Press Release

CORPUS CHRISTI BEGINS SOUTH TOWER RESTORATION

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CORPUS CHRISTI BEGINS SOUTH TOWER RESTORATION

High Profile Project Expected to be Completed by Year’s End

Buffalo, New York – Corpus Christi’s historic restoration is about to take a tremendous step forward with the announcement that repair and rebuilding of the church’s south tower is expected to begin in August.

The proposed project is Phase II of a multi-phase, multi-million dollar program to restore the main components of the church’s exterior envelope. A Facility Assessment Report of the Campus in 2004 and an engineering report on the bell/clock towers in 2006 documented most of the required work. In each case, extensive stone restoration consisting of re-pointing and re-building some areas to prevent weather infiltration was recommended. In addition, the 2006 report emphasized the need for structural repairs to address the deterioration of the wood and steel sub frame, and stone around the base of the towers’ copper domes.

The scope of work is based on the need to correct damage from a wind storm in December 2008, along with diminished structural integrity of the cupola related to its age and exposure to the elements. While intermediate steps have been taken to ease these situations for the short term, they are temporary, “band-aid” solutions that must be addressed in a much more comprehensive manner for public safety and the long-term stewardship of the church.

The masonry restoration will entail re-pointing open mortor joints, removal of loose stone fragments, replacement of missing stone pieces, and the application of stone consolidation. The tower’s copper dome will be removed from the tower by mid-August and will be restored on-site, with repairs to the stone mounting points and structural framing. The badly deteriorated copper cladding will be replaced. This undertaking is essential to reverse significant deterioration and potentially much more costly remediation to the church exterior, which threatens the building’s long-term structural integrity, and ultimately its magnificent interior decoration.

Hamilton, Houston, Lownie Architects LLC, along with Tredo Engineers PC and the construction firm of Allstate Development have been awarded the work for this significant phase of the restoration. All needed work will be performed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Treatment of Historic Properties.

The south tower restoration is Corpus Christi’s second high profile project to be undertaken in 2011. Earlier this year, the parish commissioned renowned art conservator Roman Kujawa to restore its iconic mural above the church altar. This exquisite artwork, which is a signature element of the church interior, is a rendering of a Vatican masterpiece by celebrated, Renaissance painter Raphael Santi. The mural restoration is nearing completion, and will be ready in time for the National Trust Conference.

The parish is now seeking donations for the restoration of the church’s north tower, as part of its long-term preservation strategy for this community treasure. For additional information, visit www.corpuschristibuffalo.org.

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FOURTH ANNUAL BUFFALO’S BEST PIEROGI CONTEST

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FOURTH ANNUAL BUFFALO’S BEST PIEROGI CONTEST

Contest Celebrates Buffalo’s Ethnic Heritage

Buffalo, New York – Corpus Christi Church is looking for Buffalo’s best pierogi by hosting its fourth annual Buffalo’s Best Pierogi contest on Saturday August 20 at 4:30p.m.  The contest is open to all amateur cooks and businesses.

The contest has grown from fourteen contestants to last year’s high of thirty-five. Christopher Byrd the contest organizer says the event “captures Buffalo’s love for food while celebrating our city’s rich ethnic heritage with recipes and traditions passed on from one generation to the next.”

Applicants will be judged in one of three categories:

Homemade Traditional – boiled or fried pierogi filled with cheese, cheese/potato or kapusta (pickled or fresh cabbage) with or without mushrooms, carrots, etc.

Homemade Non-Traditional – open to entrant’s creativity, keeping in mind that a pierog is a stuffed pocket of dough.

Commercial – open to any business using a traditional recipe.

Deadline for entries is Saturday, August 13.

A group of celebrity judges will determine the winners for the contest.  Winners in each category will walk away with the title of Buffalo’s Best Pierogi Maker.

The contest will take place during Corpus Christi’s 32nd annual Dozynki (pronounced Do-ZHIN-kee) Polish Harvest Festival on August 19, 20 and 22. This joyful commemoration, which dates to the middle ages, is the Polish equivalent of America’s Thanksgiving holiday.

Corpus Christi Church is located at 199 Clark St. in Buffalo, one block east of the Broadway Market in the heart of Buffalo’s Historic Polonia. Applications for the pierogi contest and a complete listing of Harvest Festival events can be found on the church website at http://dozynki.corpuschristibuffalo.org.

Buffalo’s got Pierogi!

B I N G O

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CORPUS CHRISTI CHURCH BUILDS NEIGHBORHOOD TIES WITH WEEKLY LUNCH/BINGO

Buffalo, New York – At churches throughout Western New York, bingo has been a long-standing fundraiser to help support parish maintenance. Since 2004 when the Pauline Order assumed the leadership at Corpus Christi Church, this weekly tradition has also become an important tool in rebuilding a sense of community at this historic parish located in the shadow of the Broadway Market.

In conjunction with its Saturday afternoon bingo, a hot lunch of delicious, homemade foods are available for purchase that offer the public an inexpensive option to eating at home. The lunch has also become an informal way for people to become acquainted with the parish, and to build a sense of camaraderie in the neighborhood. While hot dogs and hamburgers are always part of the menu, there are also specials to keep this weekly event fresh and entertaining.

Both bingo and lunch are held every Saturday at 2:00p.m. in the church’s athletic center, located at 165 Sears St. (adjacent to the parking lot). This facility is non-smoking. The public is cordially invited.

The parish’s bingo and lunch program are made possible by a dedicated group of parishioners. They welcome new volunteers to donate just a few hours of their time each month to help with this fun activity. Call the church at 896.1050 for more information.

Corpus Christi is listed on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. For a schedule of services and upcoming parish events, visit www.corpuschristibuffalo.org or call 716.896.1050