PASTOR

Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Williamson

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: www.stteresasofakron.com

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DIRECTOR

Sr. M. Ruth Warejko, CSSF

PARISH TRUSTEE

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.

DECEMBER 27, 2015 • FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY

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 ......................................................................................... 4:30 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 8

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Monday, December 28 - The Holy Innocents 8:00 Intentions for Mothers

Tuesday, December 29 - St. Thomas Becket 8:00 Departed Souls

Wednesday, December 30 5:30 John Justin White by Mary and Cindy White

Thursday, December 31 - St. Sylvester 8:00 Intentions for Fathers 4:30 Deceased Family and Friends of St. Teresa’s in 2015

Friday, January 1 - Solemnity of Mary, The Holy Mother of God 9:00 Elmer Ottney by family

Saturday, January 2 - Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen 9:00 Parishioners of St. Teresa’s 4:30 Karen Sutton by Mr. & Mrs. D. Bartels

Sunday, January 3 - The Epiphany of the Lord 8:00 Elizabeth Dylag 10:15 Mary Ann Torrelli by Ed and Barb Burke

Scripture Readings for the Week Monday - 1 John 1:5-2:2; Matthew 2:13-18

Tuesday – 1 John 2:3-11; Luke 2:22-35 Wednesday - 1 John 2:12-17; Luke 2:36-40 Thursday - 1 John 2:18-21; John 1:1-18 Friday – Numbers 6:22-27; Galatians 4:4-7; Luke 2:16-21 Saturday - 1 John 2:22-28; John 1:19-28 Next Sunday - Isaiah 60:1-6; Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6; Matthew 2:1-12

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

Today is not a national celebration like France’s Bastille Day. It’s not a military holiday like Anzac

Day in New Zealand and Australia. It’s not a labor holiday like the ones celebrated in the United States, Canada or Egypt. But it ought to be. Today is the feast of the Holy Family. We like to think of the Holy Family as “perfect,” full of joy and problem free, but that’s not really the case. Theirs is the story of a woman suspected of adultery, a man anxiously planning a divorce, and a family forced to emigrate to a foreign land. It’s the story of a couple learning how to cope with their son’s unconventional behavior—something we ready about in today’s Gospel. It’s also the sad story of a woman who first loses her husband and then watches as her only child is unjustly executed by the state. Yes, this family was holy, but it was also very human—dealing with human issues on a daily basis, just like us. That means they know our family’s ups and downs as well. St. Ignatius of Loyola used to pray before a painting of the Holy Family. He liked to imagine himself joining them for dinner or working with Joseph and Jesus in the carpentry shop, asking the Holy Spirit to give him new insights as he did. Isn’t this something each of us can do—especially as we think about their very human life together? Here are some things to think about as you gaze at the Holy Family; first, your family is not ordinary in God’s eyes. Every family is special to Him. Every family receives His favor. Second, your family can make a difference in this world. Dream big, then try to do good for God. Third, it really is possible for your family to be a holy family. Just try to live in God’s love, and it will happen. From The Word Among Us, December 2015 edition

Our Special Prayer Intention this Week: That each family

member will put forth solid effort to restore what has been fractured and bring unity and peace to the home front; we pray to the Lord…

Please pray for the sick of the parish and their family members particularly; David Hahn, Joan Piechocki, Paul Coleman, Shirley Lantz, Philip Morris, Donald

Little, Lucas Lowe, Laurie Puffpaf and for the happy repose of the soul of Baby Aiden Schneider, Marie Caprio and Elizabeth Dylag. Please also continue to pray for our troops who are serving in the military in Afghanistan, Iraq and around the world.

Religious Education: Today we celebrate “The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph”. Pope Francis says, “Motherhood and fatherhood are a gift of God, but to accept the gift, to be astounded by its beauty, to make it shine in society, this is your task. Each of your children is a unique creature that will never be duplicated in the history of humanity. When we understand this, or that God wanted each one, we are astounded by how great a miracle a child is! A child changes your life! A son or daughter is a miracle that changes life.”

• Sunday, December 27 - No Religious Education Classes - Merry Christmas!

• Sunday, January 3 - Religious Education Classes Resume - 9:00 - 10:00 am and 11:15 am - 12:30 pm

Prayer For Priests and Religious

Heavenly Father, please grant to Your faithful servants, the grace and strength to carry out Your mission for the church each day. Keep our priests close to You and continue to inspire them to serve others in Your holy name. Please help to inspire men who are called to a priestly vocation to answer Your call and participate in the fullness that You have planned for them. Amen.

Jesus, Mary and Joseph, as members of the Holy Family, always supported each other in doing God’s will, even though this was not always easy and meant letting go and trusting God. As the family of God’s children, we are to help each other in doing God’s will, which may be a vocation to priesthood or religious life. Let us not stand in the way of those whom God has called. If God is calling you to a Church vocation, call Father Walter Lauricella at (716) 847-5535.

FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY * DECEMBER 27, 2015

The Thursday, December 31st Vigil Mass will be offered for parishioners and family members who were called to the Lord in 2015

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best. Mary Mahaney Samuel Torrelli, Sr. Frank Ciminelli Lori Wetzen Particia Hartmayer Patricia Syracuse Miriam David Dr. Constantine Philips Leo Campbell Rita Flowers Bishop Bernard McLaughlin Fritz McLeod Joan Stark Richard Forrestel Joseph Flowers Patricia McCrea Jeneane Schadt Sandy Harmon Kevin Rosier James DiRienzo Dolores Wolf Robert Sylvester Peter Wysocki Donald Drilling Rose Robinson Stanley Jankowski, Jr. Ed Siminski Mac McCarriagher Joseph Degasperi Ermedo Maselli Liz McMullen Chester Frackowiak John Capan Leroy Mast Nicholas Giangaulano Ted Szulist Dolores Campbell Richard Ehrensberger Ann Falsioni Mary Ann Torrelli Dorothy McHale Angela Jazwiecki Phil Nice Shelby Adamczak Henrietta Feldman Elizabeth Dylag Cardinal Edward Egan Marie Caprio Baby Aiden Schneider

Deceased Clergy and Religious of the Diocese - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Special Masses for the Solemnity of Mary, which is a Holy Day of Obligation, will be held on Thursday, December 31st at 4:30 pm and Friday, January 1st at 9:00 am. Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers and Ushers are needed for both Masses. Please sign up on the bulletin in board in the vestibule if you are available.

Ministers for January Extraordinary Ministers of Communion: 4:30 pm - Liz Wulf; 8:00 am - Dick Campbell; 10:15 am - Cindy Hayes; Lectors: 4:30 pm - Tom Bergman; 8:00 am - Barb Kaufman; 10:15 am - Wally Smith; Altar Servers: 4:30 pm - Brian and Lauren Bergman; 8:00 am - Amanda Ziarniak and Cassandra Brandl; 10:15 am - Brock Hawes, Emma Hawes and Sean Brennan

The 2016 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.

Justice is good. It is the foundation of existence. But there is something higher than justice, the bountiful widening of the heart of mercy. Justice is clear, but one step further and it becomes cold. Mercy is genuine, heartfelt; when backed by character, it warms and redeems. Justice regulates, orders existence; mercy creates. Justice satisfies the mind that all is as it should be, but from mercy leaps the joy of creative life. Rev. Romano Guardino

A man returned to his sports car to find a freshly crushed fender and this note affixed to his windshield wiper: “The people who saw me side-swipe your fender are now watching me write this note,

and doubtless figure I’m telling you my name and address so you can contact me and send me the bill. Ho! Ho! Ho! You should live so long.”

BOTTOM LINE:

Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy. Those who go forth weeping, carrying sacks of seed, will return with cries of joy, carrying their bundled

sheaves. Psalm 126:5-6