I suppose many readers of this blog have visited or at least heard of the Basilica of Our Lady of Victory in Lackawana (Buffalo), NY. It was built by Father Nelson Baker. The Basilica is the crowning jewel of the “City of Charity” that Father Baker established in Lackawana. Father Baker has recently been declared a Servant of God by Pope Benedict, the first step towards sainthood. I recently visited Our Lady of Victory. The Basilica is beautiful to say the least. It speaks of God and the heavenly kingdom. If you have never visited, do so! There is also a small museum dedicated to Father Baker’s life in the basement of the Basilica. I saw something there that left a huge impression on me, even more, I believe, than the beautiful Basilica. It was the simple prayer notebooks that Father Baker always carried with him whereby he would write the names of whomever he was asked to pray for by the people he met during the day. Father Baker would write the name of the person in his notebook and later that evening, he would check-off each name after he had prayed for that person. This practice is a great example of the importance, obligation, and seriousness of praying for each other. It made me aware of how lacking my own prayers are for my fellow man, for our Bishop, priests, family, friends, the sick, the lonely, our enemies, the list can go on and fill a few notebooks for sure! Dear God, may your priestly servant, Father Baker, one day be declared a Saint of your Church. Father Baker, please pray for us! To learn more about Father Baker click Here
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Fr. Baker was a remarkable man and priest and truly was a Servant of God. He is a great inspiration for all of us.
Off the beaten path-News coverage of St. Andrew Church mass celebration and is impending closure has given misleading details to the public. Many news stations and local papers have been given an account of shrinking numbers being served and financial difficulty. The Diocese is dishonest and deceptive in their dealings. By combining multiple churches together they get to address the situation as one parish. In this case, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish. The news accounts give people the impression that they are talking about St. Andrew Church or St. Andrew Parish, and nothing is further than the truth.
St. Andrew Church has been a thriving parish with approximate 300 people on a Sunday alone, not counting Saturday. We have continued to have the most extensive and fruitful outreach ministries and programs of any church in the surrounding areas, and of any church I know of, staffed largely by church members, and also by members of other churches. We have had the most active parish life of any church I know of, with all types of dinners, special functions, celebrations, and numerous groups. St. Andrew Church has had the largest income of all the churches in the Northeast Cluster from weekly donations, Bingo, and rental property.
Do not be deceived! The Diocese gets away with making their claims when they throw in multiple parishes and include struggling parishes with low income and attendance, and building sites which are in great need of repairs, with parishes with higher income and attendance, and building sites which have been renovated, repaired, and maintained in good order — calling them all one parish.
One such news story: http://rochester.ynn.com/content/top_stories/556053/local-church-holds-celebration-mass/
The number of persons that St. Andrew Church has been serving through its church services and through its numerous, extensive, fruitful ministries are innumerable.
The price tag of 1.2 million dollars outweighed people being served.
A dove was released outside in front of the church at the end of the celebration mass as a sign of moving forward to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish, to our new site (which has not been disclosed yet-Annunciation Hall will not be open). Once the white dove was released into the air to the skies, it circled back and perched itself above the doorway into St. Andrew Church. The white dove remained perched above the doorway and was still seen there sitting when parishioners and guests left hours later. People took it as a sign.
Christian,
Can you send me an email (benanderson@benanderson.us)? I have a question for you.
Thanks,
Ben
Too bad the dove’s preference was not covered by the news! Would have made a great story for the channel that covered it.
Indeed, it was a sign!