Mass Times
Saturday Vigil Mass - 4:00 pm
Sunday Masses - 8:00 am, 9:30 am & 11:00 am
Weekdays (Monday - Friday) - 8:30 am
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturdays from 3:15 to 3:45 pm and by request
Office hours:
Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4 pm
(716) 937-6959
Welcome
St. John the Baptist family of parishioners is a faith-filled Catholic Christian community which believes in the Lord Jesus Christ, in His Church and its teachings, under the direction of our spiritual leaders. We watch and pray as we follow His call to love, life, fellowship and holiness.
"Let us ask God to help us set out on a path of true conversion. Let us leave behind our selfishness and self-absorption, and turn to Jesus’ Pasch. Let us stand beside our brothers and sisters in need, sharing our spiritual and material goods with them. In this way, by concretely welcoming Christ’s victory over sin and death into our lives, we will also radiate its transforming power to all of creation." Pope Francis, October 4, 2018
Event Cancellations
All evening activities Scheduled for Wed December 4th, 2019 at St. John the Baptist Church are cancelled including Confirmation Classes.
Parish & School Calendar
Upcoming Events
The Immaculate Conception being on a Sunday this year, will be celebrated on December 9th, but it is not a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass times are: 8:30, 12:10 & 7 p.m. (Lifeteen)
Christmas Wafers
Christmas Wafers (Oplatki) are available in the priest’s sacristy after all Masses and at the rectory. The suggested donation is $1.00
Advent Vespers
December 11th– Come celebrate the beginning of the Christmas season with traditional and contemporary hymns, anthems, and prayers that those in attendance say together. Please join us for this wonderful service of evening worship starting at 7 pm. Presented by Dan Stachelski.
The Rectory will be closed on December 13th for staff development.
Giving Tree
The gifts for our Giving Tree are to be returned by next weekend, December 14th and 15th. Please return your gifts wrapped with the mitten attached no later than Sunday December 15th at noon. The gifts will be picked up by 2 p.m. that day. We are unable to accept items after that time. Thank you again for your generosity.
Ecumenical Choir Concert
The Alden-Area Ecumenical Choir is looking forward to performing a Christmas concert at St. John’s Church at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 15th. A free will offering will be collected to benefit local not-for-profit organizations. A reception will follow in the school hall.
Christmas Flowers
To donate a Christmas Poinsettia for the altar in memory of a deceased loved one, please include $10 and the name of your loved one (printed or typed) in an envelope, which may be dropped in the collection basket or delivered to the rectory by Sunday, December 15th. (For office recording purposes, please also include your name and, if known, your parish identification/envelope number.) The names will be listed in the December 22nd bulletin.
Parish Penance Service
We will be having an Advent Penance service on Wednesday December, 18th at 6 p.m. at the church.
Vicariate Penance Services
St. Mary’s is offering a Penance Service on Monday, December 16th at 3 & 7 p.m. St. Martha’s will also be having a Penance service Tuesday, December 17th at 7 p.m.
The St. John's Folk Group
will once again be hosting their annual Children's Mass at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. Any child aged 4-12 interested in participating in special performances before and during the mass should contact Tracy Martin at 937-9312 (call) or 860-4888 (text). Practice days are Saturday December 21st from 1-3 p.m. and Monday December 23rd from 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Click below for a link of all our speakers until May
Wednesday Night Speakers and Topic
Is the Spirit Calling You to Serve?
Our parish always welcomes additional helpers in our various liturgical ministries. Lectors, those who are appointed to proclaim the Word of God in the liturgical assembly, are particularly needed at this time, especially for the 8:00 a.m. Mass. More Eucharistic Ministers, those who assist at Mass by distributing the Holy Eucharist and Precious Blood to members of the congregation, are also needed for all Masses. To learn more about becoming a lector, please contact Judy Bowman at 523-9287. Those interested in serving as Extraordinary Minsters of Holy Communion, please call Pat Heslin at 937-9293. You could also speak to Deacon Marc or Deacon Peter or call the rectory (937-6959) during the week. If you know someone who would be good in one of these ministries, please encourage them, too!
Save the Date for the 68th Annual Diocesan Youth Convention (Leap Year Edition!) February 28th, 29th, and March 1st, 2020 It is at the Buffalo Grand Hotel Downtown and High school students from across the Diocese will once again gather to celebrate the Holy Spirit at work within us and among us! We hope that you will plan on joining us on February 28th-March 1st, 2020 For more information, please contact Brandon Adkins at 937-6959 or at [email protected]
WeShare Online Giving
Liturgical Corner by Debbie Brown, Pastoral Administrator
Advent, the season of renewal, has a particular underlying element that is very important to recognize - the reality of Salvation History. The entire bible, really the entirety of human history, is the story of how God from the creation of the universe has willed our salvation. St. Augustine gives us an important insight into this idea that there is a plan: “The Old (Testament) is in the New (Testament) revealed, the New is in the Old concealed.” God has been revealing his plan of love and salvation from the beginning. In the fullness of time, when the people were ready, God sent the perfection of his creation in his Son to live among us to explain and initiate the plan of salvation for all. This was the Incarnation on which we reflect during Advent and celebrate at Christmas.
The first reading (Isaiah 11:1-10) anticipates the day when all of God’s glory will be restored. Isaiah was a prophet who stood against a terrible king. His goal was to get people who were suffering in the Kingdom of Judah hope that all would be made right someday. The person to lead this, called the Messiah (“anointed one,” as a king would be) would come from the “tree” of David’s father, Jesse. Trees often described a dynasty in the Old Testament. Well, what is left of the kingship of David is a stump, according to Isaiah, but a shoot will grow on that stump that will inaugurate this future Kingdom. Jesus would be that Messiah. Has Jesus’ Kingship been fully realized? No, there is violence and hatred everywhere in the world, but, Isaiah’s prophecy is not to be doubted because the truth is simply that it is not fully realized yet. There is an “already is” component to this prophecy which we see at times when people live the Gospel and care deeply for one another. There is also a “not yet” component – this kingdom at least on earth has not been fully realized, but it will be either when we reach the kingdom of God at our own death or at the final coming of Christ which will bring this to fulfillment. Isaiah’s image is a lot like the Garden of Eden, the place where humans and God were in perfect communion. This “original peace” was interrupted by original sin, but we live in the hope of full restoration. The plan of our salvation continues to unfold.
The Gospel (Matthew 3:1-12) gives us the path to this peace and it goes through the wild, intense prophet (and our Patron Saint) John the Baptist. His message is radical yet simple: REPENT. Last week we looked at what a transformation of the world would look like if we lived as if we are people who have been saved. For us individually and collectively, we need to recognize where we have faltered and look to change our ways. John pointed out the one who was to come, Jesus the Messiah and the Kingdom he would inaugurate. There is only one way in to that Kingdom: REPENT.
Publications
Sun, Nov 24th
Sun, Nov 17th
Staff
- Deborah Brown, Pastoral Administrator
- Rev. Msgr. Vincent Becker, Priest Moderator
- Rev. James Walter, Sacramental Minister
- Rev. Richard DiGuilio, Weekend Assistant
- Marc Leaderstorf, Permanent Deacon
- Peter Donnelly, Permanent Deacon
- Jonna Johnson, St. John's School Principal
- Jennifer Golinski, Family Faith Formation Director
- Katherine (Kate) Wypij, Business Manager
Bible Search
Catholic News
Religious freedom is a basic human right, says lawyer for Little Sisters
12/05/19 9:00 pm
IMAGE: CNS photo/Linda Petersen, Intermountain CatholicBy Linda PetersenSALT LAKE CITY (CNS) -- As an attorney with Becket, a religious liberty law firm, Luke Goodrich is proud to be able to make a difference while earning a livelihood. He sees his work as a calling from God.
It entails representing religious groups or individuals who fall afoul of the federal government simply by trying to follow the dictates of their conscience.
Read MoreUpdate: Beatification for Archbishop Sheen postponed
12/05/19 8:08 pm
IMAGE: CNSBy PEORIA, Ill. (CNS) -- Bishop Daniel R. Jenky of Peoria said Dec. 3 Vatican officials have told him that the upcoming beatification of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen has been postponed.
A news release from the Diocese of Peoria said it was informed Dec. 2 that Vatican had decided to postpone the Dec. 21 ceremony "at the request of a few members" of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Read MoreVatican unveils Nativity scene, lights Christmas tree
12/05/19 4:44 pm
IMAGE: CNS photo/Paul HaringBy Carol GlatzVATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican unveiled the Nativity scene and lit the Christmas tree with energy-saving lights in St. Peter's Square during a late afternoon ceremony Dec. 5.
The 85-foot-tall spruce tree came from the forests of the Veneto region in northeast Italy and another 20 smaller trees were donated by communities in the region's province of Vicenza.
Read MoreBusted Halo
A Lesson in Waiting: An Advent Retreat
12/04/19 3:05 am
Our preparations for Christmas often overwhelm us with occasions for waiting. We wait in line at stores. We wait for Christmas bonuses, traveling relatives, the…
The post A Lesson in Waiting: An Advent Retreat appeared first on Busted Halo.
Read More10 Meaningful Advent Traditions to Try This Year
12/02/19 12:57 am
If you’re like me, the beauty and deep meaning of Advent can get away from you awfully fast. One minute you’re lighting that first purple…
The post 10 Meaningful Advent Traditions to Try This Year appeared first on Busted Halo.
Read MoreBusted Halo’s 2019 Advent Calendar
11/30/19 12:46 am
A digital twist on the traditional Advent calendar that brings you daily inspiration and small challenges to help you connect with the Advent season.
The post Busted Halo’s 2019 Advent Calendar appeared first on Busted Halo.
Read MoreNYS Catholic Conference
Statement on Buffalo Diocese appointment
12/04/19 9:52 am
Following the announcement by the Holy See that Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Bishop Richard J. Malone from the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Buffalo and appointed Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger of the Diocese of Albany as apostolic administrator until the appointment of a permanent bishop, NYS Catholic Conference Executive Director Richard E. […]
Read MoreFatal Flaws in Assisted Suicide Legislation
08/27/19 2:17 pm
Printable PDF Here Proponents of the so-called “Medical Aid-in-Dying Act” (A.2694/S.3947)argue that it contains safeguards which protect vulnerable patients. Yet a close examination of the bill’s language reveals inadequate protections for patients most at risk of abuse, and lower medical standards than elsewhere in the Public Health Law. The bill lacks transparency and accountability, and […]
Read MoreFarmworker passage slider
06/24/19 3:11 pm