(2024) It all began with the cleaning of a closet at the home of one of my long time Maryland friends. To her surprise she found an unrecognizable package that contained two pieces of rounded shield-like stained glass that were most likely removed from larger window displays. The package must have come from her parent's home. My friend's uncle was a priest and it would not be out of the realm of possibility that the family sponsored the windows. Times change and chapels close and are sold. Most likely these precious gifts were returned to the family. With the death of her parents, her uncles and the sale of that property, the glass pieces were, years ago, unknowingly moved into her new home along with many other items. She asked if I would care to take them and possibly find a home for them. It took a bit of time to generate the funds for their reconditioning, resizing, and repair but I'm delighted to say both windows found new homes.
The first window was an image of St. Anthony of Padua. Through the artistic skill of Mr. Glen Albig and his company, Images in Glass, Inc. of Hamburg, NY, the image of St. Anthony was cleaned, remounted, glass added and a rectangular frame supplied. I knew just the perfect home for this most precious gift.
Back in the summer of 2022, I was made aware of a new group of Franciscan Sisters from Kenya who had relocated into a donated property in Perry, NY. I contacted them and made my way for a visit. Their chapel was actually the sun porch of the home and I mentioned that I may have some stained glass that might work well in their chapel. Time moved on and I lost contact as well as the contact information for the sisters. When the funding was secured and the window finished I diligently searched for their contact information to no avail. It felt like it was lost forever. I'm sure I'm not the only one who misplaces a data file, item, or contact, because one doesn't know how it was filed, am I? When all doors seemed to be closed I prayed to St. Anthony to help me find the sisters contact information I had lost.
In our Diocese, no different than others, we priests get moved around. At a priest's gathering I just happened to mention my search to a colleague who was newly assigned within the Perry, NY area. He knew exactly whom I was seeking and soon texted me the information which was already within the contact list of my phone but with any way to identify it. I soon made contact with Sr. Anne Celestine and the window made it final journey to its new home: The Franciscan Sisters of St. Joseph-Asumbi in Perry, NY. Thank You Lord!
The second window segment, was in the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. We were able to find funding to have this window cleaned and resized. The new home for this wonderful work though was many miles away.
Back in 2018 I had an opportunity to attend the ordination of a seminarian ROTA had supported. The ordination was to take place in Kenya. While in the country I resided at the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Nairobi. Returning to Buffalo, and through a former Carmelite Seminarian from Kenya, I learned of a building project that the monastery had undertaken. Joash, the former seminarian, and I thought this may be the perfect gift to support the Carmelite efforts. Missionary priest, Fr. Emmanuel Katabaazi, from Masaka,
Uganda was visiting me in Buffalo. He assisted me in packing the precious cargo and placing it in its own piece of luggage that he would carry with him on his flight back to Kampala, Uganda. From there, Joash would fly into Kampala, take possession of the cargo and carry it back by bus with him to Kenya. Finally, a week later the luggage made its way to the Carmelite Monastery by car. On Sunday, June 30th 2024, 2nd Councilor, Br. Richard Samoi, received the gift from Joash and from ROTA. The luggage case was opened and the precious cargo unpacked. It made the very long journey intact and in fine condition. The Carmelites are most grateful for this new addition to their devotion. Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for Us!
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