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Flowers to Our Lady of Częstochowa on August 23rd

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When the Pauline Fathers came to serve at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church in Buffalo, NY, they installed an Icon of Our Lady of Częstochowa at the right side, front altar. The Icon was blessed in Rome, Italy by Pope St. John Paul II.

Each Sunday, after Mass, many parishioners and visitors to the church venerate the Icon, pray and light candles. Many sit in the pew in front of the Icon, contemplating the scarred face of the Madonna and meditate on its’ mystery.

Father Michał in front of Our Lady of Częstochowa altar

Our Lady of Częstochowa has a special place in the hearts of many people throughout the world. The Shrine in Częstochowa, Poland, and the Shrine in Doylestown, PA are “must see” sights for people in both locations. The Pauline Fathers at Corpus Christi Church and their religious order are custodians of both Shrines in the USA and Poland.

August 26th each year is designated as the feast day to Our Lady of Częstochowa. Because the feast day falls on a Wednesday, this year Corpus Christi Community is inviting everyone to visit and participate at the 9:30 AM Mass on Sunday, August 23 with a tribute to Our Lady.

We are children of Our Heavenly Mother and live to honor Our Mother with tributes. Therefore, Father Michał would like the congregation to bring fresh cut flowers from your garden or purchased at the store, to decorate her altar. With your flowers please add your prayer intentions. The petitions will remain before Our Lady’s Icon throughout the nine-day-novena to Our Lady of Częstochowa which we celebrate yearly in our parish. Father is also kindly asking for monetary donations at this time which can be placed in the basket by Our Lady’s Altar.

Given the severity of the pandemic in our country and throughout the world, the words to the Polish Hymn, “Czarna Madonno” resonate with finding in Our Lady, comfort, refuge, safety, reassurance and embrace that the world we live in today, could never possible give to us.

After Mass you will have the opportunity to take Holy Cards of Our Lady of Częstochowa from Jasna Gora in Poland. The Holy Card is imprinted with a piece of veil cloth, touched to the original Icon. You may also take it with you and place it in a prominent place in your home, and dedicate your family to the Blessed Mother. Pray with your family to Our Lady of Częstochowa often, asking her to bring the Covid-19 under control with an appropriate vaccine soon. Consider visiting the Shrine in Doylestown, PA this summer as a mini-vacation or set a goal in your future to visit the Shrine of Częstochowa at Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, Poland. As “Jasna Gora” is translated into English meaning “Bright Hill,” let us pray that brighter days are coming to America and the rest of the world.

The Friends of Corpus Christi begin significant church repairs

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The Friends of Corpus Christi have successfully raised enough funds to pay for $100,000 worth of necessary church repairs this summer. All of this work is being carried out through coordination with the Order of St. Paul the First Hermit, owner of the Corpus Christi church complex. Basement waterproofing work began in June and is nearing completion. Stonework on the north clerestory wall is set to begin in July. The north side aisle roof is also set for replacement this summer. This work should address water leaks that have been a recurring problem on the north side of the church and make it possible to do plaster and paint repairs inside.

Friends president Lucy Ederer admitted that fall 2019 was not an especially good time to roll out a fundraising campaign, and with COVID-19, timing could not have been much worse for finishing the campaign, especially after a cancelled Easter season. Still, she stated that “We were pleasantly surprised by the number of donations that kept coming in. We are so grateful for the remarkable support of our parishioners and friends.” She added, however, that Corpus Christi’s buildings—one of the few local Catholic Church complexes listed on the National Register of Historic Places—will need continued strong and faithful commitment in order to ensure its future: “Just as in Europe, scaffolding should be considered an almost permanent part of the church’s artwork.” Some of the funds raised came from foundation grants that usually require some sort of matching donation from parishioners and the community.

When asked why people should put so much effort into preserving the building when the church is about people, Ederer gave a detailed response: “The church is first about Jesus saving all of us, and one way that grateful people respond to that good news is to build Him a wonderful temple. This place reminds us that here we encounter the beauty of God’s saving grace in the sacraments, a beautiful place that tells everyone that Jesus lives here and that something important happens here. A church is never just a secular meeting place, no matter how humble. But here, the poor Polish immigrants who built Corpus Christi made big sacrifices so that people who come here can magnificently experience the beauty and glory of God and His love for us. We honor their sacrifices by preserving our church so that it can continue to evangelize new generations. We keep going because our horizontal culture is too intellectually and morally confused to realize that God must be treated as God. We need spaces and symbols and beauty to express our faith and that reality.”

Ederer added that more upcoming projects on the wish list for next year include stonework restoration on the south clerestory wall and a new roof for the south side aisle roof: “We are always grateful for donations, which show us that the community continues to appreciate our faith heritage and our legacy. We always have work, and the Friends have virtually no overhead expenses. Monies received go directly to restoration projects.” Donations can be sent to Friends of Corpus Christi Inc., PO Box 784, Buffalo, NY 14240.

Photo: Friends of Corpus Christi Church – President Lucy Ederer.