in me,  and in all your creatures - I wish no more than this, O Lord. Into your hands I commend my soul:  I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.   Charles de Foucauld click on orange title for complete article

“The Lord has done great things for us; we are filled with joy.” Psalm 126 for complete reflections, click on title above