Into Our Ninth Year of Faith and Serving

August 2017
Franciscan Center

Our community welcomed Fr. Joe Bayne OFM, who celebrated mass under the tent with us.  His home for young men continues to help those who are in need of care so they can become productive members of society.   Many are housed there following difficulties in their home, where they are

not welcome until changes in their way of living are made.  Fr. Joe and his wonderful staff help make this happen, if the young men are willing to change.   The center is in need because of continual reductions is state funding.   Our donation to the Franciscan Center was $3,175.

Tenth Year Anniversary!

The community celebrated our Tenth Anniversary this entire month.   Special events included a pizza party after the mass in mid-August, and a gala celebration following mass at the end of the month.   The special mass was con-celebrated by Msgr Dave Lee and Fr Paul Steller.   Our attendance swelled to 150 for that special mass, in thanksgiving to "Father Dave" and "Father Paul" for helping form the community in the 70s and 80's, and for helping continue the community for the past 10 years.   Many thanks go to Joanne Montante and her committee for planning the events.

Our Guides on our Faith Journey:  Father Paul and Msgr "Father" Dave

Click Here for Dozens of Photos of the Event
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AoT-K9RBM5RMhja_gA3TQUPDBNkJ

July 2017
Response to Love Center

Sister Johnice visited us on a Sunday in July and thanked us for all the ways we have helped the mission on the East Side of Buffalo.   She explained how many different ways the center helps the residents who live in that region, including the increased need to teach English as a second language.   Our community also began collecting back-to-school supplies during the summer, which were greatly appreciated by the families who are in need.   Our donation to the Response to Love Center was $3,550.

Community Picnic  -- July 30

We gathered at Sunset Park in Clarence on a beautiful Sunday afternoon.  Thanks to Diane and Ralph Mercuri for all the planning for a festive day.   One of the events that made the day special was the creation of a banner to celebrate our Tenth Anniversary.  Thanks to Peg Riexinger for presenting us with this creative idea, and for coaching us on the best techniques to use for our various forms of creativity. 

Diane Mercuri, Co-Chair of the Picnic and Peg Riexinger, Art Director

Click Here for the Full Set of Photos
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Av4gl7K6k9uJmRBR4zrfVMN52xwC







June 2017
Hispanic Migrant Workers Ministry

Once again, our community welcomed Doris Valentin to bring us up to date on this ministry of support for the migrant workers, who come to WNY every summer.   We donated items to help assemble "welcome kits", including personal care items, shirts, caps, towels and more.   Doris explained that our donations in the past helped her ministry families repair their homes as needed, and keep their children clothed and cared for, including their faith formation.   At this time of increased anxiety for immigrants in our country, she welcomed our generous assistance.  Our donation was $3,075.

Ride for Roswell

Our annual support for cancer research was made possible by Irene Stevens, who was the captain for the Newman Mission's team of riders for the Ride for Roswell.   For such a relatively small team, a large number of sponsors were supportive of the team, and the donation to cancer research reached $10,995.  

Ride Day photo of Team Newman

May 2017
Nicaragua Mission Project

Our community welcomed Ann Marie Zon, the director of this mission that supports the needy people of Nicaragua with clothing, household goods, school supplies and food.   Ann Marie spoke with us regarding her thankfulness for the communities that support her all around WNY.  More than 20 truckloads of goods are shipped to Nicaragua.   The people of Nicaragua purchase a box or two for a very low price.  The goods are used by the family and friends, and then the remaining items are sold at local markets.  The money received is used to purchase food, school books and other necessities.  So, the donations begin a business enterprise for the people, thus improving their lives in this very poor country.   Our donation to the mission was $3,075.

April 2017
Buffalo Peace House

Once again, we supported the Buffalo Peace House -- a sanctuary for refugees and asylum seekers.  The organization has provided a safe home and services for people from 17 different nations while they work their way into our country, where they can be contributing members of our society.

As Holy Week unfolded, we were blessed by our three priests, who were our celebrants during the week:

Father Jim Croglio - Palm Sunday.   Father Paul Steller -- the Seder Dinner and commemoration of the Lord's Supper, with event organization by Mary Laczikas. 

  

Father "Duke" Zajac lead us in the solemn remembrance of the Good Friday services with the prayers and Stations of the Cross organized by Sarah Mischler.  

Father Jim Croglio and Mary DeWald celebrated the Easter Vigil with us.  And Father Paul Steller celebrated the Easter Morning mass with a wonderful display of flowers around the altar provided by Frank and Sarah Mischler. 

March 2017
Foundation for Children in Need

Our community was introduced to this organization by Father Jim Croglio.  His friend, Tom Chitta and Dr. Geetha Yeruva are the directors of this program, which provides medical care and humanitarian needs to children and elderly residents of India.   Many Newman Community members have sponsored children, to help them with their education and other necessities.   Our community donation was $2,625.

Our Lenten journey began on Ash Wednesday, with a soup and bread supper, followed by the liturgy at the Unitarian Church.  Father "Duke" Zajac was our celebrant.   During Lent, our community participated in a ten-part discussion as we read the book, Consoling the Heart of Jesus, by Father Michael Gaitley.   Sixteen participants share their insights on the message from the book, and found it was helpful in growing in relationship with Jesus and with each other.

   

February 2017
Little Portion Friary

This organization is a half-way house for people to take refuge while struggling with recovery from substance abuse.   The facility cares for men and women and provides a safe place to spend the night.  Our community provides meals two times a month, thanks to the coordination of Peg Riexinger.  On a sad note, we mourn the death of Art Haberman, who was a volunteer at Little Portion for many years.   Our donation was over $2,000.

January 2017
Kathleen Mary House

Our community selected this organization to support, in consideration for their work in sheltering women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.   The organization is privately supported and is very helpful in keeping the victims in a safe setting, while helping them with training of life skills.  Our donation was over $2,000.

December 2016
CHRISTMAS OUTREACH

Our Christmas Outreach touched a wide variety of local and international organizations.   Thanks to the generosity of the community during the past year, we donated $1000 to each of the following organizations:  Hearts for the Homeless;  St. Luke's Mission of Mercy; South Buffalo Food Table;  Heart, Love and Soul in Niagara Falls; and $2,000 to the Timau Mission in Kenya.  The donation to Sister Joanne in Kenya was made specifically for more than 100 children who have not been sponsored, to receive new shoes.   Here's some of the happy recipients ...

Additional donations were made to a family in need, nominated by Sister Fran from her South Buffalo parish - a single mom with five teenage children;  a family in need nominated by Father Paul from St. Mary's parish, where the father has been in an auto accident and is unable to work;  an individual nominated by a member of our community who was in desperate need of new tires for his truck.    All together, $8,000 was distributed for these worthy causes.  

Our Christmas "Giving Tree" project was organized by Pam and Tom Lawless, with assistance from Kaitlin and Ella.   Sister Johnice provided family names and clothing sizes for students in the GED program, along with their children.   Nearly sixty people were provided gifts by our community.

Another large family in need was nominated by Father Paul, and gifts were provided by many generous community members in addition to the gifts provided for the "Giving Tree" families.

We received updates from Sister Joanne at the Timau Mission in Kenya regarding the three children, who are sponsored by our community.   Read the letters and see their photos here:

Christmas Eve Mass -- Thank You Father "Duke", Mary DeWald and the Mischler's for all the beautiful preparations for this celebration!

November 2016
VETS H.E.R.D. - Support for Local Veterans

Our community supported a local Veterans Agency thanks to the dedication of one of our own community members, Mr. Jack Michel, a veteran of the Vietnam War.   Vets H.E.R.D helps local veterans in need, by funding special projects, such as ramps for entrance into their homes, or providing motorized wheel chairs for veterans, who are on a long waiting list for various reasons.  Their mission is to ensure that no veteran or service member is forgotten upon his or her return home from active duty.    Our donation to this grass roots organization was $2,600.

October 2016
Harvest House

Our support and interaction with Harvest House was very active this month.   On October 6, more than 35 members of our community attended the third annual fundraising dinner, at which the Newman Mission was honored at the Church Community Supporter of the Year.   On October 23, our community hosted the annual Pancake Breakfast at the Clarence Town Park Clubhouse.  Well over one hundred people attended the event, which began with the celebration of mass by Father Paul. The pancake breakfast was organized by John Roba and his team in the kitchen, and Joanne Montante and her team in the dining area.   Our donation to Gary and Linda Tatu of Harvest House was $5,125, thanks to the Sunday collections and the pancake breakfast proceeds.  

Some of the many community members at the Gala Dinner on Oct. 6
Father Paul always takes in a big haul of gifts!
In the center, John Roba accepts the Church Community Support Award.

Scenes from the Pancake Breakfast

September 2016
Hearts for the Homeless

Our community helps this west side outreach center in many ways.Two times a month, Sheila

O'Brien and several helpers from the community help pack hundreds of meals for the mobile soup kitchen, which delivers the meals to the needy in downtown Buffalo every weekday evening.  We also have been donating cookies that are included in the packs, since their previous supplier stopped providing these treats earlier this year.   As our Mission of the Month for September, we provided a financial donation of $3,550 to Ron Calandra and the team at Hearts for the Homeless.

August 2016

Hopeful Ways -- Medical Care in Nicargua

We began our ninth year of faith formation, worship and service to those with the greatest need by supporting Hopeful Ways -- a grass roots organization that provides much needed health care services, including eye surgery and corrective measures, to the people of Nicaragua.  Our donation to support their mission trip this coming January and February was $2,750.   Our community is also collecting used eyeglasses and sunglasses, which are in great demand.  They provide these glasses for over 3,000 people in Nicaragua.