Welcome to St. George Church A Parish with Spirit and Heart!

St. George Church, 74 Old Glenwood Rd. West Falls, NY 14170-9704

Web: www.stgeorgercchurch.org Email: stgeorge.wf@gmail.com Parish Office: (716) 652-3153 Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday from 8:30 am – 1:30 pm

Sr. Lori High, SSMN, Pastoral Administrator Rev. Msgr. Jim Wall, Sacramental Minister

February 16, 2020

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This year our Sunday Gospel readings are from the Gospel of St. Matthew. Scholars tell us that Matthew wrote 30 to 40 years after the death of Jesus. He was a Jewish believer in Jesus, writing to an audience of Jewish believers. Our Christian faith is founded upon the life, death and resurrection of the Jewish man, Jesus of Nazareth. His family and all of his early followers were Jewish as well.

Occasionally then, when a passage from Matthew’s Gospel harkens especially to a Jewish mindset, we modern Catholics can find it odd or confusing. Jesus relied heavily on his Hebrew upbringing when preaching. He regularly referenced Moses and the Prophets of the Old Testament. St. Matthew weaves into his narrative of Jesus’ life story numerous ways that Jesus is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophesies.

The key to Jewish faith is belief in One God and the relational covenant between God and the Chosen People, the followers of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. We inherit this belief in One God from our Jewish ancestors. We believe that Jesus, the Incarnate Word of God, expanded the revelation of One God so that we Catholics hold to the belief that the One God is a Trinity of three persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Sister Lori

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

Saturday, February 15 5 pm Joseph & Eleanor Diggins & children, by the Estate Sunday, February 16 10 am Joseph Murphy, by Mary Ann Pietrzak

Monday, February 17 8 am Beatrice Tuttle, Barb Pusztay Tuesday, February 18 8 am Communion Service (No presider available for Mass) Wednesday, February 19 8 am Communion Service Thursday, February 20 8 am Communion Service

Friday, February 21 8 am Communion Service (No presider available for Mass) Saturday, February 22 5 pm Robert Brinkel, by Sharon Brinkel Sunday, February 23 10 am Dennis Brueckman, by Norm & Donna LaValley

YOUR UPON THIS ROCK DONATIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Our parish has received the first disbursement of funds for 2020: $2,791.94! Have you noticed the new windows in the entrance doors of the church? They (and the other new, energy efficient church windows) were made possible through your UTR donations. Thank you! (UTR funds are distributed twice yearly at the end of January and July.)

THE EUCHARIST – 5 WEEK STUDY BEGINS SUNDAY!

We invite you to join our study group on February 16th after 10 am Mass, in the parish hall downstairs. Each of our 5 sessions will begin with one of the Eucharist series videos by Bishop Robert Barron, followed by discussion. The remaining meeting dates are: March 8, 15 and 29, and April 19 after Mass. Learn more about the videos and the study at wordonfire.org/study-programs/eucharist/. Join us!

Parish Council will meet in the parish office at 7 pm Thursday, February 20th.

LET US PRAY FOR…Doris Ellis, Joe Arcara, and Jeanne McIntyre, as well as the many unnamed who need our prayers for comfort and healing.

Our next First Friday Mass will be March 6th at 8 am in the Chapel. Confession: Saturdays from 4:00 - 4:30 pm in the Church.

Join us in praying the Rosary on Saturdays at 4:30 pm in the Church, and at 7 pm Mondays in the Chapel.

OUR NEXT FAITH FEST IS SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23! All generations are encouraged to join us for an hour-long Faith Fest that begins immediately after Mass Sunday, February 23. Our focus for the year’s Faith Fests is Salvation History. In this session, Sister Lori will highlight the timeline of the life of Jesus and the Apostles. Make plans to be with us for these fun, educational, and inspiring faith events for all ages! Light refreshments will be served.

ANOINTING OF THE SICK - SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH Those who, because of advanced age, illness, or injury would like to receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick are welcome to gather in the front of the church to receive this sacrament following the 10 am Mass.

A HUGE thank you to our parishioners, and our incredible and loyal band of volunteers who organized, cooked, served, cleaned, or sold tickets at our Pancake Breakfast & Theme Basket Auction last weekend! We also thank the Colden Market & Café for its donation of the

orange juice, and especially YOU for supporting this fundraiser. We raised $1,643.35! BEING A GODLY MAN IN AN UN-GODLY WORLD The 18th Annual WNY Catholic Men's Conference will be held on Saturday, March 28th at Cardinal O'Hara High School, Tonawanda. This is the opportunity of the year for the men of the Diocese to gather to renew their faith, to be inspired by the Holy Spirit and to experience the brotherhood and sharing that has characterized each of the prior Conferences. The speakers this year are Jon Leonetti, Rev. Dave Richards, and Frank Kelly. Learn more about the conference schedule and the speakers, or register for the event at cmfofwny.org. COLLECTING CLEAN, DRY PLASTIC BAGS AND NECKTIES UNTIL MARCH 1! Our Youth community is collecting clean, dry single-use plastic bags through March 1st for the Sleeping Bag Project, a not-for-profit organization, which makes sleeping bags and mats for the homeless, including homeless veterans. We’ll also accept neckties (used to tie up the sleeping bags) and unwanted blankets (used to make the inside of the sleeping bags). Place your donations in the "Youth” can in the Gathering space, and thank you for helping our Youth to help others in need.

We’re thrilled to have Dan Steck & Deborah Zizzi, and Deborah Matteliano join our faith community!

May they find warmth, fellowship and happiness in our midst.

Readings for February 23, 2020 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18 Psalm 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13

1 Corinthians 3:16-23 Matthew 5:38-48

HOLY THURSDAY DINNER PLANS UNDERWAY This year on Holy Thursday, April 9th, we plan to continue our practice of sharing a meal together at 5:30 pm, prior to the 7 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper. The meal, catered by the Tipsy Goat Lakeside Grill, will take place in our parish hall, followed by Mass in church. If you will attend, we ask that you reserve ahead of time by signing up on the sheet at the back of church or by calling the parish office at 652-3153, no later than March 30th. Your donation of $10 per person will offset the cost of the meal.

We hope that you’ll join us for this always special gathering of our faith family!

Your Sunday and Holy Day offerings of last week totaled $2,667.00, and offerings for Maintenance and Capital Improvements for February now total $625.00. Offerings for last week’s appeal for our Kenya Mission totaled $754.00! If you missed the collection last week, you can still donate online at stgeorgercchurch.weshareonline.org/kenya.

OTC MEDICINE COLLECTION FOR HAITI

We’re collecting over-the-counter medicines for our twin Haitian parish of St. Michael the Archangel from February 15 - March 1. We need pain relievers, antacids, vitamins, cold/cough medicines, eye/ear drops, antifungal/antibiotic/hydrocortisone creams and any other new and unopened medicines. Toothbrushes & paste are also needed.

Please place your donations in the box in the Gathering space during the above weekends, and the collected items will be sent to Haiti on the sea container in April.

ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES – Wednesday, February 26th

8 am MASS and 7 pm COMMUNION SERVICE

Lenten Guide: Fasting and abstinence from meat on Ash Wednesday & Good Friday. Abstinence from meat on all Fridays during Lent.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY In the Gospel Jesus says: “Whoever fulfills and teaches these commands shall be great in the kingdom of God.” By your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul you indeed put your faith into action as you fulfill the commands of Jesus. Thank you and God bless all. PRISON MINISTRY NEEDS YOU

There are many opportunities for you to serve the incarcerated through the prison ministries of our region. Volunteers can help inside the prison, or outside, by preparing program materials, meals, leading prayer and writing spiritual support letters. Learn more by reading the December 2019 article in the WNY Catholic at wnycatholic.org/documents/WNYC_Dec2019B.pdf.

If you feel called to support prison ministry, contact Bob Marts at 864-6354.

Community News & Events

MEAT RAFFLE AT ST. VINCENT DE PAUL IN SPRINGBROOK SATURDAY, FEB. 29TH Tickets $8 per person, or $50 for a table of 8. Beer & pizza included. Doors open at 5:30 pm, 1st spin at 6:30 pm. Bring your own snacks and your friends! Enjoy 50/50 & basket raffles. St. Vincent’s is on 6441 Seneca St. in Springbrook, on the corner of Rice Rd. & Seneca St. Tickets at the door, or at St. Vincent's Parish Office Mon-Fri 8:30 am - 2 pm.

Invitation to WNY Magnificat Breakfast To continue to grow spiritually after 33 Days to Morning Glory, we study, pray, sing, join in fellowship and engage ourselves with the rosary. After participating in making our consecration to Mary by participating in Fr. Michael Gaitley’s 33 Days to Morning Glory why not treat yourself to a wonderful breakfast? Magnificat of Buffalo Chapter, a ministry to Catholic women, will be hosting such a breakfast on March 21, 2020, with guest speaker Dawn Iacono. Her topic for this event is Spiritual Motherhood and Marian Moments on the Pilgrimage of Life.

Pre-registration is necessary, early registrations postmarked by March 11th save $5 on the full $25 fee. 9 am doors open at The Millennium Hotel, 20-40 Walden Ave, Cheektowaga, NY 14225. Make checks payable to: Magnificat-Buffalo, c/o Maureen Wilson, 303 Meyer Rd. Apt#1403, West Seneca, NY 14224. More info and registration at https://magnificat-ministry.net/chapters/chapter-states-n/ny-buffalo/.

The Liturgy of the Hours:

A Bridge Between the Earthly and Heavenly Realms

The Liturgy of the Hours is a liturgy, a formal rite for public worship that is prayed at certain hours of the day. The Liturgy of the Hours contain psalms and readings that were proclaimed by Jesus in the Temple and the saints throughout history. As we enter the Lenten Season and move forward to experience the passion, death and resurrection of the Lord, the Church highlights its celebrations of Sacred Scripture and Traditions. In order for us to intimately accompany the Lord on his journey to Jerusalem and eventually to know more deeply the Crucified and Risen Lord, we seek to enhance our prayer life in order to uniquely open our dialogue with our loving God. Come, see and know how to pray this sacred liturgy and to bring it to communal worship in your parish or in your personal life and help “build a bridge between the earthly and heavenly realms” -- The Liturgy of the Hours, as a tradition with ancient roots from the Church, can help draw all the faithful into a closer relationship with the Divine.

Facilitator: Rev. John W. Adams

When: Wednesday, March 4, 2020 -- two sessions offered: Session I: 3:00 pm – 4:45 pm Liturgy of the Hours Presentation followed by 5:00 pm Vespers (Evening Prayer) & end with Optional Dinner (5:30 pm, cost $15)

OR

Session II: 5:00 pm Vespers (Evening Prayer), Optional Dinner (5:30 pm, cost $15) and Liturgy of the Hours Presentation from 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm

Where: Christ the King Seminary, St. Vincent Dorm Chapel For more information contact Fr. John Adams at 655-6406 or jadams@cks.edu . To Register for the event and/or dinner (presentation: no cost, dinner: $15.00) contact Gayle Mann at 805-1438 or gmann@cks.edu.