dinodiction

Dear Catholic Community,

As we celebrate the conclusion of another successful school year, we are filled with joy and anticipation as we welcome our new Superintendent, Mrs. Joleen Dimitroff. Her leadership brings renewed hope for the future of Catholic education in our community.

Out recent strategic planning process has yielded a bold and inspiring vision: Forming Disciples in Catholic Schools. This vision challenges us to reimagine Catholic education in light of today’s social, demographic, and financial realities. It also outlines an ambitious timeline for implementation, one that Mrs. Dimitroff has thoughtfully reviewed with her team, outside advisors, and several parents.

From this consultation, two key insights have emerged:

1. We must be people of hope, embracing the opportunities for growth, innovation, and transformation before us.

2. We must also be realistic and discerning, ensuring we implement the plan on a timeline that supports lasting success.

In that spirit, I wish to communicate with you that while we are continuing to move forward with our aspirations stated in the strategic plan, the formal process related to NY State Education requirements and many other factors will push our timeline for full implementation out at least one year.

As our late Holy Father Francis and his successor, Pope Leo XIV, have reminded us, synodality is the call to journey together in a spirit of listening, dialogue, and prayer. I believe this delay provides a grace-filled opportunity to move forward deliberately and faithfully, building a strong foundation for the future—not just quickly, but wisely.

In the coming months, the Catholic Education Team will engage in meaningful conversations with key stakeholders to ensure the Strategic Plan is implemented with integrity and care.

To support this ongoing work, we have engage Avanti Advisors, who will assist us in nurturing the dialogue and preparation needed to plant the seed for long-term success.

Our new Strategic Plan can be found on our website: wnycatholicschools.org

Thank you for your continued faith, partnership, and support.

Catholic Education Team

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Based on the bulletin of July 13, 2025.

St John’s Community Clothes closet will continue to remain open to serve those in need.

Donations are gratefully accepted!

We are open on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm and are located off Depot Street in the former St. John’s Parish Hall in West Valley.

Donations of clean and gently used clothing, books and household goods are gratefully accepted. Monetary donations can be made payable to St. Mary’s Parish, with St John’s Clothes Closet in the memo line.

If you have any questions please call Jacque or Elise. (For specific contact info, please see the bulletin of July 13, 2025.)

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Based on the bulletin of July 13 and June 29, 2025. 

Bread of Life Outreach Center in Colden, NY is looking for one or two volunteers to drive to Monk’s Bakery in Pifard, NY once a month to pick up bread donations to be shared with the BOLO Food Pantry and Love, INC.

Please call Tracey if you can help. Gas reimbursement is available. (Please see the bulletin of July 6, 2025 for specific info.)

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Based on the bulletin of July 6, 2025.

If you’re making a Summer Bucket List for your family, here are some ideas to help you live your Catholic faith together all summer!

– Courtesy of Catholic Mom

• Visit an Adoration Chapel
• Do yard work for an elderly neighbor
• Make a pilgrimage to your Cathedral (or a nearby basilica or pilgrimage site)
• Pick wildflowers, write a card, and take them to a homebound parishioner
• Find area free lending libraries and leave books about saints or the Faith
• Pray the Stations of the Cross outside
• Visit a cemetery and pray for the dead
• Go to Mass and Confession on the First Fridays of the summer
• Stay up late and pray Night Prayer under the stars
• Harvest some of your garden produce for a soup kitchen or to share with someone in need
• Make dinner for your parish priests or invite them to your house
• Host a lemonade stand on behalf of your local pregnancy resource center
• Have a movie night and watch The Chosen
• Take your grandparents to Mass and breakfast on the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne
• Go on a hike and pray the Rosary (inspired by John Paul II and Bl. Pier Giorgio)

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Based on the bulletin of July 6, 2025.

THANK YOU for your generous support of Catholic Charities Appeal 2025.

We hope you know how grateful we are for your parish chairs’ and other Appeal volunteers’ dedication and commitment to this year’s campaign and, of course, for you, our faith donors.

If it weren’t for your compassionate support, we couldn’t be a beacon of HOPE for those in need.

Your efforts are truly life-changing for those who come through our doors – from food assistance to mental health services to education and job skills.

We are humbled and grateful for your support of our work at Catholic Charities!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

– The 2025 Appeal Team.

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Based on the bulletin of July 6, 2025.

After a five-year tumultuous journey, the Catholic Church in Western New York can begin again to see a light forward – a light guiding us to the end of this painful and dark period in our history as Church and toward a future where we may continue to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

In April, the Diocese of Buffalo announced a settlement in principle with the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors, which represents hundreds of people victimized by past sexual abuse. To fulfill the Diocese’s $150 million commitment, parishes and Catholic affiliated entities are being asked to join with the diocese to contribute toward the settlement.

Some of you may question why we, as Church are asked to do this. It is exactly that, because we are Church, one, universal, and not parish versus parish. As a faith community, it is our responsibility to help bring justice and healing. Part of this justice, to help soothe the pain, which will never go away, is to provide compensation. By making a meaningful contribution to the settlement, parishes secure protection from claims that have been time-barred, due to a channeling injunction. Put simply, parishes could be protected from current or potential future claims should New York State re-open the statute of limitations in which to bring claims forward. This has happened in other states.

It is important to understand that the money we are being asked to contribute comes from unrestricted reserves and not current offertory. Parish and cemetery assets which are restricted for specific donor directed purposes will not be impacted.

No dollar amount can ever fully compensate victim survivors for their pain. However, this settlement ensures they receive some compensation for the physical, emotional and spiritual scars they still endure. Know that the diocese has worked diligently to ensure that the sins of the past are not repeated today. You can learn more about this by visiting “Protecting God’s Children” on the diocesan website, www.buffalodiocese.org.

This has been a sad chapter in our history as the Catholic Church in Western New York. We cannot erase the past, but there is a way we can emerge again into the light – the light of Christ. Just as Jesus willingly suffered for the good of His people, now we must be willing to sacrifice to ensure we continue our mission of evangelization and our ministries, for ourselves and for future generations.

The parishes of the Cattaraugus Catholic Community are being asked to contribute the following amounts toward the Chapter 11 settlement:

St. Aloysius:  $20,301 (80% of unrestricted assets)
St. John the Baptist:  $143,180 (80% of unrestricted assets)
St. Joseph:  $141,429 (80% of unrestricted assets)
St. Jude:  $63,447 (80% of unrestricted assets)
St. Mary:  $273,762 (45% of unrestricted assets)

Due to St. Mary’s continuing as a parish, they are assessed at a different percentage than the parishes which have been or are expected to be merged into St. Mary’s. Copies of “Frequently Asked Questions” regarding the parish contributions to the settlement are available at the doors of the worship sites, on the websites – staloy.com and saintmaryarcade.org – and by contacting the family office or the family business office.

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Based on the bulletin of June 22, 2025. 

The CCCC Business Offices will be closed on July 4th to celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence which allows us the to celebrate our Catholic Faith, among many other freedoms.

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Based on the bulletin of June 22, 2025.