Sister Mary Johnice Rzadkiewicz and John Reed share a laugh over a singing moose during Christmas dinner in the Response to Love Center on Kosciuszko Street. - Derek Gee / Buffalo News

Twenty-six years ago, when Sister Mary Johnice Rzadkiewicz was studying at a Philadelphia seminary, Mother Teresa came to town, and the two women sat at the same lunch table.

“Mother, do you think I could come to Calcutta?” Sister Mary Johnice asked. “I want to learn how to work with the poor.”

“She looked at me and said, ‘Little sister, go back to your neighborhood. Find your Calcutta there.’”

That’s exactly what Sister Mary Johnice did.

Read full story on the Buffalo News website—>

(Video from 2010)

Kolędy Night will feature Polka music by the New Direction Band and traditional Polish and American Christmas sing-a-longs featuring the Saint John Kanty Choir and the “Response to Love Center Trio” made up of Sisters Johnice, Catherine and Rose.

A special guest appearance will be made by Dave Gawronski.

Kolędy Night takes place at Potts Banquet Hall, 694 S. Ogden St., Buffalo. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is $10.

Music will be from 7 to 11 p.m. with the Kolędy sing-a-long at 7:30 p.m. A buffet dinner for just $6.95 per person will be served from 6 to 7 p.m. There will also be special raffles and door prizes.

To make a table reservation call Sister Johnice at 894-7030 or Danny Potts at 826-6575.

http://responsetolove.org

Sr. Catherine / Sr. Johnice / Sr. Rose
(Felician Sisters of The Response To Love Center)

Click here to view the newsletter—> (pdf)

http://responsetolovecenter.org

(click on image for full view)

For more info on the Health Fair click here—>

The RESPONSE TO LOVE CENTER is holding their annual “Benefit of Love 2011 Event” Thursday, June 23rd at 5:30 pm at the Tonawanda Castle on Delaware Ave. in Tonawanda, NY.

Come out and join for an evening of fun, food and friends, while at the same time supporting the mission of the Response
to Love Center.

There will be a live and silent auction of some amazing items, trips, and real nice stuff!

For more information or to purchase tickets call (716) 894-7030 or visit: http://www.responsetolovecenter.org/benefit

The Response to Love Center is holding their Benefit of Love on 06/23/2011.

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Mass burial grave called Saint Christophe

(By Mike Gilhooly – RTLC)

We arrived safely in Haiti on Saturday. Unfortunately the Internet and electricity have been out until today (Tuesday.) We attended Mass Sunday morning at Sacred Heart under the tent as the church was ruined by the earthquake last year. That hasn’t stopped hundreds of people from attending Mass. The site has been for the most part cleared and being made ready for re-building. I was amazed by the devotion and faith shown by the Haitian Catholics. Posters showing the devastation alongside posters showing the proposed new building are hung for all to see.

Read full story at the RTLC website——>

I received an email from Mike Gilhooly earlier today informing me that he and Sister Johnice of the Response to Love Center are going to Haiti in support of the Sante’-Bus Foundation.

This is Mike Gilhooly’s first time there and if you recall, Sister Johnice went in 2010.

As with her trip last year, it will be documented on the Response to Love Center website.  (click here to view)

Sister Johnice has been assisting in raising funds for the foundation to help aquire mobile medical vehicles to provide health care for the Haitian people.

Keep them both and the Haitian people in your prayers.

www.ResponsetoLoveCenter.org

In addition to a hot meal, about 200 people were treated to a warm reception on a cold Christmas morning in St. Adalbert’s Response to Love Center.

It is an annual rite at the East Side oasis, which daily tends to the needs of the less fortunate, while also offering those who are better off an opportunity to give back.

“We do this every day, but what we do is enhance it for the holiday, because this is a family place,” said Sister Mary Johnice Rzadkiewicz, the center’s longtime executive director.

“What we want the people to experience is the joy of celebrating together as family, and this East Side community is our family,” Sister Johnice added.

Michael Gilhooly was among the 80 volunteers Saturday who helped serve the meals, which consisted of chicken Kiev, mashed potatoes and a vegetable, along with cheesecake for dessert. Gilhooly, the webmaster for St. Adalbert’s Response to Love Center for five years, lives not far from the center. As much as the center fills the stomachs of those in need, Gilhooly said, volunteering at the center fulfills a desire in him to be of service.

Read full story on the Buffalo News website—>