Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo
Contact: Joan Ersing, St. Martin de Porres
Priority: Cluster-wide cooperation through shared technology, events and ministry training
Purpose: Give witness to Catholic identity on the East Side of Buffalo
Method: Combine training starting with pastoral staff and leaders in an ecclesiology of cooperation in an urban setting. Develop a shared website. Sponsor shared events that foster a united identity and showcase the strengths of each parish.
Priority: Cluster-wide cooperation through shared technology, events and ministry training
Purpose: Give witness to Catholic identity on the East Side of Buffalo
Method: Combine training starting with pastoral staff and leaders in an ecclesiology of cooperation in an urban setting. Develop a shared website. Sponsor shared events that foster a united identity and showcase the strengths of each parish.
October 2012 - Have you seen the big yellow billboards for CCCB?
During the months of September, October and November the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo have used their Pathways Grant to get the word out that the Catholic Church is alive and well and "HERE TO SERVE" in Central Buffalo! Check out October's billboards located at 899 Genesee at Herman and on Bailey just north of Broadway! watch for two more in November!
Juneteenth Parade 2012
The Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo celebrated with neighbors, friends and fellow parishioners at the Juneteenth parade - a celebration of freedom from slavery. I was inspired to be able to walk the parade route and see so many African Americans waving and sometimes singing along with us.
Fr. Ron Sajdak, Vicar, was a great leader with the bull horn sending Happy Juneteenth greetings, thanking God for the gift of freedom, and announcing that we were the CCCB and calling out all the parishes’ names Blessed Trinity, St. Columba-Brigid and St. Ann, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Lawrence and St Martin de Porres along with where we are located. Soon we began chanting a mantra along the way from one of the guys from the Catholic Central Practicum that will be with us during the last week of July. The mantra was "Jesus Christ Our Lord and King" and we all responded quite well. People along the way then began to chant with us and we passed out the green rubber bracelets with the new web site on it. They were a big success with the kids and adults...so how's that for evangelizing and showing our spirit?!
St. Katharine Drexel had a great representation there. They even brought along Coco the Clown from the Catholic Charities Pantry on Lovejoy. The Summer City practicum students from Christ the King Seminary and Kathy Castillo their field education coordinator assisted us by carrying the signs with all the parish names. Youth from St. Ann and St. Martin de Porres were awesome carrying the big banner...and distributing free bracelets. View more pictures of the fun and faith sharing at www.catholicchurchesofcentralbuffalo.com
Submitted by Sr. Maureen Harris OSF
Spiritual Care Outreach Coordinator of CCCB
Fr. Ron Sajdak, Vicar, was a great leader with the bull horn sending Happy Juneteenth greetings, thanking God for the gift of freedom, and announcing that we were the CCCB and calling out all the parishes’ names Blessed Trinity, St. Columba-Brigid and St. Ann, St. Katharine Drexel, St. Lawrence and St Martin de Porres along with where we are located. Soon we began chanting a mantra along the way from one of the guys from the Catholic Central Practicum that will be with us during the last week of July. The mantra was "Jesus Christ Our Lord and King" and we all responded quite well. People along the way then began to chant with us and we passed out the green rubber bracelets with the new web site on it. They were a big success with the kids and adults...so how's that for evangelizing and showing our spirit?!
St. Katharine Drexel had a great representation there. They even brought along Coco the Clown from the Catholic Charities Pantry on Lovejoy. The Summer City practicum students from Christ the King Seminary and Kathy Castillo their field education coordinator assisted us by carrying the signs with all the parish names. Youth from St. Ann and St. Martin de Porres were awesome carrying the big banner...and distributing free bracelets. View more pictures of the fun and faith sharing at www.catholicchurchesofcentralbuffalo.com
Submitted by Sr. Maureen Harris OSF
Spiritual Care Outreach Coordinator of CCCB
May
On April 20th the Catholic parishes of Central Buffalo, invoking the spirit of Karen Klimczak, SSJ stood united in a public statement rejecting senseless violence:
Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo Take a Stand Against Neighborhood Bullying Press Release
Northwest Central/Buffalo Vicariate April 20, 2012
Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York
In light of the recent events of violence and property damage that took place within our section of the City of Buffalo, as well as the Buffalo News stories published on April 12th and 13th, we, the members of the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo stand behind the following statement:
We, the pastors, pastoral staff and members of the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo: St. Lawrence, Blessed Trinity, SS. Columba Brigid & St. Ann, St. Martin de Porres and St. Katharine Drexel, as well as our affiliated ministries, wish to express our sincere disappointment, displeasure and disapproval over actions taken by members of our larger community these past weeks. Regardless of where the truth lies, no family or community member should be disrespected with verbal threats or bodily harm, intimidated with fear or psychological harm. The non-violence example of Jesus, of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and of Gandhi should be our guide.
We feel that any attitudes that disrespect the dignity of any person, whether it is prejudice against race or cultural diversity, will not be tolerated. In order for our city to grow, thrive and indeed become what we say we are: “A city of good neighbors,” we need to be vigilant with regards to attitudes of disrespect or apathy within us. Though it is easy to point the finger at others in dismay, we, as the pastoral leadership of our group, sadly recognize and acknowledge our own sins of racial and cultural bigotry within our congregations through the years.
As the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo, as well as our affiliated ministries, we pledge to work more intently on celebrating the richness of our diversity and promote a true witness to the Good News of the Kingdom of God which is like one body made up of many diverse parts. Though there has been some growth and many families of color and ethnicity do feel welcome and safe in city neighborhoods, there is much
yet to be done. May God assist us and give success to the work of our hands.
“I leave peace prints.” “Nonviolence begins with me.”
- Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ
Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo Take a Stand Against Neighborhood Bullying Press Release
Northwest Central/Buffalo Vicariate April 20, 2012
Roman Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, New York
In light of the recent events of violence and property damage that took place within our section of the City of Buffalo, as well as the Buffalo News stories published on April 12th and 13th, we, the members of the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo stand behind the following statement:
We, the pastors, pastoral staff and members of the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo: St. Lawrence, Blessed Trinity, SS. Columba Brigid & St. Ann, St. Martin de Porres and St. Katharine Drexel, as well as our affiliated ministries, wish to express our sincere disappointment, displeasure and disapproval over actions taken by members of our larger community these past weeks. Regardless of where the truth lies, no family or community member should be disrespected with verbal threats or bodily harm, intimidated with fear or psychological harm. The non-violence example of Jesus, of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and of Gandhi should be our guide.
We feel that any attitudes that disrespect the dignity of any person, whether it is prejudice against race or cultural diversity, will not be tolerated. In order for our city to grow, thrive and indeed become what we say we are: “A city of good neighbors,” we need to be vigilant with regards to attitudes of disrespect or apathy within us. Though it is easy to point the finger at others in dismay, we, as the pastoral leadership of our group, sadly recognize and acknowledge our own sins of racial and cultural bigotry within our congregations through the years.
As the Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo, as well as our affiliated ministries, we pledge to work more intently on celebrating the richness of our diversity and promote a true witness to the Good News of the Kingdom of God which is like one body made up of many diverse parts. Though there has been some growth and many families of color and ethnicity do feel welcome and safe in city neighborhoods, there is much
yet to be done. May God assist us and give success to the work of our hands.
“I leave peace prints.” “Nonviolence begins with me.”
- Sister Karen Klimczak, SSJ
April
The Lenten Journey series enjoyed a significant increase in attendance –
almost doubling from the beginning of the series with 62 participants to the end with over 105. In evaluating the series one of the most
stunning improvements from the year past was the amount of interaction between people of different
parishes. This was credited to the intentional mixing strategies that were used
at each presentation.
Planning progressed and a contract was approved for invitational billboard advertising which will be located at strategic points in the city this fall. These billboards will be near each of the five parishes of the CCCB cluster with additional ones scattered around the city. The Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo will be prominent at the Juneteenth Parade with a banner displaying a new logo. The cluster will also be distributing free wristbands at the event.
Planning progressed and a contract was approved for invitational billboard advertising which will be located at strategic points in the city this fall. These billboards will be near each of the five parishes of the CCCB cluster with additional ones scattered around the city. The Catholic Churches of Central Buffalo will be prominent at the Juneteenth Parade with a banner displaying a new logo. The cluster will also be distributing free wristbands at the event.
March
The parishes are educating their congregations about their common purpose as Catholic communities in the city. A leadership workshop was held March 10th addressing several dimensions of change. Twenty-eight leaders attended (Blessed Trinity - 5,
Columba & Brigid - 8, St. Martin de Porres - 10, St. Ann - 5, and
St. Lawrence - 16). The presentation by Rev. Peter Drilling was entitled, Witnessing to the Gospel in the Church: Right Here and Right Now! It was very well received. View the videos.
Parishes have already combined to develop a common website portal for their ministries
provide formation for all ministry leaders on framework for inter-parish cooperation
sponsor a joint Lenten series.
Parishes have conducted an inventory all computer technology and obtain whatever hardware and software is needed to insure compatibility of technology and communication at each parish.
Each parish will bring their worship schedule; an identifying image of their parish; and the location of the parish to be included in a new CCCB brochure.
A technology team was formed under the leadership of Pat Dyer to do a complete assessment of resources and compatibility from hardware to software for each parish.
The parishes of the CCCB group will participate in the Juneteenth parade (June 16) along with a banner bearing the new logo.
Parishes have already combined to develop a common website portal for their ministries
provide formation for all ministry leaders on framework for inter-parish cooperation
sponsor a joint Lenten series.
Parishes have conducted an inventory all computer technology and obtain whatever hardware and software is needed to insure compatibility of technology and communication at each parish.
Each parish will bring their worship schedule; an identifying image of their parish; and the location of the parish to be included in a new CCCB brochure.
A technology team was formed under the leadership of Pat Dyer to do a complete assessment of resources and compatibility from hardware to software for each parish.
The parishes of the CCCB group will participate in the Juneteenth parade (June 16) along with a banner bearing the new logo.
