Twelve Years of Faith and Mission Support

August 2020

Outdoor masses continued through the month, along with remote streaming of the masses under the tent to those who cannot attend, thanks to Perry Figliotti and his technical talents.

We also enjoyed safe, socialization by arranging several garden walks, made possible by community members.   Thank you to those who invited us to admire their creativity and appreciate the hard work to make the gardens and landscapes so beautiful.

Check out the beauty using several links found below. 

<> Mary and Tom Stoddard

 <> Pam and Tom Lawless

https://photos.app.goo.gl/DCTAFSKcBGhbFgkQ7

 <> Joanne Montante and John Roba   

    -----  photos combined with Peg and Bruce Riexinger

https://photos.app.goo.gl/45bZ2mFPtBYLuUYH6

 <> Debbie and Greg Kelly -- Northland Farm

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YrEhEUesFq6hCZSt7

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Our mission support for August was directed to Little Portion Friary, a homeless shelter on Main Street in Buffalo.   Since the COVID-19 health restrictions were put in place in March, the center was forced to close. The facility will reopen in September, with many changes implemented to keep the residents and volunteers safe.   The generosity of the JNMC allowed us to make a donation to the facility in the amount of $3,675.

We also reached out to support the Response to Love Center with a donation of $1,500 for food and food-related expenses.  The facility is feeding greater numbers of people, covering more than 10 square miles on the East Side of Buffalo.   Clients are fed two to three "take-out" meals every weekday.   Expenses have increased due to the increase in clients and to the increased cost of meal packaging.

Ride for Roswell

Our community participated in the Ride for Roswell ... in a unique format.  Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, our team rode in very small groups for health and safety.   Our only time together was for this photo op after Sunday mass.  

Renie Stevens, Perry Figliotti, Luanne and Jack Leo, Mark Brady

not present:  Jasmine and Darius Leo

Team Newman raised $18, 530 for Cancer Research

Special Recognition to Renie, who raised $9,688!

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July 2020
Getting Back Together

After more than three months without gathering for mass in person, our community returned to our outdoor mass for the summer months.  Thanks to John Roba, Perry Figliotti and Mark Brady for the logistics of setting up the tent so we could gather again.  We set up our chairs with a safe distance of separation and wore face covering per the guidelines we received.   Most important, we received the precious gift of the Holy Eucharist.   

Outreach  -- Nicaragua Mission

Thanks to the generosity of our community members, monetary donations continued to flow in throughout the past months.   As a result, we were able to send a $2,500 donation to the Nicaragua Mission.   Ann Marie Zon reported to us that tons of clothing, home-goods, medical supplies and school supplies have all been blocked by the harsh dictator, Danie! 0rtega.   However, with the help of Father Alfonso in Nicaragua, Ann Marie has a safe and secure method of transferring funds to the families in need.  This will help with food, clothing, shelter and education of the children.

May - June 2020
Connected, But Not Together In Person

Our COVID-19 Separation Continues

Father Duke, from his office at Sister's Hospital offered mass for us most Sundays during this period of isolation.

Father Jim, from the chapel at St. Joe's Collegiate Institute.  We thank our priests for offering their wonderful homilies and they break open the Word for us.

Our community has remained connected via Zoom and with the help of our wonderful priests and Joanne Montante with her technical help:
  Father Paul offered Wednesday morning masses.
Father "Duke" and Father Jim offered masses on Sundays.

Thank You  -- Steve Stempien for leading us in song during our 

Zoom celebrations of mass.

Here is an update from Sister Joanne, who just returned from Timau:
click here

Here is an update from Hearts for the Homeless and how our donation in April was able to help them in their ministry.
click here

Mission Support

Thanks to the continuation of generous donations from our community, a special donation of $2,500 was sent the Kathleen Mary House, which is sheltering women and children who are victims of domestic abuse.  During the pandemic, their income from donations was greatly reduced, so they were very grateful for our donation.

Happy Birthday, Father Paul

On May 22, St. Mary of the Assumption held a parade in honor of Father Paul's birthday.  

There were over 100 cars in the parade, include members of our Newman Mission Community.

Tom and Mary Stoddard

Luanne and Jack Leo, and Mary Miller

March - April 2020
A Month Like No Other Month
A Lenten Season Like No Other Lent

Our month began in a normal way, and we began our journey with our Sunday Lenten readings and community plans for gatherings.  Our last community mass was March 15, celebrated by Father "Duke".   Many people were already staying home as COVID-19 was dominating our lives as we knew them.   Our JNMC emails were reaching out to all with prayers and words of encouragement.  It wasn't long until all masses were canceled until further notice.  Other annual gatherings, such as the Seder Supper, the Stations of the Cross, the Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass were all canceled.   Instead, video streaming became one of our daily lifelines to our practices of faith.  

Father Paul's Blessing During Live Stream of Palm Sunday Mass

Father Paul Consecrates the Precious Blood During the Mass of the Lord's Supper.

These celebrations were streamed live on the St. Mary of the Assumption web site.

Mary DeWald offered daily songs to lift our spirits. 

Try this link to her video  click here

Father Paul, Commemorating the Stations of the Cross at
St. Mary of the Assumption on Good Friday

Easter Vigil with Father Paul

Easter Sunday
Live Stream "Zoom" Mass, celebrated by Father "Duke" for our "on-line" mission community.
Thank you Joanne Montante!

Thank You, Mary for leading us in the Easter songs.

Our mission support for March was directed to Family Promise, the organization that shelters homeless families in Buffalo.  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, those same families continue to rely on Family Promise for the food, shelter and compassionate care they provide.   Thanks to the great generosity of our community, and despite the fact that we only met three times during March, our donation was $3,450.   Thank you, one and all!

During the month of April, the Outreach Committee checked in with a number of our local organizations and how they are faring in the period of work stoppage and isolation.  We were able to provide funding for food supplies for the following organizations, which are doing "take-out" meals and providing food from their pantry:   Response to Love;  Hearts for the Homeless;  Heart, Love and Soul; and Friends of Night People.   In addition, a donation was made to Father Paul for several families in need at St. Mary of the Assumption.    We also learned that Little Portion Friary and South Buffalo Community Table have closed temporarily.

Story from Hearts for the Homless - Click Here

Sister Joanne's Letter Since Her Return to WNY
Click Here to Read


February 2020

Once again, our community is supporting TRY House (Teaching and Restoring Youth) in Buffalo.  This transitional, safe home for young women allows homeless women to stay for six months or up
to a year, while they continue their education and learn life skills at the caring home.   

Lent began with our annual Ash Wednesday soup and bread supper, organized by Diane and Ralph Mercuri.  Thanks to Father Duke for celebrating the liturgy and distributing ashes at the evening gathering.  

 Thank you for the cooks, who brought 12 different and delicious soups for the community.

Father Duke prepares to distribute ashes to the 60+ guests.

January 2020

The New Year began with our support of Hopeful Ways, a grass roots mission founded here in WNY, which provides eye care including surgeries for the needy in Nicaragua.  Despite the harsh restrictions placed on the people there by the dictator, Ortega, the mission continues with local doctors and eye care professionals.  With our support of $2,850, surgeries were being scheduled for February and March of this year.    People travel for days to reach the mobile clinic for eye care, and all of it is funded by Hopeful Ways.

December 2019

Outreach Summary

For the month of December and the Christmas Projects, the Outreach Committee made a special effort to reach out to individual families in need.   Working through our partner charities, Father Paul, Father Duke, and special recommendations from the community, donations went to the following:

1. Wings of Love, recommended by Father Duke.  Perinatal bereavement.
2. Timau Mission, for families and children in need, in honor of Sister Joanne's retirement.
3. Future in Our Hands, recommended by a JNMC family.  (more below)
4. Family Promise, for relocation expenses for families leaving the facility.
5. Hearts for the Homeless, for clothing (socks, hats, etc for the homeless in Buffalo)
6. Roswell Park, for a family in need during cancer treatment
7. St. Mary of the Assumption, for three families in need recommended by Father Paul
8. Harvest House, for new appliances for three families in need
9. Little Portion Friary, for much needed food supplies for the facility.

In addition, the "Giving Tree" was set up to help more than 30 children and adults at Response to Love Center, and over 20 children at Harvest House.   The community came through with gifts for everyone.  Thank you to Pam Lawless and the Lawless Family for the coordination of gifts for Response to Love, and Joanne Montante and John Roba for coordination of gifts for Harvest House.

*  Click here for more info on the donation to Future in Our Hands

A Note from Sister Joanne at Timau Mission

We received a note this month from Sister Joanne regarding two of our sponsored children, Wendy and Duncan.  Please click here for the full note and photo of Wendy and Duncan.

Christmas Eve Mass

Mass for the Feast of the Epiphany

Thank You, Peg Riexinger!

Our community thanks you for your leadership as the President of our Board of Directors.  

Mark Brady moves into the position as the New Year, 2020 begins.

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November 2019

Remembering Our Faithful Departed
During the month of November, we remember our community members who have gone before us during this past year, marked with the sign of faith.

Nancy Castrianno, beloved wife of Len Castrianno.  She left us in May, 2019, but we always will remember her smile and her joyful conversations when she joined us at mass.

Ken was the beloved husband of Sheila O'Brien, and father of Kathy (Paul) Hamilton, and grandfather of Rachel and Ryan.   We will all remember his magnificent and well trained voice when reading the passage from Exodus at the annual Seder meal.

Al McLouth, beloved husband of Marie McLouth passed from this life in June, 2019 after a lengthy health struggle.  May he now rest in peace, free from his ailments.

Jeanne Brady left us in August, 2019.  Jeanne and her deceased husband, Norm, was a long-time member of our community and showed us the spirit of giving in her family activity and in her missionary work in Africa.

Leida Schunk left us in September.  We had missed seeing her at mass since she began her final battle these past two years.

Dale Ruhl departed from this life after a health struggle over the summer months.  We can only imagine Dale being reunited now and forever with his loving wife, Flo.   We will always miss Dale and his steadfast loyalty to our faith and this community.

May these friends, and all the faithful departed, rest in peace.

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November Outreach:   Our community continued it's tradition of naming VetsHerd as our Mission of the Month.   Jack Michel is our connection with this grass-roots organization, which is dedicated to helping those military Vets who seem to be falling into the cracks.   All the funds received by VetsHerd go directly to helping Vets-in-need.   This can vary anywhere between much needed home upgrades for wheel chair ramps or other projects to help the Vet manage his or her life better due to failing health.    Our community donation was $4,700.

October 2019
Harvest House was the mission for October.  Our community has supported this organization since the very beginning.   We heard from Linda Tatu about the many ways the facility is expanding to bring more adult ed classes for medical services and also for hands-on construction trades.  Also, they are now the home of an office to assist victims of domestic abuse.  Victims feel safe at Harvest House and meet with Family Justice representatives to receive counseling and legal protection.

Our annual Pancake Breakfast was held on October 20th and was a good fundraiser for Harvest House.  Special thanks to Joanne Montante for organizing the set up and decorating team;  to John Roba for managing the kitchen and serving crew;  and Father "Duke" for celebrating mass at the Clarence Town Park clubhouse.   At the end of October, our very generous donation from our Sunday collections and the Pancake Breakfast to Harvest House was over $5,400.

Thank You, Joanne Montante and John Roba!

September 2019
Our final mass for this summer "under the tent" was celebrated by Father Paul.  Our community is thankful for Bender's Christian Supply Store for allowing us to use the space, including ample parking, a neatly trimmed yard and access to restrooms within the building, even though they are not open on Sunday mornings.
Our Mission for September is Little Portion Friary, which we support financially along with providing meal preparation six times per year.  Thank you Peg Riexinger for coordinating the culinary support team for these many years. 


Click here to scroll down to earlier events in 2019.  https://newmanmissioncommunity.blogspot.com/2019/