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St. Bernadette R. C. Church |
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5930 South Abbott Road Orchard Park, New York 14127-4597 716-649-3090 |
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Parish History (Continued) |
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1997 marked the 40th Anniversary of St. Bernadette Parish. A year-long celebration of the anniversary was marked by special events, highlighted by a dinner-dance on September 26, 1997, at the McKinley Park Inn.
May 12, 1997, our parish was saddened to hear of the death of Fr. Merrick J. Bednar. Father Merrick passed away at Pittsburgh Presbyterian Hospital while awaiting the gift of a heart for his second heart transplant. Father Merrick was brought home to St. Bernadette's to be waked on May 15th. On Friday, May 16th, Bishop Henry J. Mansell was the principal celebrant of a Mass of Christian Burial attended by over 150 priests and clergy and an overflowing congregation of parishioners and friends. We are strengthened by his memory and the legacy of faith, hope and love he gave to each of us.
On September 14, 1997, the Feast of the Exultation of the Cross, our parish community began Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist. Over 350 parishioners came forward to devote one hour of their time each week in adoration.
Fr. Ronald P. Sajdak was assigned as parochial vicar in November 1997. Fr. Ron was ordained May 4, 1996, and assigned to St. John the Evangelist Parish for one year before coming to St. Bernadette Parish.
On December 7, 1997, Bishop Mansell presided at the blessing and dedication of our new parish addition. In his remarks, the Bishop complimented the parish on their vision for the future and their determination in raising over $1.1 million to finance the project. The new addition was dedicated to our former associate, Father Merrick J. Bednar. The ceremony was followed by a parish reception and luncheon.
In June of 1998, Msgr. Nugent was presented with the Blessed Junipero Serra Award by the Serra Club for his contributions to vocations in the Buffalo Diocese. Later in the year he received the 1998 Mother Colette Hilbert Award for his dedicated service to the church and the community.
On March 5, 1999, William A. Rade passed away. Bill was a very active member of St. Bernadette's serving as a parish trustee, coordinator of the Eucharistic minister program and the parish council. He served as a minister of the sick and was a lector, usher and daily communicant. John H. Klass was appointed by the Bishop to replace Bill as Parish Trustee.
1999 marked the 50th Anniversary of Ordination to the Priesthood for both Msgr. Nugent and Fr. Ray McNicholas. Msgr. Nugent was ordained by Bishop John F. O'Hara at St. Joseph's New Cathedral on June 4, 1949. Fr. McNicholas was ordained December 17, 1949 in Omaha, Nebraska. On June 6th the parish observed this celebration at a special concelebrated Mass, followed by a reception in their honor in the school auditorium.
Parishioner Edward R. Howard was ordained as a Permanent Deacon by Bishop Henry J. Mansell on June 26, 1999. This marked the culmination of four years of preparation in the Deacon Formation Program at Christ the King Seminary in East Aurora. Deacon Howard was appointed to serve at both St. Bernadette Church and at the South Buffalo Franciscan Center.
On the weekend of Sunday, August 1, 1999, in a special service at all Masses our parishioners consecrated themselves to God the Father. The Church teaches us that God Our Father sent His Son Jesus to bring us back home to Him and that the Holy Spirit was sent to lead us on the journey. This was reflected in Pope John Paul II's preparation for the Jubilee 2000; 1999 was designated by the Holy Father as the Year of God the Father.
As the new millennium and the jubilee year began, St. Bernadette’s entered into a new relationship, joining with St. Martin de Porres Parish in Buffalo as sister parishes. As they consecrated their new church building in 2000, we added an attractive new ambry to our sanctuary. Fr. Ron encouraged us to become involved with refugee resettlement and other social justice concerns.
The Jubilee year also saw the beginning of Family Ministry and of the Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Fr. Ron became a Knight of Columbus and Addy Siefert, our dedicated and hard-working Parish Neighbors Chairperson for many years, was awarded the St. Joseph the Worker Award by Bishop Mansell. We also welcomed a seminarian for the summer, Ken Keenan. In October, Fr. Nugent received Christ the King Seminary’s prestigious Curé of Ars Award.
In 2001, St. Bernadette’s received the Catholic Charities “Salt and Light” award, which recognized outstanding parish involvement in a number of outreach programs. Family Ministry opened a lending library of books and films and planted a prayer garden near the convent. “Bridges,” a group for the divorced and separated began meeting.
Grace Byledbal, our rectory cook, became a TV star in 2002 as her cooking was featured on “Our Daily Bread.” Parish trustee James Ruh passed away after a long illness. Among his many involvements with St. Bernadette’s, Jim was our first parish council president. Karen E. Penfold was appointed trustee in his place.
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