Our mission for September is the Timau Mission in Kenya. Sister Joanne Gangloff, OSF spoke at our Sunday mass on September 5 and explained how the Timau Mission is growing to provide educational funding for children of all ages and also young adults in college classes. She also explained there is a program to adopt-a-child for a year. Our community will respond by adopting a baby, an elementary school child and a high school student. The yearly cost to adopt the children is as follows:
- "Adopt" a malnourished baby or toddler for $20/month.
- "Adopt" a Kenyan grade school child for $25/month.
- "Adopt" a Kenyan high school child for $40/month.
For more information about the mission in Kenya in general, go their site http://www.sosf.org/what-we-do/ministry/plonearticle.2006-08-07.8133882816
Our community donation to the Timau Mission amounted to $2,700 in addition to the special donation to "adopt" three children for the year. We hope that this arrangement will be renewed each year for continued support of the three young people in Kenya.
Click on the three links above to read the full story of each child and see their photos. Also, a letter from Evans is posted on the link.
The Family Religious Education Program begins on September 15th. We will meet in the Education Wing of the Unitarian Universalist Church at 6320 Main Street. Over 40 children are enrolled this year. The Adult Education sessions will be following the theme "Growing in our relationship with God". Our list of speakers promises to be informative with their own rich experiences of faith. All adults in the community are invited to attend. For a full list of speakers and dates, click the link to the JNMC web site. .. then go to Religious Education for the information.
The community will once again support the TRY Program at the annual fundraising dinner on September 24. Details will follow.
Beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman. This month, Pope Benedict officiated at the celebration in England to honor Blessed John Henry Newman, the man for which our Mission Community is named.
The following excerpt comes from Pope Benedict's homily during the beatification of Blessed John Henry Newman last week in England. He stated: Newman helps us to understand ... that our divine Master has assigned a specific task to each one of us, a “definite service”, committed uniquely to every single person: “I have my mission”, he wrote, “I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do his work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place … if I do but keep his commandments and serve him in my calling” (Meditations and Devotions, 301-2).Foundation for Children in Need -- Special Mission introduced by Father Jim Croglio. On September 26, 2010, our community hosted a guest of Father Jim, Mr. Tom Chitta who introduced us to the Foundation for Children in Need -- a mission in India. Foundation for Children in Need was founded by Mr. Chitta and Geetha Yeruva in 2002 in Arlington Heights, Illinois. It is a not-for-profit organization (with tax exempt status) that provides help to needy children, college students and elderly. FCN also addresses various needs such as medical care, health education, women development and others. Our community presented Mr. Chitta with a donation of $2,000 which was approved by the Board of Directors prior to his visit to our Sunday mass. He sent a "thank you" note and said "Your kindness will be remembered always." To read more about this ministry, visit their website at www.fcnindia.org
TRY Dinner - Fundraiser
On September 24, 2010, eight people from the John Newman Mission Community attended the TRY Program Fundraiser held at Salvatore's Italian Gardens. Those in attendance included Jeanne and Norm Brady, Rose Brady, Ginny Everett, Marion McLaughlin, Sheila O'Brien, Joan Smith and Marilyn Taton. The attendees enjoyed a delicious dinner and had the opportunity to listen to testimonies by TRY House girls. This was an informative way to hear them witness to the beneficial and caring touch of TRY on their lives. All in attendance learned much and were impressed. Everyone at the dinner had a chance to bid on auction items and enjoyed the evening in support of Sister Janet and the SS of St. Joseph. TRY -- "Teaching and Restoring Youth."October 2010
Mission for October is Foster Care/Adoption Program of Child and Family Services. Our guest speaker, Gail Sunshine May, Director of the program spoke to us regarding the extraordinary needs of children in foster care, or being adopted. These children are often in need of much counseling, educational, and social support, as well as intensive health care due to the trauma, abuse and neglect they may have experienced. 
Foster and adoptive parents are given a modest subsidy to help them in parenting these children, but the children's needs are far greater than the funds available. Our donation of $2,575 will help give these most vulnerable children a chance in life.
A few months after our donation was received, Moira Schorr was pleased to report the following:
- Extended counselling sessions were provided for children and their foster parents. The goal is to pave the way for these children to spend more time with their foster parents and for them to develop a sense of belonging to the family
- Dance lessons were provided for a young girl who loved to dance, but her parents could not afford the lessons. This allowed her to express herself through dance, much more than she could through normal therapy
- Bikes were purchased for several children; and a week at summer camp was provided for several children.
- Special needs, such as tutoring was provided for a few children. This help is only possible because of private donations, such as ours.
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Pancake Breakfast -- In Honor of Harvest House Founders, Gary and Linda Tatu
On October 24, 2010, the community held its annual pancake breakfast at the Getzville Volunteer Fire Hall. This event followed the celebration of Eucharist with Father Jim Croglio. The hall was filled with folks from the Newman Mission and their extended families, the Harvest House board and staff members, the Sisters of St. Joseph and members of our Family Religious Ed Program. By all accounts, this was the largest crowd for the pancake breakfast, and we thank Leon Colucci for reserving the hall, and for the set up team and the kitchen crew, supervised by John Roba, Steve Hanley, Al Naish, Tom Goddard. The kitchen crew also included Mike Laszikas, Drew Taraboletti, and Jack Stiefel. Beautiful table decorations were artistically created and provided by Joanne Montante. Everyone enjoyed the mass and full breakfast and we appreciate the hard work by all who helped by offering their time and talents. The proceeds from the breakfast, $4,425 was presented to Harvest House on November 8th.
<> Click on either collage for a larger view.
November 2010
Confirmation - November 3
Four young members of our community received the sacrament of Confirmation on November 3, 2010 with the larger parish group from St. Mary of the Assumption in Lancaster. Bishop Edward Grosz celebrated the sacrament for James Celeste, Adam Lamancuso, Sarah Swiat, and Stephen Taraboletti. Click on the collage for a larger view.
Mission for November: Friends of the Night People
Our community will support Friends of the Night People this month. They have been offering services to their clients free of charge since 1969. The center is located on the west side of Buffalo at 394 Hudson Street. The Executive Director, Joseph Heary spoke to us on November 14 and told us more about the mission. The center is open 365 days per year and serve dinner every evening. As of the end of October, more than 49,000 meals have been served this year! Other services include a clothing "store" where clients may select items they need free of charge. Medical care is given by a volunteer physician and nurse assisted by medical students from SUNY @ Buffalo. To learn more about this mission, check out their web site at www.friendsofnightpeople.org. Our community donated $2,850 to Friends of the Night People.
-- Ann Dougherty --
May She Rest in Peace
Our community lost a dear friend and a woman of great insight and influence as Ann Dougherty passed away on October 25, 2010 in Massachusetts. Sadly, her disease robbed her or her engaging personality and charm over the past few years. On November 13, 2010, a mass of Christian Burial was con-celebrated by Father William Bigelow, Father Paul Steller and Father "Duke" Zajac at SS Peter and Paul Church. Dozens of friends from the Newman Community joined family and friends for this beautiful liturgy. May Ann rest in peace.
Mission for December:
South Buffalo Community Table
Once again, our community welcomed Sister Celeste O'Bryan to mass in early December where we heard more about the South Buffalo Community Table. There are more than 70 people who receive hot meals served six days per week. The Community Table is funded only by private donations.
Sister Celeste also helps her clients overcome other problems that plague the unemployed and the homeless. She shared a story with us, that one client has told her that he receives much more than a hot meal -- he receives a living witness of Jesus reaching out and caring for him. Our community donation to the South Buffalo Community Table was $2,525.
Other Outreach Donations for Christmas:
Our board of directors and the outreach committee approved the following donations for the Christmas holiday:
- Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen -- $1,000 in honor of Marion McLaughlin who works there as a volunteer each week.
- Heart, Love & Soul Soup Kitchen -- $1,000 donated to a soup kitchen in Niagara Falls relying on private donations
- Family in Need from St. Mary of the Assumption parish -- nominated by Father Paul ($500)
- Family in Need from St. Amelia's parish -- nominated by their Outreach Committee --$374 stovetop
- Medical Supplies for Maria Brady to carry to her medical mission assignment in the Dominican Republic in early January -- $500
- Two scholarships for the Women's Respite program at Stella Niagara -- $285 each
Once again, our community prepared Christmas gifts for children and moms and dads who are clients of the Response to Love Center directed by Sister Johnice. More than fifty children received gifts from our generous community. The moms and dads are enrolled in the GED program that is located at the Center. More details will follow. To read more about the Response to Love Center, click on these two articles here
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article293686.ece
http://www.buffalonews.com/city/article292121.ece
Hundreds of toys set up for distribution.
January 2011 Mission: Hearts for the Homeless
Our community will once again support Hearts for the Homeless, and organization committed to feeding and clothing the poor and homeless men, women and children in Buffalo. With drop boxes throughout the city, Hearts for the Homeless constantly collects food and clothing. Their mobile soup kitchen distributes a hot meal and dry clothing to the needy six nights per week, setting up at the central library. Ron Calandra spoke at our mass on January 2nd and gave us an update on the good work being done week in and week out.
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Haiti Support: Sister Johnice's project helps support SantéBus. Our community and Sister Johnice are working to fund the refurbishment and shipment of a "retired" school bus to become a mobile health clinic in Haiti. Sister Johnice is committed to getting a bus to help the community of Dr. Jean Bonnet. Our community collected funds in late January and donated $3,100 to help get this project started. For more about SantéBus, check out their web site www.santebus.org.
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| Sister Johnice (2nd from left) and Dr. Bonnet (head is above the van's door) during a recent trip to Haiti. A video taken in Haiti in February 2011 can be viewed here ... scenes of the SanteBus in action delivering supplies. The reconstruction of minimal housing for the deaf camp can be seen in the final minutes of the video. http://www.responsetolovecenter.org/pages.php?id=24 |
Support for Dominican Republic -- Maria Brady, RN StudentIn December, our community helped fund a medical relief trip to the Dominican Republic by Maria Brady, a D'Youville nursing student. Our funds paid for $500 in medical supplies and over $1500 helped pay for her mission. In January, Maria spoke to our community about the poverty that she witnessed and the serious medical patients that she helped treat. More will be posted on this blog when her photos come in . . . .February 2011 Mission Support: Heart, Love and SoulThis month, our community is supporting the mission of Heart, Love & Soul soup kitchen and services provider in Niagara Falls. The facility has served the people of Niagara Falls for over 25 years, and their mission statement expresses their dedication to "feed those in need, and provide opportunities to improve their quality of life." Niagara Falls is statistically one of the poorest cities of New York State. The mission started at Sacred Heart Church (now closed) and is dependent upon volunteers and private donations.
The mission feeds approximately 150 people a day from the soup kitchen. Over 350 families are provided with food each month from the food pantry.
To find out more about this mission, go to their website: http://heartloveandsoul.org/
Our community donated a trunk full of personal products to the mission, plus two donations: $500 from the "Souper-Bowl" collection plus $2,375 from the Sunday collections.
Mission for March: Nicaragua Mission Project
Once again, our community is supporting the Nicaragua Mission Project with it's base of operations in Swormville, NY. The project is run by Ann Marie Zon and dozens of volunteers from Western New York. Each year, approximately thirty full-size sea vans are loaded with clothing, food, medical supplies, school supplies, tools and furniture and shipped to Rivas, Nicaragua. The goods are given to the local parish and school, and the clothing and household goods are purchased for a small fee by the local population. These goods provide for commerce in the local marketplace.
A new addition in Rivas is a retreat and worship center which can hold 150 people. The photo shows the new facility and many desks and chairs that may look familiar to those who worked to load up the trucks last summer.
A festival dance during a recent event at the Retreat Center in Rivas, Nicaragua.
Our community donation for the month was $2,375 to the Nicaragua Mission. Ann Marie Zon advised us that this money will fund the purchase of catechist training manuals and workbooks and catechisms for the children in Nicaragua. In addition, our community purchased one dairy cow for a needy family, which will be named "Wilhemina".
Ash Wednesday
Soup and Bread Supper + Liturgy
Our community gathered to worship on Ash Wednesday evening at the Sisters of St. Francis residence in Williamsville. Thanks to the coordinating work of Diane and Ralph Mercuri, we had more than 80 members gather for a soup and bread supper. Father "Duke" Zajac celebrated the Ash Wednesday mass with us in the chapel and we began our Lenten journey together, united in faith and love. We thank the Sisters of St. Francis for their hospitality.Lenten Retreat -- Our community was blessed once again when Sr. Johnice offered to guide us on a one-day retreat. Ginny Hanley made the arrangements with Christ the King Seminary for our accomodations, and in late March, about fifteen folks enjoyed a wonderful time together. Our theme was "Growing in our Relationship with the Lord". Powerful talks were delivered by Sr. Johnice and her assistant, Mike Gilhooly and the celebration of the mass by Father Fred Betti, SJ was very moving. All three shared stories of recent trips out of the country to Haiti and to Nicaragua where they struggled but were faithful to their missions. We were all inspired to do the same, wherever our mission may be today and always, strengthened by our closeness and relationship with God.
Mike Gilhooly, Father Fred Betti, SJ and Sister Johnice
Mission for April 2011 -- Massachusetts Ave. Project
Once again, our community will support MAP in the city of Buffalo.
The Massachusetts Avenue Project proudly hosts the Growing Green Program, a youth development and urban agriculture program about increasing healthy food access and improving our communities. Our program and policy work is all about making our food system more local and inclusive. We focus on employing youth to work in the areas of:
- Urban Farming and Aqua-ponics
- Healthy Eating & Accessing fresh local food,
- Supporting local farms and businesses
- Sustainable food production and
- Social Enterprise.
Growing Green's current projects include a seasonal urban farm, a youth-run enterprise, a farm to school initiative, a mobile market and various community educational events and workshops.
Our guest speaker at mass on April 3, 2011 was Zoe Holloman. She brought us up to date on current projects as the planting season began at the urban location. For the month of April, our donation to the MAP was $2,200.
May 2011: Little Portion Friary
Little Portion Friary’s vision statement is for all homeless individuals to find and live in affordable housing as contributing members of society with hope for their future and respect for themselves and others.
The photo shows Patty Haberman presenting our check to her Mom and Dad.
MISSION FOR JUNE: Vive La Casa
Once again, our community will be devoting our month of support to Vive La Casa, the largest refugee home in the United States. More than 100 residents are in the facility at any given time, waiting for paperwork to be completed and arrangements made for them to reunite with family and friends for permanent residency in Canada or the USA.
Our community began our support as several members attending a fund-raising dinner in May. The community will be donating funds during June to support this important and life saving mission for people who were forced to leave their homelands due to persecution. On June 5th, Sr. Bea Leising OSF and a refugee named Rafael spoke at our Sunday Liturgy. This is a summary:
Rafael has been staying at Vive for two years since he escaped from the Congo, leaving his wife and children behind. Although Rafael apologized for his English, he spoke quite eloquently about his ordeal -- the many obstacles he faced in Africa and those that have kept him from finding permanent asylum in Canada. He used his own art work depicting the animals of his native homeland to further explain his plight, and he wondered how he would have survived without the services of Vive La Casa. Hearing his very personal and life-threatening story really brought home the mission of Vive.
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Summer 2011 arrived after the wettest spring in the record books. Team Newman recruited riders for the Ride for Roswell, with Melissa and Maria Brady serving as co-captains. By June 28th - the team included 16 members of the Newman Community joined by 8 members of the McLaughlin Clan. The team raised over $8,000 in donations in support of cancer research, all of which added to the grand total of over $3 million raised for Roswell!
The team included Melissa Brady, Maria Brady, Mark Brady, Al Naish, Linda Santa Maria, Mike and Mary Lazickas, Jack and Luanne Leo, Irene Stevens, Joanne Montante, Peggy and Bruce Riexinger with Nathan and James, and Erin Lawless.
The entire Newman Community was very supportive of the team with monetary donations and providing "TEAM NEWMAN" shirts for the ride.
In July, we returned to the Sisters of St. Joseph in Clarence with our tent and our wonderful liturgies outdoors on their lovely property. We appreciate their hospitality. The community gathered donations of personal care products for Sister Judy, in support of the Hispanic migrant workers in Western New York. Welcome kits are assembled by Sister Judy, which help the workers until their pay is initiated.
July 2011 -- Supporting Bissonette House --
Peaceprints Prison Ministry
Our community will once again support this facility in Buffalo which provides shelter and counselling for former prisoners. We heard from the new House Manager, Jesus Zapata and a current resident, Corey who praised the care and helpfulness of all who work at the ministry. We were all touched by his message, which was a living extension of the homily presented by Father "Duke" Zajac during mass that morning.Our community donation for the month was $1,850 in support of this facility.
The annual Newman Community picnic on July 10th was a fun-filled day thanks to the planning and organization of Diane and Ralph Mercuri. About 60 folks attended and enjoyed the great weather, delicious food and fine company among friends and family.
Click on the image for a larger view
Confirmation Service -- Helping Hands at Harvest House
Our confirmation class helped the Baby and Children's Ministry at Harvest House in mid-July by sorting and hanging hundreds of items of clothing to help the ministry prepare for the fall change-over. A very kind "Thank You" note was received and our group was judged to be "hard workers" and "very efficient".
The confirmation class also worked for a day of service at the Response to Love Center on the East Side of Buffalo, providing the assistance needed in the kitchen, the dining area, the pantry, the thrift store and the storage facility where donations were sorted.
AUGUST 2011 --
SUPPORTING KATHLEEN MARY HOUSE
Our mission this month is Kathleen Mary House, a safe place for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The facility is totally dependent upon private donations for their operating expenses. Programs and Services provided for residents include parenting classes, life skills workshops, computer training, referral to job placement, assistance for job placement and an in-house support group.The facility has been open for approximately five years, and is operated by two founders and is maintained by the five or six families who live at the residence. The families are allowed to remain in residence up to two years. The community generously donated $2,150 to Kathleen Mary House, and we are hopeful that one of the administrators will be able to join us for Sunday mass in the near future.
Our community was moved to compassion by those who are suffering in Somalia due to the drought, famine and political unrest. After exploring several organizations that are helping in the region, and finding that they too were in peril, we donated $1,000 to Catholic Relief Services.
9 comments:
Blessings on your Fourth Year - Sr Fran
Many thanks for the support of the Timau Mission with your donation - and with the adoption of three children.
I also like the post on Bl John Newman - and all your good works.
Blessings, Sr Fran
just read the month by month update ... and as always ... i marvel at your generosity to so many ... blessings ... sr fran g
Neat that you had Ash Wed at St Mary of the Angels on Reist St. Also neat that you had Fr Betti for Lenten Mass. We have him sometimes at Our Lady of Charity Parish. Blessings, Sr Fran G
Little Portion Friary - a worthy place for y'all to support - with service and funds. God bless, Sr Fran G
Photos show a wonderful picnic - Blessings, Sr Fran G
Thanks for helping - Vive La Casa - Blessings, Sr Fran G
Our community has reached another milestone: four complete years of carrying out our mission with God's help.
Congratualtions on the fourth year anniversary.
Also - many thanks from Sister Joanne and me - and all the Sisters for the Pancake Breakfast check for use at the Timau Mission. Blessings, Sr Fran G
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