ST. TERESA OF AVILA PARISHST. TERESA OF AVILA PARISH Akron, New York

TERESEAN TIMESTERESEAN TIMES Volume 6, No. 2 Spring/Summer 2012

Pastor Rev. Msgr.

Robert J. Williamson

Rectory 5771 Buell Street

P.O. Box 168, Akron, NY 14001 Phone: 716-542-9103 Fax: 716-542-2444

stteresasofakron@verizon.net

Mass Schedule Sunday

8:00, 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 and 7:30 PM

Religious Education Director Sr. M. Ruth Warejko, CSSF Convent: 716-542-9717

Classtime Office: 716-542-5777

Business Manager Melissa Sanford

Baptisms Arrangements must be made

3 weeks prior

Marriages Please contact the Parish

Rectory for more information

Parish Website www.stteresasofakron.com

“Since prayer places our intellect in the brilliance of God’s light and exposes our will

to the warmth of His heavenly love,…. I especially counsel you to practice . . . the prayer of the heart, and particularly

that which centers on the life and passion of our Lord.”

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“Fortnight For Freedom” To Focus On Prayer For Religious Liberty

For a two-week period, beginning June 21 on the vigil of the Feasts of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, to July 4, Independence Day, Catholics from the Diocese of Buffalo will join the faithful across the United States in the “Fortnight for Freedom,” described by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops as, “a great hymn of prayer for our country.” Among the first martyrs of the Church, St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More remained true to their faith in the face of political persecution. The fortnight is part of the bishops’ coordinated efforts to mobilize Catholics in response to government attacks on religious liberty. Earlier this year, the Obama Administration endorsed a Health and Human Services mandate that will require Catholic organizations and institutions to pay for employee health coverage that includes contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs. The bishops have vigorously opposed the mandate on the grounds that the federal government is forcing the Catholic employers to provide coverage that is a contradiction of Church teachings and beliefs. “During this two-week period, I call on Catholics throughout the diocese to join me in prayer for religious freedom,” said Bishop Edward U. Kmiec. “We know prayer can be very powerful and every day during the fortnight, in every parish, during every Mass, a special Prayer of the Faithful will be said.” Bishop Kmiec will begin the fortnight on Thursday, June 21 at 3:00 pm with a holy hour at the Carmelite Monastery (75 Carmel Road, Buffalo). Bishop Edward M. Grosz, auxiliary bishop of Buffalo, will conclude the observance with a holy hour at the Dominican Monastery (355 Doat Street, Buffalo) at 3:00 pm on Tuesday, July 3. The public is welcome to attend both prayer hours. “I believe the ‘Hour of Mercy’ at both of these powerhouses of prayer in our diocese will be the most effective and prayerful ways for Catholics to take part in the fortnight,” Bishop Kmiec said. For more information on the “Fortnight for Freedom”, visit the HHS Mandate page of www.buffalodiocese.org.

Obituary - “Someone Else”

Our church was saddened to learn this week of the death of one of our most valued members, Someone Else. Someone’s passing creates a vacancy that will be difficult to fill. Else has been with us for many years and for every one of those years, Someone did far more than a normal person’s share of the work. Whenever there was a job to do, a class to teach, or a meeting to attend, one name was on everyone’s list, “Let Someone Else do it.” Whenever leadership was mentioned, this wonderful person was looked to for inspiration as well as results; “Someone Else can work with that group.” Someone Else was a wonderful person; sometimes appearing superhuman. Were the truth known, everybody expected too much of Someone Else. Now Someone Else is gone! We wonder what we are going to do. Someone Else left a wonderful example to follow, but who is going to follow it? Who is going to do the things Someone Else did? When you are asked to help this year, remember - we can’t depend on Someone Else anymore.

- Author - Someone Else

Therefore Therefore

Your Parish Needs You!!!Your Parish Needs You!!!

Volunteers are needed for the following tasks: •Money Counters (Sunday or Monday mornings) •Liturgy of the Word for our young people •Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, and Altar Servers

for weekend Masses •Choir Members •Regular and Substitute Religious Education

Catechists •Nurses or EMT’s for Blood Pressure Screenings

(once a month) •Volunteers to help with the parish picnic in August

Your parish is only as prosperous as you want it to be - Volunteer today!!!

Call the rectory at 542-9103 if you can help in any way!

(Summer residents are welcome to help!)

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Nourished By the Word of God

Here are some frequently asked questions about the Catholic Biblical School. You may have noticed the posters and leaflets in the entrance of the Church. You may even have noticed that a first year class is being held at a neighboring parish on Monday evenings. I have shared the leaflets with the catechists and hope to interest more people from the parish in this wonderful program. The following are questions and answers as published in “The Scroll” by Barbara Shanahan, the director of CBS.

Why do I need to study the Bible? A: If we keep in mind that the biblical writers wrote some 2-3 thousand years ago, we can imagine that life now is much different than it was then. If we are to understand what they intended to say, the meaning behind their words, we need to know something of their times and the way of expression they employed.

Why do I have to pay for this? A: Classes are taught by teachers of the Bible. This is not a “faith sharing” experience where we discuss what we think the Bible means. The CBS receives no funding aside from donations and the modest tuition charged.

Do I sign up for 4 years? A: Mention is made of it being a four year program because the overall structure of the 4 years lays out a careful study of the entire Bible. This is a unique feature . . .it studies each section of the Bible (Old and New Testament) and over the unfolding years, the student sees gradually how it all fits together.

Who attends this program? A: There is a mix of ages (all adults: mid 20’s to 80!). Each person comes for their own reason, with their own expectations and goals.

Where and when to classes meet? A: Classes are two hours and meet weekly during the year. There are about 30 classes divided into 10 week sessions. This may seem like a lot, but the time is well used and passes quickly. Father Paul Steller and Barbara Shanahan teach in the program.

The goal of all this is prayer and listening to God and forming our lives in light of His Word.

Thanks be to God! Sister Ruth CBS Graduate 2001

Contest Winner

We are very proud to have a first place winner in the d i o c e s a n w i d e Vocation Awareness Contest”. Marissa Brennan, a fourth grader in our Religious Education Program, composed a prayer following the theme of “Jesus

said, ‘Come to Me’”. Marissa’s efforts were supported by her parents, Richard and Jennifer Brennan, and her catechist, Mrs. Elizabeth Roth. Marissa received an engraved plaque from Bishop Edward Kmiec at the Catholic Center on May 10, 2012. The contest was open to students in grades Kindergarten through Eight and two awards were given at each grade level. This annual contest is sponsored by the Diocesan Vocation Office, Serra Club of Buffalo and the Vocation Networks of Western New York. Congratulations Marissa!

Nurturing the Children

A healthy spiritual diet includes prayer and knowledge. In other words, we want our children to grow in our Catholic faith by daily prayer, praying the Mass, and studying the truths that Jesus taught. Our religious education program begins in Kindergarten and continues through all grade levels in high school. Our volunteer catechists follow the curriculum of our diocese using materials from the “Christ our Life” series. We encourage all parents to register their children for classes now! Classes resume on September 9, 2012. It is very helpful for us to know how many children will be attending in the fall. Check out our parish website at www.stteresasofakron.com to download registration forms or pick up a registration packet from the back of the church. We are always willing to assist parents to bring up their children in the Catholic faith in a healthy atmosphere.

Sister Ruth Director of Religious Education

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COME JOIN IN AND HAVE A GOOD TIME!!!

St. Teresa’s 17th Annual Parish Family Picnic

Lots of food including hamburgers, hotdogs,

Italian sausage, pizza, grilled corn, ice cream!

Games for the kids! Raffles!

Admission: One great big dish to pass and a smile!!!!

Saturday, August 4th 5:30 pm

Your help is needed: Parishioners of all ages are encouraged to show up the morning of the picnic at 9:30 am to set up the tables, chairs, tents, and work in the kitchen. We also need help with the children’s activities during the picnic. Confirmation candidates are encouraged to participate to get their service hours taken care of. If you are willing to help in any way, please contact Melissa any weekday at the rectory at 542-9103 or Kristen Mayrose at 570-8078. This is YOUR picnic - let’s make it a great one!

Hearts and Hands

What do you do when you can’t drive, but you need to get someplace: the bank, the grocery store, the hairdresser, or even the doctor or dentist? What if you need some yard work done and can’t do it yourself? Or what if you live alone, and you just need someone to talk to? If your family is just around the corner, or if you have a wide network of friends, maybe you can depend on them for some of your needs. But what happens when they are not available, or they just need a break?

That is where Hearts and Hands can help. Hearts and Hands is a not-for-profit organization which pairs screened volunteers with individuals who need a helping hand with day-to-day living needs, such as door to door transportation for medical appointments and routine errands, phone pal and wellness checks, routine house-keeping and yard work, minor handyman services, and in-home support. Hearts and Hands provides services in Akron, Newstead, Alden, Wales, Clarence and the Tonawanda Indian Reservation. They have home offices at 50 John Street in Akron and satellite offices in Wales and Clarence.

If you have a need and you are disabled or elderly, Hearts and Hands will try to match an available volunteer to assist you with that need. They are a best efforts organization, with a 97% request fulfillment rate, something of which they are proud of.

Hearts and Hands is a “hands off” organization, which means that their volunteers do not provide medical services. “If you need dressing changed or medicine administered, we are not equipped to do that, but we will take you to a doctor or facility that can do that.”

Of course, Hearts and Hands is not just for medical appointments. They take people to social events, to the bank or to their favorite stores….all of which increase their quality of life. They also have volunteers to call people regularly and who do routine chores, such as lawn mowing and light housekeeping. When a person is unsteady on their feet or using a walker, even changing a light bulb can be an aggravating difficulty.

If you are in need of Hearts and Hands services or would like to help, please call 542-2226.

Summer Office Hours For the months of July and August: Rectory Office Hours will be from

8:30 am – 12:00 pm Please try to conduct office business during this time.

Thank you!

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St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Bernard of Clairvaus, a twelfth-century Cistercian Abbot, had some wonderful advice about invoking the name and the presence of Jesus as we faced the difficulties of life.

It is a medicine. Does one of us feel sad? Let the name of Jesus come into his heart . . .Does someone fall into sin? Does his despair even urge him to suicide? Let him but invoke this life-giving name and his will to live will be at once renewed. The hardness of heart that is our common experience, the apathy that bred of indolence, bitterness of mind, repugnance for the things of the spirit—have they ever failed to yield in presence of that saving name? The tears dammed up by the barrier of our pride—how have they not burst forth again with sweeter abundance at the thought of Jesus’ name? And where is the man, who terrified and trembling before impending peril, has not been suddenly filled with courage and rid of fear by calling on the strength of that name? Where is the man who tossed on the rolling seas of doubt, did not quickly find certitude by recourse to the clarity of Jesus’ name? Was ever a man so discouraged, so beaten down by afflictions, to whom the sound of this name did not bring new resolve? In short, for all the ills and disorders to which flesh is heir, this name is medicine. For proof we have no less than His own promise: “Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me” (Psalm 49:15).

Thoughts That Inspire “With regard to material things, our knowledge and our technical accomplishments are legion, but what reaches beyond, the things of God and the question of good, we can no longer identify. Faith, then, which reveals God’s light to us, is the true enlightenment, enabling God’s light to break into our world, opening our eyes to true light.” Pope Benedict XVI “In giving His life for us, Jesus asks us to live our lives for others. He asks us to share in His work of redemption. That’s why the Gospel is never merely a call to be ‘nice’ to others. There’s nothing sweet about Golgotha. Life in Jesus Christ is a call to heroic and self-sacrificing love.” Archbishop Charles Chaput, Philadelphia

Why Go To Church??

A Church goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

“I’ve gone for 30 years now” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 203,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.” This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher.

“I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals. But I do know this, they all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”

When you are DOWN to nothing, God is UP to something! Faith sees the invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual nourishment!

In the eyes of the world those who are in the

last stages of life are somehow diminished in their humanity and should be eliminated. We must see them through God’s eyes and recognize that each and every person is created in His image and likeness and that we are all connected to God and to each other. We are our brother’s keeper and our sister’s helper. Cain who forgot he was his brother’s keeper ended up becoming his executioner. ‘Thou shall not kill’ is God’s law and it is written in our hearts by our Creator.

Cardinal Sean O’Malley, Archbishop of Boston

“The resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ. It reveals to us that Jesus is truly the Son of God. All His works and teachings are confirmed. His divine authority is proven. His resurrection is the fulfillment of the promises both of the Old Testament and of Jesus Himself during His earthly life.”

Bishop Kevin Rhoades, Fort Wayne-South Bend Indiana

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A Day Trip to Lackawanna By Deb Hilton

Wondering what to do after Mass on a Sunday? Why not take time out as a family to discover the beauty at Our Lady of Victory Basilica and National Shrine in Lackawanna.

That is just what we did a few weeks ago. It is a pretty 45-minute drive and so worth the trip. We discovered a few years ago that if you arrive around 1:00 pm on a Sunday, an enthusiastic retired Buffalo teacher will give you a tour. It is truly amazing to reflect on the faith, stamina and perseverance that was needed to complete the Basilica...and the year after it was finished all the bills were paid! You c a n g o t o t h e i r w e b s i t e a t www . o u r l a d y o f v i c t o r y . o r g / B a s i l i c a /bashistory.html for more details.

And while you are there, you can check out the Father Nelson Baker Museum that is in the basement. It is a beautiful reflection of the life of a holy man whose influence continues today. The museum is open most days from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm. The facility was recently updated and is sure to make you and those that are with you happy for just being there. I am fascinated by the display that shows what Father Baker carried in his pockets. He was a man of great faith who understood the dignity and worth of every person he met. Father Baker’s love of God, his devotion to Our Lady of Victory and care for all people is artfully reflected in the museum.

So this weekend after Mass, take a break from the usual, get in the car with your family and take time to see the beauty of our faith.

Love of A Kind John Steinbeck

There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping, egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is an outpouring of everything good in you—of kindness and consideration and respect—not only the social respect of manners, but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak, but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn’t know you had.

A Vacation Reflection By Deb Hilton

This past Easter my husband and I were visiting family in North Carolina. While we were there we went to Mass. The homily was about the stone that blocks your path. This alluded to the stone that blocked Jesus tomb and those things in our lives that block our path. It was a beautiful service. Afterwards while my husband and I drove, I wondered about those “stones that block our path”. How easy it is to get side tracked while on vacation. There are so many things to do while you are away; even kicking back and doing nothing has a time constraint. As we drove away after Mass, I thought about what catches my attention while away from home. Just then something out of the ordinary caught my attention: a cross completely filled with flowers. Next to the cross was a simple sign that read: Jesus is Risen. I smiled.

We arrived home a week later and went to Mass. As we walked in people were smiling, waving and asking us how we were. The beauty of the Mass progressed as the sunshine gleamed in through our blue triangular windows. It was then that I considered the progression we had witnessed. Making faith part of our vacation made what we have here at St. Teresa’s all the more vibrant.

The next time you are on vacation, don’t let a stone block your path. Find a parish to share your smile and come back home to St. Teresa’s. We are so glad that you are here!

To find a parish anywhere in the United States, go to www.masstimes.org.

O God of light, the dawning day

Gives us new promise of your love. Each fresh beginning is your gift,

Like gentle dew from heaven above. Your blessings, Father, never fail: Your Son, who is our daily Bread,

The Holy Spirit of your love, By whom each day your sons are led. Make us the servants of your peace, Renew our strength, remove all fear; Be with us, Lord, throughout this day,

For all is joy if you are near. To Father, Son and Spirit blest, One only God, we humbly pray:

Show us the splendor of your light. James Quinn, SJ

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What’s Your Catholic IQ? Here is a fun exercise to help you review the Catholic faith and learn more. Circle the letter next to the word or phrase that correctly completes each statement. Then check your answers with the answer key below.

1. Who was among the first witnesses to the Resurrection? (a) Pontius Pilate; (b) Joseph of Arimethea; (c) Peter the Apostle; (d) Mary Magdalene 2. Symbolizing light, innocence, purity, joy, triumph and glory, __________ is the liturgical color of Easter: (a) pink; (b) white; (c) purple; (d) green 3. What special day celebrates the birth of the Church? (a) the Feast of the Holy Family; (b) the Solemnity of Christ the King; (c) the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception; (d) the Solemnity of Pentecost 4. ________obligates all Catholics to receive Communion at least once a year during the Easter Season. (a) A Holy Day of Obligation; (b) The Easter Duty; (c) Canon Law; (d) The Pope 5. When we pray the Nicene Creed at Mass, we state, “...he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried, and rose again on the _______ day.” (a) last; (b) third; (c) holy; (d) first 6. According to Luke’s Gospel, the Apostles believed the stories of the Resurrection right away. True or False 7. How long is the Easter Season? (a) 8 days; (b) 12 days; (c) 50 days; (d) 365 days 8. The word Easter comes from _________. (a) Norse pagans; (b) the Apostles; (c) St. Eastor of Rome; (d) the town of Eastur in Bulgaria 9. Immediately after Christ rose from the dead, the early Church instituted an annual feast day to celebrate this miraculous event. True or False 10.“The Church celebrates the Paschal Mystery every seventh day, which day is appropriately called the ______Day.” (a) holy; (b) judgment; (c) Lord’s (d) feast

Share Your Faith

Who influenced your faith? Being Catholic means that you are part of a large faith community: a place where actions and interactions lead to a lifetime of learning and joy. Do you have a story that you would like to share with our parish? Perhaps there was a priest, nun, relative or a person that you met at Mass that has made a difference in your life. Or perhaps you have a story that you would like to share in our newsletter. If you would like to contribute a story or would like to be interviewed for a story, please call Melissa at the Rectory Office at 542-9103.

Two Horses

Just up the road from my house is a field with two horses in it. From a distance, each looks like every other horse. But if you stop your car, or are walking by, you will notice something quite amazing. Looking into the eyes of one horse will disclose that he is blind. His owner has chosen not to have him put down, but has made a good home for him. This also is amazing. If nearby and listening, you will hear the sound of a bell. Look around for the source of the sound, you will see that it comes from the small horse in the field. Attached to her halter is a small bell. It lets her blind friend know where she is, trusting that she will not lead him astray. When she returns to the shelf of the bard each evening, she stops occasionally and looks back, making sure her friend isn’t too far behind to hear the bell. Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need. Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by the tiny ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. Other times we are the guide horse, helping others to see. Good friends are like this… You don’t always see them but you know they are always there.

Catholic Charities Update: Our parish has contributed over $57,000 to this year’s Catholic Charities Appeal. If you have not done so, you may still donate until June 30th. Thank you to all those who have made this by

far our best year!

Answers to above: 1. D - Mary Magdalene; 2. B - White; 3. D - the Solemnity of Pentecost; 4. B - The Easter Duty; 5. B - Third; 6. False; 7. C - 50 days; 8. A - Norse Pagans; 9. False; 10. C - Lord’s

St. Teresa of Avila Parish Post Office Box 168 Akron, NY 14001

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Happenings at St. Teresa’s

First Communion Class 2012

Msgr.’s 50th Anniversary Mass and Parish Reception