Events

Angry at the church…

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The decline in church attendance is not a Corpus Christi Phenomenon it is a worldwide phenomenon. Also ‘Church Shopping’ or ‘Church flip-flopping’ is another practice unheard of in the past but becoming more common among registered parishioners. Both actions weaken/hurt the parish community and the parishioner. The only way to make a difference in the world or in ones parish is to be involved not uninvolved. The Church is not like MTV or a place where we come to be entertained. It is a place where all kinds of people come to be part of. Why? I’d like to talk about reasons why a person should be part of a parish in a series of homilies that I will give at all 8:15 and 11:30 Masses starting September 12th. We know people who are pissed off with their Pastor; pissed off with the world; pissed off with themselves, connect with us and be part of the solution not the problem

September 12th
Why Church? Reason One: Community As the Good Shepherd, Jesus knew that sheep do best when they’re with other sheep.

September 19th
Why Church? Reason Two: Real People
Hypocrisy in the church is mostly a myth

September 26th
Why Church? Reason Three: Money Matter Yes, the church is always asking for money, and giving it is for our spiritual well-being

October 3rd
Why Church? Reason Four: Mentors Every congregation has two things — a pastor and an opinion about the pastor. There are many reasons (church closings, divorce, scandals, money, people’s lifestyles) why Catholics whom we know do not attend Mass on Sunday. Many feel that the only tool they have is to not attend Mass to hurt the Church, the pastor or a loved one who have hurt them. We like to share with you how we have dealt with these issues…and have become stronger and more active in our parish.

After each of these Masses, I’d like to invite you over to our social hall to talk further how you can bring people back to practicing their faith.

Father Simon Shaner

Masses for Our Lady of Czestochowa – 11:30AM & 6:30PM – 08/26

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Thursday, August 26 is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Czestochowa two Masses will be offered, at 11:30am and 6:30pm, and the evening celebration will include a Solemn Procession.

Please join us.

Blessing of the Herbs this weekend at Corpus Christi

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(2008 video from Blessing of the Herbs @ Corpus Christi)

Our Lady of the Herbs

(By Sophie Knab) In keeping with the ancient tradition of Poland, Corpus Christi Church, will hold a blessing of herbs and flowers on the Feast of the Assumption on Sunday, August 15 at all three masses: 8:15, 10:00(Polish Mass) and 11:30AM

In Poland, the Feast of the Assumption is also called Matka Boska Zielna – Blessed Mother of the Herbs, or Our Lady of the Herbs. The Blessed Mother is seen as the patron and keeper of the earth and all of its abundance.
On this special feast day, every village housewife brought a bouquet of herbs, flowers and grain that was collected from her own garden, the fields and orchards. She gathered dill, mint, rosemary, southernwood, parsley, hyssop, lovage, and comfrey – whatever she had growing in her garden. Many plants were named after the Blessed Mother. For instance, mullein, called dziewanna in Polish, was known as the braids of the Blessed Mother. And the wild herb St. John’s Wort was called the bells of the Blessed Mother. Since this time coincided with the time of the harvest, it was also the custom to take a few spikes of various grains including wheat, rye and oats.

After the blessing, the flowers and herbs were taken home and tucked behind holy pictures to protect the home against fire and lightening. Some farmers crumbled some of the blessed flowers into their seed bags in the belief that it would assure a good harvest. Some of the herbs were used in folk medicine to cure a cough or a cold.

This is a custom that was once prevalent throughout Polonia, brought to this country by our Polish ancestors. In recent years this beautiful custom has slowly gone by the wayside. Pastor Father Matthew Wydmanski at Corpus Christi invites everyone to bring their flowers and bouquets. The church is located at 199 Clark Street, Buffalo, New York 14212.