PASTOR

Rev. David Baker

RECTORY

5771 Buell Street

P.O. Box 168

Akron, NY 14001

(716) 542-9103

Fax: (716) 542-2444

Office Hours: Monday–Friday

8:30 AM–12:30 PM

E-mail: stteresasofakron@verizon.net

Website: stteresasofakron.com

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Sr. M. Ruth Warejko, CSSF

PARISH TRUSTEES

Richard L. Campbell

C. Douglas Whelan

BUSINESS MANAGER

Melissa Sanford

CONVENT

5773 Buell Street

(716) 542-9717

PARISH HALL & OFFICE OF

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

5775 Buell Street

(716) 542-5777

MISSION STATEMENT

We, the Catholic faith community of St.

Teresa of Avila parish, guided by the

Holy Spirit, commit ourselves to

proclaim and follow the Good News of

Jesus Christ. Basing our lives on faith,

hope and love, we seek to meet our

needs and the spiritual and corporal

needs of those around us. It is our

humble prayer that our lives will be

visible signs of His presence in the

world as we celebrate Christ in His

Word and Sacraments.

JANUARY 7, 2018 • THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

MASS SCHEDULE

Sunday Liturgies ..................................................................... 8:00 AM, 10:15 AM Saturday Vigil................................................................................................. 4:30 PM Weekday Liturgies Daily.........................................................8:00 AM, except Wednesday 5:30 PM Saturday ...........................................................................................................9:00 AM Vigil of Holy Days ......................................................................................... 5:30 PM Holy Days ..................................................................................... 8:00 AM; 7:30 PM

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

Saturdays 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. First Saturday 8:15 to 8:45 a.m. Vigil of Holy Days 3:45 to 4:15 p.m. or anytime by request.

SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM

As preparation for Baptism, parents are asked to contact the parish office to make an appointment with the Pastor.

SACRAMENT OF MARRIAGE

Arrangements to be made at the Rectory 6 months in advance.

NEW PARISHIONERS

Please register at the Rectory as soon as you move within the parish. Note: If you are moving out of the parish, please notify the Rectory.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

These letters needed for Baptismal and Confirmation sponsors are issued gladly to those who have been registered for 6 months, attend Mass regularly, have been confirmed, if married, have done so in conformity with the Church laws, and children attend Religious Education.

St. Teresa of Avila Church E s t . 1 8 6 9

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Monday, January 8 - The Baptism of the Lord 8:00 Intentions for Mothers

Tuesday, January 9 8:00 Departed Souls

Wednesday, January 10 5:30 A Successful Transplant for Ron Konieczny by family

Thursday, January 11 8:00 Intentions for Fathers

Friday, January 12 8:00 Patrick Donohue by Ann Sayers

Saturday, January 13 - St. Hilary 9:00 Parishioners of St. Teresa’s 4:30 Joseph and Stella Rembas by daughter

Sunday, January 14 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 8:00 Dolores Totaro by Pat Means and The Paquin Family 10:15 Abigail Margeson by family

Scripture Readings For the Week Monday - Isaiah 55:1-11;

Mark 1:7-11 Tuesday – 1 Samuel 1:1-8; Mark 1:21-28 Wednesday – 1 Samuel 3:1-10, 19-20; Mark 1:29-39 Thursday - 1 Samuel 4:1-11; Mark 1:40-45 Friday – 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a; Mark 2:1-12 Saturday - 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19, 10:1; Mark 2:13-17 Sunday - 1 Samuel 3:3b-10, 19; 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20; John 1:35-42 The 2018 Mass Book is Here! There are a number of openings in the daily and weekend Mass schedule during the upcoming months. If you would like to take the opportunity to have a Mass offered for your loved ones or intentions, please contact the rectory any weekday morning.

ST. TERESA OF AVILA CATHOLIC CHURCH � AKRON, NEW YORK

Merry Christmas - still! You've probably heard the Christmas song "Still, Still, Still." That becomes my

theme song this time of year, reminding people that it is “still” Christmas and we should still be celebrating and being as joyful and kind as we can be. The twelve days of Christmas finish up today on Epiphany Sunday, the visit of three kings from the East.

The word Epiphany means "revelation" and we use this word sometimes to describe a major new understanding in life: "then I had this epiphany at work when realized I could fix the problem this way...." Epiphanies are huge and so was the realization that Jesus is the savior of every human being, not just the Jewish people, but those of every single race and culture.

I've been enjoying driving past the church at night and seeing the entrance all lit up with Christmas glory. Catholic Churches are pretty much the last holdouts in January, still beaming this light and joy to the world. The moment that God became human is not something that can be quickly dismissed. It changed everything about the way we relate to God. Now, God is more accessible and understandable.

And it's 2018! One week into the new year, I want to announce that our usual events will be resuming. More details are included on the next page, but here are some dates:

• Fully Alive Adoration continues on the 2nd Friday of each month, January 12th.

• Both youth groups, middle- and high-school, will have separate events on Sunday, January 14th.

• Bible Study starts up again on Monday, February 5th. I also want to announce that I'll be getting away at the end of

January. I'll spend a few days of vacation and then a five-day retreat at the Monk's Bread Monastery. While I'm away, Fr. Jim Fugle will be offering the Masses here. I'm very grateful to Fr. Jim for risking the cold and icy roads to make sure the Eucharist is lifted up daily from our altar.

I leave on January 17th, so I'll be with you next weekend before heading north into the wilds of Canada. That's right - I travel north in winter! It's a sure way to avoid the crowds.

Merry Christmas to you one more time, and glory to the Newborn King!

~Father Dave

Our Prayer Request for the Week: That each of us will make more time for God in this New Year and enjoy more graces; we pray to the Lord…

Please pray for the sick of the parish and their family members particularly; David Hahn, Shirley Lantz, Lorraine Sylvester, Norma Hackbush, Pat Hahn, Jim

Creed, Ron Konieczny, Sister Bea Leising, Phil Wittman, Tracy Lotz, Liam Williams, Faith Bassanello, Arlene Scheeda, Mary Lou Bummer, Mike Charles, Doug Schifferle, Dan Springer, Baby Nicholas Brady, and Karen Martin. Please also continue to pray for our troops who are serving in the military around the world.

• Sunday, January 7 - Religious Education Classes - 9:00 - 10:00 am and 11:15 am - 12:30 pm

• Friday, January 12 - Fully Alive Adoration - 7:30 pm

• Sunday, January 14 - Religious Education Classes - 9:00 - 10:00 am and 11:15 am - 12:30 pm

Prayer For Priests and Religious

God our Father, we thank you for calling men and women to serve in your Son’s Kingdom as priests, deacons, and women religious. Send your Holy Spirit to help us respond generously and courageously to your call. May our community of faith support vocations of sacrificial love in our youth. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

None of us are without gifts to share for the good of God’s kingdom. Could it be that your gift is a vocation to priesthood or religious life? If God is calling you to a church vocation, call Father Andrew Lauricella at 716-847-5535. You can also check out the “Priest of the Month” stories on their website at www.buffalovocations.org!

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD * JANUARY 7, 2018

As catechists we enjoy bringing the children to church to see the altars and liturgical trappings, to experience the peace and joy of being in the presence of God. The manger

scene is a powerful visual and reminder of God’s love for us by sending His Son to become one of us. As family we are welcome to bring the children also. Classes resume this Sunday and every Sunday during the month of January. Please bring the children for class regularly to maintain continuity and interest.

Last week we welcomed our final infant of the year into our faith community through the saving waters of

Baptism. Alexander Paul Campbell is the son of Marie (Bossardet) and William Campbell of the village of Akron. Congratulations and God’s richest blessings to all!

Youth Ministry News: Middle School: The relic hunt resumes with Will Wilder on Sunday, January 14th from 6-7:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Do you dare to enter the undercroft? High School: Get in the Olympic spirit with some ice skating on Sunday, January 14th from 6-8 pm at the Akron Falls Skating Rink on Skyline Drive. If the pond isn’t frozen, our backup location will be the Northtown Center in Amherst. Check out the new youth group website by clicking the youth ministry tab at stteresasofakron.com

O Come Let us Adore Him - start the New Year off right with some Eucharistic Adoration in soothing candlelight. Our first Fully Alive Adoration takes place on Friday, January 12th. Stop by anytime between 7:30 - 9:00 pm and stay as long or short a time as you wish.

Roe v Wade Observance Mass will take place on Saturday, January 13 at 5 pm at St. Bernadette Parish, 5930 South Abbott Road, Orchard Park. Main Celebrant will be Bishop Richard Malone. During the Mass, the diocesan Office of Pro-Life Activities will present the 24th annual Pro-Vita Awards. Catholics are encouraged to participate in a solemn observance of the Roe v Wade Anniversary by placing a candle in the front window of their homes at sundown on the evening of January 22. The candle serves as a reminder of 50 million unborn babies who have been aborted since the 1973 Supreme Court decision.

Mark your Calendars: The 66th Annual Diocesan Youth Convention will take place the weekend of March 2-4, 2018 at the Adam’s Mark Hotel. Convention 2018 will help us to explore the True Story and what it—and the Person it is about—means for our world today! Interested? Contact Father Dave for more information.

Three visitors to London climb up the tower that houses Big Ben and decide to have a contest. They're going to throw their

watches off the top, run down the stairs and try to catch the watches before they hit the ground. The first tourist throws his watch, takes three steps and hears his watch crash. The second throws his watch and takes only two steps when he hears his watch shatter. The third tosses his watch off the tower, jogs down the stairs, goes to a candy store, buys a snack, walks back to Big Ben and catches his watch. "How did you do that?" asks one of his friends. "My watch is 30 minutes slow."

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK:

“Wise men still seek Him.”