August 2013: The Response to Love Center, located on the East Side of Buffalo is our mission for August. Sister Johnice spoke at our mass on August 11 and told us about her "new landlord" for the facility. Right after the papers were complete, their old boiler failed and there was no heat for their Thanksgiving offering to the needy. Sister turned the problem over to Him. Within a few short weeks, and just in time for Christmas, the new boiler was commissioned, thanks Him and the generosity of hundreds of people in Western New York.
Our community donation to Response to Love was $3,175. In addition, our community donated over forty backpacks for school children, along with a large supply of back-to-school supplies. Sr. Johnice wrote a thank-you note, which expressed her sincere gratitude. Our school supplies filled a large void and enabled them to help more than 80 children begin their school year fully equipped for their classroom studies!
June 2013: Our community will help Father Joe Bayne, OFM and his good work with teens and young men who have no home and who will find a path forward with assistance from this safe have and it's educational/life-skills program. The "tough love" approach challenges the young men to deal with the realities of life and to accept personal responsibility for behavior and attitudes. The result is less stress, healthy relationships, productive education or employment and a zest for life. Our community donation was $2,525 to the Franciscan Center.
Team Newman - 2013 Ride for Roswell
Once again, our community supported the annual Ride for Roswell as we assembled a team of twelve riders to raise funds for cancer research. We remember many family and friends and also honor those who are battling the disease and surviving. The team and the supporters raised over $6,000 this year (the figure is still growing).
Janice Palz-Bent and Jerry Bent
Less than a week after the ride, we were saddened to lose our
dear friend, Janice, after a brief, intense battle with leukemia.
Photo shown is from the 2010 Ride. Rest in Peace, Janice.
Our battle against cancer will continue in memory of you.
May 2013: Buffalo Peace House
Open for their first month of operation.
Our community is supporting this home for refugees, who are seeking asylum in the US. This is the first month of operation of this facility on the grounds of St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Hamburg. The facility staff is planning to do everything possible to keep families together while they seek asylum in this safe haven. The first residents of the community have arrived and are protected and cared for very well. The contribution from our community was $2,000 to help them reach their goal of $50,000 of matching funds. The funds will help them afford legal fees in their application for asylum in the US.
We lost a dear friend and long-time member of the Newman Community when Herb Wutz passed from this life on April 30, 2013. Devoted husband of Joan, who is Father Paul's sister, struggled for many years with crippling diseases, but he was always fighting to recover and to engage "whoever" in a good discussion.
May he rest in peace and be free from the pain his body suffered with for so many years.
Many remember the Easter Candles Herb made for our families in the Newman Community until 1999.
Father Paul shared this prayer during the Mass of Christian Burial ...
O Lord, support us all the day long,
until the shadows lengthen,
and the evening comes,
and the busy world is hushed,
and the fever of life is over,
and our work is done.
Then in your mercy,
grant us a safe lodging and a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
Amen.
by: Blessed Cardinal John Cardinal Henry Newman
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April 2013: Nicaragua Mission Project
Once again, we will help our friend, Ann Marie Zon, who directs the mission on Transit Road. Western New Yorker's provide clothing, food, school supplies, clinic supplies and health aids to the people of Nicaragua. With the help of the people in Western New York, hundreds have received eye exams, eye surgery and corrective lenses. In the area of the village of Rivas, a beautiful new retreat center has been built from the ground up with supplies from our area. Our donation to the Nicaragua Mission Project was $2,125, not counting the tremendous donations of clothing and food that is collected throughout the year.
A Note from Sister Joanne at Timau Mission
We received an update and new photos from our young boy, Freddy, who has also written a letter of thanks to our community for our support, along with Evans, now in his final year of high school. We also received new photos of our youngest boy, Duncan who is growing very well! You'll see what I mean when you view the photos from this link:
Read more about their lives in Kenya ..click here ..
March 2013: Massachusetts Avenue Project
The mission of the Massachusetts Avenue Project is to nurture the growth of a diverse and equitable local food system and promote local economic opportunities, access to affordable, nutritious food and social change education.
Our guest speaker, Diane Picard spoke about the success of the urban farm enterprise and their success in achieving 100% graduation rate in the public school students, and their nearly 100% progression to college. Our community was eager to purchase their locally produced salad dressing, chili starter and salsa. We will be visiting the enterprise including greenhouse, gardens and hydroponic fish tanks. Our donation of support was $2100.
Holy Thursday: Seder Meal and Liturgy
Father Paul once again guided us through the Seder meal, commemorating our Lord's "last supper" with his disciples. Thanks go to Joanne Montante and John Roba for planning the festive meal for over 60 participants, and for all the donations of delicious food brought to the meal by the community.
February 2013:
Hearts for the Homeless® manages a thrift store in Riverside and a mobile soup kitchen that feeds the poor and chronic homeless on the street. Characterized by a profound spiritual motivation, the program offers nourishing food, as well as clothing, pertinent information regarding area services, companionship and hope for the future. We renewed our support and our collection throughout the month of February was $2,525 plus $160 collected during our "Souper Bowl" day of caring. In addition, our community has continued to support the staff in Riverside by making sandwiches and snack-packs for delivery by the mobile soup kitchen in Buffalo.
Our Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday with our annual soup and bread supper at the Sisters of St. Francis facility. The celebrant for liturgy and distribution of ashes was Father Jim Croglio. Approximately 75 people from our community attended this evening of reflection and simple, but delicious food. We thank Diane and Ralph Mercuri for organizing this community gathering.
The Passing of Dick Miller: Our community mourns the loss of the loving husband of Mary Miller, who passed from this life in February after twelve years of long-term care. We always counted on seeing Dick and chatting with him during the special holiday masses and our annual picnic. And he always enjoyed being with us. May he rest in peace.January 2013:
Kathleen Mary House
We will once again support this private facility, which provides safety for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. The facility is located in Blasdell. The workers provide the residents many services, including: parenting classes, job referrals, assistance in getting permanent housing, and life skill workshops. We heard a compelling witness from Tracy C., who recounted her journey from a life in an abusive marriage to the safe haven of Kathleen Mary House. She and her son Dominic have flourished there for the past year and she has furthered her education through their efforts. Our community donation was $2,575.
December 2012: Friends of the Night People
Once again, our community will support this inner city, multi-functional organization to help them supply hot meals, clothing and personal support to the people in need. Now, there are three locations serving meals in Buffalo. The organization has been helping the less-fortunate for five decades. The links below will help you navigate to their site. Our donation following our Sunday collections amounted to $3,250.
Christmas Outreach -- Supporting Response to Love Center
Our community is supporting Sr. Johnice at the Response to Love Center by presenting gifts for GED students and their children. Thanks to Pam and Tom Lawless for coordinating this effort and delivering the wrapped gifts. 
Father Paul celebrates mass with us on the second Sunday of Advent.
Mary DeWald leads us in song. The brightly wrapped gifts for the Response to Love Center are displayed behind the altar.
November 2012: Immigrant Victim Services
Our support this month will be directed to immigrants, who are victims of domestic abuse and human trafficking in Buffalo and Western New York. The Immigrant Victim Services staff provide much needed support to the victims including food, shelter, counselling, legal assistance, financial aid and other basic necessities of life. Our guest speaker, Melissa Tierney spoke of the personal ways the organization has assisted immigrant families and improved the quality of their lives in the US. Our community donation was $1,600.
Super-Storm Sandy
An urgent appeal for assistance came to us from Laura Ruhl, the daughter of Flo and Dale Ruhl who lives on Long Island. She and her family were spared from storm damage and the widespread power outage. Using that blessing as a foundation from which to work, Laura reached out to neighbors who were directly impacted by the storm: people who lost property, food, tools and hope.
Individuals contributed directly to Laura and many made donations on the Sunday immediately following the storm. After a discussion with the entire community after mass that day, a community donation of $1,000 from our treasury was sent to Laura. In total, donations from our treasury, from community members and from additional friends of Flo and Dale Ruhl grew to over $4,000.
In early December, a Thank You letter written by Laura was read at mass by Dale. Click here to read the letter.
October 2012: Timau Mission - Kenya
Our annual pancake breakfast was held on October 21 to a full capacity community of participants at mass and supporters for the great feast after mass. Thanks to Leon Colucci for arranging for the use of the Getzville Volunteer Fire Hall and for the wonderful crew for set up, decorations and cooking led by John Roba and Joanne Montante. One-hundred percent of the proceeds from the breakfast have been sent to Timau Mission plus more funding that we collected in our Sunday collections. The total donation is $4,800! Father "Duke" Zajac was the celebrant for our mass.
Our speaker, Debbie Nailos told us: "Some people, like Sister Joanne, GIVE to the mission by GOING. And other people, like our community, GO to the mission by GIVING."
September 2012: South Buffalo Community Table
Sister Celeste says:
"We ask no questions.
We respect the dignity of those we serve."
Our community donation to this organization was $2,400.
Sister Celeste explained that they provide the only hot meal that many of their guests receive every day. They also help with emergency financial assistance in some cases. Everything they do is offered with respect for their guests.
ARCHIVED ENTRIES and QUICK LINKS
To all readers of the John Newman Mission Community's blog:
-- This introduction is a record of our beginning in September 2007 until the present time in 2012.
click here the read about the formation of our community
Scroll down to read more about how we have been blessed to grow and to serve as a mission community.
click here the read about the formation of our community
Scroll down to read more about how we have been blessed to grow and to serve as a mission community.
-- To read about our first four years
PHOTOS -- PHOTOS -- PHOTOS
Al Naish has added hundreds of photos to the John Newman Mission Web Site
Go to .. jnmc.no-ip.org ... click on Al's Photos tab ... the password is "welcome".
Thank you Al.
4 comments:
Good to hear that the pancake breakfast went so well.
November's help for immigrants - very important ministry.
I love seeing your December photos - the Mass and the gifts -
The wonderful spirit of JNMC shows through in the choice of beneficiaries each month. I loved seeing so many at the funeral for Janice. Blessings, Sr Fran
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