May 24, 2020

St. Rita Church

1008 Maple Drive Webster, New York

Phone (585) 671-1100

Website: www.saintritawebster.org Seventh Sunday of Easter

Fr. Tim invites you to join us for our live-streaming:

WEEKEND MASS on Saturdays at 5:00pm and

EVENING PRAYER each night at 7:30pm

These are available on our website to be replayed anytime you wish. Please see the links on our

Website: www.saintritawebster.org or

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/stritawebster

HE IS RISEN INDEED!

As Jesus prepares his return to the Father, He leaves us the amazing gift of the Holy Spirit!

CELEBRATE THE FEAST OF PENTECOST NEXT WEEKEND!

WATCH MASS

Fr. Tim will live stream Mass at 5:00pm on Saturday, May 30 (Mass will be available to be replayed any time after.)

DRIVE TO CHURCH AND PICK UP YOUR PENTECOST PACKAGE!

We invite you to drive through the church parking lot NEXT SUNDAY, May 31 between 9:00 am and Noon to pick up a Pentecost Package.

We have items in a special package for you to celebrate Pentecost at home.

Fr. Tim will share during Mass more details about what you’ll find inside the package. We have one package per household – but you are welcome to pick up packages for family members, friends, or neighbors. You may also drop off your donation envelopes at this time, if you like. Please remain in your vehicle and follow traffic directions.

DECORATE OUR PARKING LOT

If you feel moved by the Holy Spirit, come and make a chalk drawing in our parking lot any time on Saturday, May 30! Take one parking space per family. Your design could represent a symbol of Pentecost, a Fiesta memory, or write an encouraging message. A supply of chalk will be available by the church doors. Take what you need (and keep it) or bring your own chalk. Please limit your design to one parking space per family and keep a distance of at least one parking space from anyone else who may be there at the same time. Can’t make it to church? Draw something on your driveway or sidewalk and share a picture with us on Facebook!

Jesus has Ascended into Heaven!

For everyone's safety, all public Masses have been suspended until further notice.

Scheduled Masses will continue to be celebrated daily by Fr. Tim.

MASS INTENTIONS

MONDAY, MAY 25, 2020 FOR THE DECEASED MEMBERS OF ST. RITA PARISH TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2020 MARY FRANCES CARNEY - By Family WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2020 FOR THE PEOPLE OF ST. RITA PARISH THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2020 GLADYS KELLY - By the Bell Family FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2020 HELEN DEL PLATO - By Tom & Lisa DelPlato SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2020 FOR ALL OF OUR ST. RITA VOLUNTEERS PENTECOST SUNDAY, MAY 31, 2020 LOIS I. ALFIERI - By Mike & Darlene Sciolino LONNIE BARANEK - By Michael Poplawski COLIN PINKNEY - By the Maring Family

Page 2 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY May 24, 2020

ST. RITA SCHOOL

Where Faith and Knowledge Meet!

SRS STRONG!

+ This was a very special week for the families, faculty, and staff at St. Rita’s School. Friday was the annual May Day Crowning. Some special Goddrops were able to crown Mary while the school community joined for a special virtual May Day celebration. We thank our Gentle Mother for her guidance and protection over our St. Rita School community.

+ On Friday evening, students and their families participated in a car parade through Sr. Katherine Ann Circle celebrating the Feast of St Rita and being “SRS Strong”. Everyone dressed in Blue and Gold and decorated their cars to show their school spirit. It has been tradition for students to receive ice cream on St. Rita’s Feast day. The faculty and staff made sure this tradition continued and handed out ice cream to each car load of families. Fifth Graders had an extra special evening as they were the special guests at this event and led the procession. Underclassman families cheered and celebrated their Fifth Grade buddies who were lined up around the loop, socially distanced outside of their cars. It was a beautiful celebration of friendship, faith, connection, and strength.

Our Tabernacle Light will burn from May 25 - May 31

In Loving Memory of Anthony Matroniano

Ways to Support Our School!

DID YOU KNOW?

St. Rita School is still collecting returnable bottles and cans. You may leave your donations in the large plastic bins located next to the rectory garage. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of our school.

Believe Bands Jewelry Gifts

Give a gift that gives back to SRS this spring! Graduations and Birthdays! Now through June 30th, a locally owned company Believe Bands will be giving 20% of every sale to SRS when you use the code STRITA at checkout!

Please shop at: https://believebands.com/shop-2/

Mass Intention and Tabernacle Light Offerings

Fr. Tim celebrates Mass every day and includes the Mass intentions that have already been scheduled. If you would like to have a Mass offered or the Tabernacle Light lit for a friend or loved one please contact Karen Geer at 671-1100 ext. 11 or email: karen.geer@dor.org

The Sacrament of the Eucharist

Pray the Spiritual Communion Prayer any time, but especially during an online Mass when you would normally receive Holy Communion.

Spiritual Communion Prayer

My Jesus,

I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You in my soul. Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if you were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.

PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR E-NEWSLETTER AND BE INFORMED!

Stay connected with all that we are offering. Go to our Website: www.saintritawebster.org

Bible Readings for the Week

24 Sun 7th Sunday of Easter Acts 1:12-14 Ps 27:1,4, 7-8 1 Pt 4:13-16 Jn 17:1-11a 25 Mon St. Bede the Venerable; St. Gregory VII; St. Mary Magdalene de’Pazzi Acts 19:1-8 Ps 68:2-7 Jn 16:29-33 26 Tue St. Philip Neri Acts 20:17-27 Ps 68:10-11,20-21 Jn 17:1-11a 27 Wed St. Augustine of Canterbury Acts 20:28-38 Ps 68:29-30,33-36 Jn 17:11b-19 28 Thu Acts 22:30;23:6-11 Ps 16:1-2,5,7-11 Jn 17:20-26 29 Fri Acts 25:13b-21 Ps 103:1-2,11-12,19-20 Jn 21:15-19 30 Sat Acts 28:16-20,30-31 Ps 11:4-5,7 Jn 21:20-25

31 Sun Pentecost Sunday Acts 2:1-11 Ps 104:1,24, 29-31,34 1 Cor 12:3b-7,12-13 Jn 20:19-23

Page 3 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY May 24, 2020

Tuesdays in Church 2:00-5:00pm

Come and spend quiet time with the Lord.

Daily Prayer and Reflection

Monday - Thursdays at 11:00 am

Join the St. Rita’s community online every Monday through Thursday at 11:00am. Anne Thomas is leading a different type of prayer each day on our Website and Facebook live. This is also available to replay from our Website.

Whenever appropriate, Anne uses the Children’s Catholic Bible and shares instructions for each type of prayer so that all are welcome and feel comfortable praying together – whether you have young children, or need a reminder or help with specific kinds of prayer.

Monday: Intentions for the Community Tuesday: Lectio Divina Wednesday: A Decade of the Rosary Thursday: Easter Prayer and Reflection

WEEKLY OFFERINGS

All are live streamed on our Website

(*on Tuesday Church is open for Adoration)

SUNDAYS 7:30pm Night Prayer with Father Tim MONDAYS 11:00am Prayer Reflection with Anne 7:30pm Night Prayer with Father Tim TUESDAYS 11:00am Prayer Reflection with Anne 1:00pm Virtual Coffee Break with Julie 2:00-5:00pm *Eucharistic Adoration - Church is Open 7:30pm Night Prayer with Father Tim WEDNESDAYS 11:00am Prayer Reflection with Anne 7:30pm Night Prayer with Deacon Jim THURSDAYS 9:00am WEROC gathering on Zoom 11:00am Prayer Reflection with Anne 1:00pm Virtual Coffee Break with Julie 7:30pm Night Prayer with Father Tim FRIDAYS 7:30pm Night Prayer with Father Tim SATURDAYS 10:00am Stronger Together Call in with Deacon Jim 5:00pm Live Streaming Mass with Father Tim 7:30pm Night Prayer with Father Tim

We are continuing to collect and deliver items weekly to Saint Joseph's House of Hospitality who are serving the very needy and homeless. They provide lunches and meals to go for roughly 500 people per week.

They are in need of:

Prepackaged lunch meat and cheese Fresh fruit and fruit cups Canned goods (beans and tuna, etc.) Snack packages for lunches Lunch bags, sandwich bags, napkins Bottled water and juice boxes Also needed are toiletry items for those in need, including women detained at the Buffalo ICE Facility.

Items can be dropped off on the front porch at the home of Tony & Linda Barbeau 33 Simone Terrace, Webster, 14580

or call Tony at 585-781-4311 for more information. Thank you for your help.

A Big Thank You from St. Joseph’s House of Hospitality!

On behalf of Trudy Skayhill, manager of food operations at the house, I want to share her gratitude, and mine, for the incredible support St. Rita Parish has provided this past shelter season as well as through the pandemic. St. Joseph's continues to serve 50-60 lunches each day and is in ongoing need of items (which are listed below). Our parish continues to blow me away with all you do!

In addition to the food needs, the Catholic Workers at St. Joseph's have recently started to provide woman's toiletry items to the woman at the Batavia ICE facility.

Thank you again from the bottom of my heart. Please stay well and I look forward to seeing you all soon!

God Bless, Deacon Jim

The Family Zone

Every week, the diocese is collecting and sharing activities, ideas, and prayers for families at home!

You can download the Family Zone Newsletter every week from their website at: https://oec.dor.org/evangelization/the-family-zone-newsletter/ Or, if you would like this emailed to you each week, please contact Anne at anne.thomas@dor.org and she will add you to her email list

Ladies ~ Please Join Us for WEROC on Zoom!

Thursday Mornings at 9:00am.

Take this opportunity to share and learn through connection and prayer to deepen our faith!

If you are interested in joining, please contact

Julie at Julie.cohn@dor.org and she will email you the Zoom link directly.

Help us - Help you!

Link: https://tinyurl.com/src-needs

During this time apart - Fr. Tim and the staff at St. Rita Church are still available for you. We are working hard to provide you with resources that will help you continue your faith journey and keep that feeling of community we all long for Use the link above or the link on our Website to take this brief survey. Let us know what works for you - or doesn't - and tell us how we can serve you better. Please let us know what resources you are using and what you would like us to provide so we can better focus our efforts to continue supporting your needs. Your answers are anonymous so feel free to share. If you have specific needs or questions, please contact the Parish Office by phone or email.

FIESTA NEWS!

Next weekend would have been our 66th Annual St. Rita Fiesta, but due to health concerns we have postponed this event. While we wait to be able

to celebrate in-person again, you can share your favorite Fiesta memories or photos on our Fiesta Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stritafiesta

Planning For 2020-2021

For the health of all our Faith Formation families, volunteers, and their households, next year’s Faith Formation program will need to limit or avoid in-person gatherings.

Anne Thomas, our Faith Formation Coordinator is working on plans to provide the best possible program to enable families to explore our faith, to live our faith in our daily lives, and to grow as a community no matter how much physical distance we must keep. But she can’t do that without hearing what works best for your family!

To help her involve your voice in the planning process, please visit:

http://www.saintritawebster.org/faithformationk7/

to take a short survey. This survey is about how you would feel comfortable making your ideas heard, given the demands on your time and energy. Please help us find out the best way to make everyone’s voices heard by filling out this survey.

Page 4 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY May 24, 2020

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL UPDATE

Currently, our plan is to provide resources and supplies for you to hold CAMP JESUS from your own home this summer.

Families will receive a kit (available for pick up from St. Rita or dropped off to your front porch) with everything you need (minus snacks). The kit will include craft/science project supplies, music, and plenty of instructions for Bible story activities, games, prayers, and more. Kits will be available by early July.

You can provide your feedback for what you would like to see or if you need further information by contacting Elizabeth.kwiatkowski@dor.org.

Reserve your kit by filling out the form on our website at www.saintritawebster.org/vacationbibleschool/

We are requesting a donation of $25 per kit (kit will be sized to meet your family’s needs).

Page 8 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY April 5, 2020 Page 5 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY May 24, 2020

Even though our Parish Office is closed to visitors,

We Are Here for You!

Please reach out to us with any needs or questions. We are only an e-mail, text, or phone call away!

STAFF CONTACTS

Fr. Tim Niven, Pastor Niven@dor.org 671-1100 ext. 16 or call 585-507-1433

Karen Geer General Inquiries, Bulletin, Weddings, Events Karen.Geer@dor.org 671-1100 ext. 11 call or text 585-733-8076

Julie Cohn Funerals, Baptisms, Prayer Line, Visitation Julie.Cohn@dor.org 671-1100 ext. 13 call or text 585-738-1603

Elizabeth Kwiatkowski Website, VBS, Communications, Liturgy Elizabeth.Kwiatkowski@dor.org or text 585-369-0906

Anne Thomas Children’s Faith Formation and Sacraments Anne.Thomas@dor.org call or text 585-402-9254

Joan Sullivan Donations and Finances Joan.Sullivan@dor.org

Deacon Rick Rall bernrick@frontiernet.net 585-545-8467

Deacon Jim Fien James.Fien@dor.org 585-233-0334

Mary Ellen Wagner, School Mary.Ellen.Wagner@dor.org

Please sign up to receive our E-Newsletter!Website: www.saintritawebster.org

Join us for a Virtual Coffee Break!

Tuesday and Thursdays at 1:00pm Julie Cohn, our Pastoral Minister, along with some of our parishioners, invite you to grab a cup of coffee, tea or water, a cookie or a donut, and join then for some

time together from your home using Zoom. Join us when you can at the following link:

www.saintritawebster.org/virtual-coffee-break.html

Meeting ID: 892 2974 8266 Password: StRita

If you have any questions please contact Julie.

Ways to financially support St. Rita Church during this difficult time:

1. Mail your envelope or contribution to: St. Rita Church 1008 Maple Dr. Webster, NY 14580 2. To donate by text, send your contribution

amount to 833-654-0052

3. GIVEPLUS+ Mobile App (Go to the App

Store or Google Play and search "Give Plus Church)

4. Go online to our parish website at: www.saintritawebster.org and click on "Give Online"

We are very grateful to everyone for your spiritual and financial support!

PARISH SUPPORT

For the Week ending May 17

Total Budget Variance $15,453 $ 12,876 + $ 2,577

Year to Date Year to Date Budget Variance $ 613,948 $ 641,606 - $ 27,658

Phone Call In

On Saturday Mornings at 10:00 am

The call in number is 1-978-990-5000

Access Number 123131#

Please join Deacon Jim on Saturday mornings for “Stronger Together” calls where we share what is touching our hearts during this unprecedented time. After sharing, we take time for prayer and reflection on a selected scripture reading.

Did You Know?

We have a very active PRAYER LINE here at St. Rita Parish? Your prayer request of any kind can be passed along to a very large number of our parishioners who will remember you in their daily prayer.

If you would like to have a special intention remembered in prayer through our Prayer Line or become one of our “prayers”, please contact Julie at Julie.Cohn@dor.org or 671-1100 ext. 13 or call or text 585-738-1603.

Page 6 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY May 24, 2020

Sign up Now for our new

“Adopt a Grand-Friend” Program! We will match together different generations of people and encourage you to check in on each other through phone calls, letters, or other creative ways. A staff member will send out periodic messages with conversation starters or suggestions of ideas to connect and to make sure that you have been able to contact your new friend. All ages are welcome!

To sign up:

Visit our Website to fill out the form online. Print and fill out this form and mail it in to the parish office. Call Julie Cohn at 585-738-1603.

These are some of the ways in which you can communicate:

Phone calls or Video calls or Sending letters, postcards, cheerful pictures, stories, or poems by mail or email

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

First Name: _________________________ Last Name: _________________________________________

Age: ________ Home address: _______________________________________________________________

Phone number (will only be shared with your new friend): _________________________________________

Email address (if you have one): _______________________________________________________________

I am interested in receiving (circle all that apply):

Phone calls E-Mails Video Calls/Zoom Letters/Postcards

Please list three interests you have (ex. Baking, Gardening, Pets, Sports, Family, etc. ): ________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________

Pray at home with the NOCTURNAL ADORATION SOCIETY

Be still and know that I am God! (Psalms 46:11) Be with the St. Kateri society to deepen your joy of a loving, personal relationship with Jesus. Our prayer is a special adaptation of The Liturgy of the Hours, and includes exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, psalms, spiritual readings, prayers, and silent adoration. Go to http://www.tandfspi.org/NAS for links to live perpetual Adoration, a recorded Benediction video, and our prayer book. Be with us spiritually from home on the last Saturday of each month - May 30 from 8:00-9:00pm, or any time convenient for you.

A JOYful Thank You!

Thank you to all who were able to come to my birthday parade. You kept it a surprise! Thank you also to everyone for your warm birthday wishes. God has blessed me with the best parish and school community. I am forever grateful!

Peace, Sr. Katherine Ann (SKA)

Can You Help?

If anyone (or families) would like to get outside for some fresh air and social distancing - we could use some help with light weeding in areas around our campus. Please call or

text Karen at 585-733-8076 if you are able to help.

Page 7 St. Rita Church, Webster, NY May 24, 2020

Seventh Sunday of Easter

In the hope that you will enter more fully into the Mass!

“Father, The Hour Has Come”

N ow that Jesus had prepared his disciples for his death and return to the Father, the

time for their preparation was over. Jesus now turned his prayer directly to the

Father in what is known as the High Priestly Prayer (John Chapter 17). Our readings

today reflect the final days before the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (next Sunday).

In our first reading (Acts of the Apostles 1:12-14), the eleven apostles returned to Jerusalem at

Jesus’ instruction and awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit (the Paraclete). As they waited,

they and the disciples devoted themselves to prayer.

After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from

the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away.

When they entered the city they went to the upper room where they were staying, Peter and John and James and

Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of

James. All these devoted themselves with one accord to prayer, together with some women, and Mary the mother of

Jesus, and his brothers.

In our Epistle reading (1 Peter 4:13-16), we hear that in Christ, suffering and glory are inextricably linked. And so it is with

us, especially those who suffer for the name of Christ. St. Peter considered suffering for one’s faith as a blessing. It is

evidence that one’s life is directed by the Spirit.

Beloved: Rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may

also rejoice exultantly. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God

rests upon you. But let no one among you be made to suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as an intriguer.

But whoever is made to suffer as a Christian should not be ashamed but glorify God because of the name.

Our Gospel passage is from the Gospel of John (John 17:1-11), During the last few Sundays, we heard Jesus’ Farewell

Discourse, as he prepared the apostles for his death and return to the Father and for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Now,

in this passage, the apostles overhear Jesus as he turns his focus directly to his Father in a final prayer. Jesus reaffirmed

his suffering as a blessing and “glorification” so that he may “give eternal life to all you gave him”. He then prayed for his

disciples and for the Church that would follow. This happened at the end of the Last Supper, shortly before his arrest.

Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your son, so that your son may

glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all people, so that your son may give eternal life to all you gave him.

Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ. I

glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do. Now glorify me, Father, with you, with the

glory that I had with you before the world began.

“I revealed your name to those whom you gave me out of the world. They belonged to you, and you gave them to me,

and they have kept your word. Now they know that everything you gave me is from you, because the words you gave

to me I have given to them, and they accepted them and truly understood that I came from you, and they have

believed that you sent me. I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for the ones you have given me, because

they are yours, and everything of mine is yours and everything of yours is mine, and I have been glorified in them.

And now I will no longer be in the world, but they are in the world, while I am coming to you.”

J ust as the disciples gathered in the upper room to await the coming of the Holy Spirit, so we await as well. Next

Sunday, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit into our world, to be our advocate, teacher and guide who will

lead us home to the Father and Jesus. Along that path to home is our own passion and suffering. May we see it as

a cause to unite with the suffering of Jesus and through our suffering, rejoice and find glory.

Read, reflect and pray on the this Sunday’s readings at http://cms.usccb.org/bible/readings/052420-day.cfm

The High Priestly Prayer (John 17)