St. Teresa R.C. Church, South Buffalo

Dear Friends in Christ, 
On Sunday, May 31st, 2020, the Church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost. With this celebration the Easter season comes to an end. It was so sad to have Easter and the weeks from April 12th to May 31st, the Easter season, that is, as a time of social distancing and forced isolation. I missed you, my beloved Parishioners, who, I am sure, miss coming to Church and meeting with "Parish Family" members. "In Our Father's House There Are Many Dwelling Places" (John14:1-4). In our hearts there are many loved ones dwelling within who are perpetually in our thoughts, especially throughout this pandemic.
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit, the real gifts of Pentecost, enable us to go forth to meet the demands that are placed upon us by so many and by so many societal expectations.
As we look forward to being together once again as a "Parish Family"; as we look forward to being at home with our extended families; and as we look forward to bei…

This Thursday, May 21st, is Ascension Thursday.  Each year as I celebrate Mass and prepare a homily for this particular feast, I cannot help but think of the 12 Apostles who witnessed the Lord's Ascension into Heaven.  How very lost and forlorn they must have been feeling as they watched the Lord's ascension.

We all know the feeling of loss.  We only come through life's losses with the help of the Lord. 

Ten days after Our Lord's ascension into Heaven, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles to give them grace and courage and, as well, to squelch their feelings of loss.  The Grace's of the Holy Spirit filled their lives with the strength to go on as chosen Disciples of the Lord.   It is only through the Grace of the Holy Spirit that we are enduring this pandemic and this subsequent period of social distancing and isolation.

I miss my Parishioners, and I long for the return of public Masses.  In the interim, let us pray wholeheartedly for each other.

God's Love,
…

Dearest Parishioners,

You are on my mind and in my prayers every day that we live out this very difficult period of social distancing and painful separation from our loved ones.

Holy Week and Easter were just not the same for me without your presence in St. Teresa Church and in my life.

As I celebrated a private Mass on Palm Sunday, I savored a memory of blessing palms which you, my Parishioners, held in the palms of your own hands.

As I celebrated a private Mass on Holy Thursday, I savored a memory of you, my Parishioners, kneeling in prayer before the Altar of Repose.

As I prayed on Good Friday, I savored a memory of you, my Parishioners, praying the Stations of the Cross with me.

As I celebrated a private Mass on Holy Saturday, I savored a memory of lighting the Paschal Candle from which Candles were lighted which you, my Parishioners, held during the Procession.

As I celebrated a private Mass on Easter Sunday, I savored a memory of sprinkling you, my Parishioners, with Holy Water…

Join Deacon Bob & Mrs. Dobmeier for a virtual Stations of the Cross from the beautiful stations at St. Teresa's

My Dearest Parishioners,

My thoughts are with you during this most difficult and tragic Pandemic. I am celebrating Mass privately every day for the intentions listed for that day. My private prayers are with you asking God to protect you and keep you well. Please pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Teresa Parish, and across the world. Thank you for your continued support of and love for St. Teresa Parish.

Fondly, Father Jim Cunningham
Pastor, St. Teresa Parish
Monday, March 23, 2020

Let us pray for one another as public Masses in the Diocese of Buffalo are cancelled until further notice because of the Coronavirus pandemic. It's more important now than ever to keep our faith life alive at home. Please consider watching live-streamed Masses on this page.

All parish events at St. Teresa, including Faith Formation, are also cancelled during this time. (Updated March 26, 2020)