Transitions in Buffalo, New York

The Buffalo, New York Oblate scene saw some comings and goings this summer:

Fr. Randy Oswald, OMI, who did his diaconate internship year at Holy Angels parish in Buffalo, New York in 1997 and who returned to serve as a priest in 1998 and again in 2002, bid us farewell to take up his new assignment on the staff of the Oblate Retreat House in Buffalo, Minnesota.  Given the coincidence of point of departure and destination, all we could say to Randy was “Bi – son”!

Fr. Martin Walsh, OMI, who most recently ministered for 8 years at St. William’s in Tewksbury - a very busy parish serving 3,900 families spread over 35 sq. miles in Massachusetts - has returned to Buffalo to serve as parochial vicar with Fr. Harry Winter, OMI, at St. Rose of Lima parish in the northern quadrant of the city.  Marty had ministered in Buffalo as Vocation Recruiter in the earliest years of his priesthood and then at other times in a few other capacities during intervening years.  He returns to a city which he has observed and where he has ministered in different assignments at roughly 20 year intervals.  He brings this unique perspective to our Oblate work here in western New York.

Fr. Dwight Hoeberechts, OMI, (a “native New Yorker”) also comes to us from St. William’s parish in Tewksbury, Massachusetts.  Seven years ordained, multi-talented and accustomed to a very busy and diverse ministry, Dwight brings his pastoral gifts to the service of Holy Angels Parish as parochial vicar.  He will also assist Fr. George Kirwin, OMI, in working directly with the young men in the Pre-Novitiate Candidacy Program – which is a long-standing and important component of Oblate presence and ministry here in Buffalo.

The young men in the Pre-Novitiate Formation Program will be arriving here in late August to join our Oblate Community and begin Fall semester classes.  We’re looking forward to introducing these members of our community at that time.

For more information about all the Oblate “goings-on” here in Buffalo, NY, visit our website www.buffomi.org

Thanks to Fr. Eugene Tremblay, OMI, for the above info and pictures.