Bishop Mike, from all of us at Saint Timothy Parish
in Tonawanda, New York, welcome!
This short video is just a glimpse
of our parish family.
We look forward to getting to know you,
and having you learn more about us.
You have our prayers and support
as you begin this journey
shepherding the Diocese of Buffalo.
#WelcomeBishopMike
Habemus Episcopum novum! We have a new Bishop!
Bishop Michael W. Fisher has been named the 15th Bishop of the Diocese of Buffalo.
Bishop Mike, on behalf of Pastor Dennis Fronckowiak and all the parishioners at Saint Timothy Parish, we extend our warmest welcome to you!
We pray for you and our Diocese with immense hope for the future. We look forward to getting to know you and working with you toward a renewal of faith throughout Western New York.
We are grateful for the interim leadership of Bishop Edward Scharfenberger while with us this past year. Bishop Ed, prayers and best wishes to you! May God bless you and your continued ministry in the Diocese of Albany.
Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger issued a Pastoral Letter to the Clergy, Religious, and Lay Faithful of our diocese.
The letter was mailed to registered Catholic households as well as being made available at all of our parishes and Catholic Institutions in time for the First Sunday of Advent, November 29, 2020.
The purpose of the Pastoral Letter is to provide the spiritual foundation for our Diocesan Road to Renewal Initiative. Everyone in our diocese is encouraged to read the Pastoral Letter and to spend time reflecting and sharing with one another the significance of this call to renewal in the Diocese of Buffalo.
The letter is also available here:
On September 18, 2020, Bishop Scharfenberger announced the "Road to Renewal" initiative.
According to the Diocese, the Catholic Faithful, priests, deacons, religious, parish administrators, and school leaders of the Diocese of Buffalo have embarked on a journey to reinvigorate Catholic faith, more fully optimize parish and diocesan resources, and increase the impact of varied ministries throughout Western New York.
Three documents regarding this initiative are available in the "Diocesan Communications" section on this web page (scroll further down).
For more information, the Diocese of Buffalo has this website available:
roadtorenewal.org
The Renewal Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, you promise that you will accompany us on our journey of life. You are the Resurrection and the life. At times, we fail to see you because the circumstances of life are hard. Our church is dealing with challenges and we need you.
As the disciples' hearts were enflamed on the road to Emmaus, we ask that you guide our efforts and enflame our hearts with your Holy Spirit. Help us to be bold in renewing our commitment to your mission on earth. Help the Diocese of Buffalo and our parishes to recognize you, the Risen Lord, in the Breaking of the Bread as your disciples did in Scripture. May our renewal efforts change our attitudes and hearts to embrace the future in love so that we can proclaim the Gospel of Joy.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen
"The celebration of Holy Mass
has the same value as
the Death of Jesus on the Cross.”
– St. Thomas Aquinas
In an effort to continue the practice of our faith in these trying times, we invite you to join us online for Holy Mass each day of the week using the streaming button below if not attending in-person Masses.
Streaming Mass Schedule:
Begin your day with this prayer to Our Lady of Czestochowa. The "Black Madonna" of Poland can help you remain faithful to God through any storm.
For people of Polish descent around the world, Our Lady of Czestochowa remains a constant inspiration. She has been a strong rock that has helped countless people stay rooted in Jesus Christ in the midst of some of the most violent storms.
This particular image of the Virgin Mary reveals a mother who has been scarred but still faithful in her duties. She never forgets her spiritual children and gazes at them with a look of compassion. A cheek bears the scars of saber slashes purportedly inflicted by robbers - Hussites by some accounts - who desecrated the monastery of Jasna Gora in 1430 where the portrait was housed. The image gets its nickname “Black Madonna” from the soot residue which discolors the painting as a result of centuries of votive lights and candles burned in front of it.
Our Lady of Czestochowa is a strong woman, and encourages us to keep the faith, no matter what might happen to us throughout the day. Here is a morning offering prayer to her, consecrating the entire day to the “Black Madonna,” who has helped so many people during their darkest of trials.
Holy Mother of Czestochowa,
Thou art full of grace,
goodness and mercy.
I consecrate to Thee all my thoughts,
words and actions,
my soul and body.
I beseech Thy blessings
and especially prayers for my salvation.
Today, I consecrate myself
to Thee, Good Mother,
totally with body and soul
amid joy and sufferings
to obtain for myself and others
Thy blessings on this earth
and eternal life in Heaven.
Amen.
In the video below, join live 24/7 streaming from the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration of the World Center of Prayer for Peace in the Niepokalanów Monastery in Teresin, Poland (25 miles from Warsaw). The chapel is housed in the Basilica of Saint Mary Immaculate in the Franciscan monastery founded by St. Maximilian Kolbe in 1927. This is currently the world’s most-watched adoration, reaching one million online visits last month.
Livestream adoration can be a channel through which the faithful can gain a plenary indulgence for their sins during the pandemic, as confession was suspended along with Masses. Eucharistic adoration is mentioned among the different ways to obtain special indulgences in the March 20th decree issued by the Holy See's Apostolic Penitentiary, along with other practices like the recitation of the Holy Rosary or the reading of Holy Scripture.
Father Wiesław Pyzio, Minister Provincial of the Warsaw Province of the Conventual Franciscan Friars, says that "concern for the salvation of human souls was at the heart of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s apostolate. He was an apostle of the desire of salvation for all and this is why he wanted to go around the world so much — to gain new souls for salvation, through the Virgin Mary.”
“St. Maximilian Kolbe, who spent months in the Auschwitz concentration camp, knew better than anyone that we can travel through the spirit, that our heart can travel to infinity,” Fr. Pyzio adds. "At a time when it is impossible to physically participate in the Eucharist, one can unite to the Lord from home, and it is even better if it is before a virtual image of the Blessed Sacrament. It is the desire to be before God that matters the most.”
We wholeheartedly invite you to make this online pilgrimage to Niepokalanów, to gaze at the face of Our Lady, Mediatrix of all Graces, and to meet Her Son Jesus in adoration.
As I cannot now receive Thee, my Jesus,
in Holy Communion,
come spiritually into my heart
and make it Thine own forever.
Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament,
have mercy on us!
Join the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in the video below in praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet and asking God to shower his mercy upon us. We encourage all to pray that God's mercy helps to console the suffering, give peace to the anxious, and renew all people in their trust in the Lord.
This visual Chaplet helps us to experience the beauty and breadth of the world and the Catholic Church, with whom and for whom we are praying.
Included in the video are the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal in New York (Bronx) and Honduras, the Sisters of Life at Times Square, the Brothers of Saint John in the Philippines, the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, and the Order of Friars Minor (OFM) of the Franciscans in the Holy Land.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Join the Sisters of Life in praying the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary in the video below.
The Sisters of Life are a contemplative/active Roman Catholic community of women religious who profess the three traditional vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and a fourth vow to protect and enhance the sacredness of human life. They were founded by Cardinal John O’Connor in New York in 1991. The Sisters of Life currently serve in the [Arch]dioceses of New York, Bridgeport, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Toronto, Canada. Their missions include serving women who are vulnerable to abortion, giving them the support and resources to be able to choose life for themselves and their children (hosting weekend retreats, evangelization, outreach to college students), and helping women who have suffered after abortion to encounter the mercy and healing of Jesus Christ.
The Most Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it is the story of our salvation as we meditate on the mysteries of joy, light, sorrow, and glory of Jesus and Mary. It’s a simple prayer, humble, so much like Mary. It’s a prayer we can all say together with her, the Mother of God. With the Hail Mary, we invite her to pray for us. She joins her prayer to ours.
“Go to the Madonna. Love her.
Always say the Rosary.
Say it well.
Say it as often as you can.
Be souls of prayer.
Never tire of praying,
it is what is essential.
Prayer shakes the Heart of God,
it obtains necessary graces.”
- St. Padre Pio
(Note: Masses currently limited to a 100-person maximum).
SATURDAY: 4:30pm
SUNDAY: 7:30am, 10am, 12pm, 7pm
MONDAY-FRIDAY: 10am