St. Amelia Church Sept-Oct-Nov 2018 Vol. 23, No.4 Tonawanda, NY

Guide to Parish Life

A Community of Prayer and Worship

Ameliorator

Special

Edition

St. Amelia Roman Catholic Church

2999 Eggert Rd.

Tonawanda, NY, 14150

(716) 836-0011

Parish Office

210 St. Amelia Drive, Tonawanda NY, 14150

Phone: (716) 836-0011

Fax: (716) 832-5439

School Office

2999 Eggert Rd. Tonawanda NY, 14150

Phone: (716) 836-2230

Fax: (716) 832-9700

Welcome to the St. Amelia Parish Family,

I hope you will take some time to review this Special Edition of the Ameliorator. Inside you will discover the faces and stories of the St Amelia Parish Team, as well as information about the over 50 ministries active in our parish.

This can serve you as a guide for our Parish Life, as well as the means for how St. Amelia can enrich you, and how you can help to enrich St. Amelia’s.

Our Parish Mission is dedicated to the person and mis-sion of Jesus Christ, under the patronage of St Ame-lia. We strive to follow the words and example of Jesus, as faith disciples.

Our mission is to reach out to all people-through prayer, service, and love. We dedicate our time, our talent, and our treasure to this mission. We invite others to join us as we endeavor to fulfill the commission of Jesus: "Go to all the people everywhere, and make them my disciples.”

Please know that I pray for you daily, and ask your pray-ers for me as I minister as your pastor here. My door is always open to everyone, so do not hesitate to contact me at any time.

May we all work together, for “All Are Welcome Here at St. Amelia.”

Father Sebastian “Sibby” Pierro, Pastor

Mass Schedule

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8:00 am, 10:30 am

Tuesday, Thursday 6:30 am, 10:30 am

Saturday 8:00 am

Saturday Vigil Mass 4:30 pm, 7:00 pm

Sunday Masses 7:00 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am

Confession Schedule

Saturday 3:30 pm to 4:15 pm

Monday Evenings 6:30 pm

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Eucharistic Ministers. These men and women assist the priest celebrant in the distribution of Holy Communion at Mass, serving perhaps twice a month, usually at the same Mass. Some also take Communion to the sick and homebound after Mass. Diocesan training sessions are regularly availa-ble. If you can serve in this role, please contact Tracy Boeck at 834-1092 or boeck249@verizon.net .

Lectors. Lectors proclaim the Word of the Lord and the Pray-er of the Faithful at weekday and weekend Masses. Weekend lectors usually serve once a month. Individuals with natural gifts such as strong and clear voices, are encouraged to in-quire and be trained. To find out more, please e-mail lor-raine513@verizon.net or call Lorraine Gulczewski at 836-8487.

Liturgy Committee. The Sacred Liturgy is both the source and the summit of all parish life and activity. This Committee is responsible for the beautiful and inspiring liturgical decor installations that are an integral part of the liturgy and church atmosphere during each liturgical season throughout the year. The committee meets monthly. To learn more, please call Bri-an Ruh at 836-0011.

Greeters. Men, women, children, and families are invited to spend 15 minutes before Mass on the weekends, offering a warm smile and a friendly ‘Hello’ to people arriving at church. We hope to one day grow to serve all entrances at all our Masses. If you can help, please contact Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Ushers. Men and women ushers are present before Mass to greet people as they arrive in church. They help with seating, obtain gift-bearers for the Offertory procession, take up the collection, direct parishioners at communion time, and dis-tribute bulletins at the end of Mass. Ushers generally serve at the same Mass each week. To learn more, call Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Psalm 151. Named #1 in the Christian Rock Charts for Buf-falo, NY by Reverbnation and featured in Western New York Catholic magazine, Psalm 151 is the contemporary worship group which provides worship music for the Saturday, 4:30 Mass at St. Amelia parish. The band has played for teen retreats, Confirmations, healing Masses, coffee houses and other concert venues across WNY, and their CD ‘Through It All” has received international acclaim. To audition, get con-cert information, or become a fan, please visit www.psalm151.net and click on the “Contact Us” tab or call Director Paul W. Peterangelo at 871-0525.

Folk Group. This group enjoys using their instrumental and vocal talents to praise God at Mass. The Folk Group provides the music and leads the singing at the 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening vigil Mass, except during June, July and August. Practice takes place bi-monthly on Tuesday evenings. We welcome new instrumentalists and singers. If you’d like more information, call Sharon Darisse at 838-4718.

Ministry of Praise. Parishioners provide spiritual support for the parish and the universal Church, by offering prayers and sacrifices at home. There are no meetings. A monthly news-letter suggests specific intentions and forms of prayer. To be added to the mailing list, please contact the Outreach Office at 832-2542.

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Adult Catechumenate (RCIA). This process is designed for adults who wish to become members of the Catholic Church, and for adult Catholics who wish to complete their initiation into the Church by receiving the Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation. Sessions take place following the Liturgy of the Word at the 9 am Sunday Mass. Parishioners can help the candidates by serving as ‘Gospel Sharers’, that is, by reflect-ing on a given Sunday Gospel and sharing their thoughts with the candidates. Volunteers usually do this once a year. For information, contact Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Adult Confirmation. St. Amelia Parish conducts six sessions at 7 pm on Tuesdays during September, October and Novem-ber. This preparation is for adults who have made their First Communion and are practicing Catholics, but have missed Confirmation. Confirmation typically takes place in late No-vember. To learn more, please contact Brian Ruh @ 836-0011.

Children’s Liturgy of the Word. At the 4:30 Saturday Vigil Mass, and on Sunday mornings at the 9 am and 11 am Mass-es, children ages 4-10 are dismissed to the sacristy where they hear the assigned readings from the Children’s Lectionary, along with an explanation they can readily understand. Adult volunteers facilitate the sessions. If you can lend a hand as a presenter or aide, please call Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Baptismal Preparation. New and expectant parents who are preparing to present their child for baptism are invited to take part in a preliminary session, where veteran parents encourage them to better understand their role as the first educators of their children in the faith. This session is offered on a monthly basis, and new parents can register by calling the Rectory. ‘Veteran’ parents who would like to consider being part of this mentor ministry can find out more by calling Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Elementary School. With an enrollment of over 600 pupils, our school is able to offer programs and activities that are not available elsewhere. The innovative Arrowsmith program, for instance, helps children with learning disabilities to actually eliminate them. Students take French or Spanish in Junior High. Co-ed Varsity and JV hockey are among the many sports we offer. The school is handicapped-accessible. We excel at welcoming students who transfer from other schools. Our core values are these: Affirming Faith, Awakening Knowledge, Aspiring to Serve, Assuring Leadership, and Ad-vancing Character. Financial aid is available. To learn more, go to www.stameliaschool.org .

Children’s Catechumenate. Designed for older children who are preparing for Baptism, First Penance, and First Eucharist, this program takes place on Sunday mornings, following the Liturgy of the Word at the 9 am Mass. To learn more, please contact Liz Maerten at 837-3733.

Summer Sparkler Learning Group. This summer program is run by our school teachers, and is designed for children in pre-K thru Grade 5, and concentrates on Reading and Math. Kids often advance a full year in proficiency in this three-week program! Call our school at 836-2230 to learn more.

Card Flights. Any couple (or pairing) interested in playing Pinochle can join the Card Flight. We are entering our 50th season, and would love to have you join us for a great way to make new friends and play pinochle. We meet at each other's homes about once a month, September through April, fol-lowed by a catered banquet where all members meet for fel-lowship and prizes. All levels of players are welcome. Cost is $35/couple, which includes prize money and banquet. For additional information or to sign up, please call Sherly Tabak at 695-0446.

Two by Two Parish Welcome Committee. Come join us as we seek to be good neighbors. Each month we gather and go out in teams of two to visit people in the neighborhoods con-tained in our parish boundaries. The goal is simple, extend a welcome hand of hospitality, offer a smile, and let the Holy Spirit take it from there. This helps spread awareness of our parish in the larger community and creates a culture where people outside the regular Church-goers know they are wel-come. To find out more or to sign up, contact Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

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Home School Association. This group of parents helps to facilitate close ties between the school and the home, for the benefit of the school children. The Association also provides financial assistance, and sponsors social events like skating parties, father-daughter dances, and similar activities for the enrichment of the children and their parents. If you’d like to learn more, please contact the School Office at 836-2230.

Confirmation Preparation. After completing the curriculum for grades 9 and 10, in Catholic High School or in the parish program, eleventh graders take part in a series of six home sessions conducted by volunteer parents, in the fall. Service projects and a retreat experience complete the preparation pro-cess. Confirmation takes place in late November.

Marriage Preparation Program. The Marriage Preparation ministry plays an important role in preparing engaged couples for entering into the sacrament of marriage. Our sponsor teams are experienced married couples that meet with en-gaged couples and the program is offered in January. Married couples who can share their experience of marriage with en-gaged couples are welcome to consider being part of this vital ministry. To find out more, please contact Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Altar Care. These men and women fulfill the purpose of maintaining the sanctuary and sacristy of our church either on Monday or Friday following the 8:00 or 10:30 Masses, for about a half hour. Many find satisfaction in helping to keep the House of the Lord clean. If you can lend a hand, regularly or occasionally, please contact Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Lending Library. The library, located in the church narthex, provides books and videos for adults and children to take home and use at their leisure. The library is staffed by volun-teers and is open all week. Adjacent to the library is a display of pamphlets and audio CDs available for purchase. For ques-tions, contact Gail Lawson at 833-7598.

Religious Education. Religion classes for pupils in public school are offered during the school year on Tuesday evenings from 6:15 pm - 7:30 pm for Pre-K4 - Grade 8, and on Wednesday afternoons from 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm for grades Pre-K4 - Grade 3. Grade 9 is held on Sunday evenings, and grades 10 and 11 are done as in-home classes on various days of the week. Registration forms for all classes can be found on our website at http://www.stameliareled.com/. Classes start in September. Children in grades 4 - 9 also have the option of attending the Summer School of Religion. Please call the Re-ligious Ed office for more information, or if you would like to volunteer to be a catechist or aide at 833-8647.

Summer School of Religion. This is a 30-hour program of-fered for ten days in July. Summer classes are from 9 til noon, and are taught by professional teachers. The summer program includes a field trip, conferences with the priests, opportunities for Confession, and a celebration of liturgy. This program is an alternative to weekly classes, and is open to pupils entering Grades 4-9. For information, go to www.stameliareled.com, or call 833-8647.

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Women’s Discussion Groups (aka Bishop’s Committee). Women meet in small groups once a month from October-May for about two hours. Discussions focus on an agenda printed each year by the Diocese’s Catholic Women’s Discussion Pro-gram. The topics each month are very good, and foster great discussions. The cost of Membership is just $5 for the agenda. If you are interested in lively discussions and fellowship, call Peggy Kolber at 833-6233 for more info.

Vacation Bible School. Held the first week of August each year, VBS is a a fun way for children from kindergarten through grade 5 to become better acquainted with Jesus and the Word of God. Sessions are held from 9 am to noon and include songs, games and crafts, and of course refreshments. High school students volunteer their time to help the program run smoothly. Call the Religious Education Office at 833-8647 for more information.

Respect Life Committee. This committee works to combat what Pope John Paul II termed ‘the culture of death’. It seeks ways and means to heighten our awareness of God’s greatest gift – the gift of life. To learn more, please contact Gail Law-son 833-7598, Joan Owczarzak 837-7619, or our general e-mail address at stameliaprolife@gmail.com .

Altar Servers. Boys and girls in Grade 5 or older are eligible for this ministry. Servers assist the priest at Church liturgies, serve as good role models for other children, and come closer to Jesus as they serve at his altar. For more information, con-tact Brian Ruh at 836-0011.

Stewardship Promotion. Three times each year, the parish focuses on one of the three components of Catholic Steward-ship. In January, we ask parishioners to dedicate an apprecia-ble amount of time to improve their relationship with God - by praying, by reading and studying the scriptures, by taking part in a small group, by Eucharistic Adoration, and so forth. Our slogan is, "Time flies, but you are the pilot". In June, we ask members to devote some of their talent to God, by serving the parish in one or more of our various ministries. We ask people to use God's gifts to do God's work, and refer to Edmund Burke's warning: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is that good people do nothing". In September, we ask people to dedicate a good percentage of their treasure to ena-ble the parish to remain solvent, and to continue to provide the services and ministries you are reading about in this publica-tion. For more information, contact Chairperson Tim Salisbury through the rectory at 836-0011.

Homebound Ministers. These special Ministers take the Blessed Sacrament to our homebound parishioners. This min-istry keeps those who cannot join us around the Lord’s Table connected with us. Please be sure to call us if you or a family member are homebound, and would like to receive the Eucha-rist. If you are interested, please call JoAnn Long at 481-9223 or e-mail pinkf1ower@aol.com.

ADVISORY BODIES Our parish is dependent on several advisory groups, that meet regularly and offer advice and counsel to the parish leadership in their respective areas of expertise. These groups include:

Finance Council. Members are appointed by the pastor. The Council meets each month to review parish finances. The Council prepares the annual budget and monitors income and expenditures.

School Board. School Board members, appointed by the pastor, meet monthly to provide input and advise the principal on the operation of the school.

Stewardship Committee. This committee is dedicated to in-stilling the spirituality of stewardship in our parish. Their con-cern is the three T’s: time, talent, and treasure.

Parish Council. Members are selected by lot at a Mass in June of each year, from a list of nominees. The Council meets monthly, and reviews all aspects of parish life.

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Fr. Peter Santandreau is our newest Pa-rochial Vicar, having come to St. Ame-lia’s in July of 2018. Fr. Santandreau completed his theological studies at Christ the King Seminary earlier in 2018, and was ordained in June of the same year. He is also involved with Puntos Corazon Argentina, a Catholic mission headquartered in Buenos Aires.

Fr. Sebastian Pierro, affectionately known as Father Sibby, came to St. Amelia’s as its 5th pastor in September of 2017, bringing with him 36 years of experience in parish ministry. Fr. Sib-by was ordained in 1982, having grad-uated from Bishop Fallon High School and studying Theology at Wadhams Hall Seminary in Ogdensburg.

Deacon Ken Monaco was permanently assigned to St. Amelia’s after being or-dained as a deacon in September of 2017. He is also involved with numerous field ministries, such as homeless shelters, hos-pital visits, and prison ministries. Ken is supported in his faith-based work by wife Karen, who has taught for more than 30 years in Catholic schools.

Father Don Measer has been our priest-in-residence since 2000. Prior to his retirement, Father Don was campus minis-ter at Bryant & Stratton, SUNY Fredonia, and Daemen College, and pastor of St. Law-rence Church in Buffalo.

Bob Warner is the Business Manager at St. Amelia Parish, and he is a native of Amherst and parishioner at St. Greg’s in Williamsville. Bob and his wife Eileen have four grown children, and both hus-band and wife have been active in vari-ous church ministries. Bob will be or-dained to the Permanent Diaconate on September 15th 2018.

Brian Ruh Ruh initially joined our team in 1995 as Youth Minister. Since then, he has become our Pasto-ral Associate for Liturgy and Adult Education. He graduated from SUNY Geneseo and holds a Master’s Degree in Pastoral Ministry from our seminary. Brian and his wife Tricia are proud parents of four daughters.

Amy Lepertine is our-bookkeeper, and has been working in the parish office for five years. Her three children, now young adults, were all students at SAS. Amy enjoys kayaking, cross-fit, training her puppy, and spending time with her fam-ily. She also volunteers at Explore Buffalo, a local non-profit organization, which helps her to express her love of history, and the city of Buffalo.

Audrey Hermanski is the Administrative Assistant here at St. Amelia's working in the Parish Rectory inputting enve-lopes, filling out Mass cards, and generally helping out where need-ed. She has been with St. Amelia’s for 10 years, serving parishioners, and acting as an Adult Altar Server and Eucharistic Minister.

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James Mulé has been our school principal since 1995. He has received awards from the US Department of Education as a National Distin-guished Principal, the NCEA and Buffalo State College. Our school is a five star school - a National Blue Ribbon School, New York State School of Excellence, and Middle States Accredited. We welcome stu-dents from 10 school districts and all faiths. Everyone is somebody at St. Amelia School.

Elaine Volker has been our Direc-tor of Religious Education since 2007, having previously held that position at St. Edmund Parish, where she also taught Math, Drama, and Music for thirteen years. She is the director of our Children’s Choir and our Children’s Bell Choir. Elaine is the mother of three adult children.

Kathy Waite worked with young peo-ple at St. Edmund’s Parish before be-coming our Youth Minister. She teaches Grade 9 religion, oversees all youth activities, and is readily availa-ble for spiritual guidance. Kathy is also the Director of our Outreach pro-gram, having assumed that role in 2017. Kathy and her husband Rob are parents of two adult children.

Bob Wunsch has been a parishioner since 1975, and served on the Parish Coun-cil for four years, including a term as President. After spending 34 years in the Financial Services industry, Bob retired to devote more time to St. Amelia ministry. He is currently a member of the Stewardship Commit-tee, and is also very active in the Kiwanis Club.

Margaret Frandina and her husband, Frank, have been parishioners for 35 years, and they have two adult daughters who grad-uated from SAS school. She is a founding member of our parish Health Min-istry, and has served on numerous committees, as well as the Parish Coun-cil, for which she served as President.

Dan Fronckowiak has been involved with music ministry for more than 15 years here at St. Amelia Church. He is on the board of directors of the Buffalo Choral Arts Soci-ety, having sung with them for 10 years. He is married, with an 8-year old daughter. In addition to music, he is passionate about travel, and is an accredited travel agent.

Catie Wagner became our Executive Secretary in June of 2018, and lives in Wheat-field with her husband, Da-vid, and four lovely children. She attended St. Chris-topher’s School before mov-ing on to Holy Angels Acad-emy, and she eventually re-ceived her Bachelor of Sci-ence Degree in American History from SUNY Brock-port College.

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Alcoholics Anonymous. The Saturday night Freedom Group meeting is a place where anyone can come, to the cafeteria at 8:30 pm, and learn about alcoholism. The meeting is open to all. AA also has closed meetings, at various times and places, and information about those meetings can be obtained at the Saturday night gathering.

Book Club. The Book Club meets every 4-6 weeks on Wednesdays in the narthex Visitation Chapel, after the 10:30 am Mass. Everyone has an opportunity to suggest selections. Even if you have not read the book, you are invited to come and enjoy listening. Book selections are printed in the bulletin, with dates for the meetings. If you enjoy reading and like to participate in spirited discussions, this is for you. For further inquiries, please contact Carol Tato at 551-0485.

Summer Day Camp. Children ages three thru twelve enjoy arts and crafts, nature experiences, water games, sports, a dai-ly ice cream social, theme days, and lots more. Lunch is pro-vided, as well as morning and afternoon snacks. The camp runs for four weeks, beginning in July. To learn more, contact the school at 836-2230.

Childcare. Our parish offers care for children from six months to six years while parents attend Mass at 9 or 11 o’clock on Sunday mornings. The program is administered by professionals who are degreed and state-certified. They rely heavily on the help of volunteers who have a love for little kids. To learn more, contact Kathy Waite, our Youth Minister, at 837-5741.

Health Ministry. A group of health care professionals and other interested parishioners provide a variety of programs focused on the interaction between physical health and spiritu-al life. One weekend a month, blood pressure screening is of-fered before and after some weekend Masses. Occasionally the group sponsors presentations on timely health issues. Health tips are printed in the weekly bulletin. To assist in this ministry, contact Susan Kingston-Shack at 837-4269.

Children’s Choir. The Children’s Choir sings at the monthly Children’s Mass, from September through June, and at special occasions. Rehearsals are held each month at 10:00, prior to the 11 am Children’s Mass. Membership is open to all chil-dren in grades 3-8. To find out more, please contact Elaine Volker at 833-8647.

Boy Scouts. The Scouting program is comprised of hundreds of fun activities, all of them designed to advance the goals of character formation, citizenship training, and physical fitness. Boys in first grade are eligible to begin their scouting journey as Cub Scouts, and boys who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, may become Boy Scouts. Cub Scout Pack and Boy Scout Troop 529 have recently trans-ferred their operations from St. Paul’s Parish to St. Amelia’s, and interested parents should contact Scoutmaster Bob Wag-ner at 832-9551 for more information about joining.

Girl Scouts. Girl Scouting offers young women a chance to develop their potential, make friends, share in community ser-vice, and better understand themselves and others. Girls are eligible to become Brownie Scouts at age 6. Junior Scouts are ages 9 thru 11, and Senior Scouts 12 and older. To find out more please contact Karen Coupal at 876-6252 or Girl Scouts of Western New York at (716) 837 6400 or www.gswny.org .

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Holy Name Society. The Society helps men in meeting their spiritual and social needs. The Society sponsors a T-ball pro-gram for the children, golf leagues, and an annual prime rib dinner, at which parishioners are recognized for noteworthy stewardship of talent, and awards are presented to outstanding altar servers. There are also other events throughout the year that the ministry either runs or assists with, such as Pot o’ Gold, Monte Carlo night, and others. Members are encouraged to attend a retreat to grow their faith. For further information contact Red Traina Jr. at 838-4487.

Ladies of Charity. Meetings are held on the second Tuesday evening of the Fall and Spring months. Members undertake charitable works for the parish and the Diocesan Ladies of Charity. Each Christmas a handcrafted gift is given to home-bound parishioners. We strongly support the Diocesan Fresh Start Program with donations of household items and cleaning products. The Fresh Start program helps those who are setting up a new household due to a life-changing event. Handcrafted items such as rosaries, or knitted or crocheted items for infants and children, are made at home and brought to a meeting when convenient. For more information call Karen Biesinger at 836-5574.

Ministry to the Sick. We rely on family members to let us know when someone is hospitalized or ill at home. Contact Outreach office at 832-2542, or the Rectory at 836-0011. If you or a loved one wish to receive the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, please call the rectory. For emergencies, call the Rectory, anytime, day or night.

Women at the Well. This group meets on the third Saturday of the month, September through May, immediately following the 8 AM Mass. There is a continental breakfast, followed by some group prayer, a speaker, and then discussion, questions and fellowship. The name of the group comes from the story found in the Gospel of John Chapter 4. The Samaritan woman of this story went on to lead many conversions through her zeal and love for God. For more information please call Kathy Andolsek at 831-9895. Find us on Facebook by searching "Women at the Well - Tonawanda, NY “.

Golden Nuggets. Our group of Senior Citizens is called the Golden Nuggets, and we have regular meetings twice a month, on the second and fourth Tuesday afternoons, in the school cafeteria. Membership is open to those aged 55 and above, and our group provides social, spiritual, and leisure programs for parishioners. For anyone interested, we invite you to stop down to a meeting, talk to folks, and enjoy coffee and a pastry with us. Please check the weekly parish bulletin to confirm meeting times and dates. Contact Ralph MacVittie at 834-9780 for more information.

Adult Choir. Members contribute their vocal talents to en-hance the beauty and dignity of the 11 am Sunday Mass, Sep-tember through June, and on special occasions. Rehearsals are held on Thursday evenings at 7:30, except in summer. For more information, contact Dan Fronckowiak, our Music Di-rector, at 710-7107 or musicministry@stamelia.com.

Prayer Shawl Ministry. Knitted or crocheted shawls and prayer pockets are made with prayerful intentions for the re-cipient. Meetings are held in the afternoon of the third Thurs-day of the month at the Outreach Center. Patterns and prayers are available at Outreach for those who cannot attend the meetings. For more information contact Karen Biesinger at 836-5574, or call Outreach at 832-2542.

Parking Lot Attendants. Many of our parishioners are advanced in age, and appreciate some help in getting from their cars in the parking lot into the church. They are assisted by our Parking Lot Attendants, who are found with a smile on their face and a steady arm to offer. If you need help, or if you want to help, let us know. Contact Brian Ruh at the Rectory at 836-0011.

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Youth Ministry for Junior High. Youth in Grades 6 – 8 are welcome to take part in TPE Connection, a program named for the three things young people at this age love best: Talk-ing, Playing, and Eating. Fun activities involving the Sunday Gospel reading are followed by group discussions, and ways that kids can apply those readings to their daily lives. Playing involves games in the gym, or board games in the cafeteria. Eating means lots of pizza and snacks! TPE Connection takes place once a month on Sunday evenings September through May. To help your 6th – 8th Graders stay connected to the church in this fun way, or to volunteer to help, please contact Kathy Waite, our Youth Minister at 834-5741, or at email youth@stamelia.com.

Youth Ministry for High School. The Parish Youth Board is comprised of high school students and plans programs, service projects, and fun events for teens. These include a Career Din-ner, the Diocesan Youth Convention, the Youth Conference in Steubenville, OH, the Christmas in July 5K Run/Walk, re-treats, fund-raisers, etc. We also offer monthly programs called Zero Hour and Open Gym Nite just for high school teens. Zero Hour meets year-round on the first Sunday of each month in the Lighthouse for Gospel reflection, witness talks, videos, fun activities, pizza, and social time with friends. Open Gym Nite is the fourth Sunday of each month from Sep-tember – April, with a new game every 20 minutes and pizza to follow. Friends are always welcome, or come to make new friends!

Young Adult Ministry. is for anyone who is a recent high school graduate through age 30. We meet on the second Sun-day of each month, and do activities either on campus or out in the world to keep our young Church connected to God. Past activities include Christian movies, ice skating at Ca-nalside, hikes to Akron Falls and the Eternal Flame, a visit to Fatima Shrine and the Abbey of the Genesee, a luncheon with games, and Frisbee golf. You can bring friends, and join us anytime!

St. Vincent de Paul Society. Carrying on in the spirit of St. Vincent de Paul, the members of this society care for the sick and the poor. An extensive food pantry is maintained to pro-vide emergency provisions for those in need. The society dis-tributes food baskets at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter. Working closely with the Parish Outreach Office, the society annually distributes $50,000 worth of food. If you need help from the society, or if you’d like to learn more, please contact the Rectory at 836 – 0011.

Outreach Ministry. The goal of our Parish Outreach Program is to provide various services to our parish community. We are comprised of over 100 volunteers who give their time, talent and helping hands and hearts to reach out to those in need. We have volunteers who come regularly to the office to sort and pack clothing and household items for the many agencies we assist such as City Mission, Cornerstone Ministries, Ladies of Charity, Vive LaCasa, Harvest House, Terrance View Long Term Care Facility, WNY Veterans Housing Coalition, Inc. and the SPCA. We also pack summer clothing, towels, linens, shoes and various items for the people of Nicaragua. Some of the individual areas of the Outreach Ministry include: the Ba-by and Kids Closet, Transportation Services, visitations for parishioners, Bereavement services, Ministry of Praise, and the Knitting Ministry. Contact Kathy Waite at the office, 832-2542, or via email outreach@stamelia.com, for additional in-formation, or to sign up to share your talents with those in need.

Emmaus Men’s Spirituality Program. On the second Satur-day of each month, men gather for a continental breakfast in the Rectory meeting room at 8:30 am. A guest speaker gives a presentation for about 40 minutes, and this is followed by an optional discussion period. The program is open to all men, of any age, and no advance registration is necessary. For more information, contact Daniel Mulhern at 837-8290 or Mark Roland at 837-9108.

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The Ameliorator is the bi-monthly publication of Saint Amelia Church. We mail it to members of our Saint Amelia Family, that is, reg-

istered parishioners, adult alumni of our school, and parents of children who attend our school. We also send it to people who live in

the geographical area served by our Church, in order to keep them informed about who we are and what we are doing. If you do not

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www.stamelia.com

www.stameliaschool.org

www.stameliayouthministry.webs.com

A quarterly newsletter from Saint Amelia Church

2I0 Saint Amelia Drive Tonawanda, NY 14150

Editor : Ken Lashway Email : klashway52@gmail.com

Page 12 The Ameliorator Sept-Oct-Nov 2018

Weekend Masses. The highlight of our week is the celebra-tion of the Eucharist at 4:30 and 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays, and at 7, 9, and 11 o’clock on Sunday mornings. From September thru June, the musical group Psalm 151 leads the parish com-munity in song at the 4:30 p.m. Mass on Saturdays, the parish Folk Group provides the music for the 7:00 p.m. Saturday evening liturgy, and the Adult Choir sings at the 11:00 a.m. Mass on Sundays, except during the summer.

The Children’s Liturgy of the Word is offered at the 4:30 p.m. Saturday Mass, and at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Sunday Masses. We also offer care for children aged six months thru six years for parents attending the 9:00 and 11:00 Masses on Sunday mornings. To avail yourself of this service, just bring your children to the school twenty minutes before Mass, and follow the signs that will direct you to the Childcare room.

Daily Masses are celebrated on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; on Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.; and on Saturday mornings at 8:00 a.m.

Confession. The sacrament of Reconciliation is available before Masses, and on Monday evening from 6:30 to 6:50, and on Saturday afternoon from 3:30 to 4:15. You may also call the Rectory at 836-0011 to schedule a time at your con-venience.

Devotions. The Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Med-al takes place on Monday evening at 7 p.m., preceded by the Rosary at 6:45, except on holidays. The Rosary is also prayed daily following the 8:00 Mass.

Bingo Workers. Bingo revenues are a major source of finan-cial support for our parochial school. Games are played on Monday and Wednesday nights at 7:15, and on Saturday af-ternoons at 1:00. Parishioners who can give some time to help keep our school stay strong, can volunteer as Bingo workers, serving usually once a month. Please call the school at 836-2230 for details.

Adult Servers. There are currently eighteen men and women in the minis-try, serving God’s altar, and providing care for our deceased loved ones. Our adults serve funerals that are sched-uled Monday through Saturday at 9:00 am and/or 11:30 am. If you are interest-ed in this ministry, please contact Brian Ruh at 836 – 0011.