FAMILY LIFE MASS:  Bishop Richard J. Malone invites you to a Celebration of Family Life at St. Joseph's Cathedral, December 8, 2013 Second Sunday in Advent 10:30 am Mass. 

 EVENTS

Family Life Mass, December 8, 2013, 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph's Cathedral. Click here to download the flyer.

ENTHRONEMENT OF THE SACRED HEART: An active spiritual program carried out in the home increasing personal and family devotion to the Sacred Heart. The core, the heart, the essence of the Enthronement is LOVE. Come join us on Friday, June 7, 2013 at 1:00 pm at St. Aloysius Gonzaga Church, 157 Cleveland Drive, Cheektowaga, NY  14215.  A cookie and punch reception will follow the 1:00 pm Mass in the school cafeteria.  Wheelchair accessible.  All are welcome!  For information contact Tom and Paula Radel at 716 633-3939 or e-mail tjradel@yahoo.com or snyderfire59@yahoo.com

NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING provides couples a safe effective means to achieve or avoid pregnancy and gain understanding of their gift of fertility. The NFP Family Network of Buffalo offers support and fellowship to couples in the teachings of the Catholic faith, specifically in the areas of marriage, family and LinkClick.aspx openness to life. The group sponsors couples nights out, theology-enrichment meetings, marriage enrichment evenings and family events. For more information, please contact the Network at nfpfamilynet@yahoo.com. For information regarding introductory sessions, contact Catholic Fertility Care Centers of WNY at Sister’s Hospital – 716 862-1944, Mercy Hospital – 716 828-2438 or Mt. St. Mary ’s Hospital in Lewiston – 716 298-2385.

Catholic Fertility Care Centers of WNY Introductory Session Schedule for 2012.

Sisters of Charity Hospital, 2157 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14214.  716 862-1944. 
Saturday mornings at 10:30 am.   2013  April 27, May 18, June 22, August 24, September 28, October 26 and November 23, 2013.

Buffalo Mercy Hospital, 565 Abbott Road, Buffalo, NY  14220.  716 828-2493.   
Tuesday evenings at 7:30 pm.  2013  May 14, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 10, October 15 and November 19, 2013.

Mt. St. Mary's Hospital, 5300 Military Rd., Lewiston, NY  14092.  716 298-2385 or 716 298-2296.  
Wednesday evenings @ 7:00 pm.  2013  May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16 and November 20.              

 ** Pre-Registration is required at all locations**

BISHOP COMMITTEE FOR CHRISTIAN HOME & FAMILY
This program assists parents in the religious and moral training of their pre-school children. As part of the pre-baptismal class or at the baptism itself, free educational materials are given to the parents by a Visitor. Visitors meet twice yearly for updating, mutual support, liturgy, sharing and a Day of Reflection. The Bishop offers his encouragement and thanksgiving for this valuable ministry in the Diocese of Buffalo. - click here for Bishop Committee Visitor's Programs Brochure.

• Bishop's Committee Visitors Brown Bag lunch, May 7, 2013 at St. Philip the Apostle, 950 Losson Road, Cheektowaga, NY  14227.  Time - 9 am to 2:00 pm.  Father Fabian J. Maryanski will be the guest speaker.  He is Pastor of St. Andrews church in Sloan.  His topic is "Life of Faith."  For more information and reservations call your Office of Family Life Ministries.
• Bishop's Committee Visitors Annual Meeting and Luncheon with Bishop Richard J. Malone, Tuesday October 1, 2013 at St. Philip the Apostle, 950 Losson Road, Cheektowaga, NY  14227.  Time - 9 am to 2:00 pm.   For more information and reservations call your Office of Family Life Ministries  at 716 847-2210. click here for Invitation to Bishops Luncheon

CATHOLIC WOMEN'S DISCUSSION PROGRAM (CWDP)  Formerly known as the Bishop's Committee Discussion Program.
BCDP is open to persons of all faith traditions. It is a discussion group that meets once a month from October – May. Meetings are facilitated by trained leaders and each meeting centers on a topic of a spiritual nature. This encourages personal growth; offers support; strengthens one’s faith and fosters the sharing of ideas and feelings all from a Catholic/Christian perspective. Sharing takes place in an accepting/confidential environment. Brochure and/or facilitator training are available. For more information, contact your Office of Family Life Ministries at 716 847-2210 or e-mail us at familylife@buffalodiocese.org. - click here for Catholic Women's Discussion Program Brochure.

MAGNIFICAT:  A Ministry to Catholic Women. Gentle Woman, Mother of Mercy Chapter, Buffalo , New York. An International ministry to Catholic women. It’s purpose is to help Catholic women open more to the Holy Spirit through a commitment of their lives to Jesus Christ and to impart the Holy Spirit to one another by love, service and good news of salvation. It is an opportunity to grow in holiness.

M.O.M.S. (Ministry of Mothers Sharing): A ministry designed for moms by moms to support and affirm women in the many roles of life as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters and friends e.g. women bonded by their vocation and their Catholic faith gathering to share joys and struggles. Open meetings are monthly from September to May. Free child care is available. Also available is a MOMS Book Club. All moms are welcome to participate in all gatherings each month. For more information please contact  stgregsmoms@gmail.com or Christie Thein at 716 566-7734.

M.O.M.S. Schedule September 2012 to May 2013.

• February 15, 2013
• March 15, 2013
• April 12, 2013
• May 3, 2013

NFC Moms Group (Niagara Falls Catholic Moms Group)
Moms of all ages and stages are invited to enjoy a cup of coffee, listen to a great speaker, talk with others, and grow in your Catholic Faith each month.  The group is designed to support and affirm women in the many roles that we have in life as mothers, wives, daughters, sisters, and friends.  Come for coffee, food, faith and fellowship!  Meetings are held Saturdays from 9:30 am - 11 am at the St. Vincent de Paul Faith Formation Center,  in the Dining Room, 2748 Military Road, Niagara Falls.   Dates include:  October 6, November 10, December 8, January 12, February 9, March 9, April 13, May 11 and June 8.  Babysitting - FREE - is available.  Contact Sarah at 716 957-2410 or saambrosia@hotmail.com for more information.

DISABILITIES:
Persons With Disabilities: Over 14 million Catholics have a disability. These disabilities cover a wide spectrum of both physical and neuro-psychological disorders. Resources and information are readily available to you. The Diocese of Buffalo offers a Directory of Spiritual Resources For Persons With Disabilities which provides information for persons with disabilities of all ages to fully participate in the life of the Church and much more.  For more information contact Sharon Urbaniak at 716 847-5514 or visit www.buffalodiocese.org\disabilities. 

Catholic Men’s Fellowship: A ministry for men’s spirituality focusing on family, church and community.  For more information call 716 635-8333 or e-mail www.SpiritIsCalling.org.

RESOURCES:
Family and parenting packets: Practical, easy to use and accessible activities, resource ideas and enrichment opportunities are offered seasonally and coincide with the liturgical cycle of the church. They are designed to encourage the spiritual dimension of “ordinary” family life. Present packets include Family Lenten/Easter Packet, Advent Activities, Grandparent Activities, Summer Spirituality Tool Box of Ideas, Coping With the Holidays and Parenting Packet and much more.

Summer Spirituality Tool Box of Ideas Packet - is filled with practical ways to make summertime a sacred time.  It is a perfect companion for your family throughout the summer months whether vacationing or being at home.  Celebrate the glory of all God's creation! SPIRITUAL TOOL BOX PACKET

Parenting Perspective: Short, concise, practical and helpful ideas are provided weekly. These suggestions assist you in parenting skills and building family unity. Click here for current insight.

Sunday Gospel Reflections and Intercessory prayers: These are provided to families and parishes and are based on the month’s scripture readings. They offer a family perspective and help families to prepare in advance for the coming Sunday liturgy. Reference the first of the month Chancery mailing. Click here for current month.

RESOURCES:  Responding To Issues of Concern

• Become more knowledgeable. Movies: Web sites such as Kidsinmind.com provide excellent non-judgmental information. Kidsinmind actually takes films scene by scene and provides information about specific content such as violence, sex and profanity and offers a rating of the degree of each area within the scene. It even rates G movies which surprisingly might have a scene with bathroom humor or a scary moment or two.
• Invite your children whenever they are age appropriate to read the review with you. It opens dialogue with you and helps them make better informed decisions and choices.
• Share with other persons who hold the same core values you have and whose faith and knowledge you trust.
• Remember you have the power of the pen and pocketbook.
• Prayer. Where two or more are gathered in God’s name (in mind, heart and spirit for the greater good) God is present. Jesus is with us through both good and bad and offers us wisdom, insight, endurance, fortitude and enough grace to help us. Utilize solid web sites.
• United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has an incredible wealth of information and resources. Go to the main web site www.USCCB.org.
• NSTeens. NSTeens content features animated comic-book-style characters who model safer online practices.  The materials include animations, peer response videos, and an interactive webcomic to address issues such as social netowrking and cyberbullying.  To supplement these dynamic content, educators, parents and guardians are provided with safety tips, classroom activities and discussion starters to open the lines of communication with their teens.  Their logline is "Can these friends help each other make the right decisions online and in the real world?  To find out more about the crew and available resources, visit http://www.NSTeens.org.
• www.NetSmartz.org.  The NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational safety resource from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) for children aged 5 to 17, parents, guardians, educators and law enforcement that uses age-appropriate, 3-D activities to teach children how to stay safer on the internet.  Included are excellent Blog Beware Tips.

Resources for Parents

  -  West, Christopher:  Good News About Sex And Marriage - "Answers to Your Honest Questions about Catholic Training".

  -  Evert, Jason: "Pure Love"  (A pamphlet for teens) available at www.pureloveclub.net.

  -  Evert, Jason: If You Really Loved Me -  a book available at Catholic.com or Amazon.Com etc.

  -  Meeker, Meg MD:  Strong Fathers, Strong Daughters  http://www.megmeekermd.com/  Excellent book about the influence of     Dad's in their daughter's lives, including self respect and emotional/social development.

  -  Pipher, Mary Ph.D.:  Reviving Ophelia - saving the selves of adolescent girls.  An extensive study of the psychological factors that lead to eating disorders and behavioral concerns with teenage girls.

  -  Laaser, Mark Ph.D. - Talking to Your Kids About Sex - For early adolescents, offers a Christian approach to this topic.

  -  "Catechism of the Catholic Church" - The most comprehensive work on the teachings of our Catholic faith.  Available at most book stores or online. 

Online Resources:

  -  www.lyrics.com - help to decipher song lyrics.

  -  www.catholic.com - catholic resources.

  -  www.cpyu.org center for parent/youth understanding - current statistics/trends.

  -  "The Truth and Meaning of Human Sexuality" - Vatican web site for this document from the Pontifical Council for the family.  Very solid resource regarding Catholic teachings!  http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_councils/family/documents/rc_pc_family_doc_08121995_human-sexuality_en.html.

  -  Thomas Lickona's Center for the 4th & 5th R's  Newsletter vol.13, Issue2.  This is not written from a Catholic perspective, but it is a very good character based article on "The Dangers of Premature Sexual Involvement."  http://cortland.edu/character/newsletters/2007-Fall-red.pdf.

  -  Building Family Spirituality homefaith.com.  Monthly issues focus on nurturing the spirituality of family.  Includes articles and prayers.

  -  Greenfaith.org provides resources for caring for all creation