Buffalo, New York

OMI Sesquicentennial Closes

 
 

            The weekend of October 5/6, 2002 saw the close of the Oblates' sesquicentennial celebration in Buffalo, New York.  Holy Angels parish was founded 150 years ago and it remains a vital center from which Oblates continue to work in a multiplicity of ministries on the “Niagara Frontier.” (for a brief history of these works and their ongoing vitality visit our Website www.buffomi.org - click on “Who are the Oblates in Buffalo”)

             Our celebration began with a Saturday evening Vigil Service and dinner bringing together Oblates and Grey Nuns – the two religious communities that have ministered at Holy Angels since its foundation in the early 1850’s.  On Sunday, Fr. David Kalert OMI, the American Provincial, presided and preached at the closing bilingual noonday parish Mass – a liturgy concelebrated by all the local Oblates, a good number of visiting Oblates (including Fr. David Ullrich OMI from the Central Team) and some invited local clergy.

             All congregants proceeded to nearby D’Youville College for a catered buffet/reception and a leisurely afternoon of socializing.
 
PHOTO GALLERY (Click on thumbnail to enlarge)
(Courtesy of Fr. Eugene Tremblay, OMI)

Pre-novice Ben Roberts pours oil on symbolic "foundation stone" at the foot of "Jacob's ladder" (the holy angels coursing up and down the Biblical ladder are represented by cascading autumn leaves) (This was the theme of the Prayer Vigil Service.)

Oblates and Grey Nuns participate in the Vigil Service.

Oblates and Grey Nuns participate in the Vigil Service.

Jovanel Alphonse, Didier Moise, Ben Roberts (first-year pre-novices) and Fr. Randy Oswald, OMI.

l-r: Fr. Bill O'Donnell & Fr. Bill McSweeney, OMI

l-r: Fr. Steve Vasek, OMI, Sr. Helen O'Hara, GNSH, Sr. Jean Fitzpatrick SSC (Fr. Vasek's preaching team partner), Sr. Denise Roche, GNSH (President of D'Youville College) and Bro. Richard Cote, OMI

Fr. David Kalert, OMI, Provincial, and Holy Angels pastor, Fr. Terry O'Connell, OMI

l-r, Oblates Bro. Richard Cote, Fr. Terry O'Connell, Fr. Gerry Flater

l-r, Oblates Fr. Steve Vasek and Jim Taggart

Former pastor, Fr. Bill McSweeney, OMI with Fr. David Kalert, OMI, Provincial

l-r: Fr. Fred Hinton with Oblate Fathers Harry Winter, Jim Taggart, David Ullrich, Steve Vasek, and Bill O'Donnell.

Principal Celebrant, Fr. David Kalert, OMI, with lector, Bro. Richard Cote, OMI

Fr. Harry Winter, OMI, chats with pre-novice Ben Roberts.

Bro. Richard Cote proclaims the Word of God.

Fr. Kalert delivers the homily.

Fr. Gene Tremblay, OMI, Fr. Dave Ullrich, OMI, and parishioner Marian Tasca.

Sunday dinner at the Oblate community.

Sunday dinner at the Oblate community.

 
For many more photos of this event, visit the OMI Buffalo New York District Website at
(www.buffomi.org) - click "Holy Angels Parish"; click "Events" and select
"Closing of Sesquicentennial"