by Jeff | Sep 17, 2026 | News
In February 2023, on the Feast of Lourdes, my body received a diagnosis of a rare and aggressive cancer. Prospects were not good. Through the God Bearer, Mother of God, and her walk with me and the aggressive therapies by medical personnel all of the recent medical imaging has revealed no inflammation. However, as a result of the side effects of these medicines and the needed strength of recoveries and Mary’s contemplative help, I am left with a body that has a greatly diminished immune system, so I have asked Bishop Mike to appoint another Pastor for the WHEAT Community.
I will step down as Pastor and remain Vicar Forane for the WHEAT Community and the surrounding area until the Diocesan process is completed. In working with Fr. Karl, Fr. Rob, Fr. Gene Ulrich, and Fr. James Wall I have set up a schedule that does not change the present weekday and Sunday Mass schedules. I am deeply grateful for all the prayers and concerns given by everyone and know that I have offered them up to the Mother of God in deep gratitude for your goodness.
~Fr. Bernie
by Jeff | Jul 23, 2026 | News
It will run for 6 weeks starting on Wednesday Sept. 9th at Immaculate Conception, so mark your calendar!
Each evening consists of a teaching, a testimony, a discussion, and refreshments and fellowship. We will be praying for a new outpouring of the Spirit upon you on the 5th week. You will hear others share how the Holy Spirit has changed their lives. Experience more of the fruits of peace and joy as you open yourself to God’s presence in your life. Please come and bring a friend! Wouldn’t you like to experience more of the Holy Spirit’s power and gifts in your life?
Join us for 6 Wednesday evenings:
- Sep. 9, 16, 23, 30 & Oct 7, 14, 2026 at 6:30pm
- Sep. 9th #1 God’s Love – Deacon Tony Vilardo
- Sep 16th #2 Salvation – Fr. Rob Contarin
- Sep. 23rd #3 New Life – Mary Kay Schaub
- Sep. 30th #4 Receiving God’s Gift – Theresa Updike Oct. 7th #5 Baptism in the Holy Spirit – Fr. Richard DiGiulio
- Oct 14th #6 Growth – Deacon Marc Leaderstorf AND #7 Transformation in Christ – Deacon Dave Clabeaux
by Jeff | Jul 1, 2026 | Administrative, Pillar Notes
Attendees: Lynn, Chris, Dave, Tracy, Tama
Non-attendees: Tim, Fr. Karl
Next meeting- Monday, August 24th 5pm at St Vincent’s
Agenda:
Update on Pillar Goals
- Bulletin- Tracy
- Spoke with Sharon regarding font and color selection
- Open to suggestions and enjoys hearing the feedback that we have for her
- Potential mass schedules differently listed within similar to Field of Grace or Beloved Disciples of Christ for examples, this item is placed on hold right now
- Welcome Packet- Tama
- In Reach/outreach not going to be doing this
- They are not able to focus on this right now
- Is this something that we can take over?
- Items we can include:
- Bulletin, welcome letter from the Pastor along crucifix, rosary, etc.
- Financial contributions- envelopes or on-line contributions
- What are the options? To include something
- StV is doing blank envelopes
- Each location has to sort through the envelopes for each church
- Dawn to look at a process to streamline
- Discussions on empty envelopes being placed in collections and reasons for this
- Action Item for the Committee: Each of us come back to the group with ideas on what to be in welcome packet
- Within the next two weeks of today (by 7/10/2026), let’s share and bring copies to the next meeting
- Implement by September 1st
- Tracy to send previous meeting minutes with this topic
- Staff Evaluations
- In-process, starting at ICC
- Tracy to touch base with Dawn later this week (week of 6/22) and check on the progress and feedback that she has received
- Website
- Got rid of yellow and moved to green for the background color
- Mass times were previously giving problems with scrolling on the mobile version
- Mass times are moved to separate parish pages
- Tabs located across the top of the page
- News/Events
- Separate events at each parish on their own separate calendar, not being listed as one large calendar
- Information for each parish
- Employee downloads- password protected
- Includes employee handbook and other documents
- Pillar Notes/Meeting Minutes
- Tracy to check with Dawn on how she would like to receive our meeting minutes
- Schools
- ICC and ANN programs
- 130 students at ICC; goal of 180 students for 2026-2027
- 16 pre-K students
- Can StV program offer scholarships to ICC school through each of the parishes rather than just giving high school scholarships outside of our family?
- Religious Education Programs/Family Faith Formation
- New DRE at ANN and the position will be split to 2 part-time employees; Denise and Mary Kay
- Job share will save on benefit costs for the parish
- Dawn is working on draft budgets – will be presented at July finance meeting
- Parish Improvements
- ICC- lifts, roof and parking
- StV- minor parking lot repair
- Ann- minor repairs by St Josephs around campus, gutter work
- StG rectory and church town rezoning and potential sale
- The chapel and the parking lot will remain
- Financial Repots
- ICC Financial reported in the fall
- Ann Financial reported in the fall and mailed
- StV Financial reported in the fall
- Consolidated Financial picture- David
- March statements- 9/1/25 to 3/31/26
- Took G/L and move into spreadsheet
- Automate into annual report
- Parishes list the Other Expenses in different categories
- April statement is underway
- Lynn asked if David is having any problems with getting information, David stated that he isn’t having any issues
- Lynn asked if there was interest in the 8/31/24 numbers, David stated that fiscal year to fiscal year may be beneficial to look at
- David is working on placing in the budget numbers
- Internal Audit- Chris
- Met in early May, meeting with Theresa
- Chris is going to follow up with after her evaluation
- ICC is starting at ground zero, formation and move to policy
- ANN has been doing an audit more frequently
- StV has been 3-4 years since they did the last one
- Check if Lynn has sent Chris Beth Paracozi’s information from the Diocese Audit department; provide by Lynn during the meeting
- Audit
- the collection- how is it counted, collected, recorded, each team involved
- How items are being recorded and what accounts they are being placed to
- How to preserve the income and maximize what we bring in
- Check writing/signing authority- check on who has this throughout the family
by Jeff | Jun 26, 2026 | News
Thank you to all three houses for the increase in Sunday offerings over the last seven months!
St Vincent’s buildings and grounds as well as finance and operations are diligently working on addressing needed repairs to the parking lot. Annunciation has completed nearly all of their major repairs and emphasis is now on the land for the cemetery that Deacon Jim has been reporting on. Immaculate Conception has major repairs for the WHEAT Community school roof that work has started on this past week. Obvious repairs need to be done to the parking lot. Bidding has been completed and work will commence this summer. The parking lot needs a full milling and repaving which will require the lot being closed for approximately a week this summer. During this time any funerals will need to be transferred to St. Vincent’s or Annunciation. In addition, a lift chair will be installed in the stairway off the small parking lot that will provide access to the ground floor of the school. With this additional access a room on that level will be converted to a conference room. Finally in the church we are looking at the two restrooms being renovated into one handicap accessible restroom. The first two projects, the roof and parking lot, are close to a half a million dollars and will deplete our savings.
Major donations for any of these projects can simply be made by check with a note in the memo to the designated project of your choice and placed in the collection baskets or mailed to the appropriate church.
There is an update to the bankruptcy settlement. We should not be using the newspaper or the media for updates. Please use Flocknotes or the bulletin for accurate updates. Good news is the abuse victims will be receiving their compensation by the end of the summer.
We are deeply grateful that all three houses are gaining new members and registrations. Let us work together with the Holy Spirit for the building of our Mother Church, being assured that the Holy Spirit’s work becomes ours.
by Jeff | May 28, 2026 | Meeting Minutes
Dear Parish Family:
As you know, the Diocese of Buffalo bankruptcy proceedings have been pending for more than six years. In furtherance of the efforts of all Parishes within the Diocese to achieve a fair and just resolution of abuse claims, and in an effort to bring the bankruptcy proceedings of the Diocese of Buffalo to a successful conclusion, a revised Chapter 11 plan that soon will be filed by the Diocese provides that all parishes in the Diocese of Buffalo will file “rapid prepackaged bankruptcy” cases immediately before a hearing on confirmation of the plan. This will happen if and only if sufficient votes are received for approval of the plan. This approach has the support of pastors and the Diocese.
The parish bankruptcy cases will not be commenced until later this year and will come at the very last minute before the “confirmation” hearing on approval of the Diocese’s plan. It is anticipated that parishes will emerge from bankruptcy within 48 hours. This approach has been discussed among all pastors and is the approach that was followed by parishes in the Diocese of Rockville Centre as well as in the Archdiocese of New Orleans which resulted in the successful resolution and emergence from their respective Chapter 11 cases.
We will provide further updates as this process advances and are heartened at the possibility of at last providing victim survivors the possibility of closure and healing. With the prospect of finally achieving this goal, we look to the future with renewed commitment and focus on our mission and work in service to the Catholic faithful throughout Western New York and our broader community.
