News - June 2022 RSS Feed

Basilicas worldwide will celebrate with solemnity and offer Plenary Indulgence on the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul which is also our consecration day this Wednesday, June 29. We will be celebrating our 5th Anniversary of becoming a basilica on this day. Come join us for Mass at noon (in person or online). Confession will be offered 4:30-5:30 p.m.

O GOD OUR CREATOR, from your provident hand we have received our right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. You have called us as your people and given us the right and the duty to worship you, the only true God, and your Son, Jesus Christ. Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit, you call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world, bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel to every corner of society. We ask you to bless us in our vigilance for the gift of religious liberty. Give us the strength of mind and heart to readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened; give us courage in making our voices heard on behalf of the rights of your Church and the freedom of conscience of all people of faith. Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father, a clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters gathered in your Church in this decisive hour in the history of our nation, so that, with every trial withstood and every danger overcome— for the sake of our children, our grandchildren, and all who come after us— this great land will always be “one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.” We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you,  for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.”                                                                                                                                            Matthew  26: 26-

In today’s Gospel, Jesus appoints 72 other missionary disciples to spread the Good News about the coming of the Kingdom of God. Reflecting on this, each of these 72 disciples and each person they evangelize “adds to the Light of the Church.”

Mission Cooperative Plan - Our parishes will be hosting the Benedictine Sisters of Christu Jyothi to share about their missionary work in India this weekend at all the Masses at both Basilica and St. John’s. Their charism is to radiate the light of Christ through their ministry as we stand by the voiceless, the weak, the marginalized, and those considered “unwanted” in the society to restore their dignity. Their apostolate consists of evangelization, formal and non-formal education, women empowerment, care of orphans, child laborers, school dropouts, the sick and elderly, and the hearing and speech impaired. They are involved in pastoral and prison ministry, too. Please be as generous as possible to support these religious sisters in their missionary efforts. Sr. Jancy Thomas, O.S.B, Superior (USA) https://www.sistersofchristthelight.org/

Now, ponder something new. Before Jesus blessed the loaves and the fish, He looked up to Heaven. Once again, Jesu shows us that we must acknowledge that whatever we have, or are, comes from God. We must, eternally give thanks and acknowledge always our total dependence upon God for everything. Give glory and praise and thanks to God, forever!

BasilicaFEST hours: Friday, June 10 from 4 pm - 10:00 pm Saturday, June 11 from Noon - 10:00 pm Sunday, June 12 from Noon  - 5:30 pm  (3K Walk begins at 9:30 am and 5K Run begins at 10:00 am)

Reflect that God always knows where you are and how to reach you, whether you’re “hiding out,” or in the open. We can’t hide from our God for our darkest darkness is still full of Light and Love for Him! Just offer God, yourself… all of your talents and virtues and       competencies… all of your warts and quills and sharp edges. God knows and loves you, despite and because of them.

Immediate Life-threatening Crisis: 911 Crisis Intervention Hotline:  24 hour hotline:  (716) 834-3131       www.crisisservices.org   Catholic Charities (716) 218-1400 (main office); (716) 856-4494 (intake)    Kids Helpline (716) 834-1144                                                                                                                                   National Child Abuse Hotline:  (800)-422-4453 -- (800) 4-A-CHILD  Child Sexual Abuse Darkness to Light (Prevention) 866-FOR-LIGHT (866-367-5444) (Referrals given)   Mandated Reporters call 1-800-635-1522          General Public call 1-800-342 3720                                                                               24 Hour NYS Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Hotline (800) 942-6906   Central Referral Services  211; 888-696-9211  www.211wny.org   Suicide Hotline:  (800) 273-8255 (TALK)  For complete article click on the orange title