St. Joe's Faith

Where YOUR faith can grow and bear fruit!

   
         FAMILY LIFE

   For Adults   

* Lenten Prayer of the Church followed by presentation given by Father James Vacco, OFM, "Evangelization, How to Bring the Family Closer to Jesus" on March 23 at 7pm.
Stations of the Cross and presentation given by Father Jack (John) Mattimore , SJ, "Walking the Way of the Cross." Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament on March 26 at 7pm.
* Living Stations presented by St. John's Grade 6 students on April 1 at 7pm.
Programs will be held at St. John the Baptist Church, 2021 Sandridge Road, Alden 14004. For further information, call 716-937-6959.

* Easter Week Retreat: "Spirituality for Survivors" for religious and laity with Father John Graden, OSFS. Monday, April 5 at 7pm until Saturday, April 10 after breakfast.
* Spring Art Classes -Evening Session II. April 7 & 14 from 7-9pm with Sister Joselle
* Spring Art Classes for Seniors Session II. April 8 & 15 from 10am - noon with Sister Joselle
* St. Mary of the Lake Confirmation Class. April 11 from Noon to 6pm
* Columban Sisters Assembly. April 11-16 from Sunday, 7:00 p.m. - Friday after breakfast
* Women of ALANON. April 16-18
Programs are hosted by St. Columban Center in Derby. Reservations are required. Information: 716-947-4708 or Columban@buffalodiocese.org. Visit
http://www.stcolumbancenter.org.

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Dyngus Day Dinner Dance
 with Eddie O and his 17-piece orchestra, Polish Folk dancers and a sit-down family style dinner. Beer and birch will be served and you can bring your own bottles and mixers if you wish. The event will be held on Saturday, April 10 at the St. Gregory the Great Ministry Center in Williamsville from 5-11pm. Tickets will not be sold at the door but can be obtained until April 3 by calling Virginia (632-7114).

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Understanding the Six Needs of Mourning:
 
Accept the reality of the death. Let yourself feel the pain of the loss. Remember the person who died. Develop a new self-identity. Search for meaning and let others help you now and always. Free program: April 7 from 6:30-8:30 pm at St. Edmund Campus, Father Smiroldo Center, 530 Ellicott Creek Road, Tonawanda. For your FREE bereavement packet or parenting packet to assist your children as you and they grieve, contact Family Life Ministries at 716-847-2210 or email
familylife@buffalodiocese.org

A weekend away for a LIFETIME of change. The Beginning Experience is a weekend program for those who have worked through the initial anger and despair which occurs in the first stages of grief after the death or separation or divorce of one's spouse. One can turn the pain of loss to an experience of positive growth. It is a Christian based non-denominational program under the auspices of the Diocese of Rochester. The program takes place at Camp Stella Maris on Conesus Lake. Open to all. For more information, call the Beginning Experience Hotline 585-987-1750 or Stephen and Liz Wascak at 585-237-5155. The next weekend is April 9, 10 & 11.

Circle of Daughters, Inc. offers counseling for men, women and children for grief related issues as well as depression, anxiety and parenting concerns. Also offered are a variety of groups including a group for women who have lost their mother, the only such group in WNY. Program director Day Cummings LMSW RN has worked with groups and individuals for over 30 years. Located in Hamburg. For more information, the new phone number is 716-507-6281 or email momspirit@aol.com

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For your free Marriage Spirituality tune-up packet of practical materials, contact Family Life Ministries at 716-847-2210 or emai
l
familylife@buffalodiocese.org

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Marriage Moment
Love is about many things, but any enduring relationship ultimately involves sacrifice and the cross. What has my spouse sacrificed for me -- time, career, hobbies, having his/her own way, where we live? Thank your spouse and share how the sacrifice makes you feel. It will add to your gratitude.

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Sunday Televised Masses at 7:30am on WUTV Fox TV29 -
March 14 Msgr. James Campbell.
March 21 - Father Art Smith.
March 28 - Father Ronald Sams
.

Gift ideas: Proving Holiness Documentary DVD; Food for Thought DVD cookbook; Our Daily Bread cookbooks, potholders, aprons, tote bags; Apostle of Peace DVD/VHS; St. Joseph Cathedral documentary; Legacy of Victory documentary; Enduring Faith documentary. Sunday Mass DVD/VHS. Call Maryann at 847-8721 to order.

The Alzheimer's Association (716-626-0600 or www.alz.org/wny) provides information on many support groups for caregivers across the eight counties of Western New York. Locations and dates for meetings, contacts, and other helpful resources and information are available for those who are caring for a loved one with Alzheimer's or a related dementia. The Alzheimer's Association also trains volunteers on how to care for an individual with this condition.

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Eighth Annual Catholic Men's Conference.The Eighth Annual Catholic Men's Conference will take place
on Saturday, March 20. The speakers will include Richard Lane, a nationally known Evangelist and co-founder of the Qorban Ministries, and
the St. Louis Men's Conference and son of
former NFL cornerback, Dick "Night Train" Lane; and Jerry Balone, now a Criminal Justice Consultant, author, speaker and powerful witness to God's transformative powers. The Conference site will again be at Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda right off the I-290. Space will be limited
, so register early by using our online registration system which can be found at 
http://www.spiritiscalling.org.
Don't miss
this inspiring annual event!

 

 

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The Alzheimer's Association is seeking volunteers
to provide "friendly visits" for people who have Alzheimer's disease and related disorders so that caregivers may take a break. Also, if you are an individual who is taking care of a loved one with Alzheimer's or dementia, we invite you to participate in our program. Is respite needed in your church? We will train volunteers and help you start a church respite program. Please call 716-626-0600 for details.


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RETREATS FOR WOMEN
You are invited by the Felician Sisters to enter into the restful silence of God.  (Almost) Every month between October 2009 and June 2010 the Felician Sisters at Villa register, please contact Sr. Charlene Nowak at (716) 892-4141 x 202 a week prior to retreats to register.    

March 20“The Spirituality of Place”

April 17 – “An Empty Tomb, Job, and the Road to Emmaus”

May 15 – “Mary, Mother of the Church; Our Spiritual Mother”

June 12 – “Thirsting for God”

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        For Kids        

Summer Jobs Camp Turner is now hiring for Summer employment from June 27-Aug. 20. Weekends and 4th of July are days off. Candidates must be drug free with a clean criminal record and super references. Counselors must be 18+. Support positions must be 16+ years old and must be willing to live at Camp in a Catholic environment. Teachers and catechists are encouraged to apply! Visit http://www.CampTurner.com 
for application materials. Camp Turner is not for profit and operated by th
e Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.


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Family Lenten/Easter Packet Available
Looking for ways
to keep your children
interested and have a
positive experience of the
Church's annual retreat for
2010? With a little creativity
and time you can provide your family with a unique journey together with Jesus. Your
free packet includes realistic
ideas and practical activities, designed to discover the
riches of Lent and Easter
together. For your spirituality
tool box of ideas, contact
your Office of Family Life
Ministries at 716-847-2210
or e-mail 
familylife@buffalodiocese.org


Host Families
Needed
 for Buffalo State College international students to visit, enjoy an occasional meal, celebrate holidays, participate in community sporting and cultural events and gain insight into our country and culture. The host family will have the opportunity to make a new friend, to learn about another country's culture, holidays, and language. If you are interested in participating, call Dr. Jean Gounard at 878-5331 for more information.

Bell Ringer Auction and Luncheon hosted by Ladies of Charity, a volunteer organization of Catholic Charities. Creekside Banquet Center, 2669 Union Road, Cheektowaga on Saturday, March 27. A family style luncheon will be served, and participants will have an opportunity to win gift certificates from local merchants, collectibles, vintage items, and door prizes. Doors open at 11am; lunch at noon. Reservations are required: 895-4001

Parenting Perspective- 

His mother treasured (pondered) all these things in her heart. (Luke 2:51) You don't have to be a mother to watch and ponder your child's progress and set backs. Silently watch your children today and marvel at the ups and downs of their lives.

Unless you've been living in a cave, you and your children have been inundated with news about the earthquake in Haiti these last few weeks. Perhaps you and any older children have donated to the relief work, but what can a baby or toddler do? Not much. They are with us to hug and remind us that life is fragile. Pray again for parents and children who no longer have each other to hug. Do this as a family.


Consider doing something
pro-active
like starting the tradition of having a weekly Family Night.
Start today by playing a family game together. Have ice cream sundaes to top it off.
Be creative so everyone
looks forward to it. Stick with the habit.

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Safeguard the environment Every time you shop, use a
re-usable bag.  The Diocesan Care for Creation Committee is offering such a bag: made in WNY, manufactured by
persons with disabilities, strong, durable and washable.  To purchase a bag(s) and
learn more about Catholic Social Teaching on Care for Creation, contact Sr. Sharon Goodremote at 853-4424 ext. 3006.  Pope
Benedict XVI
dedicated a portion of his new social encyclical, "Caritas in Veritate" ("Charity in Truth"),
to the urgent duty to share
the earth's resources equitably and safeguard the environment for future generations.

Catholic Social Teaching: 
A table is where
people come together for food. For many,
there is not enough food and,
in some cases, no table at all.
The Gospel and Catholic
social teaching place
our
service of the poor and
vulnerable and our work for
justice at the center of
Christian witness. Of forty-nine million people in American households, one in six went
hungry or had insufficient food
at some point in 2008, the
highest
number since the government began tracking the problem in 1995. The biggest increases were among households with children and people who
were hungry most often. (U.S. Department of Agriculture) Hold in your prayer those families who suffer from hunger. Decide as a family to do more to help those in need. Visit
 
http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/.

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The St. Thomas More
Guild 
announces its 4th annual scholarship program for students attending Catholic elementary and high schools during the 2010-11 school
year. One $500 scholarship
will be awarded to a student attending a Catholic
elementary
school, and one
$1,000 scholarship will be
awarded to a student attending or entering a Catholic high
school.
All eligible students to
apply. St. Thomas More was a lawyer who lived during the
reign of Henry
VIII of England
and rose to the position of
Chancellor. He lived by the
principles of honesty, integrity,
dedication to his profession,
his family and above all, his
Catholic
faith.He was martyred
for refusing to turn his back on
that faith. The St. Thomas More Guild is an organization of
Catholic lawyers that try to
emulate those principles.
For rules and an application, visit
 
http://www.stthomasmorewny.org.

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 Recommended Reading



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 Job Openings
Summer Jobs Camp Turner is now hiring for Summer employment from June 27-Aug. 20. Weekends and 4th of July are days off. Candidates must be drug free with a clean criminal record and super references. Counselors must be 18+. Support positions must be 16+ years old and must be willing to live at Camp in a Catholic environment. Teachers and catechists are encouraged to apply! Visit http://www.CampTurner.com 
for application materials. Camp Turner is not for profit and operated by th
e Catholic Diocese of Buffalo.


 

________________________
All information from the
Diocesan Bulletin found on
the Chancery Page here:
<http://www.buffalodiocese.org/Chancery/>