These black and white photographs showing the celebration of Easter at Corpus Christi Church (1943) through the lens of Marjory Collins(1912-1985). The photos are part of a collection of a project of the Farm Security Administration-Office of War Information Photograph Collection. The images in this collection, which are housed in the Library of Congress, are among the most famous documentary photographs ever produced.
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HELP US RECLAIM “PIEROGY POCKET” TITLE FOR BUFFALO
CORPUS CHRISTI COMPETES TO RECLAIM “PIEROGY POCKET” TITLE FOR BUFFALO
Church Invites Western New Yorkers to Join the Effort by Submitting Entries of Homemade Pierogi
Buffalo , New York – Corpus Christi Church is determined to reclaim Buffalo’s rightful title as “Capital of the Pierogy Pocket of America” in a highly publicized contest sponsored by Mrs. T’s Pierogies.
The Mrs. T’s competition stresses creativity and strong civic participation to demonstrate a community’s “pierogy pride/passion.” As part of what Corpus Christi expects to be a compelling contest application, the church invites the public to join in the challenge by submitting their best homemade pierogi for a taste test to be held on Saturday, August 23 at 5:30p.m. during the parish’s Polish Harvest Festival. Applicants will be judged in one of three categories: traditional (potato, cheese or sauerkraut), dessert and non-traditional recipes. The taste test is open to all amateur cooks. (No restaurants or commercial vendors please.) The winners in each category will receive the title of Buffalo ‘s Best Homemade Pierogi Maker 2008 and a $50 gift certificate to the Broadway Market. Winners will be determined by a panel of local celebrity judges. Interested individuals must register in advance by calling the parish at 716/896-1050 or visiting the website at http://www.corpuschristibuffalo.org. All Western New Yorkers are also invited to sign a petition at the Polish Harvest Festival in support of Corpus Christi ‘s bid on behalf of Buffalo for the honor of Capital of the Pierogy Pocket.
Feast of the Assumption
Buffalo, New York – In keeping with the ancient tradition of Poland, Corpus Christi Church will hold a blessing of herbs and flowers on the Feast of the Assumption on Friday, August 15 at 11:30 A.M. This is a custom that was once prevalent throughout the Polish community in the United States, brought to this country by Polish immigrants.
In Poland the Feast of the Assumption is also called Matki Boski Zielnej – Blessed Mother of the Herbs, or Our Lady of the Herbs. The Blessed Mother is seen as the patron and keeper of the earth and all of its abundance. On this special feast day, every village housewife brought a bouquet of herbs, flowers and grain that was collected from her own garden, the fields and orchards. She gathered dill, mint, rosemary, southernwood, parsley, hyssop, lovage, and comfrey – whatever she had growing in her garden. She added her favorite flower such as sweet pea, tansy or sunflowers. A branch of a favorite fruit tree was also tucked in such apple or pear. Since this time coincided with the time of the harvest, it was also the custom to take a few spikes of various grains including wheat, rye and oats.
After the blessing, the flowers were taken home and tucked behind holy pictures to protect the home against fire and lightening. Some farmers crumbled some of the blessed flowers into their seed bags in the belief that it would assure a good harvest. Some of the herbs were used in folk medicine to cure a cough or a cold.
In recent years this beautiful custom has slowly gone by the wayside. Father Anzelm at Corpus Christi is actively trying to keep the tradition alive and invites everyone to bring their flowers and bouquets. The church is located at 199 Clark Street, in Buffalo, one block east of the Broadway Market. For more information, please call 716-896-1050.
