St. Bonaventure University will honor Saint Luke’s Mission of Mercy with a Gaudete Medal at a ceremony April 18 at the Hyatt Regency in Buffalo.
From Saint Bonaventure University:
St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy is an independent Roman Catholic mission in Buffalo, founded by Betros and Paolini at the site of the former St. Luke’s parish on Walden Avenue.
Betros was a restaurant owner and Paolini a cancer research scientist at Roswell Park when their paths crossed in 1992 on a pilgrimage to Fatima, Portugal. They developed a strong friendship upon their return to Buffalo and, in 1993, after learning that St. Luke’s church doors had closed, Betros said they were led by the Holy Spirit to purchase the complex.
St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy opened on Aug. 1, 1994. The mission does not receive money from the government or the Diocese, but relies on the generous donations of individuals and corporations.
Sixteen lay missionaries work at St. Luke’s, with most living at or around the mission and spending all of their time devoted to carrying out the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.
St. Luke’s provides meals for the hungry; clothing and household items; shelter for the homeless; shelter for men with addictions; is a designated Code Blue warming Shelter; visits to the sick and imprisoned; burial of the dead; and music ministry services.
St. Bonaventure’s Gaudete (gow-DAY-tay) Medal honors business and community leaders who exemplify the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi.
For more information on the event and tickets, contact Anne Goergen at agoergen@sbu.edu or 716-375-4085 or on the web by clicking here. Cocktails begin at 6 p.m. with dinner at 7 p.m., followed by the medal presentations.
(HT to Saint John Kanty for alert on the award)
