June 2018
Our mission support for June was directed to the Nicaragua Mission, where Ann Marie Zon and dozens of volunteers provide clothing, household goods, school supplies and food to the needy people of Nicaragua. We heard from Ann Marie about their deep faith in God, despite the difficult living conditions. A current crisis in Nicaragua led by the heavy-handed dictator, Ortega, has hampered operations in country. Ann Marie will remain in Western New York until it is safe for her to return to the Mission in Nicaragua. Our donation was $3,125.
We were saddened by the loss of a long-time member of the Newman Community: Norm Brady.
Norm was an icon from the early days of the Newman Center, and he showed us faith in action in so many ways. He and his dear wife, Jean, spent years in Africa, working in health care services.
He was a WWII Army Air Corps pilot and he spent years in WNY as a business owner and father of a wonderful family, including 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Rest In Peace, Norm
We were saddened by the loss of a long-time member of the Newman Community: Norm Brady.
Norm was an icon from the early days of the Newman Center, and he showed us faith in action in so many ways. He and his dear wife, Jean, spent years in Africa, working in health care services.
He was a WWII Army Air Corps pilot and he spent years in WNY as a business owner and father of a wonderful family, including 18 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Rest In Peace, Norm
JULY 2018
Ride for Roswell
Team Newman once again volunteered to support the Ride for Roswell in late June. Thanks to
the efforts of Renie Stevens, Team Captain, our small team raised over $11,600 for cancer research. Thank you to entire community of supporting the riders on the team. We pray for those battling the disease, those who are surviving in post-treatment, and those who have gone before us.
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| Front: Jack Leo, Luanne Leo, Renie Stevens, Perry Figliotti. Back: John Roba and Mark Brady |
Our annual picnic was held at the end of July and was fun for all! Thank you again, to Diane and Ralph Mercuri, who planned the event, provided the beautiful weather, and kept everyone well fed. If anyone has more photos, please contact me, Jack Leo.
May 2018 -- Timau Mission
Our community support this month is directed to Timau Mission in Kenya. Here is a note and photos from Sister Joanne, thanking us for the emergency donation to help victims of a fire on Palm Sunday. Our emergency relief helped an extended family rebuild their house compound after everything was lost. Click on the link for details ....
Our Sunday collections from the community resulted in a donation of $3,125 over and above the emergency funds provided for the fire.
The Easter Season began with a celebration led by Father Paul. As mentioned, our Holy Week Services were very special thanks to our three priests, who led is in prayerful observance of the events of Holy Week. Easter Season is the traditional time for the sacraments of initiation. We were blessed to celebrate the First Holy Eucharist for Darius Leo and Ian Galas on April 8.
Our mission of the month for April was the South Buffalo Community Table. We heard how their ministry reaches out to dozens every day and provides a warm meal and a friendly conversation. Their ministry is supported by private donations. Our donation from our Sunday collections was $3,050.
February and March 2018
Our mission support to feed the hungry was our focus during these winter months. In February, we heard from Joe Heary about Friends of Night People and how their daily meals are being served at several locations to hundreds of people. Our contribution in support of "Friends" was $2,650. We appreciate the years of service provided by Paul and Ro Sugg. In March, we supported St. Luke's Mission of Mercy. Ginny Everett's nephew, David, is a missionary at the St. Luke's inner city campus. He gave us a personal witness of the way St. Luke's has helped the poorest of the poor, and changed lives for the better. Our financial support amounted to $3,250.
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| Ginny Everett delivers our donation to her nephew, David. |
We are thankful to our three priests and dozens of volunteers for all the special efforts they offered to make Holy Week a very meaningful journey for us. Father "Duke" celebrated mass for Palm Sunday. Father Paul coordinated a beautiful Seder Dinner and mass on Holy Thursday. Thank you to Mike and Mary Lazickas for the dinner preparations and set-up, along with many volunteers who helped with the set-up and the events throughout the Seder.
Good Friday services included a commemoration of the Stations of the Cross. Thank you to Mark Brady and all the community members who wrote modern day, social justice issues to accompany each station. Mark presented a tearful set of images for each station. Father "Duke" lead us in the Good Friday prayers and the Veneration of the Cross.
Father Jim and Mary DeWald's music made the Easter Vigil mass a wonderful, celebratory liturgy again this year. And Father Paul celebrated the mass of Easter morning with our community. Thank you, as always, to Frank and Sarah Mischler for the magnificent Easter Flowers!
As the new year began, our community designated Hopeful Ways as the Mission for January. This
grass-roots organization provides eye care and much needed medical services for the needy in Nicaragua. Volunteer doctors and nurses plus their support team go to Nicaragua in February to perform more than 2,000 exams, surgeries and corrective lens fittings, including free surgery for cataracts and more serious problems. Our donation to this organization was $3,250.
Loss of our Loved One -- Marion McLaughlin
Our dear friend and long time member of our community, suffered a serious injury when she fell while volunteering at Friends of Night People on January 18. After surgery, she developed complications including problems with her heart. Sadly, Marion died on January 31, "Totally at Peace", her son John explained. Marion would always be counted on to offer a big, cheerful smile and a big hug for all of us. Her memorial mass was con-celebrated by Father Dave Lee, Father Paul, Father Jim and Father "Duke" at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary on February 6. For thirty years, Marion was a dedicated volunteer to help the needy at Los Ninos, Loaves and Fishes, Hearts for the Homeless, Harvest House and Friends of Night People. She and her late husband, Bill, showed our community the depth of their love and commitment to service, many years before we became a mission community.
Thank you, Marion, for your love and the life you shared with us.
"I've gone nowhere, for I live in the hearts of many" ....
John McLaughlin
John McLaughlin
Click Here to see a beautiful tribute to Marion, from the Los Ninos organization. Please be sure to view the entire video.
Marion's Video
Marion's Video
December 2017
The calendar year ended with an outpouring of support for several organizations and other people in need of our support. Our financial reserves allowed us to offer the following assistance:
$1,000 - to St. Luke's Mission of Mercy
$1,000 - to Heart, Love and Soul Ministry in Niagara Falls
$1,000 - to South Buffalo Community Table
$3,500 - to Holy Cross Church, to support families arriving from Puerto Rico, in need of housing
$1,500 - to two families-in-need from St. Mary of the Assumption Parish, designated by Father Paul and his parish outreach committee.
Our board also approved gifts to the Family Religious Ed teachers. The community made free-will donations to provide Christmas Gifts to our three priests: Father Paul, Father Jim and Father "Duke". Also, dozens of poinsettias were delivered to members of our community who are unable to leave their homes due to illness. We remember them in our prayers each week that we gather.
Christmas Eve Mass
September, October, November 2017
As we begin our 10th Year of worship and service as the John Newman Mission Community, we continued our support for organizations who have the greatest need.
September 2017 - Our mission was Hearts for the Homeless. We heard from Ron Colandra at mass and continued our weekly support as we help prepare the meals that are delivered to the homeless in downtown Buffalo every week night. The group appreciates our cookie donations and our time spent putting hundreds of meals together. Thanks to to Rene Stevens for coordinating the crew of volunteers each week. Our donation amount was $3,375.
October 2017 - Our mission was Harvest House as we continue our support of the organization on the East Side of Buffalo. We heard from newly named president, Carol Murphy, at our annual pancake breakfast about the many ways Harvest House mobilizes to serve the community. Most recently, the victims of Hurricane Maria from Puerto Rico relied on Harvest House for warm clothing. Nearly 40 members of the community attended the fundraising dinner for Harvest House. And thanks to Joanne Montante, John Roba, and their many, many helpers, our pancake breakfast was a huge success. Our donation to Harvest House from the breakfast funds and the Sunday collections was $6,425.
Click Here to see dozens of photos from the event.
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| Joanne Montante -- Preparing for the Event |
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| Co-Chairs: John Roba and Steve Hanley |
November 2017 - Our mission for this month was VetsHERD, a local organization that reaches out to military veterans in need. Our community member, Jack Michel, was joined by the director, Phil Arnold, to tell us the many projects that are funded by VetsHERD. Local projects to modify homes so that disabled veterans can have access and live with dignity are funded by this group. We thank this group for leaving no veteran behind, and we donated $2,850.
Timau Children Support for Wendy, Freddy and Duncan
During this period, the Newman Mission board approved the continued financial support of the three children being educated and cared for at the Timau Mission in Kenya.
Click here to read the update from Sister Joanne: Timau
Chuck Schorr -- Entered His Eternal Rest on November 26, 2017
Our dear friend, Chuck, lost his short battle with cancer and he will be dearly missed. We offer our support and condolences to Moira for her loss. We will all miss Chuck's smiles, his good questions, and his prayers during our annual Seder Supper.
During this period, the Newman Mission board approved the continued financial support of the three children being educated and cared for at the Timau Mission in Kenya.
Click here to read the update from Sister Joanne: Timau
Chuck Schorr -- Entered His Eternal Rest on November 26, 2017
Our dear friend, Chuck, lost his short battle with cancer and he will be dearly missed. We offer our support and condolences to Moira for her loss. We will all miss Chuck's smiles, his good questions, and his prayers during our annual Seder Supper.
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I've been checking in for updates for June, July, August, September ...
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