bishop of buffalo

Most Reverend Michael W. FisherBishop of Buffalo

August 24, 2021

Dear Friends - I’m glad to be back once again with you in this way for my weekly Journeys andInsights update - thanks so much for sharing a few moments with me.

This past Saturday, I had the great pleasure to celebrate Mass with the wonderful parish family of Saint Pius X in Getzville on his feast day. As I often recount, spending time with our parish communities is certainly the favorite part of my ministry and I’m always personallyreinvigorated by the enthusiasm and commitment of so many who each and every day live what itmeans to be Christian and Catholic. Thank you for allowing me to be part of your parish familiesand you can be sure I’ll continue to make this a priority.

This coming Saturday, I’m looking forward to being with the The African American Commission ofthe Catholic Diocese of Buffalo, for its Revival 2021, "Families of Faith.” I’ll be celebrating Masswith this year’s revivalist, Father Paul Williams - a devoted Franciscan priest who serves at St.Camillus Catholic Church, a Catholic International Parish in Silver Spring, Maryland, part of theArchdiocese of Washington where I had the joy of serving as a priest and Auxiliary Bishop.

The readings for this coming Sunday are all about putting faith into action. Demonstrating ouracceptance of the Gospel - our discipleship - is more than words of acknowledgement or a claim- it must be a conviction that compels us to act in the image and likeness of Christ. As the letterof James in the first reading makes clear: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deludingyourselves.”

It is in this spirit that I’m so looking forward to celebrating the fifth anniversary of the MotherTeresa Home in East Buffalo tomorrow. In ways that truly address real human needs - womenwho are pregnant and facing daunting circumstances - not unlike Mary the mother of Jesus! - theMother Teresa Home offers a loving and welcoming home of care and concern, a place of refuge,where there is an unqualified affirmation of the

sacredness of human life. It is all the more fitting that we celebrate this fifth anniversary on SaintMother Teresa’s birthday. She was a woman of deep conviction that every person reveals thebeauty and love of God, without respect to status or distinction. Her ministry was motivated byher belief that no one should suffer or die alone, and so she and her sisters scoured the streets ofCalcutta to bring into their home the dying and destitute in order to give them some comfort andassurance that they were loved and to acknowledge their God-given dignity. She rescued

Most Reverend Michael W. FisherBishop of Buffalo

orphans and cared for young expectant mothers with nowhere to turn. And of course, her legacylives on in the work of the Missionaries of Charity today, as well as right here in our own Dioceseat the Mother Teresa Home. I am so grateful to Cheryl Calire who serves as the Director of theMother Tersa Home for her dedication and that of her associates and volunteers. It is thisaffirmation of the sanctity of life, without judgement of any kind toward those young mothers, thatreveals the great need in our community that we must serve as we lift up those who are indistress and provide support, assurance and pathways toward new beginnings and renewedhope.

Mother Teresa said it best: “ Love cannot remain by itself - it has no meaning. Love has to beput into action and that action is service. How do we put the love for God in action? By beingfaithful to our family, to the duties that God has entrusted to us. Whatever form we are - able ordisabled, rich or poor - it is not how much we do but how much love we put in the doing - alifelong sharing of love with others.”

Each of us must find opportunities to demonstrate our faith in ways subtle and obvious. You’llfind that you don’t have to look very far. Each day presents so many chances to represent Christ -to reveal his love, his care and concern - his forgiveness and hope.

Thank you for sharing these few moments with me. I pray for you and all those whom you love -may God keep us safe and guide us always in His ways. I look forward to sharing again with youvery soon.

Yours sincerely in Christ,