Day 4 · Community · St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
A parish is more than a building people go to — it's a community people belong to. Elizabeth Ann Seton built both, mostly from nothing. Join us this week for Rebuild My Church from our parish page in the Hallow app: https://hallow.com/communities/18852/
All are invited to a Parish Week Gathering at St. Mary’s TONIGHT for fellowship and a discussion on St. Francis and the prayer challenge:
Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 – 8 PM | St. Mary’s Room 109
🪴 Details and RSVP can be found on our Together in Christ community page: https://hallow.app.link/kZ4WrYHpP6b
🫶 Join the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign! Donations must be made in the Hallow app, will go to directly our Parish Family, and will be matched up to $5K by Hallow. Monies raised will be used to renew our parish subscription to the app, which provides premium features and retreats, our community app group, and also to support Faith Formation programs. Give right on the app — go to the Church tab — then look for the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign.
#TogetherinChristFamily #hallow #rebuildmychurch #prayerchallenge
Day 3 · The Sacraments · St. Carlo Acutis
Carlo Acutis called the Eucharist his highway to heaven. The sacraments are not milestones we've already passed, but the encounter that keeps happening.
This week our parish joins hundreds of others for seven days of prayer called Rebuild My Church. Join us from our parish page in the Hallow app: https://hallow.com/communities/18852/
All are invited to a Parish Week Gathering at St. Mary’s TOMORROW for fellowship and a discussion on St. Francis and the prayer challenge:
Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 – 8 PM | St. Mary’s Room 109
🪴 Details and RSVP can be found on our Together in Christ community page: https://hallow.app.link/kZ4WrYHpP6b
🫶 Join the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign! Donations must be made in the Hallow app, will go to directly our Parish Family, and will be matched up to $5K by Hallow. Monies raised will be used to renew our parish subscription to the app, which provides premium features and retreats, our community app group, and also to support Faith Formation programs. Give right on the app — go to the Church tab — then look for the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign.
#TogetherinChristFamily #hallow #rebuildmychurch #prayerchallenge
This feast goes back to October 7, 1571. As the Christian fleet sailed into battle at Lepanto, Pope St. Pius V asked the faithful to pray the Rosary. When word of the victory came, he credited it to Our Lady's intercession and set aside this day in thanksgiving.
Families - a simple way to keep the feast with your kids: pray one decade together tonight. Before each Hail Mary, let a different child name someone they want to pray for.
#ourladyoftherosary #feastday #october #Marysmonth
Day 2 · Prayer · St. Teresa of Calcutta
🙏 "Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God."
This week our parish joins hundreds of others for seven days of prayer called Rebuild My Church, Oct 5-11. Join us from our parish page in the Hallow app: https://hallow.com/communities/18852/
All are invited to a Parish Week Gathering at St. Mary’s for fellowship and a discussion on St. Francis and the prayer challenge:
Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 – 8 PM | St. Mary’s Room 109
🪴 Details and RSVP can be found on our Together in Christ community page: https://hallow.app.link/kZ4WrYHpP6b
🫶 Join the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign! Donations must be made in the Hallow app, will go to directly our Parish Family, and will be matched up to $5K by Hallow. Monies raised will be used to renew our parish subscription to the app, which provides premium features and retreats, our community app group, and also to support Faith Formation programs. Give right on the app — go to the Church tab — then look for the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign.
#TogetherinChristFamily #hallow #rebuildmychurch #prayerchallenge
Since 1987, followers of Jesus have gathered in public witness for Respect Life Sunday, in prayerful repentance over the sin of abortion in our cities and in the Church.
Please pray with us this month to build a culture that cherishes and protects every human life: https://www.respectlife.org/prayers
#lifechain #october #respectlifemonth #togetherinchristfamily
Day 1 · Rebuild My Church · St. Francis of Assisi
🪨 Christ told St. Francis to rebuild His Church. Francis started with the stones in front of him.
This week our parish joins hundreds of others for Parish Week: seven days of prayer called Rebuild My Church, Oct 5-11. Join us from our parish page in the Hallow app: https://hallow.com/communities/18852/
All are invited to a Parish Week Gathering at St. Mary’s for fellowship and a discussion on St. Francis and the prayer challenge:
Thursday, Oct. 8, 6:30 – 8 PM | St. Mary’s Room 109
🪴 Details and RSVP can be found on our Together in Christ community page: https://hallow.app.link/kZ4WrYHpP6b
🫶 Join the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign! Donations must be made in the Hallow app, will go to directly our Parish Family, and will be matched up to $5K by Hallow. Monies raised will be used to renew our parish subscription to the app, which provides premium features and retreats, our community app group, and also to support Faith Formation programs. Give right on the app — go to the Church tab — then look for the Rebuild My Church Giving Campaign.
#TogetherinChristFamily #hallow #rebuildmychurch #prayerchallenge
St. Francis is the Catholic patron saint of animals and the environment, known for his deep love for nature and calling animals his "brothers and sisters".
You can pray for and bless your pets and animals at home too. The following blessing and a sprinkling holy water can be offered in your backyard, garden or anywhere inside your home:
"Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air, and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this pet. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen."
Thank you to everyone who brought their precious pets to be blessed today!
#stmarys #petblessing #feastofstfrancis #togetherinchristfamily
Everyone has a Guardian Angel and none of us has to walk through the trials and sufferings of this life alone, because we each have a special friend that is ours alone. No one before us had our specific Guardian Angel, and no one after us will have the same one ever again. Many Saints have even seen their Guardian Angels and spoken with them.
There are many prayers we can say to our Guardian Angel. The most traditional one is the Guardian Angel prayer;
“Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits here, ever this day/night be at my side to light, to guard, to rule, and guide."
We should pray often to our Guardian Angel for guidance and protection. They want to help us, but we have to be open to allowing them to work in our lives.
#feastday #guardianangel #lightguardruleguide #togetherinchristfamily
We're blessed to have wonderful Catholic Schools in our faith community! Save the date for Fall Open House at St. Mary School. Click the link below to RSVP and learn more.
🐝 www.smstheplacetobee.com
#SMStheplacetoBEE #CatholicValues #TomorrowsLeaders #PreK #Kindergarten
#stfrancis #petblessing #feastday #togetherinchristfamily
#OurLadyofFatima #MiracleoftheSun #LadyoftheRosary
😇 Grades 6 - Confirmation, don't forget to join us for MERCY this week!
Thurs., Oct. 1 from 6:30 - 8:00 PM
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
4375 Harris Hill Rd., Williamsville, NY 14221
SCAN or CLICK HERE for more info: https://tinyurl.com/fpra7h7d
MERCY is an opportunity for 6th graders through teens preparing for Confirmation to form an interior life of faith so they may encounter Christ, understand the life of the Church, and grow as faithful Catholic disciples. Each gathering is rooted in prayer, Scripture, the Sacraments, the Saints, miracles, Church history, and the liturgical year. Gatherings are 6:30 - 8pm every first Thursday of the month in the Nativity BVM Church.
Contact Youth Ministry for further details or with questions: 716-688-0599
#mercycatholicyouth #ourheavenlyfamily #thesaints #togetherinchristfamily
All are invited to a Parish Week Gathering at St. Mary’s for fellowship and a discussion on St. Francis and the prayer challenge:
Thursday, Oct. 8
6:30 – 8 PM
St. Mary’s Room 109
🪴 Details and RSVP can be found on our Together in Christ community page: https://hallow.app.link/kZ4WrYHpP6b
Parish Week will also involve a giving campaign to raise funds that will directly support the continued use of our Hallow subscription as a parish family. Hallow will match our contributions up to $5,000, and the monies raised will allow us to renew our parish subscription in March 2027!
Join us on Hallow: https://hallow.com/communities/18852/
#TogetherinChristFamily #hallow #rebuildmychurch #prayerchallenge
St. Mary's Parish Council began a new year with its first meeting on Tuesday, September 15. Parishioners are welcome to communicate with the Council using the new email address: StMaryParishCouncil@TogetherInChristFamily.org
We are pleased to present our 2026-2027 Parish Council Members:
Back row (L-R): Bob Kaminska, Patrick MacDiarmid, Glenn Gawronski
Middle row (L-R): Michaela Staskiewicz, Meghan Carver, Debbie Ramos, Marilyn Wido, Eileen Nahigian, Polly Lougen, Anne-Marie Zelazo
Front row (seated, L-R): Dennis Bastible, Joe Goergen, Al Chrzanowski, Michael Morrison
Not pictured: Stephen Sorrels
We are grateful for their service to our faith community!
#StMarysSwormville #ParishCouncil #TogetherInChristFamily
🪽 TOMORROW - celebrate the Feast of the Archangels with a NBVM Parish Pilgrimage to the breathtaking OLV Basilica! Join us for Mass and a tour.
WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026
MASS - begins at 12:10 p.m.
TOUR - following mass at 12:45 p.m., meet at front entrance.
WHERE: 767 Ridge Rd, Lackawanna, NY 14218
The guided tour will take place in the Basilica's beautiful interior, including the Main Altar, the stained-glass windows, the radiating chapels and altars, the Grotto Shrine and Father Baker's tomb, the baptistry, and the Father Baker Museum in the lower level. Along the way, your guide will share the history of Father Baker, the story of the Shrine's construction, and the meaning behind its remarkable collection of sacred art.
Tours are free of charge. Donations are gratefully accepted and go directly toward the cost of ongoing restoration and maintenance of the Shrine.
#NBVMParishPilgrimage #OLVbasilica #feastofthearchangels
🎨🙏 TONIGHT - join us for Breakthrough!
Monday, Sept. 28th - Painting & Prayer in the St. Mary's Cafeteria
Click for more info: https://tinyurl.com/ahhdj7e8
Bring a friend and come join in the fun! An opportunity for 6th graders through teens preparing for Confirmation to grow in faith through games, interactive activities, prayer, food and conversation. Build a connection between scripture and living our faith while getting to know other teens in our parish and community.
Contact St Mary's Youth Ministry for further details or with questions:
(716) 688-0599 | youthministry@togetherinchristfamily.org
#breakthrough #paintingandprayer #togetherinchristfamily
🥞 Join us TODAY for a PANCAKE BREAKFAST!
Sunday, September 27 | 8:30 - 11 AM
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Center
Sponsored by the Sacred Heart of Jesus Hands of Christ Ministry and benefiting Sacred Heart projects. All you can eat pancakes, sausage, fruit cup, and beverages.
Adults $9 / Kids 5-12 $5 / 4 & under Eat Free!
#pancakebreakfast #SacredHeart #HandsofChrist #allyoucaneat
Learn more here: https://newyorkfamilies.org/2026/09/hochul-says-shell-allow-new-york-to-join-scholarship-program/
🎨🙏 Breakthrough: this Monday, Sept. 28th - Painting & Prayer in the St. Mary's Cafeteria!
Click for more info: https://tinyurl.com/ahhdj7e8
Bring a friend and come join in the fun! An opportunity for 6th graders through teens preparing for Confirmation to grow in faith through games, interactive activities, prayer, food and conversation. Build a connection between scripture and living our faith while getting to know other teens in our parish and community.
Contact St Mary's Youth Ministry for further details or with questions:
(716) 688-0599 | youthministry@togetherinchristfamily.org
#breakthrough #paintingandprayer #togetherinchristfamily
🥞 Join us Sunday for a PANCAKE BREAKFAST!
Sunday, September 27 | 8:30 - 11 AM
Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Center
Sponsored by the Sacred Heart of Jesus Hands of Christ Ministry and benefiting Sacred Heart projects. All you can eat pancakes, sausage, fruit cup, and beverages.
Adults $9 / Kids 5-12 $5 / 4 & under Eat Free!
#pancakebreakfast #SacredHeart #HandsofChrist #allyoucaneat
