left to right, back row: Jenny Dannecker, Bill Fallon, Bill Casilio, Forrest Benson, Joe Santini (Vice President), Jim Fish, Jean Brault, Rob Zuchlweski (Secretary), Mary Claire Modica, Pat Burkard, Father Bob Zilliox, Jr., Elizabeth Scoffidio, Paul Shea, Tom Doktor

Absent: Karen Smaczniak, Eric Frasch

Finance Committee: assists the pastor in the administration of the parish regarding finances, accounting, management, law, and other aspects as required

Chair: Richard Graham

St. Mary’s Outreach: provides support to parishes within the City of Buffalo who are experiencing financial difficulty by sharing some of the parish resources; assists with various Catholic needs in western New York, such as working to keep open the St. Vincent de Paul health camp for the underprivileged

Contact person: Father Yetter

Cemetery Committee: directs the overall development, management and maintenance of the cemetery located on County Road

Contact person: Jim Bingeman

LITURGICAL MINISTRIES:

Eucharistic Ministers: bring the body and blood of Christ to the faithful, including the sick, homebound and those in health care facilities

Contact person: Joseph Diliberto

Lectors: fulfilled at each of the weekend Masses by two individuals; one proclaims the scripture readings and the other lector is responsible for the introduction, general intercession prayers and announcements

Contact person: Barry Smith

Liturgy Committee: plans liturgies around the various seasons of the liturgical year

Contact person: Donna Allan

Music Ministry: enhances the liturgy and enables the assembly of prayer

Contact person: Donna Allan

Caritas Choir: consists of 18-20 vocalist and instrumentalists; sings at 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass from September through June

Contact person: Paul Schreiber

Voice of Faith:  ensemble choir made up of 15-20 vocalists who sing throughout the year at the 9:00 a.m. Sunday Mass

Contact person: Donna Allan

St. Mary’s Band: provides music for the 6:30 p.m. Teen Mass

Contact person: Glen Miller

Rejoice Ensemble: provides music once per month at the noon Mass

Contact person: Bob Shores

Children’s Choir: open to children in grades 1-8; sing at the 10:30 Children’s Mass (October-May), the 4:15 Christmas Eve Mass and the Easter Morning  Mass at 10:30

Contact person: Lisa Buczkowski

Ushers: group of men and women who serve at all the Masses to foster hospitality and order.

Contact person: Sylvia Golding

Altar Servers: young men and women in grades 4-12 who made their First Communion are eligible to assist the priest and deacon as altar servers during liturgical celebrations

Contact person: Father Bob Zilliox

PARISH SCHOOL:  Pre-K through Grade 8

St. Mary’s School: provides a sound education for children, strong in academics and the teachings of the Catholic faith

Principal: Sister Sheila Burke

Early Childhood Program: designed to provide 3 and 4 year old children with enjoyable activities while allowing the child to grow spiritually, socially, intellectually and physically.

Home School Association: offers opportunities for parents and teachers to cooperate in their mutual efforts to educate the children according to Catholic principles

President: Bob Pazik

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION:

Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults – Adult Faith Classes: RCIA is a process by which person who are not Catholic may learn about the faith and in many cases proceed to become Catholics; a similar process is available to baptized Catholics who, for whatever reason, have not received the sacraments

Contact person: Sister Suzanne Hitzges

Family Faith Formation Program: facilitates religious development and an active, faith-filled experience of God, through several programs

Director of Family Faith Formation: Karen Smaczniak

 Vacation Bible School: one week program for young children of the parish and surrounding community

Contact person: Janice O’Brien

Evangelization (Catholics Returning Home): provides update information on the basis of Catholicism in a supportive, RCIA-like support group format

Contact persons: Carol Chrzanowski and Tom Cinelli

Pre-Cana: instructional program for engaged couples preparing for the Sacrament of Marriage

Contact persons: Gerald and Sheri Rochez

Baptismal Preparation Classes: families expecting a baby are encouraged to attend a class in the early part of the pregnancy

Contact person: Deacon Paul Snyder

 FAITH FORMATION AND PRAYER GROUPS:

Christ Renews His Parish: a weekend session held at the parish center designed to bring members of a parish together in Christ

Contact persons: Father Yetter and Sister Suzanne Hitzges

Christ Renews His Parish Continuation Committee: consists of Lay Directors and Spiritual Directors from past renewal weekends who are willing to continue to serve the Christ renews His Parish and St. Mary’s Church in order to maintain the integrity and authenticity of the retreat process.

Parish Library: located in the upper level of the rectory and containing materials which address a number of topics  

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament: refers to the Blessed Sacrament being exposed for adoration in the church; at least one adorer must be present in the church

Blue Army Cell: meets the first Saturday of the month after attending the 9:00 a.m. Mass to pray the Rosary and meditate on the mysteries. On May 1, this group honors Mary with a procession in Church and reciting a decade of the Rosary.

Contact person: Jean Turton

SERVICE GROUPS:

Parish Nurse Ministry: endeavors parishioners achieve their unmet health care and wellness needs

Contact person: Eileen Nahigian

Parish Picnic:  the major fundraiser for our parish featuring chicken chowder sale, games and beer tent. 

Contact persons: Jerry and Mary Haas 

Nursery: Looking to re-activate: if interested, please contact the rectory.

Parish Auction: second major fundraiser for our parish; donation of goods, services and other items for bid; volunteers always welcome

Contact person: Jenny Collins

Maintenance: committee meets twice per year to review projects that need attention for the necessary upkeep of the parish grounds and buildings

Contact person: Robert Crowe

Housekeepers for the Lord: group of parishioners come together to clean the church

Contact person: Denise Skinner

Parish Bakers:  participants called on once per year to provide baked goods and finger foods for functions

Contact person: Ruth Burkard

E-Ministry: currently organizing this ministry to address parish technology issues. 

Parish Mailings: volunteers meet in the rectory after the 9:00 a.m. Mass on a weekday to adhere labels, stuff envelopes and sort the mail according to zip code, which enable the parish to realize a considerable cost savings

Contact person: Nancy Burkard

SOCIAL CONCERNS AND AWARENESS

Catholic Charities:  these positions involve attending diocesan and/or regional meetings and communicating the message of Catholic Charities to the people of the parish

Contact persons: Bruce and Kathy Karas

St. Vincent de Paul Society: serving both the young and the old in western New York in a number of ways; volunteers most welcome.

Contact person: Joe Meyer

Project Mission India:  assists Father Sleeva’s mission in the Diocese of Nalgonda, India

Contact person: Chris F. Rego

St. Ann’s Society: meetings are held regularly featuring games and social activities; provides services by visiting the sick and elderly, visit nursing homes to serve cookies, play Bingo and celebrate birthdays with residents; donate to charitable organizations; help with the Holy Name Annual Pancake Breakfast and purchase articles for the altar as needed

President: Dot Gerstner

Holy Name Society: promote the spiritual welfare of the men of the parish by encouraging and assisting them to observe the practices of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Name of Jesus

Contact person: Tim Wirth

Respect Life Committee: advocate for the sacredness of all human life from conception until natural death and to respond to any threats to life such as euthanasia and abortion

Contact persons: Elizabeth Kolby and Mark Zima

Habitat for Humanity: nonprofit, ecumenical Christian organization dedicated to eliminating substandard housing and homelessness and to make adequate affordable shelter a matter of conscience and action

Contact person: Lynn Rogers

Donation Outreach: seeks out organizations with needs, coordinates community and church based drives; picks up and delivers donations to appropriate organizations and/or individuals

Contact persons: Karen Krasevec-Lenz and Lisa Almeter

Bereavement: helps the families of deceased when most needed; prepare and serve meals to family and friends on the day of the funeral

Contact persons: Jerry and Mary Haas

Piecemaker’s Quilting Bee:  meets regularly to make and give away afghan size quilts to those in need

Contact persons: Mary Kroenig and Albert Stachura

Prayer Shawl Group: group of women who meet regularly to knit and crochet shawls for the sick and infirmed and anyone suffering from any kind of loss

Contact person: Peggy Storinge

RECREATION

Girl Scouts: girls meet regularly to earn badges and patches, go on field trips: learn together and have fun

Contact person: Sue Baird

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts: boys from first grade and beyond; involved in activities which encourage spiritual growth, character development, self-reliance, citizenship and teamwork

Contact person: Scout Master: Mark Percy

Youth Ministry: please refer to the EDGE and LIFE TEEN youth ministry programs under the Family Faith Formation section of the history and ministry directory

Contact person: Eric Frasch

Senior Group:  meets regularly to engage in social activities

Contact persons: Earl and Veronica Edbauer; Germain and Irene Krafft