Mary of Magdala
July 22
Mary of Magdala, in spite of the undeservedly tarnished reputation she held for fifteen centuries, is arguably the second most important woman in the New Testament. She is mentioned a total of fourteen times in all four accounts of the Gospel – more than most of the apostles — and modern scripture scholarship has now redeemed her reputation, embracing the earlier view of Saint Augustine who was the first to call her “the Apostle to the Apostles.” Mary is depicted in both painting and woodcarving in our church. Here, in a grouping of “Virgins and Widows” in the great dome, she appears as the first kneeling figure on the left. Photo credit: Gary Kelley.
July 20 – July 27, 2014
Weekly Activities
Thursday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.
Saturday, July 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 Noon ~ Helping Hands Food Pantry in St. Charles Hall.
Saturday, July 26 at 8:00 p.m. ~ Bingo will be played in St. Charles Hall.
We now have a Bingo camera with TV monitors and electronic verification! To check the Red, White & Blue and progressive Share-the-Wealth carry over amounts and progressive numbers for this week, click HERE and visit our Facebook page.
Mass Intentions
Sunday, July 20 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – Bridget Dick Blesnuk (Requested by Angela Jost) and Judith B. Attea (Requested by Bob and Mary Kresse)
Monday, July 21 ~ St. Lawrence of Brindisi ~ Communion Service at 11 a.m.
Tuesday, July 22 ~ St. Mary Magdalene ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Anthony and Teresa Hafner (Estate)
Wednesday, July 23 ~ St. Bridget ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Catherine M. Maher (Estate)
Thursday, July 24 ~ St. Sharbel Makhluf ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Anna Snyder (Estate)
Friday, July 25 ~ St. James, Apostle ~ Mass at 11 a.m. – Bernard H. Fix and Ruth R. Fix (Estate)
Saturday, July 26 ~ St. Joachim and St. Anne ~ Vigil Mass at 4:30 p.m. – Gabriella Drapanas Vaillancourt (Gayle and Jim Eagan)
Sunday, July 27 ~ Mass at 10 a.m. – August and Clara Marien (Ed Marien) and Susan Tomljanovich (Bob and Mary Kresse)
News from our Parish Community Mission Cooperative 2014 ~ During the weekend of July 19-20, we will welcome Jason Bach, who will speak at our liturgies about the work of Franciscan Mission Service (“FMS”). A separate second collection will be taken up at our Masses next Saturday and Sunday for this appeal. Franciscan Mission Service prepares and supports Catholic lay women and men for two-year assignments in partnership with the poor and oppressed of Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Upon their return, they share their life-changing experiences in our North American Church and society. In addition, FMS offers domestic volunteer opportunities in their Washington, DC office and leads Short-Term Mission and Global Awareness Trips for groups to South Africa and Bolivia. Please be generous in your financial support of overseas endeavors in response to the Church’s call to worldwide mission. For more information, visit www.franciscanmissionservice.org.
Volunteers are needed for Summer in the City 2014 ~ Join in the celebration of Summer in the City and the Feast of St. Lawrence on Sunday, August 10, at St. Lawrence Church, 1520 E. Delavan Avenue, from noon to 5:00 p.m. There will a jazz band, BBQ food, open house tours, dancing, desserts, games and raffles. The desserts will be provided by the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo (CCCB). We need volunteers to help with set-up on August 10 and to make and serve desserts at our tent. If you are able to help with any of these tasks, please sign the volunteer sheets on the altar rail near Our Lady’s Shrine. For more information, contact Dan Korchowsky.
Summer Respite Program for Single Moms ~ Please note the posters displayed at our 3 entrances. If you are interested in this program given at Stella Niagara Campus near Lewiston from Wednesday, July 30 to Saturday, August 2, please contact Sister Barbara for the application forms.
Bingo Volunteers Needed ~ Bingo is the largest source of parish operating funds and an important form of stewardship. Please consider a gift of time to your parish family. Fran Cahill will be happy to assist you in joining the team. You can leave your name and contact information for Fran by clicking HERE, or call the parish office (833-0301) and Fran will contact you.
Children’s First Scholarship for 2014-2015 ~ Scholarships are now available for Buffalo children transferring out of low-performing schools to an area private school, but the time to apply is short. The scholarship is being funded in part by the John R. Oishei Foundation. The Catholic Diocese of Buffalo and three other local foundations have made matching grants for the effort. The program will be overseen by the Bison Children’s Scholarship Fund. We have information and application forms for parents who are interested. Please see or call Sister Barbara (833-0301) if you would like a packet. Applications should be completed and submitted as soon as possible.
Catholic Charities ~ Thank you! We are so appreciative to our donors, volunteers and other supporters who contributed to the 2014 Appeal, pushing us to exceed our $10.8 goal. Because of your support, we will be “heart at work,” serving our neighbors in Jesus’ name. Learn more about what we have to offer by visiting http://www.ccwny.org or by calling 716-218-1400.
News from our Vicariate Cluster and the Wider Community
Annual Triduum of Celebrations for the Feast of St. Ann will take place in Buffalo on July 24, 25 and 26 at St. Ann’s Church and Shrine (651 Broadway and Emslie St.) and at SS. Columba-Brigid Church (975 Hickory St. at Eagle St.). Outdoor Rosary at St. Ann’s Church at 6:45 p.m. followed by Mass at SS. Columba-Brigid Church at 7:15 p.m. each evening.
St. Martha Parish, located at 10 French Road in Depew, announces its annual lawn fete the weekend of July 25–27. The lawn fete features: a beer tent and live entertainment from 7-11:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3-9 p.m. on Sunday; Chiavetta’s Chicken Barbecue on Sunday from 12:30-5:30 p.m. (while supplies last), Adults $10 and Senior/Child $9; Cash Raffle with $10,000 Grand Prize; games; food; entertainment; all paved areas; rain or shine. For more information visit www.stmarthadepew.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/olbs.fete. Event dates and times: Friday, July 25, 5 p.m.-midnight; Saturday, July 26, 1 p.m.-midnight; Sunday, July 27, 1 p.m.-9 p.m.
Family Vacation Bible School will be held at St. Martin de Porres Church from July 28-August 1 from 6:00 – 8:30 p.m. The experience is for children ages 5-12, teens and adults and includes dinner each evening at 6:00 p.m. Registration fee is $15 per family. Registration forms are available on table in front vestibule of our church.
Ladies of Charity, a volunteer organization that sponsors a variety of programs of assistance for those in need, has a growing need for household items provided through Fresh Start, which provides basic household goods for those who have experienced home displacement. Items including new and gently used blankets and comforters, dishes and cooking utensils, would be greatly appreciated. Donations are accepted weekdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1122 Broadway, Buffalo. Call 716-895-4001 for more information or visit http://www.ccwny.org.
If you are a victim of Domestic Violence and are in need of access to safety planning, spiritual care, legal assistance, limited medical assistance, counseling, law enforcement, the Family Justice Center of Erie County, Inc. “Where Families Come First” is for you! ALL SERVICES ARE FREE and conversations strictly private. Information: 716-558-7233 or http://www.fjcsafe.org.