Category Archives: News

Creating a Safe Environment Newsletter | Winter 2016

Protecting Our Children from Strangers and Predators Online

Children can easily encounter predators online; and predators know the places children

hang out online and how to develop online relationships with them. In this article, we

cover the patterns typical of online predators, the likely places where children can encounter them, how you can minimize the risks of your child becoming a victim, and how

to respond if you sense that your child is being targeted by an online predator.

Chances are that your child will never be the victim of an online predator. However, that

doesn’t mean that you or your children should be naive. You and your children need to be

smart about the reality today. We live in a networked, social world. Therefore the “places”

where children can encounter strangers online is becoming increasingly complex. Online

services and technologies are often “faceless.” It’s this online “anonymity” that makes technology an attractive vehicle for predators.

Nine Days for Life

9 Days for Life is a “digital pilgrimage” of prayer and action focused on cherishing the gift of every person’s life. A multi-faceted novena highlighting a different intention each day provides reflections, bonus information, and suggested actions.

Join to receive the novena through the 9 Days for Life app, daily emails, or daily texts. See below for information on how else you can get involved!

#9DaysforLife #OurPrayersMatter

Year of Mercy special events at the Cathedral Door of Mercy

Schedule of Special Masses at Sacred Heart Cathedral

The Extraordinary Year of Mercy is to be the “living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.” (Pope Francis).

Periodically, Jubilee Years are called by the Sovereign Pontiffs to lead the faithful to a closer relationship with God and as a sign of unity and charity. The Extraordinary Year of Mercy, (December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016) is the first Holy Year (hence, extraordinary) which does not commemorate an anniversary of some kind, but focuses our attention on the attribute of God the Father which is exalted in both the Old and New Testaments, His Mercy. In announcing the Year of Mercy, our Holy Father wrote: “The Church makes herself a servant of this love of Christ and mediates it to all people: a love that forgives and expresses itself in the gift of oneself. Consequently, wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident.”

March for Life 2016 information

Highlights:

9:30 AM

Gather for Diocese of Rochester March for Life photo

on steps of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception

10:00 AM

Celebrate Mass at the Basilica with Bishop Matano

concelebrating (Archbishop Chaput presiding)

12:45 PM

Meet up with Bishop Matano and the Diocese of

Rochester to march together

Theology on Tap series starts Feb. 22

A Lenten Four–Pack

Monday Nights at 7:00

February 22, 2016

Pope Francis: Formed By Mercy

Fr. Robert J. Kennedy Pastor

Blessed Sacrament/St. Boniface/ St. Mary’s

February 29, 2016

A Severe Mercy

Noelle Hiester

Diocesan Director of Evangelization & Catechesis

March 7, 2016

Mass: The Greatest Mercy

Fr. Matthew Jones

Parochial Vicar

Blessed Sacrament/St. Boniface/ St. Mary’s

March 14, 2016

Mercy Extended: Healing Relationships

Don Boice, LCSW-R

Boice Counseling

LCSW, P.C.

Theology on Tap is an opportunity for young adults to gather to discuss and reflect on issues of

faith. Sponsored by The Diocese of Rochester Department of Evangelization & Catechesis. Theology on Tap is a copyrighted program of Renew International. Used with permission.

Mass for Life Jan. 17, 2016

Year of Mercy – Every Life is Worth Living

Bishop Matano will be celebrating Mass on Sunday, January 17, at 11:15 a.m. at SACRED HEART CATHEDRAL in support of all human life, especially the unborn

This Mass for Life is a local celebration to give thanks fo God for the gift of human life and to pray for the legal protection of unborn children, coinciding with the anniversary of the U.S. supreme Court Row vs Wade decision.

COFFEE AND DOUGHNUT RECEPTION TO FOLLOW

Urgent Action Alert on Conscience Rights

Protect the Conscience Rights of Health Care Providers

By December 11, 2015, Congress must agree on a year-end spending bill for the federal government.

We need your help to ensure that protections for pro-life health care workers are included in that bill.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has long endorsed this bill and is calling on all U.S. Catholics to encourage its passage now. Americans’ right to object to involvement in abortion has long enjoyed broad support, and President Obama has said several times that he supports federal laws protecting this right. But the conscience laws on the books today need to be clarified and strengthened.

The “Abortion Non-Discrimination Act,” or ANDA, will accomplish this goal. It needs to be included in the year-end spending bill.

Go to http://nchla.org/ to send an e-mail message to your federal legislators and for more ideas to spread the word on this critical issue.

More Resources:

Stand with Cathy for Conscience Rights video http://bcove.me/vdb9twsf

Article explaining the need for this law from USCCB staffer Richard Doerflinger, including links to the video and the Action Alert http://goo.gl/bebTwk

2016 Deacon Information Sessions

February 11: 7:00 PM St. Mary, Bath (O’Malley Hall)
February 17: 7:00 PM Assumption, Fairport (Parish Living Room)
March 3: 7:00 PM St. Pius Tenth, Chili (School)
March 5: 1:00 PM All Saints, Lansing
March 10: 7:00 PM St. Mary of the Lake, Watkins Glen
April 6: 7:00PM Transfiguration, Pittsford

We will provide an overview of the 5 year application and formation process and the time commitment involved and answer questions about ongoing ministry.

An eligible applicant for permanent deacon formation is a man of strong and active faith who can demonstrate a record of service in the communities in which he lives, works and worships. He must be at least 35 years of age and no more than 62 years of age at the time of ordination, in good health, emotionally mature and stable in his professional and personal relationships. Men may be single or married.

Interested men and their wives are encouraged to attend. For more information please contact Deacon John Brasley, Director of Deacon Personnel & Director of Deacon Formation, Diocese of Rochester, 585.328.3228 or

Update on Safe Environment efforts

Efforts to create a safe environment have not waned

An Update from the Diocese of Rochester | November

2015

In September 2015, an independent auditing firm, StoneBridge Business Partners, found the

Diocese of Rochester fully in compliance with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, a comprehensive set of procedures established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002 to address allegations of sexual abuse of minors by Catholic clergy. StoneBridge was approved by the Bishops’ Conference to conduct audits of arch/dioceses in the United States.

The Diocese of Rochester has been found in compliance in annual audits since the first audit was conducted in 2003.

This most recent audit provides another opportunity to review the measures taken by the Bishops of the United States and our own Diocese of Rochester in the years that have followed the extensive media attention and public discussion of the clerical sexual abuse scandal in the early 2000s.

Year of Mercy Celebrations at the Cathedral

Celebrating the Extraordinary Year of Mercy

Schedule of Special Masses at Sacred Heart Cathedral

Them, Extraordinary Year of Mercy is to be the “living experience of the closeness of the Father, whose tenderness is almost tangible, so that the faith of every believer may be strengthened and thus testimony to it be ever more effective.” (Pope Francis).

Periodically, Jubilee Years are called by the Sovereign Pontiffs to lead the faithful to a closer relationship with God and as a sign of unity and charity. The Extraordinary Year of Mercy, (December 8, 2015 – November 20, 2016) is the first Holy Year (hence, extraordinary) which does not commemorate an anniversary of some kind, but focuses our attention on the attribute of God the Father which is exalted in both the Old and New Testaments, His Mercy. In
announcing the Year of Mercy, our Holy Father wrote: “The Church makes herself a servant of this love of Christ and mediates it to all people: a love that forgives and expresses itself in the gift of oneself. Consequently, wherever the Church is present, the mercy of the Father must be evident.”

“The Spirituality of the Catechist” Morning of Reflection Nov. 7

Calling all catechists, catechetical leaders and Catholic

school teachers to an opportunity to deepen your

spiritual life and prepare for the Year of Mercy and the

season of Advent!

The Spirituality of the Catechist

Sr. Janet Schaeffler is a

Dominican Sister of Adrian, MI.

Sr. Janet has served in parish and

archdiocesan catechetical

ministry. She currently offers

days of reflection/retreats, parish

missions, catechist formation and

adult faith formation

opportunities. She is the author

of several books

Creating a Safe Environment Newsletter | Fall 2015

How You can Promote online safety

All safety—including mobile and online safety—begins at home.

The habits you exhibit about technology use in your home will be the same habits your children learn.

Ask yourself what you consider appropriate or inappropriate uses of technology and then compare that with how you might be acting.

Do you use your phone at the dinner table?

Do you text while talking with others? Do you instantly pull out your phone when a new message arrives? Do you text while driving? Do you use computers in public areas of the house or do you habitually bring them into your bedroom behind a closed door?

Model the behavior you yourself expect from your children.

In addition to your living example, consider following some of these steps:

White Mass/Respect Life Sunday

White Mass

for Catholic Health Care Professionals &

Respect Life Sunday

Celebrant

Bishop Salvatore R. Matano

Sunday, October 4, 2015

2:30 pm

Sacred Heart Cathedral

296 Flower City Park, Rochester, NY

• A social reception will follow in

the gathering area.

• Families are welcome!

Wake Up the World: Black Catholic Revival

Guest Preacher DEACON TIMOTHY TILGHMAN, Archdiocese of Washington D.C.

Celebrating Black Catholic History Month

Sponsored by the Office for Cultural Diversity, the Black Catholic Leadership Commission and Immaculate Conception/St. Bridget’s Church.

6:30-9:00pm

Immaculate Conception / St. Bridget’s Church

445 Frederick Douglass Street

Rochester, NY

WEDNESDAY, NOV 11

Theme: Remember the past with GRATITUDE

Music: St. Martin de Porres Gospel Choir

from the Diocese of Buffalo

THURSDAY, NOV 12

Theme: Live the present with PASSION

Music: Immaculate Conception / St.

Bridget’s Gospel Choir

FRIDAY, NOV 13

Theme: Embrace the future with HOPE

Music: Children’s Gospel Choir

Annual Blue Mass Oct. 25

You are cordially invited to join

Bishop Salvatore R. Matano,

as we pray, in gratitude, to God

for the safety of all

the courageous men and women of

law enforcement who so selflessly

serve and protect our community.

Take part in the 50th Anniversary Celebration of “Nostra Aetate”

Be a part of our 50th anniversary celebration of interfaith dialogue

in the diocese of rochester!

Nostra Aetate

, also known as the “declaration on the relation of the

church to non-christian religions,” is a key Vatican ii document from

october 28, 1965, proclaiming the importance of interfaith dialogue.

in the document all catholics are called to pursue dialogue and

understanding with other religions.

the diocese of rochester, especially, has much to celebrate in its

historic outreach and dialogue with other faith communities over the

years.Join us for:

1. Panel Discussion evening at st. BernarD’s –

Wednesday, october 7, 7:00 pm

a catholic scholar, muslim imam, and Jewish rabbi share thoughts

on the progress and future impact of interfaith relations.

2. tours of interfaith sites –

sunday, october 18, 2:00-5:00 pm

a wonderful opportunity for catholics of all ages and parishes to

learn about religious artifacts and symbolism in an islamic mosque,

a Jewish temple and a hindu temple.

look for more detailed information in your bulletins and on the

dor.org website under ecumenical and interreligious affairs

(under Parish & clergy services).

Father Daniel Ruiz welcomed into diocese

Partners School Newsletter June 2015

Summer can be a time for learning

Summer, too, is for learning, but it doesn’t have to be highly structured learning, says Martin Kilbridge, principal of Siena Catholic Academy in Brighton.

It’s important to have a “general engagement of the mind,” he says, but taking a break is part

of what summer is all about, “as long as it’s not all video games.” (Some time on video games,

however, is just fine, he adds.)

Balance is essential in finding ways to help children actively learn all summer long, and

avoid the so-called “summer slide”—the tendency of students to regress, especially in math

skills, but sometimes in reading as well, during idle summer vacations.

The trick is to make something out of ordinary life experiences.

Summer 2015 “Theology on Tap”

Good Company…Interesting Speakers…Lively Conversation…

2015

Summer Series for Catholics and friends

in their twenties and thirties!!!

July 22

Will the Church Ever Change?

With Fr. Bob Kennedy,

Pastor of Blessed Sacrament/St. Boniface

/St. Mary’s

Johnny’s Irish Pub,

1382 Culver Rd

Rochester

, NY 14609

July 30

Belonging: What does it mean to be a part of a Church that

challeng

es?

Deacon John Brasley

Director of Deacon Personnel and Formation

@ Elmwood Inn, 1256 Mount Hope Ave,

Rochester, NY 14620

August

The Anxious Life:

Attending to our

Spiritual

Hungers to address

situational anxiety and depression

Fr. Bob Werth,

stor of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini

Parish

@ The Old Toad

277 Alexander St

Rochester, NY 14607

August 12

A Vengeful God or a Loving God?

Reconciling the Old Testament and

New Testament

With Fr. George Heyman, Ph.D.,

President, St. Bernard’s S

chool of Theology and Ministry

@ Elmwood Inn, 1256 Mount Hope Ave,

Rochester, NY 14620

August 18

Life is not a N

–

stop Beer Commercial!

Getting past the media

messages of what it means to be a human being

Vocations Team Member

Johnny’s Irish Pub,

82 Culver Rd

Rochester

, NY 14609

All Evenings Begin at 7:00 PM!

For more information call 328

–

3228

x1218

Theology on Tap is an opportunity for young adults to gather to discuss and reflect on issues of faith.

–

CMA sets new all-time record for contributions

The 2014-15 Catholic Ministries Appeal set a new record for contributions, topping the previous record set last year by more than $100,000. Nearly 29,000 donors contributed $5.665 million to the campaign, which ended May 31. This year’s campaign theme was “Attitude of Gratitude.”

The average gift to the Appeal also increased from last year to a new high of $197 from $190. This was the eighth straight year the Appeal has raised more than $5 million.

“I am deeply grateful to all those who so generously supported this year’s Catholic Ministries Appeal” said Bishop of Rochester Salvatore R. Matano. “By sharing their blessings, they have enriched the lives of many of their sisters and brothers, especially those in need. It is this truly caring spirit and commitment to building up the Body of Christ that makes our Church so strong and vibrant.”

The CMA helps fund ministries for more than 340,000 Catholics and others in the 12-county Diocese of Rochester: Monroe, Wayne, Ontario, Cayuga, Livingston, Steuben, Tioga, Chemung, Schuyler, Seneca, Tompkins and Yates counties.