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The latest we know about our Road to Renewal progress.

Bishop Michael Fisher has issued this Letter to the Faithful in response to recent news articles in the Buffalo News regarding the Diocesan Bankruptcy proceedings and Child Victim Act claims.

Marilyn passed away on February 14, 2023. May she have eternal peace in the Kingdom of heaven. Kindly keep her loved ones in your prayers. More information at https://www.lombardofuneralhome.com/tributes/Marilyn-Saiia.

John passed away on Saturday, February 18. May he have eternal rest in God's loving care. Kindly keep his loved ones wrapped in prayer. A funeral service will be celebrated at St. George on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 11 am.

This week's session will focus on "I believe in the forgiveness of sins." Join us in the parish hall following the 10 am Mass.

Dolores passed away January 10, 2023. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. George on Saturday, January 14 at 11 am. Visitation Friday, January 13 from 4-7 pm at F.E. Brown Sons funeral home in Orchard Park. Kindly keep Dolores and her loved ones in your prayers. Online tributes may be made at https://febrownsons.com/tribute/details/1190/Dolores-Lewandowski/obituary.html#tribute-start.

Rosemarie, a longtime a parishioner of our parish, passed away peacefully. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Rosemarie Wagner at St. George Church on Saturday, January 7th at 12 noon. Visitation Friday January 6 from 3-7 pm at Wood Funeral Home. Please keep Rosemarie and her loved ones in your prayers.

Fr. Jim is staying temporarily at the Rectory and will celebrate the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses as scheduled. There is a driving ban in place for Erie County. Please abide by that until it is lifted. If you are in walking distance, that is your decision, but your personal safety and the safety of others is the priority. Live stream Masses are listed at https://buffalodiocese.org/livestreams.

Many areas of Western New York are facing heavy snowfalls and drifting along with extremely high winds, bitter wind chills, and power outages. These are dangerous and life-threatening conditions. Please respect the travel bans in our communities. Although it is Christmas, in these dangerous conditions, no one should put themselves or others at risk. This Christmas, I have asked those parishes who have live stream capabilities to live stream their Christmas Masses. Do not attempt to attend Masses in person. Use the live stream technology to spiritually connect with others in prayer as we celebrate the birth of Christ. Also, please check on neighbors who may be in need. I wish all a Blessed and Safe Christmas, especially our first responders, utility workers, hospital workers, and all those serving our communities during this historic storm.

The administration Pillar encompasses the practical challenges of functioning together as a Family. Jesus’ words above also prompts the question: “Do we just view administration as a spiritually-barren necessity for the Church, or, a never-ending series of opportunities to encounter God?”

The goal of the six month Activation Stage for each Family is to collaborate on the creation of a Family Action Plan, which will define goals, strategies, expected outcomes, and creative solutions for reaching a vibrant future characterized by spiritual vitality and fiscal responsibility to attract new members of the Family. This Family Action Plan will guide each Family over the course of the next 3-5 years.

Please kindly pray for Doris Ellis, 90, who passed away peacefully on Monday, October 3, 2022. Doris was a longtime member of the St. George faith community and worked as a secretary in the Parish Office. May her family and friends be comforted with prayers during their time of grief, and may Doris rest peacefully in the loving presence of our Lord’s eternal light. Online condolences may be left at comfortfuneralhome.com/obituaries/.

The purpose of the Activation Stage is to allow the parishes of the Family to work on the six Pillars that make up being Church. These Pillars are Liturgy, Spiritual Life, Forming Disciples, OutReach/InReach, Stewardship and Administration.

A summary of the upcoming steps in the Road to Renewal for our Family of Parishes by Sr. Lori

As we continue the Road to Renewal, the remaining Families of Parishes (FoPs) will be formed within two Phases.