Don't forget - join Daughters of Mary TONIGHT, 7:00 - 8:30 PM in Room 110/111 at St. Mary's.

We will discuss the book, "Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor E. Frankle. If you don't have time to read, no worries - come join in the discussion on finding significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles. A sweet treat will be served. Bring a friend!

#daughtersofmary #bookclub #manssearchformeaning #bringafriend

about 19 hours ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Daughters of Mary book club
Thank you to all of our parishioners, Father John Stanton, and Deacon Tom Friedman and family, for participating in Life Chain! We had approximately 50 people standing up for the defense of life this past Sunday morning along Main Street.

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


about 20 hours ago, Rebecca Kisailus
2026 Life Chain participants
2026 Life Chain participants
2026 Life Chain participants
2026 Life Chain participants
2026 Life Chain participants

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

#TogetherinChristFamily #hallow #rebuildmychurch #prayerchallenge

about 23 hours ago, Rebecca Kisailus
church exterior photos

REMINDER: Daily Masses (Monday-Thursday) at 9 am will be in the St. Mary's Chapel starting on Monday, October 5th.

1 day ago, Rebecca Kisailus
St Marys Chapel

Don't forget - join Daughters of Mary for a gathering on Monday, October 5, 7:00 - 8:30 PM in Room 110/111 at St. Mary's.

We will discuss the book, "Man's Search for Meaning," by Viktor E. Frankle. If you don't have time to read, no worries - come join in the discussion on finding significance in the very act of living, in spite of all obstacles. A sweet treat will be served. Bring a friend!

#daughtersofmary #bookclub #manssearchformeaning #bringafriend

3 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Daughters of Mary book club
Plenty of pups (and a tiny turtle) received a blessing on this beautiful fall afternoon in honor of the Feast of St. Francis on Oct. 4th. From the tall to the small, Father Peter blessed them all. Click here to see more photos: https://tinyurl.com/577vy355

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
3 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing
pets and owners for pet blessing

Don't forget, bring your furry, feathered, and scaly pets (on a leash or in a pet carrier) to St. Mary's today for the ANNUAL PET BLESSING in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis! Join us today, Sat., Oct. 3rd at 2:00 PM on the front steps of the school, facing Transit Road.

#stfrancis #petblessing #feastday #togetherinchristfamily

3 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Pet Blessing Graphic
🪽 Today we celebrate the feast of the Guardian Angels.

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
4 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
guardian angel statue

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

5 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Fall open house ad
St. Mary's ANNUAL PET BLESSING in celebration of the Feast of St. Francis will be held at St. Mary's THIS SATURDAY, October 3rd, at 2:00 PM on the front steps of the school, facing Transit Road. All furry, feathered and scaly pets are welcome and must be on a leash or in a pet carrier.

#stfrancis #petblessing #feastday #togetherinchristfamily
5 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Pet Blessing Graphic
Join us on Oct.13th, the anniversary of the Miracle of the Sun at Fatima!

#OurLadyofFatima #MiracleoftheSun #LadyoftheRosary
6 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Outdoor shrine
PLEASE NOTE: Daily Masses (Monday-Thursday) at 9 am will be in the St. Mary's Chapel starting on Monday, October 5th.
6 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
St Marys Chapel

😇 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

7 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Mercy flyer
October 5-11, our Family of Parishes will participate in Hallow Parish Week. The theme is “Rebuild My Church,” and, during this Jubilee Year of St. Francis of Assisi, Parish Week will challenge us to make Christ’s invitation to St. Francis our own. Visit our Together in Christ community page on the Hallow app, and join the Waitlist for Parish Week now!

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
7 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Hallow rebuild my church graphic of st francis kneeling

Hope & Healing Connections Grief Support Group
Share. Listen. Connect. You are not alone.

Experiencing loss of relationships, death of a loved one, divorce, or miscarriage? All are welcome.

Monday, October 5 | 6:00 - 7:30 PM
St. Mary's Parish Center, Room 105

#hopeandhealingconnections #griefsupportgroup #notalone

8 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Man hugging woman, info on grief support group

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


8 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
group photo of 2026-7 parish council members

🪽 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

8 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Flyer for basilica tour

🎨🙏 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

8 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
graphic for breakthrough painting & prayer activity

Join us next Sunday for Life Chain, and help build a culture that cherishes and protects the gift of human life! October is Respect Life Month, and everyone is welcome to stand and pray with us for Respect Life Sunday.

Sunday, October 4, 11 AM until 12-Noon (following 10. AM Mass)
Nativity BVM Church
4375 Harris Hill Rd, Williamsville

Please join the Respect Life Committee for a public, silent, prayerful, and peaceful stand for Life.

#respectlifemonth #october #lifechain #togetherinchristfamily #respectlifesunday

9 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
blessed mothe rwith infant Jesus
people holding signs outside a church
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, and includes the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7) and the final apparition to the children by Our Lady of Fatima known as The Miracle of the Sun (October 13).

Our Blessed Mother when she came to us at Fatima said, “I am the Lady of the Rosary” and asked us to “pray the Rosary every day” for “the conversation of sinners” and “Peace in the world”. There is no problem too big that can’t be solved by praying the Rosary!

We are offering daily opportunities to Pray the Rosary at St. Mary’s during October:
- Weekend Masses: one 1/2 hour before the start of every Mass (i.e. 3:30 PM Rosary before 4 PM Sat. Mass)
- Weekday Mornings: 8:30 AM Monday-Friday, and before 9 AM Mass on Saturday.
- Weekday Evenings: 7 PM Monday-Friday in the chapel.

Are you willing to lead the Rosary before a weekend mass? Please click below to Sign-up, or contact Hope Chavanne at 716-633-9525 or hopemariec2@gmail.com.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F054CABA72FA7FD0-58819718-october#/

#praytherosary #october #ourladyoftherosary #miracleofthesun #leadtherosary
9 days ago, Rebecca Kisailus
Mary statue with rosary around neck