Parish Projects
The good news is that people are just as receptive to God and open to
the invitation of faith as ever. The better news is that parishes are responding to the spiritual hungers expressed by people with fidelity
and creativity. The Spirit of Christ charges and equips the Church for
that missionary purpose. Consider some of the ways that parishes in the project are responding with particular capacities to the unique pastoral needs of their people:
Blessed Sacrament, Andover
Contact: Anthony Lagoda
Priority: Youth and Younger Family Faith Formation
Purpose: Establish a parish center for a variety of parish gatherings which will support all revitalization efforts. Ultimately, the parish hopes to initiate an outreach effort in the Andover community with the expectation of increasing Mass attendance by 10% and parishioner involvement by 20%.
Method: Renovate a parish building to accommodate people with disabilities and allow more programs for age-based faith formation, community gatherings, and youth events. Parish will survey parishioner needs and allocate resources to respond accordingly. While the building is being renovated adult education will use other strategies (e.g. the book "Rediscovering Catholicism" by Matthew Kelly) to encourage greater appreciation for the faith.
Blessed Sacrament, Kenmore
Contact: Josephine Palumbo
Priority: Younger Families
Purpose: Grow family faith formation program by 10%.
Method: Recruit speakers and build a website dedicated to intergenerational faith formation. Post videos of presentations at website for those unable to attend.
Central Buffalo Cluster, 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.
Church of Christ the King, Snyder
Contact: Renee Villa
Priority: Technology and Faith Formation
Purpose: Engage young families by developing effective methods of communicating with parishioners and providing relevant faith formation.
Method: Update communication technologies (e.g. website) to enable effective communication, conduct presentations on possibilities for parishioner involvement and host events to foster faith and build community. For example, focus on the call to ministry given at Baptism - at the feast of the Baptism of the Lord conduct a session, after Easter host another formation session on the call of discipleship and around Pentecost sponsor a retreat with a baptismal theme. At these events, members of the parish council will connect, welcome and engage with parishioners to encourage greater ministry participation.
Immaculate Conception, Ransomville
Contact: Michael Shaw
Priority: Technology and Community Building
Purpose: Reach out and rebuild the parish by engaging young families in the identity, purpose and direction setting.
Method: Construct a new website with social networking, focus small faith and ministry groups on revitalizing parish with strategic planning, community building activities, and faith formation programs.
Immaculate Conception, Wellsville
Contact: Susan Stout
Priority: Technology and Faith Formation
Purpose: Increase the knowledge of the faith of young adults and young parents
Method: Gather people in focus groups to determine interests and learning needs. Provide knowledge of the faith accessible using a variety of web platforms (sites, social media and networks). A technology committee will be established to research relevant technologies and maintain a vibrant website. The congregation will be educated about the changes in the third edition of the Roman Missal and be invited to learn about their faith at monthly dinners and through examination of the book by Matthew Kelly, Rediscovering Catholicism.
Our Lady of Loreto, Falconer
Contact: Leslie Disbro
Priority: Community, Faith Formation and Ministry Involvement
Purpose: Bridge the generations through welcome, leadership opportunities and parish activities.
Method: C.R.E.W. leadership team, surveying, social activities, a website with ministry opportunities and faith resources for youth, young adult and resources for adults.
Our Lady of Hope, Buffalo
Contact: Ron Thaler
Priority: Community, Faith Formation and Ministry Involvement
Purpose: Engage young families from many cultures in the mission and leadership of the parish by building bridges across the many cultures and generations of the parish.
Method: A triple-pronged strategy to forming out of many communities – one parish. Conduct three interrelated initiatives: 1. establish an Intercultural Advisory Team who will conduct a campaign of community organizing and assess the particular spiritual needs for each cultural group in the parish and develop ways for people from differing cultures to communicate and share faith; 2. Conduct strategic programs to gather people, share intercultural expressions of faith and support married couples; 3. Equip leaders from culture-specific faith formation and sacramental preparation and leadership for worship (music, welcome, gesture, altar servers, etc.)
Sacred Heart, Lakewood
Contact: Marilyn Wozneak
Priority: Faith Sharing and Faith Formation
Purpose: Re-engage occasional Catholics (60% of parish) through welcoming, enrichment programs and other age-appropriate activities for young families, young adults and mature adults.
Method: Use Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly – Christmas gift, book club, homilies, bulletin articles, etc. Catholicism Series on DVD by Rev. Robert Barron during Lent. Website and bulletins to inform and invite people of other age-appropriate activities.
To be included, to obtain contact information or to have a profile updated contact Dennis Mahaney or call 716-847-8393.
Blessed Sacrament, Andover
Contact: Anthony Lagoda
Priority: Youth and Younger Family Faith Formation
Purpose: Establish a parish center for a variety of parish gatherings which will support all revitalization efforts. Ultimately, the parish hopes to initiate an outreach effort in the Andover community with the expectation of increasing Mass attendance by 10% and parishioner involvement by 20%.
Method: Renovate a parish building to accommodate people with disabilities and allow more programs for age-based faith formation, community gatherings, and youth events. Parish will survey parishioner needs and allocate resources to respond accordingly. While the building is being renovated adult education will use other strategies (e.g. the book "Rediscovering Catholicism" by Matthew Kelly) to encourage greater appreciation for the faith.
Blessed Sacrament, Kenmore
Contact: Josephine Palumbo
Priority: Younger Families
Purpose: Grow family faith formation program by 10%.
Method: Recruit speakers and build a website dedicated to intergenerational faith formation. Post videos of presentations at website for those unable to attend.
Central Buffalo Cluster, 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.
Church of Christ the King, Snyder
Contact: Renee Villa
Priority: Technology and Faith Formation
Purpose: Engage young families by developing effective methods of communicating with parishioners and providing relevant faith formation.
Method: Update communication technologies (e.g. website) to enable effective communication, conduct presentations on possibilities for parishioner involvement and host events to foster faith and build community. For example, focus on the call to ministry given at Baptism - at the feast of the Baptism of the Lord conduct a session, after Easter host another formation session on the call of discipleship and around Pentecost sponsor a retreat with a baptismal theme. At these events, members of the parish council will connect, welcome and engage with parishioners to encourage greater ministry participation.
Immaculate Conception, Ransomville
Contact: Michael Shaw
Priority: Technology and Community Building
Purpose: Reach out and rebuild the parish by engaging young families in the identity, purpose and direction setting.
Method: Construct a new website with social networking, focus small faith and ministry groups on revitalizing parish with strategic planning, community building activities, and faith formation programs.
Immaculate Conception, Wellsville
Contact: Susan Stout
Priority: Technology and Faith Formation
Purpose: Increase the knowledge of the faith of young adults and young parents
Method: Gather people in focus groups to determine interests and learning needs. Provide knowledge of the faith accessible using a variety of web platforms (sites, social media and networks). A technology committee will be established to research relevant technologies and maintain a vibrant website. The congregation will be educated about the changes in the third edition of the Roman Missal and be invited to learn about their faith at monthly dinners and through examination of the book by Matthew Kelly, Rediscovering Catholicism.
Our Lady of Loreto, Falconer
Contact: Leslie Disbro
Priority: Community, Faith Formation and Ministry Involvement
Purpose: Bridge the generations through welcome, leadership opportunities and parish activities.
Method: C.R.E.W. leadership team, surveying, social activities, a website with ministry opportunities and faith resources for youth, young adult and resources for adults.
Our Lady of Hope, Buffalo
Contact: Ron Thaler
Priority: Community, Faith Formation and Ministry Involvement
Purpose: Engage young families from many cultures in the mission and leadership of the parish by building bridges across the many cultures and generations of the parish.
Method: A triple-pronged strategy to forming out of many communities – one parish. Conduct three interrelated initiatives: 1. establish an Intercultural Advisory Team who will conduct a campaign of community organizing and assess the particular spiritual needs for each cultural group in the parish and develop ways for people from differing cultures to communicate and share faith; 2. Conduct strategic programs to gather people, share intercultural expressions of faith and support married couples; 3. Equip leaders from culture-specific faith formation and sacramental preparation and leadership for worship (music, welcome, gesture, altar servers, etc.)
Sacred Heart, Lakewood
Contact: Marilyn Wozneak
Priority: Faith Sharing and Faith Formation
Purpose: Re-engage occasional Catholics (60% of parish) through welcoming, enrichment programs and other age-appropriate activities for young families, young adults and mature adults.
Method: Use Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly – Christmas gift, book club, homilies, bulletin articles, etc. Catholicism Series on DVD by Rev. Robert Barron during Lent. Website and bulletins to inform and invite people of other age-appropriate activities.
To be included, to obtain contact information or to have a profile updated contact Dennis Mahaney or call 716-847-8393.
