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Meat Raffle. The Home School Association at Cardinal O'Hara High School, 39 O'Hara Road, Tonawanda will host its annual meat raffle on May 6. Doors open at 6pm and at 7pm raffles of steak, chicken and pork will begin. A large basket raffle will also be part of the fun. Admission includes a slice of pizza, snacks, beer, wine, soda or water and a sheet of basket raffle tickets. For tickets or information, call Caroline at 716-696-2600, the school at 716-695-2600 or email dschiesser@cardinalohara.com.
St. Christopher Grief Support Group will host Amy Beth Taublieb as their monthly speaker on May 11. Dr. Taublieb is a nationally known clinical psychologist who has helped many people deal with their grief and has been a guest on many television programs. The focus of her talk will be the importance of nurturing yourself during grief and how the need to journey through grief gives meaning to ones continued living. Understanding your grief is vital to healing and each month a speaker provides knowledge and insight at the St. Christopher Walking With Grief Program. Join us on May 11 at 6:30pm for Dr. Taublieb's presentation at the St. Edmund campus of St. Christopher, 530 Ellicott Creek Road, Tonawanda. For more information, call 716-692-2660.
Labyrinths. Learn their history and walk a labyrinth to experience the spiritual, centering effect they offer. Presented by Ron Parker on Saturday, May 14 from 9:30-11am at St. Joseph Center for Spirituality, 4975 Strickler Road, Clarence. For reservations, call 716-759-6893, ext. 175.
Remember the 24th annual Letter Carriers' Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive will occur on Saturday, May 14. Catholic Charities' 8 food pantries in Erie, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties will be among the local pantries to benefit from the bag(s) of non-perishable foods you leave for your mail carrier. And, Happy Mother's Day! A special word of appreciation to mothers for all you do to nurture and care for your children. Don't forget to slow down and take care of yourself throughout the year. Remember, Catholic Charities can help with counseling, parenting skills and other programs geared to families. For more information, contact your local office of Catholic Charities. Call 716-856-4494 to find a location nearest you, or go to http://www.ccwny.org. Also find us on Facebook, Twitter and You Tube.
John Michael Talbot is coming to the linked faith communities of St. Martin of Tours and St. Thomas Aquinas Churches on May 16 & 17 at the St. Martin of Tours Church, 1140 Abbott Road, Buffalo beginning at 7pm. For more information, contact the parish office at 716-823-7077. Tickets are not required.
Meat & More Raffle. St. Andrew Church will hold a Meat & More Raffle on Friday, May 20 in their parish hall, 111 Crocker Street, Sloan. Doors open at 6pm, first drawing at 7pm. Admission includes pizza, beer and pop. There will be a Mini-Basket Raffle, 50/50 splits and more. For tickets and more information, call 716-892-0425.
Celebrating Memorial Day at a Catholic Cemetery is truly a mixture of flags and wreaths and tributes and taps. Join us as we honor those who have served our country in the military at one of our Memorial Day Masses. On Saturday, May 28 at 10am, masses will be held at the following cemeteries: Mount Olivet in Kenmore, Holy Cross in Lackawanna, Gate of Heaven in Lewiston and Holy Sepulchre in Cheektowaga. On Monday, May 30 at 10am, masses will be held at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lockport and St. Adalbert Cemetery in Lancaster. Honoring all those buried in the cemetery is the focus of our Eucharistic celebrations and our voiced intercessions. Taking a little time from our lives to visit the cemetery and to remember the dead is what brings value and meaning to the gatherings with family and friends we may have over this holiday weekend. For more information on any of our services, call 716-873-6500.
Golf Tournament. The Immaculate Conception School Home & School Association is proud to announce the 3rd annual Golf Tournament Fundraiser on Friday, June 3 at Holland Hills Golf Course. The event features 18 holes of golf with a cart, lunch at the turn, and a BBQ chicken and rib dinner following the event. Dinner only packages are available. To register as a golfer, dinner guest or sponsor, visit http://icschoolea.com/Events/ICSGolfTournament.aspx for a registration form. All proceeds benefit the school.
Outpatient Partial Knee Replacements Program. Outpatient partial knee replacements are a widely-accepted alternative for patients considering traditional inpatient knee replacement. Find out if you might be a candidate for a partial replacement, a minimally invasive option with same-day discharge, better pain management and quicker rehabilitation. Choose from 2 sessions on Monday, June 13 from 9-10am or 6-7pm. This seminar is presented by physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist Cindy Repicci Romanowski, MD, at Kenmore Mercy Hospital's Community Room, 2950 Elmwood Avenue, Kenmore. The presentation is free and open to the public, with free accessible parking. Register by calling 716-447-6205.
Life Changing Experience for Teens. All high school students are invited to develop their leadership skills and make lifelong friends at the Christian Leadership Institute (CLI) from June 24-30 at Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora. Participants will learn communication, decision-making, planning and other leadership skills that will help them in daily life and in any leadership position they assume in school, church or work. Past youth participants have described CLI as a "life-changing experience" that helped them develop confidence, grow in their faith, and build solid, supportive friendships. For more information, visit http://www.dobyouth.org or call the Department of Youth & Young Adult Ministry at 716-847-8789.
Mother's Day Gift Tip: Tickets to the fabulous Forte Tenors concert on June 30 at Kleinhans Music Hall in Buffalo. Your mother will thank you for a great evening and you will help the 2016 Appeal in support of Catholic Charities. Presented by LP Ciminelli and an anonymous donor, all proceeds will benefit the programs and services of Catholic Charities. Forte has quickly established itself as the hottest new crossover sensation and the most successful group to be launched from the reality series "America's Got Talent." Find out more and purchase tickets at http://www.kleinhansbuffalo.org. There is even a special meet and greet VIP ticket opportunity. Find Good Within. Open hearts follow Jesus' lead. Check us out at http://www.ccwny.org. Also find us on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Put Your Faith In Action. Single women between the ages of 18-45 are invited to join the Sisters of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities as we travel to David, Kentucky, July 15-23, to repair homes for people in need through our Franciscans in Action service retreat. While giving of your time and talent, you'll also experience personal and spiritual growth in the Franciscan tradition. To register, contact Sister Karen Krebs, OSF, at 412-965-1247 or kkrebs@sosf.org. More information at http://www.sosf.org.
Marriage Moment. "Love one another." (John 13:35) You're married. Of course you love your spouse. But Jesus keeps repeating this command to love. Perhaps it is because love is never finished. Look for a new opportunity to show your love today. Surprise your beloved.
Parenting Perspective. Gratitude can be an overused word these days, but that doesn't mean we should neglect it. Play a "Gratitude Game" with your child. See if each of you can list 10 things you're grateful for today. If something bad happens, see if you can find a silver lining.
Pro-Life Office: USCCB-Word of Life: "Little did I know that God was there, all along, offering me his love... The power of forgiveness is life-altering. I am happy again and the people whom I love sense that." - "Life Matters: Forgiveness and Healing after Abortion"
Oficina de Pro-Vita: USCCB-Palabra de Vida: "Yo no sabía que Dios estaba allí, todo el tiempo, ofreciéndome su amor... El poder del perdón cambia la vida. Estoy feliz de nuevo y la gente a quien amo lo siente". - "La Vida Importa: Perdón y Sanación Posaborto"
God Knows Parenting is a Wild Ride! If you ever wished for practical tools, resources, skill-building techniques, and lots more, one of these free parenting packets is designed just for you. Parenting Packet I: addresses the basic tough tasks of raising children in today's world. Parenting Packet II: is for those separated or divorced; focuses on positive ways to co-parent well in order to help children of all ages who are profoundly affected by their parents' divorce deal with the pain and upheaval in their lives. Parenting Packet III: death and grief are inescapable. If you feel ill-prepared to discuss death with a child, you are not alone. This packet offers useful tools from preschool through teens. For your free packet, please call the Office of Family Life Ministries at 716-847-2210 or e-mail familylife@buffalodiocese.org.
For your Marriage. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) provides information and resources about a healthy marriage, in general, and Catholic marriage, in particular. Offerings include a Daily Marriage Tip, regularly changing features like the monthly Marriage Quiz, Book of the Month review and Marriage in the News. They continue to add to the content on a regular basis. Visit http://www.foryourmarriage.org, click on "Caring for Your Marriage," then "Resources."
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Everyday there are things that remind us of our experiences of loss. Grief never takes a vacation! Our free 2016 packet "Coping with Seasons of Loss" is filled with resources, insights, prayers and Scripture support. For your packet, contact the Office of Family Life Ministries at 716-847-2210 or email familylife@buffalodiocese.org.
*** New Bulletin Announcements will be posted on May 2, 2016.***