2660 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Tonawanda, New York 14150
January 17, 2021
Sൺർඋൺආൾඇඍඈൿ Bൺඉඍංඌආ: Upon request, every Sunday at 12:30 PM, and at Mass. Parents must attend a Pre-Baptismal Class held on the First Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM. Call the office for reservations two months in advance. Rංඍൾඈൿ Cඁඋංඌඍංൺඇ Iඇංඍංൺඍංඈඇ is the way the Church prepares an unbaptized person for their sacraments. Persons already baptized in other denominations are also welcomed through this process. Contact the office for information.
Pඋൺඒൾඋ Nൾඍඐඈඋ/Pඋൺඒൾඋ Tඋൾൾ: To be added to the list, call the parish office or MaryAnn Kern (716) 692-2033 or Laurie Wysocki (716) 691-4378.
Sൺർඋൺආൾඇඍඈൿ Cඈඇൿංඋආൺඍංඈඇ: High School students having completed tenth grade in either a Catholic school or our Religious Education program should contact the Religious Education office at (716) 694-4310.
Sൺർඋൺආൾඇඍඈൿ Rൾർඈඇർංඅංൺඍංඈඇ: The first and third Wednesday of each month at 7 PM, or by appointment.
Sൺർඋൺආൾඇඍඈൿ Mൺඍඋංආඈඇඒ: Arrangements are to be made at least six months before the desired wedding date. A marriage preparation program is required. Lൾඍඍൾඋඌඈൿ Rൾർඈආආൾඇൽൺඍංඈඇ: To receive a letter of recommendation to be a sponsor for Baptism or Confirmation, you must be a registered member of the parish for at least 6 months; who regularly attends Mass and receives the Sacraments. Regular use of envelopes (even if empty) indicates attendance at Mass. Sponsors are to be Baptized, Confirmed, have their children in Catholic School or Religious Education (Gr. 1–10) and, if married, have done so in conformity with the laws of the Church. Adult children (18 and over) should be registered on their own. Call (716) 692-2660.
MASS TIMES Saturday 4:30 PM Sunday 7:30, 9:00 & 11:00 AM
Monday, Wednesday & Friday 6:45 AM Tuesday & Thursday 8 AM
CONFESSION Every First & Third Wednesday 7-8 PM or by appointment
ADORATION Tuesday 8:45 AM - 7 PM
Novena at 7 PM PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 9 AM - 4 PM
(Closed 12:30 - 1 PM) www.saintchris.org
(716) 692-2660
“We, the people of St. Christopher Parish, journey to the heavenly kingdom of God our Father by following the example and service of Jesus Christ his Son, inspired daily by the Holy Spirit to lead faith-filled Christian lives.”
Jesus turned and saw them
following him and said to them,
What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi which
translated means Teacher — ,
“where are you staying?”
He said to them,
“Come, and you will see.”
JN 1:38-39
IN SYMPATHY
Mary Titorenko (mother of Patty Lavocat) Teresa G. Ciappa Walter WeglarSANCTUARY LAMP
The St. Mary Candle will burn this week for
David, Marc and Dean by Family
The St. Christopher Candle will burn this week for
Jim Skipper by Ed & Diane Germain
The Sanctuary Candle will burn this week for
The Franchell Men by The Family
WEEKLY MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday, January 17:
7:30 AM Ellen Christensen by St. Chris Ushers 9:00 AM Iona Rickard (mother of Diane Leithner)
by Busy Hands Yarn Ministry 11:00 AM Patricia Pogodzinski
by the Lindner Family
Monday, January 18:
6:45 AM Irene Brown by Fr. Steve
Tuesday, January 19:
8:00 AM Sally Herr by 33 Days Friends
Wednesday, January 20:
6:45 AM John Gatto by Kathy & Charles Miller
Thursday, January 21:
8:00 AM Joseph Senall by Family
Friday, January 22:
6:45 AM For the People of St. Chris
Saturday, January 23:
4:30 PM Richard Joy by Shirley & John Joy
Sunday, January 24:
7:30 AM Ellen Christensen by Ed & Diane Germain 9:00 AM Roger J. Wolf
by wife, Marie & Family & Grandchildren 11:00 AM Enrico “Tony” Passero
by the Jekielek Family
VOCATIONS CORNER
Today’s First Reading is the perfect Vocation Story. Is it the Lord who is calling you in the night? Will you answer “Speak Lord, Your servant is listening”? If God is calling you to the commitment of being a priest, or a religious brother or sister, contact our Pastor, Fr. Steve, or Fr. Dave Baker at 716-847-5535 or visit buffalovocations.org
KEY CONTACTS
PARISH SCHOOL Phone: (716) 693-5604 Fax: (716) 693-5127 school@saintchris.org Principal: Dr. Camille Pontrello cpontrello@saintchris.org RELIGIOUS EDUCATION reled@saintchris.org Telephone: (716) 694-4310 Director: Marie Sajsa msajsa@saintchris.org OUTREACH & St. Vincent de Paul (716) 564-9023 Mission Coordinator: Cindy Vanderbrook cvanderbrook@saintchris.org (716) 564-9023 Pastoral Council
Andrea Robinson, President pastoralcouncil@saintchris.org PARISH OFFICES Phone (716) 692-2660 FAX (716) 693-5639 rectory@saintchris.org www.saintchris.org PARISH STAFF
Pastor: Rev. Steven Jekielek sjekielek@saintchris.org Parochial Vicar: Rev. Donald Watkins Jr. dwatkins@saintchris.org Deacons:
Francis A. Zwack Thomas Healey David McDermott
Director of Music: Sean Polen spolen@saintchris.org
Business Manager: Marie Schwab mschwab@saintchris.org
Bulletin Editor: Sheri Ingraham bulletin@saintchris.org Parish Trustees: Shirley Joy & Tom Panek
BAPTISMS
Khloe Ann Fox
Scripture for the week of January 17, 2021
17 SUN 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19/1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20/Jn1:35-42 18 Mon Heb 5:1-10/Mk 2:18-22 19 Tue Heb 6:10-20/Mk 2:23-28 20 Wed Heb 7:1-3, 15-17/Mk 3:1-6 21 Thu Heb 7:25—8:6/Mk 3:7-12 22 Fri Heb 8:6-13/Mk 3:13-19 23 Sat Heb 9:2-3, 11-14/Mk 3:20-21
24 SUN Jon 3:1-5, 10/1 Cor 7:29-31/Mk 1:14-20
BULLETIN SUBMISSIONS
Any future bulletin submission requests should be emailed to bulletin@saintchris.org. They should be submitted, at the latest, on the Monday (no later than 10 AM) preceding the weekend you wish for it to be published. In your email, please be specific about which dates you want your blurb to appear, and space provided, we will do our best to accommodate your requests. Thank you!
Dear Family
,We have now left the Christmas Season behind and
have entered into Ordinary Time. Sometimes we
see this time as a break until the beginning of Lent
and we tend to push our celebration of Jesus’
redeeming presence among us into the background.
However, our readings for this Second Sunday of
Ordinary Time pull us right out of that frame of
mind. In our First Reading, Samuel hears the
gentle voice of God calling him into ministry. At
first, he does not realize that it is God calling him.
He thinks that it is Eli, the elderly high priest of
Shiloh, beside whom he serves. Eli is the one who
understands that God is calling Samuel and
instructs him to reply to God with the words ‘speak
Lord, your servant is listening’. Our Gospel
reading today presents to us the call of the first
disciples of Jesus, who are willing to leave
everything behind to follow Him. We are all called
to service as baptized Christian people. Are we
asking God to speak to us? Are we willing to take
that step and offer our services to God even before
He calls? Or are we trying to hide away so that
God might not call us to serve? We need to trust in
Him. If God calls us to ministry, He will provide
us with the talents and gifts we need to carry out
that ministry. Spend some time in prayer during
this Ordinary Time. Ask God what He needs you
to do and then be ready to respond with a YES!
Praised Be Jesus Christ…Now and Forever!!!!
Father Steve
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS
Families in Religious Education and sacramental preparation; please check your emails as we will be sending out information about preparation for sacrament and continued classes for faith formation and an adjusted calendar this week.
For the next few weeks we will be in Ordinary time before Lent and Easter season begin. We hear the gospels that show the early ministry of Jesus. The main focus of the gospels this year is the gospel written by Mark. The first to set into words the good news of Jesus Christ; we will also hear form the gospel of John since the gospel of Mark is a shorter gospel.
Connecting to the gospel-John 1:35–42
John the Baptist recognizes Jesus as the Lamb of God, and Jesus receives his first followers. In today’s Gospel we learn about one of at least two family relations that appear among Jesus’ first disciples. Andrew is the brother of Simon, whom Jesus renames Peter. In next week’s Gospel, we will learn about the brothers James and John, the sons of Zebedee. We know from the letters of Paul and other witnesses to the early Church that it was a common occurrence for an entire household to be baptized together. From the very beginning of the Church, families helped one another to know and follow Jesus. We hope and pray that this continues to be true in our family life.
Before your family gathers, look around your house and gather some items that your family might have that remind you of your faith. Perhaps you have a cross or crucifix displayed in your home, a statue of Mary, or statues or other art depicting saints. In today’s Gospel we learn about how Andrew led his brother, Simon, to Jesus. Read today’s Gospel, John 1:35-42.
In our family life, we also help to lead one another to Jesus. Talk together about the items that you gathered, discussing what these items mean to you and how you might use them during the day for prayer. Pray that your family will continue to help one another grow in our faith in Jesus. Pray together the Glory Be to the Father. Another interesting reading is the call and response of Samuel which we hear in the first reading.
Blessings,
Marie Sajsa, DRE
This weekend we remember the contributions to end racism peacefully by Rev Martin Luther King Jr.
This prayer comes from the Sisters of Mercy
Good and gracious God,
Who loves and delights in all people, we stand in awe before You, knowing that the spark of life within each person on earth is the spark of your divine life.
Differences among cultures and races are multicolored manifestations of Your Light. May our hearts and minds be open to celebrate similarities and differences among our sisters and brothers.
We place our hopes for racial harmony in our committed action and in Your Presence in our Neighbor. May all peoples live in Peace. AMEN.
We are all encouraged to spend the weekend doing acts of service and kindness and promoting peace.
OFFERTORY COLLECTIONS
1/9-10/2021 1/11-12/2020 Difference
Sunday $ 8,718.50 $ 22,745.45 $ 14,026.95
Monthly $ 387.00 $ 538.00 $ 151.00
FROM THE SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATIVE TEAM
Blessings, dear parish family,
It’s been a busy start to the new year at St. Christopher Catholic School. Over the break, Dr. Pontrello picked up our Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 Ag Card testing kits. The original directive from the NYS Department of Health to test 100% of our population (students, faculty/school staff, parish staff, LE3 After School Program, and Traveling Teachers from Sweet Home) was changed in December to 20% per month. We quickly turned and pivoted to revise our testing plan on January 3rd, 2021. With the support of 11 St.
Christopher family members who are medical professionals and our school nurse, Mrs. Vicki Davis, we successfully tested 20% randomly and are please to report there were no positive cases. School opened smoothly and the children and teachers had an exciting first week back! They planned Polar Express Pajama Parties, Feast of the Epiphany Parties, served “King Cakes” and wore crowns...it was a wonderful way to celebrate our “little Christmas.” We wrapped up the week with a BILLS celebration day. We all wore our Buffalo Bills wear to support our home team! Thanks to Fowler’s for making us chocolate buffalo pops to pass out to all! Blessings in 2021 as we move forward open five days!
Dr. Camille Pontrello, Principal
Mrs. Nancy Kindred, Assistant Principal Mrs. Rebecca McKeon, Interim Asst. Principal
2021 MASS INTENTIONS
There are still Masses available for the beginning of 2021 if you would like to have a Mass said for family, friends, or neighbors. Please know that Masses can be said for living people as well as the deceased. Mass intentions can be booked in the Parish office during regular business hours.REKINDLE THE FIRE WITHIN
On Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 7 PM,
St. Christopher Parish will be celebrating another
Praise and Worship evening. Please join us for a
night of inspirational music and worship. The
evening will be spent in Adoration of our Lord in
the Blessed Sacrament, with moment of prayer and
reflection interspersed throughout. It is sure to be a
Spirit-filled evening! Please give yourself a gift and
attend! You won’t want to miss out on this
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17
12:30 PM Baptism Church
MONDAY, JANUARY 18
7:00 PM Build an Ark St. Edmund SPC 7:30 PM Celebration Bells Church
TUESDAY, JANUARY 19
9 AM - 7 PM Adoration/Novena Church
10:00 AM Build an Ark St. Edmund SPC 1:00 PM Busy Hands Yarn Ministry St. Edmund SPC 7:00 PM RCIA Hospitality Room
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 20
7:00 PM Reconciliation Church
THURSDAY, JANUARY 21
5:00 PM Men’s Bereavement Rectory Room 7:00 PM Praise & Worship Church
FRIDAY, JANUARY 22
6:45 PM Boy Scouts Troop 58 Cafeteria
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
12:30 PM Baptism Church
WEEKLY CALENDAR OF EVENTS
2020 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
REQUEST FORM
Name:_______________________________________ Address:____________________________________ Phone:___________________ Parish ID*: _________
*This number appears just above your name on your envelopes.
2020 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial statements reflecting your donations to
St. Christopher for 2020 will be available by request.
Please complete this form and return it in the
collection basket or to the Parish Office. You can
also request a statement by email to
rectory@saintchris.org.
Dioceses Across USA Participating in
Nationwide Prayer Vigil for Life,
January 28-29, 2021
"This year, for the first time ever, in addition to the televised Mass, bishops in dioceses across the country will be taking turns leading live-streamed holy hours every hour on the hour throughout the all-night vigil.
The vigil will begin with a live broadcast at 8:00 PM on Thursday, January 28 from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. with a rosary, followed by Mass opening the National Prayer Vigil for Life".
https://www.usccb.org/news/2021/dioceses-across-usa-participating-nationwide-prayer-vigil-life-january-28-29
“God is Love” 1 John 4:8
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