News

Ash Wednesday will be celebrated on February 17th. We are living through a time filled with different ways of living and praying. There are fewer people in church. No water in the front. Less singing. Communion primarily in the hand. No coffee and doughnuts on the way home. Yet we still pray. Instead of giving ashes as a cross on the forehead—unsafe in this COVID time—we can still receive them by sprinkling on the top of the head (permitted by our ritual rules). Sprinkling ashes on the crown of the head recalls the biblical method of putting on sackcloth and ashes as a sign of penance: “Now on the twenty-fourth day of this month, the people of Israel were assembled with fasting and in sackcloth, and with earth upon their heads” (Neh 9:1). We will look a little cleaner. We can still repent, and believe in the Gospel. We will still bear ashes home to begin our lenten practices, borne of our hearts.

Bishop Michael Fisher, Chair Rick Cronin, and Deacon Steve Schumer launched Appeal 2021 earlier this week and announced the $10 million goal, as well as "HOPE for all Seasons" as the campaign theme and St. Ignatius Loyola as this year’s patron saint. Your donation to the Appeal supports Catholic Charities of Buffalo and the Fund for the Faith. Your financial gift stays in Western New York and helps those in our communities who are struggling to live, work, and support families, and those who need spiritual care and support. You can help provide HOPE for all seasons. And it couldn’t be easier: please visit www.ccwny.org/donation or call the Helpline at 716-218-1419 today.

When you are alone and uncertain, we are hope. The majority of us have been in a situation where we were in a new, unfamiliar place and surrounded by strangers. For many of the refugees coming to Buffalo, this is their reality. Catholic Charities' Immigration & Refugee Assistance Program helps to ease the unfamiliarity of a new country and culture. The program offers these sponsored refugees – forced out of their home country by war or persecution – a new start through assistance with housing, food, clothing and employment, and enrolling in English-language classes. Catholic Charities has been supporting refugees and immigrants since it was established in 1923. Catholic Charities offers hope for all seasons. For more information, go to www.ccwny.org/refugees.

Our sincere appreciation to the Lester Wedekindt Funeral Home for providing our parish with beautiful liturgical calendars for 2021. They are available in the church and sacristy!

We are so grateful for what God has provided. Please remain safe this holiday. Fr. Dennis and our staff wish you a blessed and happy Thanksgiving!

Our Mass schedule is: Christmas Eve: 2:30pm, 4:30pm, 10pm. Christmas Day: 10am, 12pm. Due to the recent Supreme Court ruling, we're no longer restricted to Governor Cuomo's 25 in-person maximum for churches that was imposed with the Orange Zone. Therefore, we are planning for a higher limit at each Christmas Mass of 125 people. Parishioners and friends of our parish will need to register for their chosen Mass and receive a ticket which they will need to present when they come for Mass. This registration and ticket distribution will occur only before and after the weekend Masses beginning the first weekend of Advent (November 28-29) and will continue each weekend until all Masses are filled. Registration and color tickets for each Mass will be available in the church before and after weekend Masses only. No phone registrations will be accepted. This is a difficult time in our lives but in order to stay healthy and follow CDC and New York State regulations, these guidelines are necessary this year. Thank you for your understanding. Join us at St. Timothy's as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior this Christmas! God bless. -Fr. Dennis

All are welcome for our Gospel reflection group that gathers after the 10am Mass on Tuesdays. Sister Ann Marie Grasso, SSMN, a Sister of St. Mary of Namur, leads the program which includes prayer and connecting Holy Scripture with our lives. Reflecting on these inspired words, people can grow deeper in their relationship with God and come to understand their place in our community and the world. Please remember to wear a mask and practice social distancing. Join us!

UNITED STATES BANKRUPTCY COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK in re The Diocese of Buffalo N.Y. Case No. 20-10322. PLEASE TAKE NOTICE THAT, On February 28, 2020, The Diocese of Buffalo N.Y., (“Diocese”) filed for protection under chapter 11 of title 11 of the United States Code (the “Bankruptcy Code”). The Bankruptcy Court has established August 14, 2021 at 11:59 p.m. (prevailing Eastern time) as the deadline to file proofs of claim against the Diocese (the “Bar Date”). If you have a claim against the Diocese, including, without limitation, a claim related to sexual abuse committed by any person connected with the Diocese, you must file a claim on or before the Bar Date. Please visit https://case.stretto.com/dioceseofbuffalo or call 855-292-7696 for more information on how to file your proof of claim. IF YOU DO NOT TIMELY FILE A PROOF OF CLAIM, YOU MAY FORFEIT YOUR RIGHT TO VOTE ON ANY PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND TO SHARE IN ANY DISTRIBUTIONS TO CREDITORS IN CONNECTION WITH THE DIOCESE’S CHAPTER 11 CASE.

On September 18th, 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 our parish home page. For more information, the Diocese of Buffalo has this website available: roadtorenewal.org

During 12pm Mass on Sunday, August 30th, our Faith Formation students Juliana Fanara, Christopher Garbo, and Ryland Schloerb received the Sacrament of Confirmation! We extend our heartfelt congratulations and offer our prayers for each of you. You have taken an important step in your journey of faith by readying yourselves to become fully initiated into the Body of Christ. May the Holy Spirit continue to guide each of you according to the path that God has set out for your life. May you always be courageous and uncompromising witnesses to the Catholic faith, to Christ, and His Love. We express our gratitude to the parents, sponsors, and everyone who has taken time to help prepare our youth to receive the Gifts of the Holy Spirit.

Congratulations and many blessings to Keira Waggoner who celebrated her First Reconciliation and First Holy Communion this summer! May you always know Jesus' love and mercy through His precious gifts of these sacraments. Thanks to everyone who helped make this day possible. Our parish extends its best wishes and prayers for you as you continue your faith journey.

We received our quarterly disbursement of $6,375.60 from the Upon This Rock campaign. We are grateful to all our parishioners who have contributed. Please continue to fulfill your pledges as they help to address needed projects within our parish. These recent funds will be used to replace outdated mercury vapor light fixtures in our church and education building with more efficient LED lights which will lead to energy cost savings. Thank you for your generosity and continued support. -Fr. Dennis

Starting September 2020, the Western New York Catholic will cease being printed in its current paper form. The stories and images of life in the eight-county Diocese of Buffalo will still be told but they will reside on the newspaper’s website, wnycatholic.org, and can be accessed by computers, phones, and tablets. With people choosing to get their news online and the decline in print advertising, the move to cancel the publication will save the diocese around $130,000 a year in printing costs. Over the summer the staff of the Office of Communications will be developing a refreshing new look for the Western New York Catholic and will produce a publication biweekly that can be downloaded and printed.

Masses originally scheduled for Saturdays at 7pm will be celebrated by Fr. Dennis privately. Please know that intentions for these Masses will be honored and your loved ones will be prayed for during these private Masses. If you wish to reschedule your Mass, please call the rectory.

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st. Father Dennis and staff extend wishes for a Blessed & Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in our parish!

Mass Requests are Now Being Accepted for the 2021 calendar year! Please contact the Rectory at 716-875-9430 on Tuesdays, between 9:30am-2:30pm.

Parishioners and friends of St. Timothy's can now make recurring (monthly or weekly) gifts, or one-time gifts, directly on our parish website. Stop worrying about weekly offertory envelopes or mailing in donations. Instead, give a gift at any time on a computer, smartphone, or tablet using a checking account or debit/credit card. It’s simple and secure. It’s as easy as online shopping or banking. Visit our "Give" page to see how easy it is. During these uncertain times, your support is more important than ever. Please prayerfully consider our online giving option. Thank you for your generosity.

Mrs. JeanMarie Doyle has decided to retire as Faith Formation Director. It has been a pleasure to have worked with her for the past 10 years. Her parish faith days, involvement with parents, and student service projects added much to the faith formation of our young people. We wish her the best as she moves to Virginia to spend quality time with her children and grandchildren. May she be blessed with good health and happiness. Mrs. Judy Papaj, who has been Assistant Director this past year, will become Director. I am confident that she will continue the good work of sharing our Catholic Faith with our children and teens. Let us continue to pray for each other! -Fr. Dennis

My sincere appreciation to all who have sent their contribution for this year's Catholic Charities Appeal. At this time, we've collected $45,096 toward our goal of $80,000. We're living in a very difficult time. I know that all are suffering the effects of the coronavirus pandemic but, if you are able, I would ask for your support for the many people of Western New York who benefit from the programs supported by Catholic Charities. Contributions may be made by sending your donation to the rectory. Thank you, and may God bless your generous hearts. -Fr. Dennis

The St. Timothy Parish community joyfully welcomes and congratulates newly baptized Harper Ann Gravelle (parents Marc and Jessica)! We offer our prayers and support to the newest member of Christ and His Church.