WELCOME!!

You come to this Church not as a stranger, but as a friend: a friend of God and our parish community. Please let us know how we can serve you.

Mission Statement
Nourished by the Word, strengthened by the Eucharist, guided by the Spirit, we the People of the Holy Family Parish, in union with the whole People of God, will strive toward the uncondiƽonal love and service of all people.

CELEBRATING OUR 169TH YEAR
HOLY FAMILY PARISHΐΐFOUNDED 2007
MERGER OF
ST. JOSEPH'S [1852 - 2007]

Parish Office Hours:
Monday.Thursday: 9:00 AM.3:00pm and Friday: 9:00am.Noon

Daily Mass: Mon.Ï Fri. 8:00am Sat. Vigil: 5:00pm Sunday: 8:00am and 10:30am

Eucharistic Adoration: Every Friday 8:30am.6:00pm in the Chapel

Confessions: Saturday 4.4:30pm in Sacristy

Faith Formation: Sunday: 9:15.10:15am

Baptismal Preparation Classes: are conducted for parents individually. Call the Parish office to register. Baptisms are scheduled with the Pastor, during or after weekend Masses or at a time mutually agreed upon.

Care of the Sick: Please call the Parish Office to have Communion taken to the sick/ homebound. Notify us of those desiring the Sacrament of Anointing

Joining Our Parish: New members are warmly welcomed. Make an appointment to register with the Pastor or secretary by phoning the Parish Office.

RCIA: Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults program for those who wish to become Catholic or learn more about our faith. Christian Initiation of Youth program also available. Contact the Parish Office.

Marriages: Engaged couples are to make wedding arrangements at least six months in advance. When you wish to set a date, please call Farther Dick. Pre.marriage sessions are required.

PLEASE NOTE: Do you still want to receive the Bulletin by mail? Now that we are getting back to normal & coming back to Church? If NOT please notify the Parish Office. This would be helpful in saving postage. Thank You

A message from our Pastor

Dear Parishioners & Friends,

Many times in life we are impatient. We just don’t want to wait in a line at the grocery store, gift shop, Auto Bureau, bank, gas station or at a red light. We can’t imagine something wonderful happeningÐlike someone “paying it forward” for us, or having a delightful conversation, or just thanking God for the clerk who is taking care of us. I know, though, you are never impatient with Mass going a little longer on the weekend or if a Confessional line is too long.

When we think of God, we often think that our God is too slow in answers to prayer. But we may also think, are we too slow to listen to God more? So, as we emphasize the waiting for the Messiah during Advent, let us thank the Lord for the many times our prayers have been answered, and sometimes very quickly.

By the way, I’ll be waiting for you as I hear Confessions this Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday.

Love & Prayers,
Father Dick

CONFESSIONS THIS WEEK
Tuesday 4:15 to 4:45; Wednesday 7:50 to 8:30 pm; Saturday 3:45 to 4:30

Wednesday, Dec. 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, our national church feast day. Masses will be celebrated on Tues. Dec. 7th at 5pm, preceded by Confessions from 4:15 to 4:45. Dec. 8th Masses at 8AM & 7PM. National Night of Prayer for Life, with Eucharistic Adoration, asking Mary to intercede for us through her Son, for a return to respect for all life, will be observed in Church this Wednesday from 7:45 to 10PM. Confessions will be heard from 7:50 to 8:30 PM.

Next weekend, Dec. 11.12, the 2nd Collection will be taken up for the Retirement Fund for the Religious. Please join in thanking the thousands of senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests who worked tirelessly to educate the young and serve those in need. Now they are in need.

To watch Mass via Livestream click on the image below.

PLEASE NOTE: Recorded Masses are now available on our parish YouTube channel. These Masses may be edited due to copyright restrictions. They can be accessed by going to YouTube.com and typing Holy Family Parish Albion NY in the search bar. Right now the image is a blue circle with an H in the center. If there are accessing issues, please send an email to holfampar@yahoo.com.

WeShare -

Interested in online giving? It is safe, simple and convenient. If you have questions or would like to sign up for onlinegiving please call Liturgical Publications at 800-950-9952 or click Here.

SANCTUARY LAMP INTENTIONS

Nov. 28 . December 11, 2021
Deceased of the Walsh & Szyikowski Families
December 5 . 18, 2021
Deceased of the Grabowski Families
by Michele & Mike
December 12.25, 2021
Living & Deceased of the Catholic Daughters
by Catholic Daughters

The practice of requesting a Sanctuary Light Candle to be offered for loved ones, living or deceased, is a beautiful and wonderful part of our Catholic tradition. You may request to have one of the Sanctuary Lamps lit by calling the Parish Office. Like our Mass Requests, the donation to light a Candle is $15. These candles burn for 14 days.

For your convenience

Our 10:30 Mass can be streamed at anytime in the McCabe Room. Please be sure to contact the office ahead of time so the equipment can be set up.

An elevator and nearby rest room make this an option for those who wish to attend Mass but have difficulty getting into the church.

Rather than miss Mass because of active little ones, parents may wish to bring their youngsters to the Resource Room where they can share in the service with them without the constraints of a pew. There is room to move around and a library of children's bible stories for them to enjoy.

All are welcome. Please suggest this to family and friends who may be looking for an opportunity, even temporarily, to attend Mass at Holy Family.

Please pray for all our loved ones who have journeyed into the hands of the God, remembering:
Lawrence Sullivan & Elizabeth Shultz

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

David Albanese, Gary Armida, Bob Blackburn, Greg Blodgett, Ann Boe, Amy Bowers, Carolyn Budynski, Patrick J. Burgio, Michael Brune, Alexandria Renee Bush, Laurene Canale, Chris Cioffi, Richard Connelley, Justin Cooper, Mary Coveney, Ryan Cunningham, Fran D’Agostino, Laura Dibley, Mary DiGuilio, Brittany Dodd, Nancy Donahue, Barbara A. Dunham, Patty Foote, Gail Forquell, Leah Gaddis, Robert Gadsby, Bob & Rita Galbreath, Betty Geiger, Margaret Golden, Maryann Hildreth, Steve Karas, Sue Kirsch, Gloria Kuhn, Wayne Litchfield, Herman Lorenz, Sally Lusk, Debbie Magliocco, Mark & Susan Mazzatti, Janice McMullen, Gert Metz, Jacoby Miller, Marian Moore, Pat Murray, Gloria Neilans, Mary Jane Nenni, Elizabeth Aldaco Novak, Rita Lang Owens, Isabelle Parvis, Carol Passaniti, Alan Penna, Kim Peltz, Mary Ann Peterson, Helen Pieniaszek, Carol and Fred Pilon, Linda Rebadowd, Danielle Ries, Carol Riviere, Wendy Sanders, Bill Sargent, Carolyn Sisson, Gary Spitz, John Stirk, Mark Swindon, Lynn Tomasino, Betty Tower, Sue Toke, Lisa Vergiza, Maureen Watt, Pat Weber, Chris Wing, and Nancy Zambito.

What's Happening

Upcoming Meetings

Sat. Dec. 4 - Faith Formaƽon Mtg., 9:30 am
Sun. Dec. 5 - Ladies of Charity Christmas Gathering 11:30am
Mon. Dec. 6 - The Chosen Book Study, McCabe Rm., 10am
Tues. Dec. 7 - Knights of Columbus, B6, 7pm
Wed. Dec. 8 - Youth Group, Lyceum, 6 ΐ 8pm

HOLY FAMILY GIVING TREE
A new Liturgical Year begins Nov. 28th, the 1st Sunday of Advent. Our Giving Tree, a wonderful tradition here at Holy Family, will be up once again.

It is our opportunity to help our local needy, showing them that we care and hopefully making their holiday season a little brighter. Please refer to the “CHRISTMAS WISH LIST” of items listed on the scroll to select your donations for giving.

Please bring your unwrapped gift, and place it under our tree no later than December 15th to give us time to distribute them to the various organizations in time for them to share the gifts before Christmas.

We have requests for gifts of bedding (sheets, blankets, etc.), new born baby clothes and diapers, children’s clothing; winter coats, boots, sweatpants/ sweatshirts, socks and underwear, hats and mittens and toys.

** The primary school is in need of children’s sweatpants & leggings this year**.

All of our local organizations always look forward to our generous gifts and thank us every year for our love and caring.

FAITH FORMATION NEWS

REMINDER: Registration for the WINTER Session of Faith Formation is taking place now. There are 6 spots open for enrollment in this session. The Winter Session begins Jan. 2, 2022. You can register at the Parish Office M - Th., 9am - 3pm and Fri. 9am - Noon.

1st Reconciliation, 1st Communion & Confirmation students will meet at 9:15am on Sunday Dec. 19th.

HEY Kids, wanna sing on Christmas Eve? Join with the Folk Group to sing at the 4PM Mass Christmas Eve. You would be the choir singing before Mass from 3:30 - 4:00pm. If you’re interested, we will be practicing from 9 - 9:15am on Sundays, Dec. 5, 12, 19. Your families can also join.

Any ???’s email Chris Taber - tabercr01@mail.buffalostate.edu Mrs. Kovaleski - kkovaleski@albionk12.org

YE OLDE CHRISTMAS SHOPPE
A Children’s Christmas Shopping opportunity you won’t want to miss! The Christmas Shoppe will be open Sunday, Dec. 19th after 10:30am Mass ‘til 1pm in the Lyceum. Children can buy Christmas gifts for family members, have gifts wrapped, visit with Santa & make crafts. Snacks will be provided. If you would like to volunteer, we need you!! Call the Parish Office at 589.4243. Thank You.

Be a winner! Don’t forget your WARM & FORM lottery ticket(s). A great Christmas Stocking stuffer idea that lasts the whole month long. Donations $5. per ticket with chances to win daily. Tickets available in the Parish Office.

Catholic Daughters Christmas Luncheon, December 11, 1p.m. at the Village House. Seating is limited. Reservation required. Call Joyce Winkelmann.

SUPPORT GROUP CHRISTMAS GATHERING
Please Note: The Dec. 16th Support Group Meeting will be held in the Lyceum at 1p.m.

The Ladies of Charity wish to send a heartfelt “Thank You” to all our parishioners. Your generous donations, purchase of baked goods and the Willow Tree raffle have been an overwhelming success.

CONGRATULATIONS!!! to Gerry Swiercznski, winner of our Willow Tree Nativity.
God Bless All.

The Ladies of Charity Mass of Remembrance will be celebrated at the 10:30 AM Mass Dec. 5th. A reception for our members will be held in the Rectory following Mass..

Due to unforeseen and unfortunate circumstances, the Christ Church Community Kitchen will no longer be in operation after their last Friday night dinner December 17th. Our Holy Family volunteers will be the last group to serve meals. The Knights of Columbus will temporarily suspend the Christmas Food Drive until another approved organization is identified.
With best regards, Greg Dugan

Congratulations to
John Flanagan &
Loren Beam
Married
November 27, 2021

AROUND THE DIOCESE

365 of Fr. Roy Herberger’s collection of international Nativity Sets form 59 countries will be on display at the Fatima Shrine in Lewiston, NY during the Festival of Lights. You may visit on Fri., Sat., & Sun. from 5 til 9pm from 11/20 thru 1/2 except 11/25.26, 12/24.25 & 31.

St. Vincent DePaul News: The St. Vincent DePaul building at 315 E. State St., Albion will be open on Monday Evenings at 7pm.

ADVENT WREATH PRAYER - WEEK 2
O God of hope, You who sent Your messenger
John the Baptist, who tells us to be prepared. It
sounds easy, yet there are so many preparations
and so little time. We light these candles to remind
ourselves that Advent is a gift to us. We pause amid the
busyness to prepare our hearts for the mystery and magic of
Christmas. We light these candles in the name of Jesus, who
comes as the light to the world. Amen .

St. Nicholas | Feast Day December 6 Nicholas Day, or Feast of St. Nicholas, is December 6 and marks the anniversary of the death of the 3rd century Catholic saint who inspired the modern versions of Santa Claus. Not to be confused with Christmas, St. Nicholas Day is also rooted in a tradition of giving, stemming from the saint's legendary generosity.

Litany Of St. Nicholas

O God, Creator of heaven and earth, Have mercy on us.
O God, Redeemer of the world, Have mercy on us.
O God, Sanctifier of the faithful, Have mercy on us.
O Christ hear us, O Christ hear us.
Blessed Mary, full of grace, Blessed Joseph,
Blessed St John Baptist, Blessed Lucy,
All holy women and men of God,
Pray with us.
Blessed Nicholas,
Holy Bishop of Myra,
Holy Saint in Bari,
Pray with us.
Nicholas:
Patron of children and seafarers,
Gift-giver and Wonder-Worker,
Friend of the poor and needy,
Icon of gentleness and generosity,
Patron of Palestine’s freedom,
Model of meekness and charity,
Defender of the Christian Faith,
Myrrh of the fragrance of Christ,
Help of those who suffer wrong,
Faithful steward of the mysteries of God,
Guide of the penitent sinner,
Source of joy and thanksgiving,
Saint who points us to the Manger,
Pray with us.
Jesus, Lamb of God,
Have mercy on us
Jesus, bearer of our sins,
Have mercy on us;
Jesus, Redeemer of the world,
Grant us your peace.
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.
Let us pray:
Grant that we,
aided by the prayers of St Nicholas and all the saints,
may be strengthened on our earthly pilgrimage
to live and work for the praise and glory of God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
and in our service to God’s people and God’s whole creation.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
May the souls of the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace,
And rise in glory.

ADVENT INSPIRATIONS

THEY’RE BACK “LITTLE BLUE BOOKS”

Last year, many people missed the Little Blue Books, which they enjoyed so much in previous years. We are able to make them available at the church entrances. They are designed for six minute daily reflections. The left.hand page has a variety of thoughts about the Advent and Christmas seasons. The right hand page will contain reflections on a Gospel passage.

THEY’RE NEW “THE WORD AMONG US”
In these last few months we’ve made available The Word Among Us, a monthly publication containing the Mass readings and reflections for each of the days, which will be for Advent.

Everything You Need to Get Ready for Advent

December Is Devoted To The Immaculate Conception | Mark Your Calendar

by Genevieve Perkins

One of the four Marian Dogmas is the Immaculate Conception which is also this month’s devotion. (Some also dedicate it to the Divine Infancy, which is equally appropriate.) It is a title used to describe St. Mary, among the many others we use as Catholics to honor and respect Our Lord and Savior’s Mother. Remember, this refers to St. Mary’s conception, in which she was saved before she was born to prepare her for her unique role.

Among many feasts, memorials, and reasons to celebrate throughout Advent and Christmas season, this month is full of famous feasts: St. Nicholas on December 6th, St. Lucy on the 13th, Our Lady of Guadalupe on the 12th, St. Juan Diego on the 9th, and, most obviously, the Nativity of the Lord Jesus Christ (Christmas!) on December 25.

We celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception on December 8th. The Holy Innocents, those innocent young lives lost in effort for the secular king to stop Our Lord from being born, are remembered on December 28th.

During these celebrations with family, I hope you are filled with peace, joy, and love—what the candles on your Advent wreath represent. While we reflect on birth, conception, family, and saints who certainly stand up for love even if it meant losing their lives, please remember those we lose every day to abortion, suicide, and other instances that unnaturally end another’s life.

I don’t mean to dampen the festivities! What I mean is to think of how to help end the unnecessary loss of life. Let’s think of the Baby Jesus, cradled in St. Mary’s arms, and let’s not stray from gently guiding parents to healthy and empowering options for unexpected children. Let’s not look at young or old pregnant women who may or may not be married as if they are to blame for anything. Instead, let’s look at them with unconditional love, send them kind words, and pray for them and their child.

Let’s follow the example of the Holy Family. St. Joseph had a choice to ignore St. Mary’s pregnancy and marry her anyway or to do what was normal and reveal her to the community to be stoned. Before the angel revealed God’s plan to him, St. Joseph already chose to silently leave St. Mary. We know that after the angel spoke to him, he accepted St. Mary in marriage and the rest of his life, he taught and loved their little family. Pray for fathers to emulate St. Joseph with stark bravery and humble acceptance of life.

Let’s never treat motherhood or fatherhood like it’s a sin, no matter the circumstances. Parenthood is a gift. Life is a gift. This is what we should celebrate this season—this life and the life in eternity we can now achieve through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

December Catholic Feast Days

December 2: St. Bibiana

December 3: St. Francis Xavier

December 4: St. John Damascus

December 6: St. Nicholas

December 7: St. Ambrose

December 8: Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Holy Day)

December 9: St. Juan Diego

December 12: Our Lady of Guadalupe

December 13: St. Lucy

December 14: St. John of the Cross

December 20: St. Dominic Silos

December 21: St. Peter Canisius

December 24: St. Charbel | Christmas Eve

December 25: Christmas Day (Holy Day)

December 26: Feast of the Holy Family | St. Stephen

December 27: Feast of St. John the Baptist

December 28: Feast of the Holy Innocents

December 29: Feast of St. Thomas Becket

December 31: New Year’s Eve

December Advent Reflection Questions:

1. What will you do this Advent to wait and prepare yourself for the Lord’s coming?

2. How do you celebrate all twelve days of Christmas?

3. What are your Catholic resolutions for the New Year?

4. What title of St. Mary do you commonly refer to her using and why?

5. What is your birth story? The story of all your children’s arrivals?

6. What will you do to assure that every person has the right to life from conception to natural death?

7. Is there someone in your family, who may have had an unexpected pregnancy or even an abortion, whom you owe an apology to for acting uncharitably? Perhaps someone with different beliefs with whom you can make amends this season?

The Sacramental World Of Christmas Symbols

by Priscilla Smith McCaffrey

On a December afternoon I watched one-year-old grandson Ronan-the-Barbarian crawl around the Christmas tree. He would stop, reach out his arm and dip his fist into the water in the tree stand. And then he would bless himself, tap, tap, tap in his baby way. At his eye level, it was not unlike a holy water font his father had helped him dip his little hand into many times. That yielded a revelation: he was seeing his evergreen world under the Christmas tree lights as sacramental. He was familiar as much as an infant could be with the rites of Mystery, and could in turn look to his very narrow world and associate special things with Holy Rites. Not that he could call it ‘holy’ or ‘sacramental’; but he could use it as holy and as sacramental. He could acquire the habit before the concept. The association doesn’t take too much brain power. It is beautifully natural.

When you look up a symbol of a Christian feast day the description often starts like this: in pagan days, it was originally thought that this holly, this star, this tree, this animal, this sun, this moon, this day possessed certain magical powers because of some significant attribute or cosmological disposition. I tend not to think that myself, that is, I tend to think the pagan mind originally made associations with nature the same playful way that our minds do, and perhaps did more easily in childhood. In time perhaps the pagans attributed magical powers to things, but is not the sun life-giving? Do not the stars rule the heavens with magisterial regularity? I tend to think the pagans we are always referring to just plain liked seeing the poetry in nature and its relevance to their lives and communities. I wonder if the dismissive emphasis on primitive religions is more a reflection of the Enlightenment’s inability to grasp transcendence of any sort.

That is a big topic to investigate. My smaller point is that the world over, all cultures, especially those close to the earth, have their symbols from nature that speak of higher things. Perhaps in times past, the collective imagination endowed them with magical powers, but even when the magic association no longer persists, the symbols and harbingers stir the national consciousness and memory.

The Christmas Symbol Of Holly

Holly is one of those Christmas symbols that is traced back to the Druids, and still speaks to the British today. (I believe the Druids get more respect these days than do the Christians. There are some notions of them being more indigenous than were their sisters and brothers who became Christian. Same bloodlines, but better P.R.) The Druids used holly in fertility rites. Under the Christian dispensation, holly easily lends itself as metaphor for the innocent and suffering Christ, source of eternal life. One of my favorite English carols encapsulates the lesson: the holly bears a berry, sweet as any flower and red as blood; it bears a prickle as sharp as any thorn; the holly bears a bark as bitter as any gall. The song suggests Aaron’s bud, Christ’s blood, the crown of thorns, the bitter gall. And bearing the crown “of all the trees that are in the wood,” the holly suggests the Kingship of Christ over all men. Among Christians, the holly becomes a sort of sacramental, for it points to Christ and makes us mindful of His life. By association, the holly becomes notionally holy, but not truly. It does not impart a blessing. (I say ‘sacramental,’ but not in the truest sense.)

The Christmas Symbol Of The Plum Tree

China has a most enchanting symbol of new life and perseverance during strife. That is the plum blossom. The plum tree blooms in winter. The branches of the plum tree are not luxurious with blossoms; rather they are striking for their elegance and humble display, even under a layer of snow. The whole aspect of the plum tree suggests inward qualities of grace perduring through times of struggle. In late winter, the pendulous branches of a plum tree are swaddled in strength and purity and the promise of new life, despite adversity.

If I were in charge of designating Christmas symbols to reach the Chinese heart, I would select the plum tree, for it bears its blossoms humbly on a still, dark winter’s night. It makes us mindful of the pure Child –Aaron’s bud, Judah’s rose.

Anything that points to Jesus, the wondrous babe lying in a manger, is a type of sacramental. Even so the lowly water in a Christmas tree stand.

Christmas Blossoms

Learn more about the fascinating irony of our most cherished Christmas objects, both sacred and secular, produced by the artists and craftsmen of Communist China in Christmas Blossoms. In their imaginations, in the depth of their hearts, what do these artisans think of the mangers, the shepherds, Santa Claus, and Mother Mary? Of the star, the bells, the holly, and the Wise Men? Most significantly, what do they make of the Holy Child Who exists at the heart of the West? A story for young and old, parents and children alike, this beautifully illustrated novella captures how the Christmas spirit endures and stirs hearts despite the antagonistic forces of commercialism and oppression—and it will touch your heart as well.

Holy Family Roman Catholic Parish