Blessed Sacrament Church Ministries, Organizations & Activities

Please call the Rectory for current Ministry / Organization contact information

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Ministry Schedules

• Ministry Schedule:  Click here for the current ministry schedule.

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Sacramental Life

Sacraments are visible signs of God's saving love for us. Every person and every action has the potential for being a sign, a symbol and a "sacrament". Each of us is called to be a sacrament of Jesus' love and healing.

The Sacraments that we celebrate as Roman Catholics are Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation, Eucharist, Sacraments of Healing: Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick, and Sacraments of Service: Matrimony and Holy Orders.  Each of these are expressions of God's saving action in our lives.

Faith-filled celebration of the sacraments is the means of salvation and holiness for us as individuals and as members of the church community.

• SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM:  This sacrament of initiation incorporates us into the Church and we are reborn as daughters and sons of God.

  Infant Baptism:  Parents are asked to contact the parish office before the birth of their child. This will facilitate making arrangements for fulfilling the required pre-baptismal program. Baptisms will be scheduled by arrangement with the pastor and may take place within the Mass or outside of the Mass. Please note that Godparents must be practicing Catholics and have a letter of recommendation from their own pastor, if they are not members of Blessed Sacrament Parish.

  Adult Baptism:  Adult baptism may occur only after completion of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (R.C.I.A.), which is, explained in another section of this website.

• SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION:  This sacrament of initiation helps us to focus on the missionary dimensions of the baptismal commitment. Through this sacrament we receive the fullness of the gift of the Holy Spirit.

  High School:  Confirmation is conferred every other year, after a period of preparation. Sponsor participation is required. Please note that the Sponsor must be a practicing Catholic and have a letter of recommendation from their own pastor, if they are not a member of Blessed Sacrament Parish. Contact the Director of Religious Education at 884-0053 for more information.

  Adult:  Depending on their level of Catechesis, adults may receive the sacrament of confirmation only after participation in the adult Christian initiation process (R.C.I.A.) or in a number of preparation sessions. Please contact the Rectory at 884-0053 for more information.

• SACRAMENT OF EUCHARIST:  The Eucharist is the preeminent sacrament from which all others receive meaning. In the Eucharist, Christ is most profoundly present in the church where we gather to hear the Word of God and to share the nourishment of Christ's Body with one another. The times for daily and weekend celebrations of the Eucharistic liturgy are listed elsewhere in this website and in the weekly bulletin.

  First Eucharist:  First Eucharist is generally celebrated in the third grade at Blessed Sacrament Faith Community. Parental participation is required. Please contact the Director of Religious Education for more information at 884-0053.

  Eucharist to the Homebound:  The Eucharist can be brought to people who are home-bound by a parish priest, deacon or an Extraordinary Minister of Communion by prior arrangement. Please inform the parish office at 884-0053 if anyone in the family is unable to participate in the Eucharistic liturgy for an extended period of time.

  Communion Services:  Communion services are conducted on a weekly or monthly basis at several area nursing homes and assisted living residences by our Deacon, Pastoral Associate or trained Extraordinary Ministers of Communion.

• SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION:  A sacrament of spiritual healing, the Sacrament of Reconciliation (or Confession) offers the gift of forgiveness for the sinful ways in our life. Through our acceptance of that forgiveness, we become reconciled with God and with our church community. The sacrament is offered every Saturday from 3 to 4 p.m. or upon request or appointment. Parishioners of all ages are encouraged to attend Communal Reconciliation services, which are celebrated during Advent and Lent with several priests present for individual confession.

  First Reconciliation:  First Reconciliation at Blessed Sacrament generally takes place in the second grade. Parental participation is required. Please contact our Director of Religious Education for more information at 884-0053.

• ANOINTING OF THE SICK:  Originally know as Extreme Unction, this sacrament celebrates the gift of God's healing to those who are physically, emotionally or spiritually unwell. No one who is chronically ill or anticipating surgery should postpone receiving this sacrament. It is offered to the homebound by calling the Parish Office at 884-0053. We also celebrate the Anointing of the Sick during the 4:30 PM Mass on the First Saturday of each month.

• SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY:  The matrimonial covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life, is by its nature ordered toward the good of the spouses and the procreation and education of offspring; this covenant between baptized persons has been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament. Marriage preparation includes a pastoral prenuptial investigation, completion of an approved marriage preparation program as well as planning the wedding liturgy. The engaged couple must be practicing Catholics, or if only one individual is Catholic, that person must be a practicing Catholic, preferably a registered member of our Parish community. Please contact the pastor at 884-0053 very soon after your engagement in order to begin the process and reserve the date. Those previously married are not able to marry in the Catholic Church without a Declaration of Nullity or Annulment Decree from a diocesan tribunal. No wedding dates can be set unless all of the above requirements have been completed. Please contact the pastor at 884-0053 to discuss these issues if they apply.

• SACRAMENT OF HOLY ORDERS:  This sacrament of service celebrates the call to serve God's kingdom as one who oversees and guides the Catholic Faith community in the role of the bishop, priest or deacon. Those discerning this call to serve are invited to speak with our pastor or deacon. Deacons may be married or single men and may officiate at baptisms, funerals and weddings outside of mass. Our faith community prays continually for those who are discerning a call to vocations. You may also call our diocesan vocation director at 847-5535 or look at the Vocations Links on this site’s “Catholic Resources” page.

  About Religious Life... Though not celebrated as a sacrament, life as a religious sister or brother is a call to a life of service, prayer and community. We are happy to talk with anyone moving through the process of discernment regarding the religious life.

• RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS:  The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) is the Church's way of assisting individuals through their conversion to Catholic Christianity or to full initiation into the Catholic Church. The process includes attendance at Sunday liturgy, instruction in the teachings of the Church, participation in liturgical rites, reflection of the Scriptures, prayer and faith sharing.

  Adults who have never been baptized, those individuals who were baptized Catholic as infants but have had little or no instruction in the faith and those baptized in other Christian traditions are all possible candidates for the RCIA process. Adults must attend Sunday liturgy each week followed by a weekly evening session. Movement through the process is marked by rituals, which celebrate the person's progress along their journey of faith. The length of time required to complete the process varies for each individual, but is usually a minimum of one year. Please contact the parish at 884-0053 for more information.

  The R.C.I.A. process is facilitated by our pastor and parishioners serving as a support team. Team members may function in one or more roles with those entering upon this journey of faith: dismissal catechist, sponsor, prayer leader or core team member. Each of these ministries performs specific tasks within a spirit of community and are supported by the parish faith community.

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Liturgical Ministries

•  MINISTER OF THE WORD:  Lectors are selected to proclaim the scripture readings and to lead the congregation in response. Any confirmed member of the parish may volunteer for training as a lector by contacting the pastor. There is no minimum term for lectors. They are assigned to particular Mass times and are responsible for getting their own replacements from the lector list if they cannot meet an assigned commitment. Please contact the pastor at 884-0053 if you are interested in this ministry.

• EXTRAORDINARY MINISTER OF HOLY COMMUNION:  Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (Extraordinary Eucharistic Ministers) assist the priest in the distribution of Holy Communion during the celebration of the Mass. Ministers may also bring the Eucharist to our parishioners who are homebound. Interested applicants must meet the following Diocesan guidelines: "mature Catholics respected in the Parish community who are noted for their devotion to the Eucharist and their service to the parish". Accepted applicants are required to complete a short course of study after selection by the pastor. Like the lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion are assigned to particular Mass times and are responsible for getting their own substitutes from a published list. Individuals may commit to more frequent participation such as daily mass, if they choose. Some ministers devote their ministry to visitation of homebound parishioners. Others limit their participation to substituting for scheduled ministers who are unable to minister on their regularly assigned days. The flexibility of this ministry allows all who desire to participate. Please contact the pastor at 884-0053 if you are interested in this ministry.

• USHER AND GREETER:  The Ushers of Blessed Sacrament assist in seating of parishioners and visitors at our Sunday Liturgies. Ushers select people to carry up the gifts, receive the collections at Mass and distribute the Parish Bulletin at Mass. The Ministry of Usher or Greeter is open to all youth and adults in the parish. Scheduling is flexible and is the responsibility of the Head Usher at each mass.

  Greeters stand near each door of the church vestibule to welcome parishioners and visitors. They point out the locations of restrooms and various written materials. Adults and youth of all ages may act as greeters. Please contact the Rectory at 884-0053 if you are interested in either of these ministries.

• ALTAR SERVERS:  Altar servers assist at the altar during the celebration of the Mass and during other liturgical functions. Volunteers are accepted from students who have celebrated their First Eucharist. Training must be completed to participate in this ministry. Altar servers are scheduled for participation at an assigned Mass through the Parish Office. There is no limit to the length of time one may participate in this ministry. Our adult servers who are available mornings may also assist at the altar for parish funerals. Please contact the pastor at 884-0053 if you are interested in being an altar server.

• MINISTERS OF MUSIC:  Blessed Sacrament enjoys a lively music ministry. We encourage full and active participation from the assembly by providing effective musical leadership. We welcome new members at any time. Cantors lead sung prayer at most of our liturgies. These are people with good vocal and leadership skills. We currently have an organist with cantor at the 4:30PM Saturday Mass and the 8:30AM and 11:30AM Sunday Masses. The Sunday 10AM Mass features contemporary music. We are currently working on creating a new choir for the 11:30 Mass. Please offer your musical talents to our God and our Parish!

• LITURGY OF THE WORD FOR CHILDREN:  Liturgy of the Work for Children is a ministry devoted to the children who attend the 10AM Mass on Sundays. After the Opening Prayer, the children are called forth and invited to listen to the Word of God proclaimed at a level they can understand. They are dismissed to St. Joseph’s Hall where the readings are proclaimed. Rather than listen to a homily, they reflect on and discuss the meaning of God's Word for their lives. Upon completion of the Liturgy of the Word, the children re-join their parents in the assembly for the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

  Volunteers are asked to lead the proclamation and sharing of the Word about once a month. Those individuals interested but unable to participate monthly are welcome to help whenever they can.

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Catholic Education

• TEACHING ENDURING VALUES IN A CHANGING WORLD
  Catholic education is alive and well in the diocese of Buffalo! At Catholic Academy of West Buffalo, we are celebrating over 20 years of excellence in education. Located at 1069 Delaware Avenue, in the heart of Buffalo’s historic district, our school is strong and vibrant and we embrace our Catholic faith and the diversity of our neighborhoods.

  We offer programs in grades Pre-K (3) through 8th grade. Catholic Academy has been named one of the 10 best middle schools in our region. Last year, our participating 8th graders had a 100% passing rate on the NYS Regents exams in Integrated Algebra and Spanish Proficiency. Our students are traditionally accepted into the area’s most prestigious high schools. Over 90% of our graduates attend their 1st choice high schools.

  We pride ourselves on a strong academic program and offer a wide variety of extra curricular activities. We are challenged by changing educational strategies and always strive to keep current with curriculum and technological advances. We are excited that (8) whiteboards have been installed in classrooms and our students will be exposed to the most recent trends in education.

  Feel free to call or visit our school at your convenience. For information about registration or to schedule a tour, please call 885-6111 or send email inquiries to dguarino@cawb.org.

• PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM
  The mission of the catechetical faith formation process seeks to provide adults, youth and children with knowledge, experiences and skills necessary to become faithful, fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ. In keeping with their age, it is our hope that they will assume responsibility as vital members of the parish faith community and be able to participate in the Church's mission to proclaim, celebrate and serve the coming of God's reign.

  Our goal is to provide a rich catechetical experience that offers, enhances and challenges participants to have a personal relationship with the Lord and to become His disciples. In doing so, we help them believe that Jesus is the Son of God and educate and instruct them in this life, thus building up the Body of Christ.

  The Diocesan Religion Curriculum contains clear expectations for religious education achievement standards as well as specific doctrine relating to each standard. Specific areas cover the topics of prayer, sacraments, scripture, moral issues, doctrine, peace and justice, Christian values, church history and community service. Our Religious Education / Faith Formation Program is structured to assist parents in their primary roles as educators of their children through their own work and example. Active participation by parents is vital since it lays the foundation for reinforcement in the classroom. Regular active participation at Sunday Mass supports, enhances and nourished the young community of believers by Word and Sacrament.

  Candidates for the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Confirmation or Eucharist are required to actively participate in preparation for the sacrament. Parents and sponsors are directly involved with their youth's preparation. Parents meetings with parent and child are scheduled each year. Interviews are held with each student preparing to celebrate a sacrament.

  Weekly classes are currently offered on Sunday mornings at 8:30AM in Marian Hall.

  Religious Education / Faith Formation, teachers, aides, and office help are welcomed and needed in all of the programs. Volunteers need to have a deep faith, a sense of humor and flexibility. Training for all educators is available. Anyone over 16 years wishing to offer their talents should contact the Director of Religious Education at 884-0053.

• YOUTH MINISTRY / CYO
  Blessed Sacrament faith community recognized that ministry to youth must be an integrated process involving all facets of life including faith formation, community, catechesis, personal development and service. Youth Ministry works to foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person and to draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission, and work of the faith community. Youth Ministry empowers young people to become disciples of Jesus Christ who witness to their faith by living and working for justice peace and human dignity.

  We currently have an active CYO group that meets on Monday evenings. Please consult the bulletin for information or contact our Parish office for information at 884-0053.

• ADULT FAITH FORMATION
  Blessed Sacrament faith community recognizes that ministry to our adults is also vital. We currently are journeying through the Finding God series which is a series of 5 week sessions that address various topics related to our Catholic faith. Each session is independent of each other so individuals can attend one particular session or they can attend them all. The session dates and topics are listed in the bulletin.

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Pastoral Care / Spiritual Development

• PASTORAL VISITS TO THE SICK:  The pastor, deacon and pastoral associate are pleased to visit the ill and handicapped members of our parish in hospitals, nursing homes or in their own homes. Nowadays many hospitals and nursing homes do not inform us when a parishioner is admitted. Anyone in our parish family who anticipates hospitalization for any length of time, moves to an assisted living facility or nursing home or who becomes homebound in their own home, should notify the Sr. Mary at our parish office (884-0053) to arrange a visit.

• CONSOLATION COMMITTEE:  The death of a loved one is an especially difficult time. The purpose of the Consolation Committee is to offer services to the family to help them through the initial period following their loss. Anyone wishing to share their time to perform specific tasks of assistance is welcome to join in this ministry. There is no minimum time commitment to this ministry and any time you can offer is gratefully appreciated. Please contact Sr. Mary at 884-0053.

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Organizations / Activities

• ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY:  The primary function of the St. Vincent De Paul Society is to respond to all types of human need on a person-to-person basis. Members are asked to attend our monthly meetings which are currently held the first Monday of the month at 7:00PM in the rectory. The main project of our conference is temporary assistance to those in need and support of the St. Vincent De Paul dining room. Training is obtained through experimental participation. Please join us!!

• JUSTICE & PEACE COMMITTEE:  Our parish Peace and Justice Committee works to address the challenges that affect the work of justice in our community. The values of our Church teachings are the pattern that directs our efforts to work for peach and justice. We are currently involved in efforts to collect food for the poor, sponsoring talks at out parish that deal with peace and justice issues and working with VOICE Buffalo. Please join us at our meetings which are held the first Tuesday of each month at 7PM in the rectory.

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Consultative Bodies

• Parish Finance Committee:  This committee assists the Pastor by advising in matters of income and expenditure of funds, and in providing for an efficient, accurate system of reporting, recording and accounting. The Finance Committee also reviews and monitors the parish's capital expenditures. Parishioners from the legal, business and financial professions are especially helpful on this committee and are appointed by the Pastor. While this committee is mandated by Canon Law and is therefore a stand-alone committee, it still submits a report to Parish Council for information and discussion.

• Liturgy Committee:  This committee educates the parish on historical grounds and current changes in the Liturgy. Projects may include study of the rites and scripture, preparation of Communal Reconciliation services, joint services with other churches or special Liturgies of the Word. Decorating the church is also the responsibility of this committee. This committee meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7PM in the rectory. All are welcome to join!

• Trustees:  Ecclesiastical and civil law require that two trustees be appointed for each Catholic parish. Trustees are nominated by the Pastor of the parish. The nominees are then presented to the Bishop of the Diocese for confirmation and appointment. In concert with the Bishop, Vicar General and Pastor, the two parish trustees form the officers of the corporate structure of the parish.

We are a community of believers who are grateful for our diversity and mindful of our unity in Christ. Our lives are based on faith, hope and charity through the outpouring of the Spirit, nourished by the Eucharist.

Our mission is to be communicators of God's grace and Christ's message to help people achieve salvation. We seek to build a Faith Community by enriching ourselves through Word and Sacrament. Our aim is to share our faith by teaching, personal witness, and works of charity.

Because we see in all people the image of God, we seek to relieve their physical, spiritual and emotional needs by involving all age groups within our parish.