THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
St. Lawrence Parish
1520 East Delavan Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14215
stlawrencebuffalo@gmail.com
PASTORAL STAFF
Fr. Robert Gebhard………………………….Pastoral Administrator
Dcn. Paul Weisenburger……………………….Permanent Deacon
Luke Dyer…………………………………....Food Pantry Coordinator
Joe Strusienski...………..……………………………...….Maintenance
Debbie Obstarczyk…………...………………….....Parish Secretary
LITURGY AT ST. LAWRENCE
Saturday, December 16—Vigil: Third Sunday of Advent
4:30 p.m. Parishioners of Family 21
Sunday, December 17 –Third Sunday of Advent
Noon Good health for all—Neville & Mabel
Wednesday, December 20—St. Lucy, Virgin & Martyr
3:30 p.m. Martin Paluch—Mark & Mary Missert
Saturday, December 23—Vigil: Fourth Sunday of Advent
4:30 p.m. Parishioners of Family 21
Sunday, December 24 –Fourth Sunday of Advent
Noon Special Intentions from our Mother’s Day Spiritual
Bouquet
SANCTUARY LAMP
Sanctuary Candle is lit +
For Martin Paluch
From Mary & Mark Missert
LORD HEAR OUR PRAYER
Please pray for Bruce Austin, Roseann Barthelemy, Larry Bar-
tos, Twila Berst, Eleonore Clark, Bob DeRoss, Mike Ellis,
Maria Feliciano, Pat Farrell, Joe Giancarlo, Linda Hammer,
Mike Hartman, Carol LaBelle, Judy Maurino, Nick Parini,
Christina Reyes, Aida Rivera, Maggie Stevenson, Jessica
Strusienski and babies, Tiana Valentin, Nancy Vogt, and all of
our parishioners and their families. Please contact the rectory,
892-2471, to have a person placed on the List.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 17, 2023
Sunday: Is 6:1-2, 10-11/1 Thes 5:16-24/Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
Monday: Jer 23:5-8/Mt 1:18-25
Tuesday: Jer 13:2-7, 24-25/Lk 1:5-25
Wednesday: Is 7:10-14/Lk 1:26-38
Thursday: Sg 2:8-14/Lk 1:39-45
Friday: 1 Sm 1:24-28/Lk 1:46-56
Saturday: Mal 3:1-4, 23-24/Lk 1:57-66
St. Lawrence Pray
for Us
DECEMBER 17, 2023
MASS SCHEDULE
MASSES ARE ALSO ONLINE
Watch on our YouTube channel StLawrenceBuffalo
Saturday: 4:30
Sunday: Noon
Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.
PHONES
Rectory………………………………………716-892-2471
Fax………………..……………………………716-892-1315
Faith Formation…….……………………716-892-2471
Parish Hall………………………………….716-896-9796
Franciscan Guest House (FGH)……716-893-8853
Food Pantry………….……………………716-896-0047
RECTORY OFFICE HOURS
Wednesday & Thursday 9:00 a.m.—2:00 p.m.
MASS ATTENDANCE
Saturday 12/9 4:30 p.m.—36
Sunday 12/10 Noon—35
DECEMBER WEEKLY STEWARDSHIP
Regular Sunday Collection.........................................$2,675.60
Utilities....…...……………………..……......................$525.00
Savings..……..………….…………....…..…..…….….$432.00
Christmas……….………….…….................................$190.00
Holy Day………………………………………….…….$82.00
Flowers……………………………………..………….$400.00
Fall Fund………………………………………………$200.00
Religious Retirement ……………………...…………...$50.00
Total month to date...……………..……..…..……..$4,554.60
We are grateful for the prayers and financial support of our
parishioners and friends of St. Lawrence Church.
CATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) Spotlight - Climate change is a
moral issue. A life issue. And an essential way to protect life is
to confront the changes happening to our environment. With
time running out to act before a dangerous tipping point, the
upcoming 28th session of the United Nations Climate Change
Conference of Parties in the UAE must signify a profound
transformation. Please visit www.crs.org for more information
and to see how you can help! To learn more or join our local
group, contact Dcn Jerry Hodson or Dcn Don Weigel.
ST. LAWRENCE CHURCH
THIS WEEK IN OUR
FAMILY OF PARISHES
Sunday12/17: Third Sunday of Advent
3 PM Christmas Concert SMdP
Monday 12/18:10-11:30AM Food Pantry STL
7 PM Bi-Lingual Rosary multi-lingual via Zoom Click the
Family Calendar Links BT
Tuesday12/19: Bible Study resumes at BT Family Calendar
Links
Wednesday 12/20: 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM Food Pantry BT
12:30 PM BINGO STL Doors open 11 AM
4PM Decorate St. Lawrence Church for Christmas
Thursday 12/21:10 AM-Noon Food Pantry STL
8 PM BT Bingo Doors open at 6:30 PM
Friday: 12/22: 11:30 Rosary Group BT in person - chapel
For Advent only, we now have TWO daily Masses - 9 AM
weekdays at Ss—Columba-Brigid except December 8 and 12 rected by Deacon Paul Weisenburger. Our teens will also partici-
and 11 AM Daily except Thursdays at Blessed Trinity.
Our regular weekday Mass schedule:
BT Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 11 AM
STL Wednesday 3:30 PM
Our weekend Mass schedule:
BT Saturdays 4:30PM & Sundays 10AM
CB Saturdays 4PM and Sundays 9AM (Spanish) &11AM
Last Sunday of the month: Bi-Lingual 10AM
SMdP Sundays 8AM and 9:30AM
STL Saturdays 4:30PM and Sundays Noon
Confessions By appointment or prior to the Saturday
Vigil Masses
BT—Blessed Trinity, CB—Columba Brigid, SMdP—St.
Martin de Porres, STL—St. Lawrence SLVMI -St. Law-
rence Vineyard Ministries Inc FP – Family Promise
Save the Dates
Feast of the Holy Family BT December 31 at 10 AM
Martin Luther King Mass CB January 14 10 AM
Agape Feast of Christian Unity sponsored by the Disciple-
ship Committee 3 PM BT January 21
Subs & Suds Lecture: History of the Catholic Church in
Western New York Dennis Castillo, PhD BT January 22,
6:30 PM
Life in the Eucharist - A Five-week Lenten Retreat begins
February 15 CB
Baptism Class parents of children under 7 February 7 at 6:30 Brigid Church, 75 Hickory Street (off Clinton) Buffalo. This con-
PM SMdP
BAPTISM CLASS
Our next Family 21 Baptism class for par-
ents of children under age 7 will be held on
February 7 at 6 PM. This session will be
held at St. Martin de Porres but is for par-
ents from all of Family 21. Please register
with the secretary at your parish.
BUFFALO, NEW YORK
Vigil of Christmas Masses
4:30 St. Lawrence
7 PM Ss. Columba-Brigid with
Posadas (Child-friendly)
7 PM St. Martin de Porres
9:30 PM Blessed Trinity Musical
prelude followed by Mass at 10 PM
Monday: 12/25 Christmas
10 AM Blessed Trinity
10 AM Ss. Columba-Brigid
Noon St. Lawrence
FAMILY 21 MASS
For the Family 21 Children’s Mass, parishioners are encouraged
to participate in a play written by Mary Weisenburger and di-
pate as readers, ushers, and altar servers. Holiday treats for all
will be available after Mass. Please use your envelopes so that
your offering will go to your parish. Practice for the play will be
at 9 AM on December 31. Contact Pat Dyer or Paula Hunt to par-
ticipate in the play. No Mass at St. Lawrence on Sunday, De-
cember 31.
RETROUVAILLE
Thinking about Separation or Divorce? – Is your marriage or
that of a relative or friend heading for divorce? Retrouvaille is
designed to help troubled marriages regain their health. The pro-
gram is highly successful in saving hurting marriages. For details
or to register call (716) 474-9371 or visit https://
www.HelpOurMarriage.org. The next weekend is January 26-28,
2024. Please register by 1/3/24. Space is limited. All calls are
confidential.
CONCERT
This holiday season--under the warm glow of candlelight--come
be uplifted by Tenor Vocalist Cory James Gallagher’s angelic
singing, mingled with award winning writer Amy Gal-
lagher’s moving and poignant poetic reflections--while gentle
harp music soothes your soul. Be transported on a journey
through the magic and meaning of this Sacred Season. Open your
treasure chest of golden memories and be warmed by the nostal-
gia of Christmases past. A Musical-Poetic Journey that will leave
you inspired and filled with hope and the healing gifts of Christ-
mas. Join us on Saturday December 23rd 7pm at SS Columba-
cert is by donation. For information on how to dedicate a song to
your loved one please contact Cory at 716-868-2047 Please bring
friends and family.
MISSION STATEMENT
To pray, proclaim, and provide
for our neighborhood and beyond.